Page 69 of This Earl of Mine

“Miss Caversteed! We are honored. Is anything amiss?”

“Afternoon, Captain Moore, and no, no, nothing is wrong. Are you still off to Boston at high tide, as scheduled?”

“Aye. Everything’s stowed and ready.”

“Excellent. In that case, I was wondering if you have room for one extra passenger?” She indicated Josiah, who had been unloaded from the carriage and stood on the dockside, wriggling furiously in Benedict’s grip. “You see there my cousin Josiah, who has found himself in somewhat, shall we say,uncomfortable circumstanceshere in London.”

The captain noted Josiah’s gag, black eye, and bound hands, and shot her an amused, knowing look from under his bushy brows. “As you say, ma’am.”

Georgie smiled. “Confronted with rather dismal prospects on this side of the Atlantic, I’m pleased to say that he’s taking my advice to start over in America.”

“Righto,” the captain said. “I’m sure we can find room for one more. He won’t cause me no trouble, will he?”

“Oh, no, but I would advise you not to undo his bindings until you’re a good way out from port. He may be rather reluctant at first, but I’m sure he’ll come around if you put him to work. He really ought to be made to pay for his passage, don’t you think?”

The captain chuckled and gestured to the ship’s longboat, which carried a noisy assortment of livestock forthe crossing—pens for sheep and pigs in the bottom, ducks and geese on a deck laid across the gunwales, and on top of all, crates of hens and chickens. “Very good, ma’am. He can make himself useful tending to the animals.”

Georgie chuckled. “Perfect, Captain Moore. How long do you think it will take you to reach Boston harbor?”

“As long as the weather holds, we should make excellent time. Nineteen to twenty days, I should think, now we have our new chronometer to chart the course. You can tell Mr. Harrison it works beautifully, ma’am.”

“Oh, good. He’ll be so glad you think so.”

She went to the rail and indicated for Benedict to escort her cousin aboard. Josiah glared at her over his gag and clearly tried to remonstrate, or perhaps beg forgiveness, but she was in no mood to listen.

“Josiah, stop.” She fixed him with a baleful glare. “I have had quite enough of your foolish spite and jealousy. The only reason I am not having Mr. Wylde take you straight to Bow Street and charging you with unlawful kidnapping and the attempted murder of a peer”—she paused, to let the severity of that sink in—“is because it would reflect badly on the rest of the family.”

Josiah’s eyes widened as he realized she was serious.

“I have no desire to see you incarcerated in Newgate and hanged from Tyburn tree, but if I see your face on these shores again, I will not hesitate to press charges. Nod if you understand me.”

Josiah’s head bobbed up and down.

“Good. I am hoping that once you have been forced to make your own way in the world, you will appreciate the value of hard work and find a measure of the happiness that has eluded you here.”

She nodded to Juliet, who passed her the reticule Benedict had filled. “Because I am not entirely heartless, I will not send you away with nothing but the clothes on your back.” She opened the drawstring and pulled out the diamond and emerald necklace. “This I will keep”—she glanced at Wylde—“because it has fond memories attached to it, but I give you the rest as a gesture of goodwill. There’s also fifty pounds in there.” She shot Benedict an accusing glance.

Juliet gasped in outrage at her generosity, but Georgie ignored her. She handed the bag to the captain. “Captain Moore can keep these safe until you reach your destination. Goodbye, Josiah, and Godspeed. Captain Moore, I wish you fair winds and a calm sea.”

The captain saluted and gestured for one of his crew to escort Josiah below. Georgie turned her back on her cousin and accepted Benedict’s arm down the wooden gangplank.

“That was well done,” he murmured, as he helped her back into the carriage. Her heart glowed a little with pride.

Juliet climbed in after her and collapsed on the opposite seat. “Well, that was far more than he deserved, I must say,” she huffed. “Now we must go home and face the wrath of Mother.” She sighed gloomily. “Do you suppose there’s even the slightest chance she won’t have found out about Simeon and myself?”

“Not a chance,” Georgie said. “We’ll just have to make the best of it.” She turned to Benedict and suddenly found herself unable to speak. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but she couldn’t form the words at all. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said finally.

He sent her an easy smile. “Don’t mention it, milady. Rescuing damsels in distress is our specialty. All in a day’s work for a Bow Street runner, I assure you.” Hishand covered hers where it rested on the door of the carriage, and he gave a brief, reassuring squeeze. “I have to catch up with Alex and Seb, but I’ll be in touch soon, I promise.”

Georgie nodded as the carriage pulled away.

Chapter 37.

Juliet puffed out her cheeks as they clattered toward Grosvenor Square. “Well, I’m glad that’s over. Whatever was Josiah thinking, the nodcock?” She rearranged her skirts and sent Georgie an arch look. “And Mr. Wylde coming to your rescue was the most romantic thing possible, don’t you think?”

Georgie grunted, and Juliet sent her a laughing, chiding frown.

“Oh, don’t deny it! He put himself in harm’s way for you, Georgie, like a real chivalric knight!”

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