"It seems you are overzealous in your commitment to duty, Captain," Lucian remarked calmly. "You have mistaken this man's identity. I am fully prepared to vouch for Mr. Deverill."
"As am I," Dare added in an amused drawl.
"So you see, Captain, it will be your word against that of two peers of the realm."
"Three peers," Geoffrey said quietly.
Nick's gaze shot to March. The man was willing to risk his honor for a stranger? If so, it clearly was for Aurora's sake. But of course March would be under her spell. If he loved her, he would want her happiness above his own.
Nicholas felt another rush of searing emotions – including sympathy for his rival. He knew the agony of losing Aurora.
"You have my sincerest thanks, Lord March," Nicholas said solemnly.
"You must admit," Dare suggested to the captain, "those odds will be hard to beat."
Anger crossed Gerrod's features as he looked from one to the other of the lords. "You would lie to protect this… pirate? It is treason to abet a criminal."
"That is where you are wrong," Lucian replied. "This man is no criminal. He is an American royalist who has been granted sanctuary on British soil. And you, Captain, are acting illegally in trying to apprehend him."
Gerrod's fury only escalated, and he raised the pistol higher, waving it at Nick. Out of the corner of his eye, Nicholas saw Aurora move, but he didn't dare take his attention from the weapon.
"By God," the captain vowed, "you will not escape this time – " His tirade was cut off in midstream by a dull thud. A dazed look claimed his expression before he slowly slumped to the ground.
Nicholas felt his heart lodge in his throat. Aurora stood over the captain's prone form, clutching a half-full brandy bottle in her hand. She had struck Gerrod over the head, Nick realized.
Her bold action had startled his friends as much as himself. They were staring at her with varying degrees of amazement.
Aurora clenched her jaw, looking calm but pale. "Did I… Is he dead?"
Nicholas bent over to relieve Gerrod of the pistol and pressed two fingers to the man's neck pulse. "No, just stunned."
His gaze lifted to Aurora. "Once again you surprise me, angel."
"You said sometimes violence was warranted," she declared, her tone defiant. "I considered this to be one of those times. He meant to shoot you."
"He did indeed." Rising to his feet, Nicholas handed the pistol to Dare, then went to Aurora. Taking the bottle from her, he set it and his glass on the nearby table and enfolded her in his arms.
"I couldn't let him hurt you," she said fiercely, gazing up at him.
"I am very glad, sweetheart," he returned with a smile.
Just then Gerrod stirred, although he didn't wake.
"Much as I regret having to interrupt you lovers, er… Brandon," Dare drawled, "I believe we should decide what to do with our overeager friend."
"We should fetch some line to tie him," Lucian said. "I doubt he will be amenable otherwise."
"Tie him?" Dare asked, amused. "Your ingenuity amazes me."
Lucian flashed his wry half smile. "You might be surprised at the resourcefulness a man can develop when the stakes are high enough."
Releasing Aurora with reluctance, Nicholas turned to rummage in a locker and came back with a length of rope and a knife. His cousin did the honors, kneeling down to bind Gerrod's hands.
"I suppose you have a plan, Luce?" Dare remarked as Wycliff worked.
"I'll take him away and keep him hidden until our friend Brandon sails."
"What about his men?" March asked.
"I will simply order them to return to their posts. I doubt they will challenge me, especially if their captain is wearing a gag and cannot countermand me."
"Gerrod will be livid that you interfered with his duty."
"What of it? I am not about to let him deliver Nick to the hangman's noose."
"It may not come to hanging," Dare mused aloud. "Not if Nick petitions the Prince Regent for a pardon."
"Just what did you have in mind?" Nicholas asked with extreme interest.
"Buying a pardon. Pirate or not, you could no doubt convince Prinny of your innocence if you offer to fill his coffers."
"It is certainly worth a shot," Luce remarked.
He finished tying the knots just as Gerrod awakened.
Groaning, the captain raised his bound hands to his head and winced in pain. When he looked up dazedly, it was to find the Earl of Clune training his own pistol on him.
"You struck me…" Gerrod said in amazement. "You bastard… How dare you!"
"No," Aurora replied, staring down at him. "I am the one who struck you."
At the captain's astonished look, Nicholas couldn't repress a smile. "You should not have threatened me, Gerrod. My – " He stopped at the word wife, remembering the pretense he still had to maintain. "Lady Aurora is like a tigress when it comes to defending her loved ones."
If looks could kill, Nick knew he would have been skewered by Gerrod's malevolent glare.
Eventually the captain turned his angry focus to the other men in the room. "You obviously have been duped, my lords. I tell you, this man is not Brandon Deverill but a convicted pirate – "
"This stale claim is beginning to bore me," Dare remarked. "Would you like a gag for the good captain, Luce?" Drawing out a clean handkerchief, he handed it to Wycliff.
Gerrod recoiled in horror. "Damn you, you will pay for this!" he threatened. "I will charge you all with treason!"
"I doubt you'll succeed," Lucian said mildly. "You'll find that my word carries more weight with the Admiralty than yours. The navy owes me a few favors, in any case. And Lord March is considered a war hero."
Almost wildly Gerrod looked to Aurora. "You will regret it if you go with that criminal, my lady. You will be considered a fugitive in England. You will never be able to return."
She met Nicholas's gaze across the small cabin. "I don't care," she said staunchly, her blue eyes soft.
He felt joy well within him, and it was all he could do to refrain from lunging across the room and taking her in his arms.
Just then Wycliff raised the gag to the captain's mouth.
"You cannot do this!" Gerrod exclaimed, beginning to struggle.
Lucian simply grasped the captain by the throat and stared at him with narrowed eyes. "I hope you won't put me to the trouble of dispatching you to your Maker. You could easily find yourself alone at sea, with no rescue ship insight."
Immediately Gerrod ceased his struggles.
Barbaric but effective, Nick thought with satisfaction.
Gerrod looked as if he had swallowed bile.
Lucian gagged the captain, then hauled him to his feet. "We should be on our way and leave you two to prepare to sail."
"Thank you, my lord," Aurora said to Wycliff, her smile including Clune as well. "Our thanks to you both."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "For helping save his skin? You needn't thank me. I'm rather fond of the rogue. If you wish, I will make your apologies to your acquaintances for your sudden departure."
Nicholas saw Aurora's smile fade. "What is it, angel?"
"Raven… I wasn't able to say farewell. And I am apprehensive about leaving her alone in England."
He glanced at his cousin. "Will you look after Miss Kendrick for me, Luce?"
"I would be happy to."
"And I," Dare volunteered, "would be pleased to offer my services as well."
"Forgive me," Nicholas retorted, flashing a grin, "but asking you to safeguard a lady is like expecting a wolf to protect a flock of sheep."
"In this instance you have nothing to fear. I vow I will be as chaste as an elderly brother."
"If I hear anything to the contrary," Nick threatened, only half in jest, "I'll string you up by your thumbs."
"Point taken. Well then, farewell and good journey, my friend."