William shrugged. “Does it matter? The lie did what I needed it to.”
“Lies and sin from a man of the cloth.” Brand shook his head. “Does that include having her service your prick?” He snorted while a few of the remaining sailors clustered about murmured. Captain Bingham watched the whole drama as if it were the worst Drury Lane play he’d ever seen. “How do you explain beating her?”
“Enough! I don’t need to hear this. My behavior is not up for discussion.” William aimed the pistol at Brand. “You have vexed me for the last time, Captain Storme.”
Captain Bingham shook his head. “Lay down the firearm, Mr. Hayhurst. There are consequences on this ship for such actions.”
“I won’t, for sometimes God’s will doesn’t extend far enough, so I must intervene.”
Elizabeth gawked at him. Her brother had gone insane.
Beside her, Brand shook his head. “So then you’ll add murder to your list of sins? As long as you ask for forgiveness, you don’t care how many crimes you’ll commit in the name of the Lord, is that it?” Annoyance and pity threaded through his voice. “You disgust me.”
“If it saves my sister from a lifetime with you, absolutely.” William’s eyes glittered with a fervor all his own. Behind him, Captain Bingham silently maneuvered two of his officers into position to presumably wrestle William to the deck. “I’m ridding the world of an evil man, doing the work our Lord won’t.” When he cocked the pistol, the sound of it echoed loudly across the deck.
Bang!
Fear shivered down Elizabeth’s spine. “No!” Her heartbeat skittered into a rapid pace as she darted in front of Brand, stretching out her arms and shielding him from William’s wrath. The pungent scent of gunpowder drifted to her nose, for her brother had indeed fired the shot, but Brand yanked her hard to him at the last second. Even still, the whizz of the ball flying past her ear was too close for comfort. She stared at William with horror clogging her veins. “You would have shot me, your own flesh and blood.”
“He’s demented,” Brand whispered, his hold still tight on her.
She shook from reaction as Captain Bingham gestured. The two officers each grabbed one of William’s arms while a third sailor took the pistol from his fingers. Brand’s arms around her were the only things that kept her upright. “I see now exactly what sort of man you are.”
“I’m one of the righteous!” William screamed while he struggled with his captors. “It’s my sworn duty to rid the world of sinners who don’t listen, who won’t follow God’s law!”
How could she have ever doubted Brand’s integrity, his honor, his love when her religious zealot of a brother was so much worse than she could have ever imagined? “William, I’m done letting you order me about and using the church’s dictates to bully me.” Tears filled her eyes from fear and horror. “Somewhere along the way you’ve misinterpreted what the Bible says. You’ve been trying to impose your will upon everyone around you, not His.”
“This is an abomination!” William’s screech echoed over the deck. “You are all going to hell for daring to thwart me.”
Captain Bingham shook his head. “Take the good Mr. Hayhurst into custody, Lieutenant.” His emphasis of the word good cast doubt and put forth his opinion on William’s character. “Put him in the brig for attempted murder.”
“Aye, sir.” In short order, the officers led her still shouting brother away.
Brand let her go long enough to extend a hand to Captain Bingham. “Thank you.”
“It was my pleasure. At least this livened up the voyage.” He shook Brand’s hand. “I wish you good fortune.”
“Fair winds and fallowing seas, my friend.”
Elizabeth cleared her throat. Her limbs felt made of water. “What will become of my brother?”
“He’ll remain in the brig for the duration of the journey to India. After that, I’ll hand him over to the English authorities in Bombay. They can decide what becomes of him. If they want to ship him back to Ipswich to answer for his crimes here, that’s their prerogative.”
“And if they don’t?” She feared she knew the answer.
His eyes were kind as he looked at her. “He’ll be held in an Indian prison for attempting to murder Captain Storme. I have no issue in giving a written statement to that fact.”
Perhaps that was what her brother needed to see how twisted his thoughts had become, how far he’d moved away from the love of God. She nodded. “Thank you. I apologize for the trouble and interruption we’ve caused.”
“Live a good life, Miss Hayhurst. That’s all I ask in return.”
“I promise I will.” Though she was sad at William’s fate, excitement fell over her when she glanced at Brand. She was exactly where she needed to be. “What happens now?”
“This.” He winked at Captain Bingham. Seconds later, he tossed her overboard.