A Taste of Paradise Read Online Free Page B

you hide me?”
    The brassy-haired tavern wench glanced toward the kitchen. “Mr. Tate don’t want no trouble with the Watch. He’d turn you in faster than you can blink your eye. Wot ’ave you done?”
    â€œNothing. I’ve done nothing. Please help me. I need to get away.”
    The barmaid regarded Sophia for the space of two heartbeats. “How far away?”
    â€œAs far away from London as I can get.”
    The barmaid leaned close. “You can’t hide here. Mr. Tate will return from the kitchen soon. If he sees you, Lord only knows what he’ll do. I’ve seen him sell innocents to whorehouses. But since you look like a lady wot’s in trouble, I’ll pass on a bit o’ information that might help.”
    Sophia darted a glance at the door. “I am desperate. Anything you can do for me will be appreciated.”
    â€œMost of our customers are seafaring men. Their ships are docked at Southwark quay. Perhaps you can buy passage on one sailing on the midnight tide, if you ain’t too fussy about where you end up.”
    Leave England? That wasn’t exactly what Sophia had in mind. And she didn’t have a farthing to her name. But what if she hid aboard one of the ships and crept off once the danger was past? It was worth a try.
    Sophia was still making up her mind when a commotion near the front door caught her attention. “Oh, my God, they’re here!”
    â€œThis way,” the barmaid said, grasping her arm and pulling her through a door. “This door leads to the alley out back. Good luck.”
    Sophia didn’t waste a moment as she fled out the rear door into the alley. She emerged from the alley and ran down the street toward the quay. She felt a rush of relief when she saw three ships berthed along the quay. Only one ship, however, had its gangplank run out.
    â€œThere she is!” she heard Rigby call out. She raced toward the ship with its gangplank resting on the pier. She paused at the end of the gangplank and glanced upward, then ducked into the shadows when she saw the night watch pacing the deck. She waited, uncertain what to do, and then she saw the watchman walk to the ship’s stern and peer over the railing.
    Dragging in a calming breath, Sophia darted up the gangplank and crouched behind a mast. She froze when she heard Sir Oscar hail the watchman. “Ahoy, the watch!”
    The watchman leaned over the railing. “Aye, what do you want?”
    â€œDid a woman come aboard your ship a few minutes ago?”
    â€œA woman? No, sir, no one came aboard. She couldn’t get past me even if she tried.”
    â€œDid you see which way she went? We followed her here.”
    â€œNo, sir, I ain’t seen anyone, and I’ve been here all night.”
    Rigby spat out a curse. “Let’s go. She can’t have gotten far.”
    Sophia nearly collapsed with relief when she heard their receding footsteps. That still didn’t solve her dilemma, however. A far greater problem suddenly arose when sailors began boarding the ship in groups of twos and threes. When they greeted the watchman with jovial remarks, Sophia realized the crew was returning from shore leave.
    Frantic, she turned about, searching for a hiding place until the coast was clear to leave. She spotted an open hatch and a ladder leading downward. Without hesitation she scrambled down the ladder and ducked inside a cabin whose door was ajar. Breathing hard, she leaned against the door, safe for the moment.
    She’d scarcely had time to catch her breath when she heard footsteps outside the door. She backed away, her gaze darting about for a hiding place. She spotted a sea chest but decided it was too small for her to hide in. Frantic, she dived beneath the oversized bunk just as the door opened, rolling until she came up against the bulkhead.
    A light flared. Sophia could see nothing of the cabin’s occupant but a pair of muscular