The Red Siren (35 page)

F
aith pushed open the front door of the Westcott home and nearly ran over Edwin. He stumbled backward, his bloodshot eyes rounding like saucers.
      “Miss Westcott. What…where…how?”
      Dajon entered behind her and led the tottering steward to a chair beside the grandfather clock. “There, there, man. Have a rest. I assure you we are not ghosts.”
      Edwin slid into the seat. “But you were in prison.”
      “I am aware of that, Edwin. Now, if you please, where are my sisters?” Excitement rippled through her. Faith gripped the banister and peered upstairs. At nearly one o’clock in the afternoon, everyone should be up and about.
      “In the drawing room, I believe,” Edwin stuttered, withdrawing a handkerchief and dabbing his forehead.
      After closing the door, Dajon proffered his arm with a smile. “Shall we?”
      Gripping his elbow, Faith allowed him to lead her up the stairs. She still couldn’t believe that the extraordinary man beside her was her husband, and she couldn’t wait to share the news with her sisters.
      “Miss Faith! Miss Faith!” Molly’s high-pitched voice pulled them back to the bottom of the stairway. The cook sped down the hallway, her muslin skirts flailing behind her. “I thought I heard yer voice.” Her eyes landed on Dajon, and she halted. “Oh, Mr. Waite. Warms my soul to see you.” She caught her breath as her gaze shifted suspiciously between them, then she darted to Faith. “How did you get out of prison, Miss Faith?” She reached up as if she wanted to hug her but hesitated. Throwing her arms around her, Faith embraced Molly, and they both broke into a jumbled mix of sobbing laughter.
      
Pulling away, Faith held her at arm’s length. “I have much to tell you.”
      Grace’s soft footsteps upon the stairs drew Faith’s attention. Her normally glowing skin seemed pale in the light coming in through the back window. Dark smudges tugged on her glassy green eyes. Clutching a book in hand, she inched her way down to Faith as if she didn’t quite believe what she was seeing.
      The back door slammed, and a thud of boots sounded before Lucas barreled into the foyer, hat in hand and smelling of hay and horses. His eyes shimmered as a beaming smile took over his mouth.
      “Lucas!”
      “Miss Faith. How did ye—”
      Grace flew down the remaining stairs and into Faith’s arms, stopping Lucas’s question in midair and nearly knocking Faith over. “Praise be to God. I’m so glad to see you.”
      “And I you, sweet sister.” Faith squeezed her then took a step back. “You’re trembling.” She took both her hands in hers. “Everything will be okay now. I am free.”
      “Free,” Molly repeated. “Why, heaven be praised!” She clapped her hands together.
      “I have such good news to share. Where is Hope?” Faith started for the stairs. “I want her to hear this, too. Is she in her chamber?”
      A sullen silence struck the room. No one’s eyes met hers.
      Dajon took her hand as if he sensed something was amiss. “Where is Miss Hope?” His question flung into the room like a net and hung waiting for an answer to fill it.
      Grace stepped forward. “She left a note in her chamber yesterday morning.”
      “What did it say?” A sweat broke out on the back of Faith’s neck.
      Grace’s bottom lip quivered even as her eyes pooled with tears.
      “She has stowed away aboard Lord Falkland’s ship heading to England.”

M. L. TYNDALL

MaryLu Tyndall dreamed of pirates and seafaring adventures during her childhood days on Florida’s coast. She holds a degree in math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer. Her love of history and passion for story drew her to create the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series. MaryLu now writes full-time and makes her home with her husband, six children, and four cats on California’s coast, where her imagination still surges with the sea. Her passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but expose Christians to their full potential in Christ. For more information on MaryLu and her upcoming releases, please visit her Web site at
www.mltyndall.com
or her blog at crossandcutlass.blogspot.com.