Come Looking For Me by Cheryl Cooper Read Free Book Online

saying, “Compliments of our cook, who, I might add, was crestfallen he couldn’t deliver it to you personally.”
    Sitting up in her cot with several extra pillows at her back, Emily quipped, “Is this to loosen my tongue before the interrogation?”
    â€œAye, we had thought it might help,” Fly confessed.
    James stepped towards her cot, his arm extended. “James Moreland, ma’am. We did meet last night, but it was … well, you were …”
    â€œA bit disoriented?” said Emily, shaking his hand. “I am sorry for that. How do you do, sir?”
    Leander slipped through the curtain and stood quietly next to Fly just as James asked, “And how are your injuries tonight?”
    â€œMuch as they were last night, sir.”
    â€œLeander assures me you will make a full recovery.”
    â€œI am very thankful to Dr. Braden,” she said, keeping her eyes on the captain, who pulled up a nearby stool and dropped down heavily upon it.
    â€œYou were on the American frigate, the Serendipity. ”
    â€œI was.”
    â€œHow long were you their … guest?”
    Emily gave a wry smile. “I was their prisoner, sir.”
    James cleared his throat. “Their prisoner, then.”
    â€œI cannot say for certain … three weeks, maybe four.”
    â€œWere you mistreated?”
    Emily’s voice went icy. “Yes. Every day.”
    Avoiding her eyes, James pressed on. “How was it you managed to escape?”
    â€œI jumped out the stern windows, which you conveniently blew out with your cannon fire.”
    Emily saw a flicker of amusement cross Fly’s face. Her eyes drifted to Leander, who stood watching her, one fist held to his lips. For a moment his blue eyes locked with hers.
    â€œWere you shot before or after you jumped?”
    â€œAfter, sir.”
    â€œAny idea who was it that pulled the trigger?”
    â€œI believe his name was Mr. Clive.”
    James shifted on his stool. “You are a British subject?”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œAnd your home?”
    â€œDorset, sir.”
    â€œYour father’s name?”
    â€œMy father died three years ago.”
    â€œHis name?”
    Emily was slow in answering. “Henry … Henry George, sir.”
    James paused in his questioning, his eyes narrowing as if he were running the name Henry George through his mind. Finally, he asked, “His occupation?”
    â€œHe was a farmer.”
    â€œA farmer,” echoed James flatly. He took a deep breath. “And your mother?”
    Emily’s lips disappeared into a thin line. “She died when I was very young. I do not remember her at all.”
    â€œBut you do remember her name?”
    â€œYes, of course. It was Louisa.”
    â€œDo you have any other family?”
    â€œNo … sir.”
    James studied her, a small frown playing between his brows. “How old are you, young lady?”
    â€œEighteen, sir.”
    â€œDid you ever hear tell of any Englishmen on the Serendipity? ”
    â€œI was locked in the captain’s quarters and never once allowed beyond their confines. I was neither acquainted with the crew, nor those that Captain Trevelyan kept in his gaol.”
    James glanced up sharply. “Trevelyan?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    The colour drained from James’s face and there was a slight waver in his voice. “Captain Thomas Trevelyan?”
    â€œThat was his name.”
    â€œDid you … did you … at any time overhear the extent and nature of his war orders?”
    â€œNo, but I suspect they were comparable to yours, Captain Moreland: to sink or take a prize all enemy ships along the Atlantic coast.”
    The men exchanged glances, then regarded Emily with expressions of curiosity.
    James’s left leg bounced up and down as he resumed his questioning. “How was it you came to be Trevelyan’s prisoner?”
    Emily hesitated. She lowered her