Her eyes rounded in shock. “Sommers was a bastard, involved in stolen goods and in the shipping of enslaved human beings!”

Rawley nodded. “You don’t have to tell me. The man was scum and deserved what he got, but he’d lined the pockets of many powerful men in England whose wealth was built off the back of such bondage.” His voice shook with a hint of its earlier intensity. “But money is king, even if it comes from the blood of innocent men.”

“It’s despicable,” she whispered.

He let out a breath. “Yes, it is, and I don’t intend to give up.”

“I wish I could do more.”

He sent her a soft, fond smile. Then he turned solemn. “Unfortunately, you have drawn the wrong kind of notice this time.”

A knot swelled in her throat, both from his words and the obvious warning. “So you’re telling me I have to run?”

“Yes. For now.”

Bronwyn sighed. Not only was she already a criminal in the duke’s eyes, but now she’d be a fugitive as well. And nothing looked as guilty as someone who ran, even if they had legitimate reasons for doing so. “Very well. Tell me what to do.”

***

Gaze narrowed, Valentine stared at the captain, watching a trickle of perspiration meander down the man’s temple. His worry was also apparent in the lines of strain around his mouth and eyes that seemed to be in a constant flurry of movement over the dials and gauges of the engine order telegraph. “You mean to tell me we’ve been slowing for hours because of engine troubles? Will we be able to reach our destination?”

“We should, Your Grace,” the captain replied. “We’ll just pull in to port a bit later than expected. I’ve given the crew a bell to slow to half speed and sent men to check on one of the boilers. It’s been giving trouble since we left Philadelphia.”

Valentine glanced at Lisbeth and Rawley, who stood near the door listening to the update with matching frowns. “So I’ve heard. Very well. Keep me abreast of the situation, our position, and time of arrival.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Rolling his neck to ease the tension gathering there, Valentine moved past Lisbeth who followed him onto the open deck. Rawley strolled behind them but moved to another part of the deck to speak with one of the crew. “Do you suspect something, Val?” Lisbeth asked.

He shook his head. “We’re too close to England, and Rawley mentioned issues earlier. Likely just coincidence. Still, keep an eye on our bird.”

The ship troubles didn’t bother him. If anything, the delay gave him time to think about what he was going to do with Bronwyn. Valentine wasn’t stupid. He knew the moment they hit English soil, she would be seized and detained by someone who wasn’t him. The thought rankled.