Page 56 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“Prudish,” Eve finished for her.

“Yes, that is it.” Grace scrunched up her nose. “Quite unbecoming.”

Eve stared. “What?”

“He is not at all cooperating.”

“How dare he?” Eve said.

Grace’s brows furrowed. “Are you mocking me?”

“Clearly, he is in the wrong for not going along with your plans.”

Grace’s eyes narrowed. “You are no better than me, Eve Crenshaw. I told a small lie. You, however, had him kidnapped.”

And there it was. Their mother would be proud.

*****

Erroll halted outside the ladies’ cabin door with Oscar and Somerset at his side. “Are you gentlemen ready?”

“A man is never ready when it comes to Miss Crenshaw,” Oscar said under his breath.

“Which Miss Crenshaw?” Erroll asked, then shook his head. “Never mind. They’re both troublesome.” Though the elder sister had proven more troublesome than any other woman he’d known.

“I may have done you an injustice,” Somerset said. “I’m beginning to see how you got tangled up in this mess.”

“I am gratified.” Erroll knocked on the door and called, “May we speak with you, ladies?”

A moment of silence passed before Miss Eve Crenshaw called, “Come in.”

Erroll entered, his reinforcements close behind. The ladies sat at the small table, their hands folded demurely in their laps. That, he decided, was not a good sign. His gaze snagged on Eve Crenshaw’s torn sleeve. He would have to do something about that dress.

“Ladies.” He gave a slight bow.

Somerset followed suit, and said, “Are you well?”

“We are fine,” Miss Eve Crenshaw replied. “And you gentlemen?”

“As well as can be expected,” Erroll rejoined.

“Oh dear,” she said. “Do you get seasick, my lord? Perhaps a voyage wasn’t the best idea. We are barely out of harbor. The gentle waves we have experienced thus far are nothing compared to the massive swells we are sure to encounter at sea. I would advise a diet of dried toast. That will be much easier when the waves pitch your stomach into your throat.”

Erroll suspected she would enjoy seeing his stomach pitch into his throat. “I have spent some time at sea, madam.”

“Ah, yes,” she said. “You were in the navy. That must have been terrible for you, with your seasickness and all. I hope you can manage all right for the duration of this voyage.”

“I will muddle through,” he said.

“I have never been on a ship before,” the younger sister joined in. “This should prove to be quite an adventure.”

Erroll eyed her. “I would think you had had enough adventure for one day.”

“I have, but bear in mind, sir, the only reason Eve ended up in Gretna is because Lord Halifax was angry with you. That means the duel you fought with him had nothing to do with us.”

So the younger Miss Crenshaw was giving him a gentle but firm setback in payment for taking her to task over the suggestion they consummate their marriage in a carriage. The young lady had a bit of backbone.

“I feel certain I could have caught him long before he reached Gretna had I not been…indisposed,” Erroll said.