Page 15 of The Lyon’s Lass

“He said it smells like dead fish, but it is the most amazing thing he’s ever seen.”

“The lad isn’t wrong.”

“He’s very bright. When he speaks it may not be clear, but he’s not mad or afflicted,” she said.

He put his hand over hers where she worried her fingers, twisting them in a way he didn’t care for.

“You don’t need to worry, Maisy. He’s safe. So are you.” Iain eyed the crew, half of which he didn’t know. “So long as you stay near me. A ship is not a place for a woman to be walking about alone. I’ve bought the men’s honor for this voyage, but don’t mistake that for safety.”

She nodded and cast her gaze about at the men as he had.

“I understand. It is not so unlike any other time I’m out.”

“I can’t imagine what it is like to have to think that way all the time. I have the freedom to go where I want without worry of being mistreated. You should have the same freedoms.”

“Perhaps, but that is not the way the world is.”

He couldn’t help but be angry for it on her behalf. When they were away from port, Iain took his place at the wheel and began moving them out to deeper waters and stronger winds. It felt odd to be turning The Rue north. Most of his travels were spent between London and the Indies.

They stayed within view of the coast as they sailed toward Aberdeen and his castle. The thought of it still made him shake his head. Him, an Earl, and now someone’s husband. The Fates were surely having a hearty laugh at him. But he’d have the last laugh.

As soon as he sorted things at Kesson Castle, he’d be back to his old life.

Chapter Seven

Maisy was happy to stay on deck with Jack, enjoying the excitement in her brother’s eyes as he took everything in. She couldn’t help her own enthusiasm as well. She and Jack were going to be fine. In just a few days, they would arrive at the place that would be their home.

They surely didn’t need the luxury of living in a castle, but anywhere they wouldn’t have to worry about Jack being sent away to a place he didn’t belong was fine with her.

She couldn’t help the many times she glanced at her husband where he stood at the helm of the ship, making small adjustments with the wheel that would keep them from drifting out to sea or plunging into the rocks of the shore. She trusted him with their safety on this voyage, but she also trusted him with their lives.

So strange after having known him only a short time. He could still turn out to be a brute, but she didn’t think so. The way he’d wanted to protect her, and didn’t plan to force his husbandly rights was reassuring, if perhaps also a little bit disappointing.

It was a silly thought, but Caroline had told her every detail of what happens in bed with a man and woman, and the grand pleasure to be taken. Maisy was a woman, and felt all the desires a woman was to feel. And now this handsome man was her legal husband. Why wouldn’t she wonder what it could be like? Was his beard soft or would it scrape her chin when she kissed him?

He looked down from the perch where he stood and caught her staring at him. She quickly looked away and then thought that was the worst thing she could do, for it would seem she’d been looking at him.

She forced her gaze back to him and found him smiling. Blast. She shouldn’t have looked back at him. Turning her face toward the breeze and sea spray she promised herself not to look in his direction the rest of the trip.

But a few minutes later she gave in again and looked up at him. He was looking off in the distance, not looking at her. Of course, he wasn’t looking at her. He had a job to do. He wasn’t just standing behind that big wooden wheel for the fun of it.

She shook her head at her silliness, hoping to toss away all thoughts of kissing. She’d never been kissed. And while she had never minded before, now she wondered. Could it truly be as pleasant as Caroline had made it seem. Iain had likely kissed a lot of women. He’d surely done more than kissing at his age.

But he’d all but rejected her. Mayhap if she hadn’t stiffened in panic when he’d called it their room like an untried maiden he might have been interested in her favors, as he’d called them.

Perhaps he didn’t care for her appearance. She was no grand beauty nor was she a troll. Nothing fancy, but not too dull either.

She’d read tales of sea voyages and heard of the exotic women in other lands. Was that what he was drawn to? Maybe a common English rose did little to rouse him.

And why should she care? She was content to have him go on his way and leave her and Jack to their lives. A small flutter in her stomach betrayed her.

She chose to ignore it.

Instead she focused on watching the last of the day’s sun reach over the land and dip below the horizon. Leaving her chilled in the cool sea air.

“Dinner is being served in the Capt’n’s quarters, mistress,” Hodge said with a formal bow toward her.

“Thank you, Hodge.” She signed to her brother that it was time to eat. He’d already laid waste to the basket of provisions they’d brought from Iain’s home for his noon meal. She knew it wouldn’t be difficult to pull him away from the deck of the ship with the promise of food. Her brother was always hungry. Always.