Page 142 of A Devious Secret

Haddington interjected, “I think Gemma is asking the wrong question.”

“What do you mean?” Henry asked.

“Well, from where I stand, you are bound to lose this fight and will most likely be killed,” Haddington said. “I think a better question is- willwelet you live?”

Henry lifted his brow. “Surely you cannot be this delusional?”

“I have been called much worse,” Haddington replied. “But you seem to be under the impression that we have come alone.”

Henry’s eyes darted around the main deck. “Who else did you bring?”

“A skilled marksman,” Haddington said.

“You are lying,” Henry declared.

Haddington shrugged. “Why don’t you put your finger on the trigger and find out?”

Henry’s expression grew clouded with doubt. “You are just trying to buy yourself more time,” he said. “It won’t work.”

“I am many things, but I am not a liar,” Haddington stated in a firm tone.

In a swift motion, Henry pointed the pistol at Haddington’s head. “Come out!” he ordered. “Or else I will kill Lord Haddington!”

Silence.

Gemma’s eyes roamed the deck but she saw no one make themselves known. What game was Haddington playing?

Henry pressed the barrel of the pistol into Haddington’s head. “This is your last warning,” he said.

“Is your finger on the trigger?” Haddington asked, appearing unconcerned by the threat on his life. “He won’t reveal his location until he knows that you aren’t bluffing.”

Gemma watched as Henry’s finger twitched on the trigger. He was going to shoot Lord Haddington, right here, in front of her.

A shot rang out and Henry’s pistol dropped to the ground with a clang. He cradled his right hand in his left and shouted, “Shoot them! Shoot them all!”

As one of the men brought up his pistol, Evie reared her hand back and released a dagger. It lodged in the man’s chest, and he collapsed to the floor.

The other man leaned down and put his pistol onto the floor. Then he put his hands up and said, “There is no reason anyone else has to die here.”

Haddington went to retrieve Henry’s pistol. “That is the first smart thing that has been uttered all evening.”

Henry’s eyes narrowed. “There is a whole crew below deck and they will have heard the gunshot. You will be outnumbered and outgunned in mere moments.”

Nathaniel stepped out from the shadows, holding a pistol in his hand. “You have lost, Hawkinge.”

Henry stared at Nathaniel, dumbfounded. “How many lords did Wycomb bring with him?”

“Enough,” Nathaniel replied. “You should know that I have spoken to the crew and they don’t have a vested interest in helping you.”

“You are lying!” Henry shouted.

“I’m not,” Nathaniel said. “They agreed to take you to France, but they never agreed to fight your battles for you.”

Henry turned towards the man with his hands up. “You are the captain of this ship. Order your men to help me!”

The captain glanced down at the dead man on the ground. “You are on the losing end of this,” he said. “It would be in your best interest to walk away with your life, while you still can.”

“I will pay you,” Henry stated.