I don’t knowwhy I said it, I don’t know why I let the words spill across mylips, but they did. “Maria Cobham.”
Wallaceappeared taken aback and her dark skin turned a pallor green. “Whyare you looking for her?”
I clucked mytongue. “See? I knew you couldn’t help. Now, back off and let me dowhat I came here to do.”
“Wait!” shecalled after me. I didn’t turn back. “Wait! Dianna!” I heard herpace speed up from behind. “What if I told you I knew where to findher?”
I stopped inmy tracks and spun around, unable to believe my ears. “W-what doyou mean?”
“Like I saidbefore, no one comes into my port without me knowing. They don’tspend time in my town without me knowing their every move. MariaCobham was here for nearly a week before she fled on horseback tothe next town over.”
My blood rancold and icy goosebumps scoured over the surface of my skin. “Wait…you mean, she’s not even here?”
“Here?” Sheappeared slightly panicked but then eased into understanding. “Youmean, in Southampton?”
“Yes,” Iconfirmed. “We have good reason to believe she’s still hangingaround here.”
“No, Dear,”she shook her head, “Maria Cobham would never stay put in a singleplace on land for too long. Especially not a place like Southamptonwhere the list of warrants for her arrest far exceed any of thepirates before her.”
I tried not tothink of what that meant. That my dreams and hallucinations werejust that. Nothing more than my tired mind playing tricks on me.I’d hoped that perhaps it was the wish, the universe telling me itwas working, and I was heading down the right path. Regardless, Inow had a lead.
“Thank you,” Itold Wallace and then took off in search of my crew.
“Where are yougoing?” she called after me.
“To find MariaCobham!” I called back, unstopping as my feet moved with hasteacross the marble floor.
I finallyfound the dining hall. My friends were sitting around the end ofthe long, narrow table. A massive spread of delicious breakfastfoods before them. They all glanced up and spotted me, huffing tocatch my breath but grinning from ear to ear.
“I found her,”I told them. “I know where Maria is.”
Finn jumped upfrom his chair, the loud scuff of wood against the stone floorscreeching through the air. “Are ye sure? Where?”
“In the nexttown over. But she may not be there for long. We should go now,” Iinstructed.
“That’s aday’s ride by saddle,” Finn informed thoughtfully. “We could do it,just need some supplies first.”
“Sure, sure,”I said, barely hearing his words through the excitement that filledmy brain. “Whatever we need, just get it together and we’ll hit theroad.”
Lottie stoodthen and came over to where we stood in the wide doorway. “Dianna,”she motioned to my stomach, “Are you sure you should be going? Imean, after what happened? The doctor said you need rest.”
“No, I canrest once my sister has been caught,” I told them. “I’m going.”
“No, you aremost certainly not,” spoke a raspy, labored voice from behind.
I turned tofind Henry, out of bed, bare-chested except for the bandages that wrapped aroundit. Out of breath from hurrying through the house. I spotted aguilty looking Roselyn Wallace at his side. She must had pulled himfrom bed when she realized what I was doing. I narrowed my eyes ather, and she looked away, refusing to meet my gaze.
“Henry–”
“No!” hebellowed. “It’s too much of a risk for you and the baby. I won’tallow it.”
I recoiled.“You won’t allow it? You’re not my master, you know.”
He closed in,his tired but burning gaze piercing my skin. “No, but I am yourhusband, and the father of that baby. I will not put you in harm’sway, Dianna. Not again. Not ever!”
“Then whatwill you have me do? Wait around here while you ride off and…” Ididn’t want to say it. I didn’t want to accuse him of something hehadn’t even done. But I knew how desperately Henry wished to end mysister’s life with his own hands. Could I trust him not to? “Imean, look at you, Henry. You’re in no position to be travelling anywhere but back to bed.”
Henrystiffened, trying to mask the pain I knew very well he was in. “I’mfine. Shall we discuss this in private?”
I didn’trespond, but when he moved aside and invited me to join him outsidethe dining hall, I followed. I could feel his anger emanatingthrough his skin and wavering in the air around him as he walked afoot ahead. But his labored breaths and the way he favored hisgood, unburnt arm worried me to no end. I may not be fit to betraveling in the midst on Winter,but neither was Henry.
Once we wereinside the adjacent room, a small area that appeared to be used forstoring fancy dishes, Henry closed the door behind him and let outa huff of air.
“Henry, you’rein no shape to be jumping on a horse in this weather,” I said andcrossed my arms tightly.
He looked atme, the anger on his face melting away to be replaced with worry.He came toward me and slipped a hand over my ever-growing stomachthen took my face in the other. Our eyes, both glistening withconcern for the other, searched back and forth.
“I’m a betterfit than you,” he replied. “There’s a doctor here, Dianna. And withthe few fainting spells you’ve had…”
I knew he wasright. But I just couldn’t bear the thought of Henry facing offwith my sister and then losing. And on the opposite end of my mind,I couldn’t help but think he’d do it. He’d kill her. And everythingI’ve done would have been for nothing. I could have easily wishedher dead and saved the blood on his hands. But that’s not what Iwanted. She didn’t deserve to get off that easy.
“I just…”words escaped me as he brought our faces closer and the warmth ofhis breath tickled my skin. His mouth, slightly gaped and inviting,lured me in. Weak, I kissed his lips once. Quick and simple, beforepulling away. “What will you do when you find her?”
His browcreased in confusion. “What do you mean? I’ll bring her
