Promise of a Family. Jo Ann Brown

like a ball through his brain. Why had he failed to see that possibility himself? He had told her, after all, that they could not discount any theory until they were certain it would not lead to the children’s families.

      “I will have my men make inquiries about missing ships as well as missing children,” he said.

      “Good.” She started to walk away again, and he knew he had been dismissed.

      He did not move. “My lady?”

      “Yes?” She kept walking.

      “I hope your idea is wrong.”

      She stopped but did not turn. “Why?”

      “Because if it is correct...”

      She spun to look at him with horrified eyes. “Please tell me that you are not about to suggest that their own parents put them in the boat.”

      “No, because that is not how privateers work. They want the cargo and the ship. Once they board, the ship’s crew and passengers are doomed.” He closed the distance between them until she had to tilt her head back to look up at him. Raising his hand, he slipped the loose hair back behind her ear. He heard her breath catch, and his heart quickened like a ship driven by a gale.

      It took all his willpower to ignore both her reaction and his own. His life was already too enmeshed with the events and people of Porthlowen, and he would be gone soon. But he could not leave without warning her of a truth he doubted she could imagine.

      Wiping a bit of fluffy dust from her cheek, he held her gaze as he whispered, “If you are right, no ship and no port, including Porthlowen, may be safe.”

      He was shocked when she pulled back with the calm smile that was beginning to annoy him. He knew that expression was aimed at covering up her true emotions because her fingers trembled. Because he had touched her or because of what he had told her?

      As if she spoke of nothing more important than the color of the water in the cove, she said, “We have never been assured of safety in Porthlowen. Before the French, there were other pirates and raiders, as well as storms and droughts and sickness.”

      “Very well. It seems you understand. Therefore, I will bid you a good evening, Lady Susanna.”

      “Good evening, Captain.” She relented from her icy pose as she added, “I truly appreciate you bringing me the information your men have gathered. We are grateful for your continuing efforts.”

      “I helped rescue those children. I would be coldhearted not to be concerned about their well-being.”

      She nodded, and he wondered if she ever lost control of her tight hold on herself. Even when she had gasped at his touch on her cheek, she’d quickly reverted to her cool exterior.

      Drake got his answer when her name was shouted from the hallway, and a maid burst into the nursery. The young woman’s eyes were wide with dismay as she cried, “My lady! It is Miss Lucy! She tumbled down the stairs and landed on her head. We cannot wake her.”

      Alarm wiped all other emotion from Lady Susanna’s face as she pushed past him. He caught her arm, and she whipped around, fury now mixed with fear.

      “Let me go!” she ordered.

      “I will, but I am going with you so you don’t fall down the steps in your haste to get to her.”

      She nodded. “Hurry! I need to be there when she regains her senses.”

      He steered her out of the room past the maid and the footman, who exchanged worried glances. He knew their thoughts as surely as if they were his own.

      What if the tiny girl never woke?