Page 25 (1/2)

Henry shook his head, pausingto cough, then spat outthrough the door before saying, "There was nothing that could have started it accidentally I putthe candle out after Ifinished writing thehton"

"You’re sure? " Valoree asked sharply, then took in the affronted lookthat immediately covered his face Of course he was sure Despite her thoughts onseeing thelight under thesalon door, she knew noneof themenwould make a mistakelike that

Thirteen years hadtrained thes like that onboard ship You couldn’t runout adoor, or climbout a to escape a fire on a boat Your only options were burning to death or ju shark bait

"Aye, I’msure, " he said testily "Besides, it looked likethe fire started withthe drapes atthe behindthe desk chair, and thereain’teven a tablethere, let alone a candle that hthave sparkedit"

"It’s a curse, that’s what started it, " Skully muttered

"Someone’sput a curseof bad luck onusfor sure, ’cause that’s all we’vehad sincewe came toLondon"

"There’s no curse, " Valoreesaid ian toshift Therecould never beasheneededright noasfortheon badluck, curses, and such "As faras bad luck goes, aye, we’vehadsooodluck, too

We haven’t lost a singleWhatother crewcanclaihed and went on "As for these ’accidents? ’ callingthereed "We can’tjust claimit’s bad luck; therehavebeentoo manyinstances forthat"

"And too many for them to be coincidence, even" she continued "But they still could be The first incidence we thought a robbery atteot aith naught and wesuffered little but a knockon eaccident? " One-Eye asked "No-Nose brokehis leg"

"Aye, and ifyouask, and I been in the carriage instead of riding behind in Lord Thurborne’s hack, ouldbe dead nowNo doubting it I say one broken leg is better than threedead any day" She allowed that to sink in, then continued "Asfor thefire, ere lucky again It was caughtearly, it’sout, andno one was hurt"

She sighed again, a froisting her mouthTherehadbeen too much bad luck Evenshecould seethat, but she didn’t want the et jumpy "We have been lucky But I wanttoto worry about Too talkto the owner of the wagonagain, andfind out what you can Then ask around near where the accident occurred, see if anyone sahere the felloas driving ranto"

"You thinkit wasn’t an accident? " Henry said Valoree paused

"Idon’t know I’djustfeel better finding out e can" She glanced overtheain toetout of here Thenit will be over Now it’s late

Whydon’t youwasthefirstto turn away toleave, butthearound the library once they were gone, frowning at the fact that, sonearby to hold a candle had been aflahtbelieve it was a curse, or soested But Valoree wasn’t superstitious She was slightly cynical And to her the answersee, she left the libraryas well, butshedidn’t seekout her bed Insteadshe crossed the hall to thesalon, only tofind Henry there, seated on the settee, dealingcards out onthe low table before it

"Hazard or hearts? " heasked as shemovedto the sideboard to pour thelasses over to joinhim

He knew her too well She should have realized he would know she would not simplyretire and risk another fire, or any such accident, befalling theht to stand guard against any further "accidents" while everyone slept, andup the hand he had dealt hi to spot us in a couple of hours;then One-Eye andPetey will take over fortheruntedand picked up her cards

Chapter Eleven

Valoree closed the door behind Hawghton with a snap and turned toeyeHenry"When doesBeechashortly Ischeduled thehton lefta little early"

"Aye, well, you can crosshi back intothesalon

A few into the fire when Henry entered Forcing herself tosit upand doingher best notto look as depressedas shefelt, she raised an eyebrow in question"Aye? What is it, Henry? "

"Well" The htened his shoulders and decided to get to the point without anyshilly-shallying ’The , and we’ve decided ye shouldn’thereyes narrow, fiercely, he quickly wenton

"He’s too weak for ye, Captain Ye’dwalk rightoverhim;then ye’dloathe hier, like Thurborne there"