Page 97 (1/2)

TenLexley settle himself on the bed The poor man looked utterly exhausted, far too drained to converse Unfortunately, the questions that had haer be silenced

“Lexley,” he began,sure the door was securely shut, “I had another reason for seizing this opportunity to talk to you alone I apologize for taxing your strength, but there is so I must know”

The elderly sailor blinked, propping himself on his pillows “Of course, m’lord What is it?”

Slayde clasped his hands behind his back, realizing he was grasping at straws and not giving a damn “First, I want your word that this conversation will remain between us Courtney has suffered far too much already I will not allow her to be hurt”

“Of course,” Lexley looked utterly bewildered “I’d never hurt Courtney”

A nod “Courtney’s father gave her a watch, a tihthouse”

“Yes” A painful sigh “Captain Johnston’s wife gave that tiift He wanted Courtney to have it after he…when he…”

“The watch stopped at the precise time Arthur Johnston went overboard Since then, it has jureat deal of anxiety, and questions, in Courtney’s mind Further, she’s experienced repeated drea out to her, needing her Her distress escalated to the point where I agreed to bring her to the spot where her father went down It was horrible for her, reliving the entire occurrence a second tiain Not without daood cause My question to you is, does that cause exist?”

“Dear God” Lexley’s face had gone sheet-white, beads of perspiration erupting on his brow “Courtney has actually dreaht pause “I knew you’d traveled to where the Isobel was overtaken Lady Aurora explained it all toI asked her a dozen times She said you’d searched—but to no avail Is that not true?”

“Yes It’s true” Slayde’s heart rate had begun to accelerate at the severity of Lexley’s reaction “The currents were powerful, the waters rough ’Twould be very difficult for someone to survive”

“I know But, dear Lord, how I prayed”

“Did you have reason to pray?” Slayde ju across the roo vanished “I don’t roundless reasons; I mean well-founded ones”

“At the tiht so,” LexleyBut it was the only way I could try to save hih”

Slayde inhaled sharply, asking the crucial question that had gnawed at him for over a week “Before Are to loosen his gag? His bonds? Did you somehow find a way to increase your captain’s chances of survival?”

Lexley stared “How did you know?”