He was speaking when, all of a sudden, he coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    A momentter, the man could hold himself up no longer. His tall frame copsed,


    knees mming hard against the unforgiving deck.


    He coughed again, more blood spilling from his lips.


    Briony hadn''t hesitated-her aim had been both ruthless and precise.


    It must have hit his spleen.


    Bianca heard themotion and came running. When she saw Stewart kneeling on the deck, a knife still lodged in his side and blood on his lips, she gasped in horror and called frantically for the doctor.


    Their private physician rushed over.


    Stewart, clinging to consciousness by a thread, managed tomand, "Turn the boat around. Now. And... get my wife back to her cabin-"


    With those words, his eyes fluttered shut. He passed out cold.


    "Sir!"


    Briony watched as Stewart was carried away toward the cabins.


    Conditions on the yacht were far from ideal. The doctor could do little more than stop the bleeding.


    Bianca pressed him for answers.


    "It looks like his spleen''s been injured," the doctor admitted, his voice strained. "I can''t risk removing the knife out here. We need to get him to a hospital as soon as possible."


    As soon as Bianca heard this, she hurried back out onto the deck.


    By now, the wind was howling, and fat raindrops pelted the yacht.


    She dashed over and grabbed Briony''s arm. "Ma''am, he''s unconscious. Please, you need toe inside! The waves are getting worse out here. It''s dangerous to stay on deck any longer!"


    But Briony refused to let go of the railing.


    She was terrified terrified that if she went back inside, Stewart would wake up and lock her away again.


    "Ma''am, the doctor says he''s lost consciousness from a spleen injury. The captain''s already turning us around."


    Rain streaming down her face, Bianca raised her voice over the storm, pleading with Briony.


    "He''s out cold, ma''am. Right now, you have more say on this yacht than anyone else. What are you afraid of?"


    Briony blinked, startled.


    The weather was growing fiercer by the second.


    Each raindrop stung her face like a p.


    In her mind, she saw Little Nina''s sweet, hopeful face.


    Suddenly, it was as if she woke from a nightmare. "I can''t... I can''t die


    hittle Nina''s still waiting


    at home!"


    Tears welled up and spilled from Briony''s eyes. Relieved, Bianca quickly helped her back inside.


    But Briony wouldn''t return to that same room.


    So Bianca brought her to her own cabin instead.


    me


    "Ma''am, why don''t you take a hot shower and change out of that wet dress?"


    Bianca suggested gently.


    Briony nced down at herself. Her wedding gown was drenched, streaked with blood, an utter ruin.


    It looked just like her marriage.


    Stained with blood and curses.


    In the bathroom, Bianca helped Briony out of the heavy, sopping gown and carried


    it out.


    The door closed softly behind her.


    Briony stepped under the shower,


    turned on the hot water, and stood trembling beneath the spray, eyes squeezed shut, letting the warmth soak into her frozen, shaking body.


    Half an hourter, Bianca knocked on the door.


    "Ma''am, are you alright? I made you some hot soup. You''re still not welle out and have a little, please."


    Briony opened the door, now dressed in a soft, cream-colored cotton pajama set.


    Her long towel.


    was wrapped in a


    lood Without makeup, her f è and lips were ghostures


    looked strikingly beautiful, but her


    pale.


    Bianca''s heart ached at the sight.


    She helped Briony to the bed and handed her the steaming hot soup. "Careful, it''s hot."


    Briony took the bowl and sipped slowly, one small mouthful at a time.


    She couldn''t afford to copse now.


    Little Nina was waiting for her. She had to pull herself together.