The Black Star maneuvered its way into Cochin Port. The trip took longer than expected. Soon the gangplank would be lowered and Benjamin will have access to land and be able to resume his search for Clara.

Never has he been this close to the possibility of finding her. It caused his body to thrum with nervous energy. Benjamin heard the order to drop anchor and Captain McCullen came up behind him, clapping him on the back.

"So this is it, Benji, you have made it to India. Do you really believe she is here?"

"I know here is where she was headed. I can only hope, here is where I will find her."

"Where do you plan to look first?"

"The Whispering Wind. Hopefully, she is still on board."

"And if not?"

"If not I search the town. I imagine she would still be traveling as Lord Fitton's valet. If I locate him, I will find my Clara."

"You still believe she is undiscovered?" The disbelief clearly showed on McCullen's face.

"I can only go by the last report. Richards still talked of Clara as Claremont the remarkable boy who came aboard their ship. If things have changed I guess I will discover soon enough."

"Right then. I wish you luck, old friend. We will await your return."

"Thank you," Benjamin told him, shaking his hand firmly, before setting off in search of the Whispering Wind.

It did not take long to ascertain where the ship was docked. Quite an impressive vessel painted to look like a frigate of the Crown. He could see how Richards' story of the surrender of the French vessel could hold true. The Whispering Wind was quite deceptive in its appearance.

He hailed one of the sailors on board. "I wish to speak to Commander Redgrave!"

"Yes, sir! May I ask who hails him?"

"I'm the emissary here to collect Lord Fitton, sent from England."

The sailor had a momentary look of confusion. "Lord Fitton, did you say?"

"Yes. Upon his arrival, he should have received notice he was to stay put by order of the Queen until I came to collect him."

"I see. One moment, sir." The sailor disappeared, Benjamin could only guess to clear his meeting with either Captain Redgrave or Lord Fitton. The thought that Clara may be onboard this very moment had him nearly vibrating with excitement. What was taking that man so long to return?!

If Clara was onboard as Claremont he must be very careful not to give her away. Although it would take every ounce of will and determination not to want to crush her to him, he must not expose her ruse.

"Permission to come on board has been granted," the sailor informed him upon his return and the plank was lowered for him to come aboard. Benjamin raced up the plank the moment it touched the ground.

"You're an eager one." The sailor chuckled.

"I've been a long time at sea, and am nearing the end of my journey. Hard not to be excited about that."

The man smiled and nodded in understanding, before leading Benjamin below deck to the Commander's quarters.

He knocked twice as was bid to enter. "The emissary from England, Commander."

Redgrave looked up from his inventory books and rose to greet his guest. "Thank you, Higgins." The sailor nodded, waved Benjamin into the room and shut the door behind him.

Redgrave held out his hand. "I am Commander Phineas Redgrave. We received your letter but I'm afraid we had to forward it into town as the Professor had already left our ship."

Benjamin's stomach plummeted. She wasn't here. So close he was, still, his journey has not ended. "Benjamin McAllister, emissary to the Queen," Benjamin said, shaking Redgrave's hand. "That news is most unfortunate."

Redgrave's hand paused. "What did you say your name was?"

"Benjamin McAllister."

There was only a second's hesitation before Redgrave went from shaking Benjamin's hand to having him pinned against the nearest wall.

"Thunder and Turf, Man! Have you gone mad?!" Benjamin exclaimed. It was not often he could be taken off guard.

Redgrave raised his fist, aiming it at Benjamin's face. "Give me one good reason not to pull your cork, you bastard!"

Benjamin made the immediate shift to weathered soldier and elite spy for the crown. "If you unhand me now, and explain yourself, you may be saved hanging from the yardarm for treason!"

Redgrave's eyes shifted, measuring Benjamin, passing judgment. "How could you do it? How could let her go off like that? Do you know how many times she could have, should have died?!"

For the second time, Redgrave shocked and surprised him, but Benjamin was quick to recover. Now was not the time for fighting but for answers. "Who exactly do you think I am?" Benjamin inquired coolly.

"A man, who could not possibly, not even in a thousand lifetimes, deserve a woman as precious as Clara," Redgrave said wanting so badly to inflict punishment on this worthless excuse for a man who stood before him.

Benjamin's lips twisted into a sardonic smile. "I am well aware. I'm guessing you are speaking of my wife. So, you had discovered her true identity. Was it when she was shot?"

Benjamin did not care for the tone Redgrave held for Clara. A man would have to be blind not to see, to feel, the love Redgrave felt for her. Jealousy wished to rule the day. Benjamin instead let the elation of knowing that she was indeed here soak in. He needed, however, to get this situation with Redgrave under control and fast.

"She came this far to get away from you, you will learn nothing from me." Redgrave threatened, and Benjamin all too quickly showed Redgrave how wrong he was. With a twist of the arm that held him in place and well-timed knee to the groin, Redgrave was brought to his knees. Benjamin's pistol now pressed firmly against Redgrave's temple.

"Where is she?" Benjamin half-cocked the trigger, letting Redgrave know without a shadow of a doubt how serious he took this question. Still, Redgrave remained silent.

Benjamin fully cocked his gun. "You've already given me just cause to end your life, and I will only discover her whereabouts eventually which would make your death rather pointless. So, please, do us both a favor and answer the damn question."

Redgrave still in pain bit the inside of his cheek, to stifle the grunt of him trying to rise. Benjamin backed up to allow him to do so, but still kept his pistol trained on him.

"Clara is with the Professor and my cabin boy, Sturgis. Last I knew they were in Fort Kochi." Redgrave knew this was not entirely true as he knew Clara meant to seek out the Ayurvedic Masters but figured Benjamin could work the rest out for himself.

He also hoped it would buy enough time to send Clara a warning should she not wish to return with McAllister and give her that option. Redgrave knew it was a fool's hope that she would return to him, but if there were even the slightest chance, he'd take it.

"There. Was that so hard?" Benjamin flipped the frizzen forward, dumped the pan and lowered the hammer, before stowing his pistol away.

"Will she be traveling as his valet still?"

Redgrave wondered how Benjamin managed to acquire so much information about Clara, that he knew she was on board his ship, that she gained access as a valet to the professor and that she had been shot. Perhaps McAllister did care for Clara as much as she claimed if he had followed her all this way.

"I couldn't say. I know that is how she left here. No one on my crew other than Lord Fitton and Sturgis knew Clara's true identity and we kept that secret guarded for the sake of her life."

"Which is the only reason you're still alive at this moment. Did the professor say where he intended to stay?"

Redgrave wrote down the address and handed it to him.

Benjamin took the note and placed it in his pocket. "Since they are no longer here, our business has concluded. However, should Clara return or you receive news of their whereabouts, I'll expect you to inform me by order of the Crown. Any and all messages can be received by Captain McCullen of the Black Star, am I understood?"

Redgrave nodded, even though he had no intention of doing so.

"You know you could never be what she needs," Redgrave interposed as Benjamin reached to open the door.

His hand stilled on the handle.

"If you truly loved her, you would leave her be."

Benjamin slowly turned, "Don't you mean I would leave her to you?"

Redgrave's jaw clenched. He would not back down. "I would be a far better fate than believing she's worthless. My actions would never lead her to believe she'd be better off dead than a disappointment to her husband. She'd never have reason to doubt my love."

Redgrave's words felt like a twisted knife to the heart, but Benjamin's expression remained unmoved. "Too bad, you'll never get that chance."

With those words, he left the Commander and his ship. Benjamin got back to the road and hailed a carriage to take him to the address the Commander had written down.

Redgrave's words stuck in his craw, though. Did Clara really discuss such intimate things with Redgrave? She must have, otherwise, how could he have known? Would she really consider ending her life if she could not bear him a child? How could she possibly believe herself worthless when she is so precious, so valuable to him? Has he really been so remiss in his duties as her husband?

All these questions passed through his mind, occupying him briefly as the carriage clopped through the city streets to the hotel located in the middle of the town. The city's charms were completely lost on him. He was a man on a mission, to find and win back if necessary the love of his life. To leave her, without a doubt, his love for her.