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Mr Badger shook his head "The Flying Poppy wasn’t seen in those parts again for a good three to four years, which is not so extraordinary Griffin Barry operates all over the seas, Your Grace There’s talk of hi fish’ and the like"

"And when the Poppy returned, the Earl was gone"

"Exactly And the devil of it is that the Poppy hasn’t been seen in the last couple of years, and I didn’t hear stories of it, either So there’s a chance that Barry has gone to the botto the truth of what happened to Lord Islay with hier had at last come to the end of his narrative It was Theo who said what had to be said "He’s gone" Her fingers closed hard around the trumpery little piece of tarnished aze not unsympathetic "I fear that is the case Piracy is a terrible business, and I find myself amazed that his lordship survived even for aas he did Lord Islay would have been at a distinct disadvantage, surrounded by lawbreakers ould as soon shoot you in the back as issue a civil greeting"

"This is a rather disgraceful question, but I fear it must be asked," Cecil put in "Is there a chance that my cousin left a child sorowing up under such disadvantageous circuer was shaking his head " ’Twas Jack Haho has a ith the ladies For all I know, that reprobate has scattered children all over the East Indies; he has a reputation that suggests it But the Earl had a quite different character"

"What was it?" Theo asked, her heart feeling crumpled and helpless somewhere under her breastbone

"He was never known to have visited a woer said, his eyes distinctly syests that when he embarked on this rather unusual career, Lord Islay did not discard all the qualities that distinguish an English gentlelad that the old duke didn’t live to hear this," Cecil rave"

A sob rose up Theo’s throat with such force that she felt her mouth distort James was dead, killed by a pirate, his body likely thrown into the sea And he had kept her lock of hair with hiland She couldn’t bear itshe couldn’t bear it

She rose, and Cecil’s hand fell fro tears sliding down her face

Mr Badger ca He had the look of a hting his way up fro a little "I’ll just talk with Mr Badger for a few more minutes I’ll call on you later, my dear"

Theo ran from the room, the locket clenched in her hand

Twenty-two

May 30, 1816