Love Never Dies

Chapter 3

“All ready.” The moment he was back on deck, Midnight waved at his sister.

“Excellent. If you would care to detach the anchors, Midnight, then take over the wheel, and we’ll prepare to take off.”

“Aye, Captain.” Just as Midnight reached out for the lever to retract the boarding ramp, he spotted a second car speeding toward them and stopped. There’s nowhere else but here they could be going to. The signs are very specific. Perhaps they need to see Dryden. He looks like he may be a businessman.

The car’s copper body shone brightly enough, but in addition, its headlights flashed, and its horn blared repeatedly. A dark-haired man was leaning out of the passenger window waving and shouting like a madman, although it was impossible to hear what he was yelling at that distance. Midnight glanced at his sister, but Aurora just shrugged, clearly as bewildered at he was.

“Who is it?” Aurora pursed her lips. “I don’t recognise him.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before, but he seems in quite a state.” Midnight settled his goggles in place, twisting the lenses to focus on the stranger. Midnight was pleased to see that the man’s muttonchops and beard were well-trimmed and didn’t obscure his mouth. “Reading his lips, he’s shouting for us to stop and wait. It’s important.”

“Very well.” Aurora folded her arms. “We’ll wait. We can easily make up time.”

Even as the car slowed down, the dark-haired man clambered out of the car’s window and as soon as he hit the ground he ran toward the ship. He didn’t stop when he reached the boarding ramp, barrelling up it to where Aurora stood like a sentinel, feet apart and arms folded.

“No time to waste. We need a ride aboard your vessel. Name’s Voltaire Crevin.” The man stuck out a hand and Aurora stared at it then took it in a brief shake.

“I’m the captain of this ship, Aurora Pendragon. Sorry, but my vessel is chartered for today. I can take you tomorrow. Good day, sir.”

“Yes, I’m sure it is. Come on, Tresilian. They’re going.” Voltaire twisted enough to look over his shoulder and waved at the driver of the car. Another man had got out of the vehicle was already running, a carpetbag in each hand.

Watching Tresilian run, Midnight’s stomach flipped. The man’s hair was an unruly mop of an amazing shade of auburn, but with his square chin, broad shoulders, and long, lean legs, he was the epitome of every heroic adventurer that Midnight had read about.

He was so preoccupied with Tresilian, that his attention was temporarily diverted from Voltaire. As the distance between them closed, the man looked directly at Midnight with the most amazing ocean-blue eyes, and this time Midnight forgot to breathe. His sister’s angry voice immediately jolted him back to what was happening on the ship.

“Excuse me. Did you not hear, sir?” Aurora’s voice had taken on the icy tone that Midnight recognised as trouble, with a capital T. “The ship is already chartered.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll pay double. No, it’s more important than that. I’ll pay treble your fee. Come on, Tresilian.” Voltaire yelled out, but Tresilian was already powering up the ramp.

Unable to tear his gaze away, Midnight stared as Tresilian threw one bag on board, then jumped from the ramp, onto the ship’s rail, and vaulted onto the deck. Midnight took a couple of steps back but caught his heel on something and started to fall.

But before he could hit the ground, he was swept up and suddenly Tresilian’s face was only inches from his own. The man grinned broadly.

“Take a care. Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“Take your hands off my brother this instant.” Aurora shouted out. “Hey! How dare you!”

The moment Aurora’s attention had been diverted to Midnight’s mishap, Voltaire had dodged around her and was already bowing low to Dryden as Drusilla wandered over to the men.

“I really am very sorry. You look such an amazing couple, and what a wonderful way to spend your day. How about I pay for your trip to make up for my being here?”

“I really don’t—” Drusilla began to speak, but Dryden interrupted.

“Thank you and we accept. Oh, and you need to pay the fare for my servant, as well.”

“Fine. Absolutely fine. Consider it done.” Voltaire turned to Aurora. “Sorted. Triple fare for Tresilian and me, and I’ll pay for this charming couple and their servant,” Voltaire looked all around him and shrugged. “Wherever he is. Can we take off now please, Captain?”

For a moment, Midnight thought Aurora was going to order Voltaire off her ship, but instead his sister turned slowly away from Voltaire to Drusilla.

“Are you quite certain about this, Miss Dru? After all, this meant to be your engagement treat.”

“Yes, we’re sure.” Dryden stuck his thumbs in his waistcoat. “No trouble at all, is it, my dear?”

“No. None.” Drusilla didn’t even look at Dryden, but the flatness of her tone spoke volumes to Midnight. Even Voltaire, as oblivious as he seemed to Aurora’s anger, coughed and started to sidle away.

“Well, then, I’ll just sit over here. Leave you good people in peace. Tresilian, do you have the, ah…you know?”

“Yes, I know and yes, I do.” Tresilian released Midnight’s arm. “Excuse me.”

“Uh, yes.” Embarrassment threatened to incinerate Midnight. He hadn’t even noticed Tresilian was still holding his arm. “I…I um, have to deal with the ramp, and the anchors.” Muttering more to himself than to the man whose chuckle made him shiver in a very pleasant way, Midnight put distance between them.