Unexpected Treasure: A High Seas Adventure by Tammy Andresen Read Free Book Online Page A

right. But you must promise if One Eye is inappropriate you will let Sanders--”
    “I will be fine. He can’t touch me, I am strong enough to withstand his words.”
    Rex gave her a glowing smile in the mirror. “That’s my girl.”
    She quirked an eyebrow at him. Was she really his girl?  “All of this time, you were really plotting to save me? Why would the Prince Regent go so far to protect me?”
    He sighed. “I would like to tell you that he cares deeply about all his subjects. But the truth is, you’re estate is strategically placed for military and shipping operations. It can be used for the Crown, or in the case of your uncle, against it. Prinny would prefer the former.”
    Sarah gasped. The pieces were falling into place. “But my father’s friend, Lord Mercer? He said that he received a message from the Prince Regent demanding that I be sent back to my uncle.”
    Rex grimaced, seeming to think on it. “I’m not entirely certain. Either Lord Mercer is in league with your uncle, and lied to you about Prinny’s letter, or your uncle has acquired the Prince Regent’s seal and faked the note. But the Prince Regent did not send Lord Mercer a missive. He is actively working to rid you, and himself, of your uncle.”
    “And One Eye?”
    “Well, let’s find out.” He reached for hand and Sarah placed her hand in is much larger one. The fear she had been carrying melted away.
    One Eye was being held deep in the hull of the ship. Sarah has somehow expected an actual jail but instead he was locked in a small room. It did have a tiny window with bars, so it felt a little like visiting a prisoner.
    There was a sailor stationed just outside the door. “Captain,” he barked as Rex approached.
    One Eye instantly appeared in the barred window. “You’ve brought company.” His unpatched eye devoured her.
    Rex was still holding her hand and he gave it a squeeze. Despite the situation, Sarah straightened her shoulders.
    “I am curious to know why you were targeting the Anna Marie. It was a small ship, barely worth your time.”
    One Eye’s gaze swung from her to Rex, his eye now weary. “I got information for you, but it comes at a price.”
    “I’m listening.”
    “I know what happens to captured pirates, hanged or worse. I want my life.” One Eye grabbed the bars with his hands.
    Rex cocked his head to one side. “You’ve stolen directly from the crown. I don’t know that I can make that promise.”
    “He was going to give her to us. Said she looked like an angel. All we had to do was make her disappear.” One Eye looked her up and down once again, a leer on his face.
    Sarah shivered, not only from his expression but also because of what he had said. It wasn’t just a chance pirate attack but that someone, most likely her uncle, had sent these violent men after her. She had endangered Anne and Mrs. Flannery and her attempt to keep her identity secret had been for nothing. He had known where she was all along.
    If it hadn’t been for Rex… she glanced at the man next to her. His face was set in hard lines, as though it were made of stone. Rex stood firmly between her and the worst her uncle was trying to throw at her. What was more, he had been protecting her long before she had known it. She owed everything to him.
    “Some men have been shipped to an island rather than being sentenced to death. If your information is good enough, I can arrange for you to be brought there.”
    “That ain’t a guarantee.” One Eye’s knuckles were white on the bars.
    “It’s the best you’ll get.” Rex’s voice was low, though Sarah could sense the tension in it.
    The other man paused for several seconds. “Wentworth, done sent us after ‘er.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, ‘e isn’t gonna tell the likes of me now is ‘e? But he’s been keepin’ us busy, chasin’ after the crown’s gold. ‘E don’t keep but a crate or two and we get the rest.”
    “How does he know what ships to target?”
    “Well,