INTERIOR ARTWORK
IS LOCATED
BETWEEN CHAPTER 3 AND CHAPTER 4
and also can be accessed via the TABLE OF CONTENTS
STEPHANIE
LAURENS
Lord of the Privateers
The Adventurers Quartet: Volume 4
Lord of the Privateers
Copyright © 2016 by Savdek Management Proprietary Limited
Cover design by Savdek Management Pty. Ltd.
Cover and inside front couple photography © 2016 Period Images
The name Stephanie Laurens is a registered trademark of Savdek Management Proprietary Ltd.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Cast of Characters
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Interior Artwork
Chapter 4
Map of Freetown & Surrounding Areas
Chapter 5
Map of Freetown & Environs
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Calebs Sketch of the Mining Compound
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Dear Reader
Other Titles from Stephanie Laurens
About the Author
Can true love die? Or, neglected, does it lie dormant until the object of true desire is again within reach? Denied, does passion smolder, like embers waiting for the right conditions to flare into an all-consuming conflagration?
#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens delivers the thrilling conclusion to her acclaimed series THE ADVENTURERS QUARTET, a passionate Regency-era drama played out on the high seas and in the sweltering heat of tropical jungles, ultimately reaching a scintillating climax in the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair.
The eldest of the Frobisher brothers and widely known as the lord of the privateers, Royd Frobisher expects to execute the final leg of the rescue mission his brothers have been pursuing. What he does not expect is to be pressured into taking his emotional nemesis, childhood sweetheart, ex-handfasted bride, and current business partner, Isobel Carmichael, with him. But is it Isobel doing the pressuring, or his own restless unfulfilled psyche?
Resolute, determined, and an all but unstoppable force of nature, Isobel has a mission of her ownfind her cousin Katherine and bring her safely home. And if, along the way, she can rid herself of the lingering dreams of a life with Royd that still haunt her, well and good.
Neither expects the shock that awaits them as they set sail aboard Royds ship, much less the new horizons that open before them as they call into London, then, armed with the necessary orders and all arrangements in place, embark on a full-scale rescue-assault on the mining compound buried in the jungle.
Yet even with the support of his brothers and their ladies and, once rescued, all the ex-captives, Royd and Isobel discover that freeing the captives is only half the battle. In order to identify and convict the backers behind the illicit enterpriseand protect the government from catastrophic destabilizationthey must return to the ballrooms of the haut ton and, with the help of a small army of supporters, hunt the villains on their home ground.
But having found each other again, having glimpsed the heaven that could be theirs again, how much are they willing to risk in the name of duty?
Learn the answer and revel in the action, drama, intrigue, and passion as the Frobisherswith help from Wolverstone, the Cynsters, and many familiar otherssteer the adventure to a glorious end.
Praise for the works of Stephanie Laurens
Stephanie Laurens heroines are marvelous tributes to Georgette Heyer: feisty and strong. Cathy Kelly
Stephanie Laurens never fails to entertain and charm her readers with vibrant plots, snappy dialogue, and unforgettable characters. Historical Romance Reviews
Stephanie Laurens plays into readers fantasies like a master and claims their hearts time and again. Romantic Times Magazine
LORD OF THE PRIVATEERS
by Stephanie Laurens
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Principal Characters:
Frobisher, Captain Royd Hero, oldest Frobisher brother and captain of The Corsair
Carmichael, Isobel Carmody Heroine, only child of James Carmichael and Anne Carmody, and heiress of the Carmichael Shipyards, Aberdeen
In Aberdeen:
Frobisher, Captain Fergus Royds father
Frobisher, Mrs. Elaine Royds mother
Carmody, Mrs. Iona Isobels maternal grandmother and matriarch of the Carmody clan
Carmichael, Mr. James Isobels father and owner of Carmichael Shipyards
Carmichael, Mrs. Anne Carmody Isobels mother
Carmichael, Mrs. Elise Jamess mother, Isobels paternal grandmother
Featherstone, Miss Gladys Royds secretary at the Frobisher Shipping Company office
Jeb head groom at Carmody Place
On board The Corsair:
Stewart, Lieutenant Liam first mate
Kelly, Mr. William master
Williams quartermaster
Jolley bosun
Bellamy, Mr. steward
Various other sailors
In London:
Family:
Frobisher, Captain Declan Royds brother and captain of The Cormorant
Frobisher, Lady Edwina Declans wife, Royds sister-in-law
Frobisher, Captain Robert Royds brother and captain of The Trident
Hopkins, Miss Aileen Roberts intended and sister of Lieutenant William Hopkins, West Africa Squadron
Staff in Declan & Edwinas town house:
Humphrey butler
Government:
Wolverstone, Duke of, Royce aka Dalziel ex-commander of British secret operatives outside England
Melville, Lord First Lord of the Admiralty
Society:
Wolverstone, Duchess of, Minerva Royces wife, society grande dame, major ton hostess
St. Ives, Duke of, Devil (Sylvester)
St. Ives, Duchess of, Honoria Devils wife, society grande dame, major ton hostess
Cynster, Mr. Harry Devils cousin
Cynster, Mr. Rupert (Gabriel) Devils cousin
Dearne, Marquess of, Christian ex-member of the Bastion Club, ex-operative of Dalziels
Dearne, Marchioness of, Letitia Christians wife
Warnefleet, Jack, Lord ex-member of the Bastion Club, ex-operative of Dalziels
Warnefleet, Lady Clarice Jack, Lord Warnefleets wife
Trentham, Earl of ex-member of the Bastion Club, ex-operative of Dalziels
Hendon, Jack, Lord owner of Hendon Shipping, ex-operative, ex-army
Hendon, Kit (Katherine), Lady Jack, Lord Hendons wife
Carstairs, Major Rafe army officer, covert liaison, involved in Black Cobra incident
Delborough, Colonel ex-army officer, involved in Black Cobra incident
Clunes-Forsythe, Mr. power broker, wealthy member of the haut ton
Deveny, Lord Hugh indolent member of the haut ton
Risdale, Marquis of wealthy member of the haut ton
Cummins, Sir Reginald wealthy member of the haut ton
Rundell, Mr. Phillip jeweler, part owner of Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell
Bridge, Mr. jeweler, part owner of Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell
In Southampton:
Higginson head clerk, Frobisher Shipping Company office
At Sea:
Frobisher, Captain Lachlan captain of Sea Dragon
Frobisher, Captain Catrina (Kit) captain of Consort
In Freetown:
Holbrook, Governor Governor-in-Chief of British West Africa
Satterly, Mr. Arnold governors principal aide
Eldridge, Major Commander, Fort Thornton
Decker, Vice-Admiral Ralph Commander, West Africa Squadron
Winton, Major Commissar of Fort Thornton
Babington, Mr. Charles partner, Macauley & Babington Trading Company
Macauley, Mr. senior partner, Macauley & Babington Trading Company
Ross-Courtney, Lord Peter wealthy and influential visitor
Neill, Mr. Frederick well-born and wealthy associate of Ross-Courtneys
Undoto, Obo local priest
Muldoon, Mr. Silas the Naval Attaché
Winton, Mr. William Assistant Commissar at Fort Thornton
Hardwicke, Reverend minister of Church of England
Hardwicke, Mrs. ministers wife
Sherbrook, Mrs. lady-employer of Katherine Fortescue
Dave Cockney coachman
In the Mining Compound:
Mercenaries:
Dubois leader of the mercenaries, presumed French
Arsene Duboiss lieutenant, second-in-command, presumed French
Cripps Duboiss second lieutenant, English
Plus twenty-eight other mercenaries of various ages and extractions
Captives:
Frobisher, Captain Caleb youngest Frobisher brother and captain of The Prince
Fortescue, Miss Kate (Katherine) ex-governess of the Sherbrooks and Calebs intended
Quilley quartermaster of The Prince
Foster, Martin, Ellis, Quick, Mallard, Collins, Biggs, Norton, and Olsen experienced seamen from The Prince
Lascelle, Captain Phillipe longtime friend of Calebs, privateer captain of The Raven
Ducasse quartermaster of The Raven
Fullard, Collmer, Gerard, and Vineron experienced seamen from The Raven
Dixon, Captain John army engineer
Hopkins, Lieutenant William navy, West Africa Squadron
Fanshawe, Lieutenant navy, West Africa Squadron
Hillsythe, Mr. ex-Wolverstone agent, governors aide
Frazier, Miss Harriet gently bred young woman, Dixons sweetheart
Wilson, Miss Mary shop owner/assistant, Babingtons sweetheart
McKenzie, Miss Ellen young woman recently arrived in the settlement