Ashton stood on the deck of the Black Lily, his captain, Ellis Bristow, beside him.
“Close call, Lord Lennox. We almost didn’t reach the Ranger in time.” The captain, his hat tucked under one arm, watched the rolling waves, his sharp eyes missing nothing.
“I know.” Ashton held his breath a moment, trying to erase the thoughts of what might have been if they hadn’t gotten to the Maiden Fair when they did.
They’d learned at the port which direction the slaver’s ship had gone, and in the race to catch her, soon learned a navy ship was also in pursuit. The joy at having an ally, however, became terror when their man from the crows nest called down that the Ranger wasn’t ordering the Maiden to stand down, and instead was opening gun ports.
Captain Bristow desperately arranged for his own me
