Whispers of the Sea (The Compulsion Bride Series) Book II (Unedited)

Part 11 ~ Chapter Twelve

Jake had sat, leaning against a trunk of a blooming oak tree, Awaiting Samantha's grand gesture of escaping, having come to the knowledge that she had slipped a note to a stranger whom he later found out to be one of the island's smugglers, during the church ceremony of Monsieur Lois burial. Ambrose had saw the exchanged as he had kept a close eye on her at Jake's request. Somehow Jake knew she was planning something. It wasn't difficult to pry the information from the man, after a few fists and offering of a generous number of coins; the bruises were mostly because of his acceptance to even think about carrying a woman and a child on such a journey, knowing the dangers and the coins were for the doctor's attendance of the wounds. He should not blame the man entirely, Samantha too knew the dangers and if he hadn't found out her plan to elope, who knows what would have happened to them? He swallowed heavily, clenching his fist as if to rein in his anger. Jake had saw the ladder, a small slip of a thing that could only hold one person at a time, he had called it bluff that she would use such a thing with Adelynn, but Samantha never seized to amaze him as he saw her slim figure dangling from the window.

"I- I-" She pursed her lips and thought for a second and Jake wondered what lies, she was about to formulate. "I'm going on a delivery."

Jake folded his arms, last night he had followed her to a delivery, after he was reluctant to return to the ship, Jake had taken a leisure walk along the street, walking had always help him think clearly and he had saw her moving swiftly with Adelynn in her arms and a young lad ahead leading the way, they had turned at the crossroad without noticing him standing on the other side. Jake thought, she was fleeing then, and pursued. To either stopped her or for protection if he was wrong, it had unsettled him that she took Adelynn and was leaving home at such late hours and was somewhat relief that she was indeed going on a delivery, but he knew she was lying now. "A delivery you say. Please inform me why you are sneaking down a ladder in the middle of the night with such a large satchel?"

"The front door is lock." She said lamely.

He scolded at her even more and took a step closer. Did she think he was daft?

"From the outside." She continued, holding his gaze.

"And I'm sure, that," He said through clenched teeth, thrusting a finger at the satchel on the ground. "is filled with medical supplies for this delivery?"

"Yes." She answered firmly, placing her hands on her hips as if to dare him to challenging her more on the matter.

She was a terrible liar, He noted.

Jake looked behind her. "Ambrose! Search the satchel!"

Samantha spun around to see Ambrose, coming out of the shadows with a smirk. "Don't you dare!" She glared at him then turned back to Jake. "How long were you two out here, I cannot believe you have retorted to staking me!"

Beside her Ambrose, ignored her protest, retrieve the satchel, and opened it. "Looks like someone was going on a haste trip, your grace and just hours before their wedding." He tsk, with a knowing grin.

Samantha launched at him, but before she could scratch his eyes out, Jake lifted and threw her over his shoulder. "Let go of me!" She struggled against him; but she was no match for his strong grip. "Put me down this instant!" Jake ignored her wailing as he walked to the front of the house and pry the door open.

"Papa? Is mama in trouble?"

Jake turned to see his daughter standing on the steps, with a frowned.

"Adelynn, stay with Ambrose, your mother and I are going to have a conversation."

Jake didn't place Samantha on the ground until arriving in the drawing room. "You scoundrel, dispi--" she bit off the words, pointing an angry finger at him. "How did you find out?"