Chapter 56

The room was cozy—Will’s servants were loyal, and loved him, and hurt for his loss; a fire burned near constantly—and he had tea, which he’d forgotten to drink. He hovered a pen over a cipher, which he had solved but not written out properly; he could not focus on the wording of his message.

The answers meant safety. Safety for other men, other English citizenry, other ships and other crews. He wanted to save them. Will Crawford wanted to save them all.

At least in theory he did. Colby, as Will, was so tired; he ached deep down inside, as if he’d never fully recovered from his collapse, as if the loss of Stephen and the Steadfasthad turned their jewel-hued love into only a colorless dream.

He scratched a note into paper. Refused to look up at any commotion outside. Newspapers with the latest scandal, no doubt. Gossip went on, even in the face of war. Engagements and marriages and inheritances.