Page 18 of The Lyon’s Lass

She chuckled again and he couldn’t help but join her.

“I’m sure it was quite a sight. I can see why you are sorry to have missed it.”

“Mayhap you can reenact it for me sometime.”

“Perhaps,” he said, but of course, he would not.

He shifted again into the quiet that fell comfortably between them.

It had been some years since he’d needed to sleep swaying between beams, but it would not be so long. Just tonight and two more, until they would arrive. Then they would part from each other’s company.

Chapter Eight

When a bell chimed, Maisy opened her eyes to the bright sun coming through the two round portholes in the wall. From her position in bed, she could look out and see the blue sky as well as the green water with white peaks. Did Iain put his bed in this place for the view? She had to admit it was a fine way to greet the day.

She looked over to the other side of the room and was not surprised to see the hammock was gone, as was her husband.

Abigail came in carrying a steaming pitcher of water for Maisy to wash.

“How was your night?” her maid asked with a raise of her brows. “Are ye sore this morning?”

Maisy considered for the moment her husband’s request to put on a pretense, but surely that wouldn’t extend to her maid. Maisy didn’t want to pretend she’d had relations with her husband.

She simply shook her head.

“It is not like that between us. And I’ll thank you to keep that information to yourself.”

“Of course, mum. I’d never say a thing, it’s just…”

“Just what?”

“Do you not find the captain handsome?” the impertinent maid asked.

Did Maisy find her new husband handsome? His black hair was too long to be respectable, but she liked the way it waved around his head much better than when it had been tied back. It was much like the ocean itself. Wild. And his green eyes shifted in color from the color of grass to that of the stormy sea. No matter what color they seemed to take on, though they always looked as if they held secrets.

But then wasn’t everything a secret between them at this time? They knew so little about one another. For wasn’t a secret just something you didn’t know yet?

“He’s tall,” Maisy allowed. It seemed an inadequate way to describe Captain Iain Douglas, Earl of Kesson. For he wasn’t just tall. He had a presence. From his broad shoulders and strong back, he took up more space in a room then most of the men she’d encountered in the ballrooms of Mayfair.

“Aye. So very tall,” Abigail added dreamily before clearing her throat and focusing on the task of laying out the gown Maisy was to change into.

“I believe that is enough of this conversation. How did you sleep?”

“Oh very well, mum. The ocean seemed to sway me like a babe in a cradle.”

Maisy nodded, having thought the same thing. The soft slap of waves against the hull of the ship was not unwelcome. She was quickly lulled to sleep.

“Has Jack awakened yet?”

“Oh, yes. He’s already eaten. It’s good we are not so far away from land that we can’t just stop by for provisions if Lord Jack eats everything onboard.”

Maisy smiled fondly. But her smile died on her lips when she stepped out on deck and found her brother at the wheel of the ship.

“Whatever is he doing? Where is the captain?” she shouted and started for the stairs where Hodge was seated.

“Everything is fine, my lady. The captain is just there.” Hodge pointed to the rail of the ship where Maisy’s husband leaned casually. As if he’d not surrendered the ship and the lives aboard to a child.

“I didn’t realize the captain was one to press boys into service on his vessel.”