on, no way to get out of the filth.
She stood there, the water quickly seeping through the leather of her boots, and waited. She didnât regret helping the Raider but now she thought of the consequences of her actions.
Hours later, when the door to the cell was opened, Jessica was prepared to meet a hangman.
Instead, standing on deck was Alexander, resplendent in yellow satin, the sunlight hitting his big belly and reflecting into her eyes. She put her hand up against the glare.
She couldnât see Alexander very well, but she could feel his anger all around her.
âCome!â was all he commanded, in a low, seething voice.
âIââ Jess began, but he shoved her shoulder and pushed her toward the gangplank.
Jess tried to keep her head up as she passed the crowd that had gathered on both sides of the wharf.
Alex climbed onto a wagon seat without so much as looking at Jessica. As she weakly climbed up beside him, he flicked the reins to the horses and they started down the street.
âWhat are you so mad about?â she shouted over the noise of the wagon, but he didnât answer her.
He drove her across a dirt road to the back of the forest, then up a hill. She knew there was a spring nearby.
âGet down,â he commanded when heâd stopped.
âNot until you tell me whatâs going on,â she answered.
Alex, fighting his way around his belly, walked to her side of the wagon. âI had to bribe your way out of a hangmanâs noose, thatâs what. You were playing with the English navy when you helped the Raider. That captain planned to use you and George as examples and hang you. He figured thatâd stop the Raider.â
âOh,â Jessica said, getting down. âI thought they might want to do that. Why are we here?â
Alex calmed his voice. âEleanor sent you clean clothes and thereâs soap and towels. You smell worse than you did before you went into that cell.â He put his handkerchief to his nose. âAnd Eleanor thought you should stay out of sight for a few days.â
âWhy didnât she come with you?â Jess picked up the bundle from the back of the wagon.
âIt seems she had a little collision with a bucket of washwater. I think she told Nick something to the effect that he wasnât too good to do some washing. I believe Nick thought otherwise.â
Jessica gaped at him. âSo that overgrown boy tossed dirty water on my sister?â
âI believe so, yes.â
âIâll give him a piece of my mind,â she said, getting back on the wagon.
Alex caught her arm. âEleanor has already told him what she thought of him and Iâm sure he need not hear anymore. The problem now is you. You badly need a bath.â
Reluctantly, Jessica followed him up the hill to the spring and its little pool.
Alex seated himself, his back to Jessica, while she began to disrobe. She couldnât see the way the sweat began trickling down his neck or how clammy his palms grew. âTell me what happened,â he said, managing to make his voice sound somewhat normal.
As unemotionally as she could, Jessica began to tell how sheâd spent yesterday shrimping and watching for the Golden Hind. Only part of her mind was on her story, the other part was wondering why Eleanor had sent this man with instructions to take her to bathe. In other circumstances it would have been unthinkable to remove her clothing with a man nearbyâbut to her, Alexander Montgomery was so far removed from being a man that it seemed quite natural. Now, if instead that awful Raider were hereâ¦
âGo on,â Alex prompted, wiping his palms on a relatively dry patch of grass. âWhat happened after the Raider appeared?â
Jessica soaped her toes. âI hate that man! I hate him! There I was, risking my neck to save his and once again he makes a fool of me.â
âI heard that he kissed you.â
âIf