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“Ah Need I remind you that Slayde is a skilled and seasoned loner who’s ada so?”
“No, you needn’t” Aurora’s grin was impish “ ’Twould seem, my friend, that two novices are about to undo one expert”
“Very well, Miss Johnston” Oridge scribbled down a few additional notes, then raised his head and leveled his keen investigator’s gaze on Courtney “We’ve gone over all the events you can recall from the time this Armon seized the Isobel to the tiiven me detailed descriptions of the pirates who accompanied Armon onto your ship And you’ve provided me with a list of names of the entire crew of the Isobel”
“That’s correct, sir” Courtneyin her head would subside Then again, how could she expect that it would? After all, she and Mr Oridge had been ensconced in the library for what see the events that had brought her to Pembourne
Inadvertently, her gaze wandered to the library’s grandfather clock Half after three With the exception of a thirty- salon and onenap in her chambers, she’d been seated on the sofa since nine o’clock thisexperience of her life She felt utterly drained and physically spent And her concussion had little to do with it
“Are you all right, Miss Johnston?”
Her head jerked around and, seeing the genuine concern on the investigator’s face, she felt a stab of guilt “Forgive e Yes, I’m fine”
“No apology is necessary” He closed his portfolio “I realize how difficult this must be for you—inin a low, reassuring tone “Answering countless questions is exhausting Farthem”
Courtney gave hirateful for his atteering injuries of o after the Fortune myself”
“Then how fortunate your strength hasn’t cooperated,” Oridge returned curtly, all seripped his knees, an intense expression on his face “Miss Johnston, I’ the ocean as a sea captain’s daughter does not reat deal about ships Trust erouswith the pirates once you’ve found the out on your own, forget theood at what I do If Armon’s ship can be found, I’ll find it And you’ll stay alive in the process A myself clear?”
“Perfectly clear”
“Good Then I have only one o was the Isobel carrying?”
“If you’re asking if our cargo was valuable enough to pilfer, the answer is yes We transported furniture and other oods to the Colonies”
“Furniture? Unlikely,” Oridge oods…such as what?”
“Pardon me?”