Noah stood at the prow as his ship made its way up the Thames towards the pool of London. How could he not recall the day the Mirabel sailed the other way towards the open sea, making Sam’s escape? It was still barely comprehensible that on the day before, he had been sentenced to the barbarity of a traitor’s death, where merely to die was insufficient to pay for the crime of high treason; mutilation and torture were needed first. Well, whatever happened now, at least he had saved him from that.
She approached him so silently that he was only aware of her presence when her hand grazed his back. ‘Susannah, you startled me, lass. How are you now? Raphael said the storm wasn’t kind to you?’
‘I’m better and very glad to be nearly home.’ She touched his arm. ‘This must be so hard for you, arr
