Page 27 of The Sinner
Duncan’s gaze shifted from him to Glynis and back again, asking for an explanation.
“Ye never saw her,” Alex said. “This was her plan, not mine. She wants me to take her to her relatives in Edinburgh.”
“Mistress Glynis,” Duncan said, “are ye certain ye want to do this?”
“I can take ye back to the keep, and no one would be the wiser.” Alex held his breath, waiting for her answer.
“I’m going,” Glynis said, and climbed into the boat.
It appeared Alex was in for an adventure. Teàrlag said three women would require his help, and he hoped to hell the old seer had miscounted.
“We aren’t the only ones leaving in the dark tonight,” Duncan said to Alex, after they had stepped away to speak in private. “I saw another boat go out a couple of hours ago.”
Alex waited, sensing Duncan had something more to say to him.
“Glynis is a good woman,” Duncan said at last.
“I know she is,” Alex said. “I don’t intend to take advantage of the situation.”
“Good luck,” Duncan said, squeezing Alex’s shoulder. “I suspect ye will need it.”
* * *
The moon shone between the fast-moving night clouds, revealing the occasional rock poking above the sea. Alex maneuvered the boat around them easily. He did not know the waters around the Mull as well as he did those around the islands to the north and the west. But the Viking blood was strong in him, and gave him a sixth sense on the water.
The only sound was the soft splash of his oars. The water was flat and silent, and neither he nor Glynis had spoken a word in the hour since they left the shore.
“Ye didn’t have to kiss me,” Glynis said.
He smiled to himself. Obviously, Glynis had been dwelling on those kisses, too.
“Ye could have pretended,” she said. “It was too dark for the guards to tell the difference.”
“And why would I want to do that?” he asked.
Glynis cleared her throat. “I fear I didn’t make myself clear. When I asked ye to take me with ye—”
“Forced me, ye mean,” Alex said.
“I didn’t mean it as an invitation to… to…”
Alex couldn’t help himself. “To make love to ye morning, noon, and night, all the way to Edinburgh?”
“Alex!”
Glynis sounded so scandalized that he laughed.
“Don’t jump overboard—I know ye were only looking for an escort, not a bedmate.” Under his breath, he added, “A shame, that.”
A damn shame. This was going to be one hell of a long trip.
“What do ye know of your mother’s family?” he asked to divert himself.
“I’ve never met them, but I understand they are a wealthy and respected merchant family,” she said. “One of my uncles is a priest.”
Alex would make sure that her mother’s family were good people before he left her with them. If they weren’t, heaven help him, for he didn’t know what he’d do with her then.
“Why do ye travel to Edinburgh?” Glynis asked.
