Page 60 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Chapter Ten

Eve lay awake most of the night, the gravity of her circumstances setting in after the shock and fear of Lord Rushton’s possible death during the duel had faded. After these recent events, only one gentleman of character would now consider her a lady of character: Lord Somerset.

If she returned home unmarried, it wouldn’t matter to her father that Lord Halifax had kidnapped her, or that she was guilty of conspiring to kidnap Lord Rushton. Her father would make a dawn appointment with the intention of killing the earl.

Eve felt deep in her bones that Lord Rushton wouldn’t accept the challenge, but she feared her father’s determination—and his aim. The man, bless his determined soul, loved her and Grace, and believed with all his might that a woman’s life could be ruined by scandal. He was more right than she had ever considered. She had no other choice. She had to accept Lord Somerset’s offer of marriage.

The unloading of the coal began at dawn and Lord Somerset informed them that their time to leave would be ten o’clock. The hour arrived, and Eve was helped up on deck by the viscount.

She pulled her cloak tight against the spring chill as she got her first look at Belfast, glistening in the morning sun beyond the teeming docks. She didn’t see Lord Rushton, and breathed a sigh of relief that she didn’t have to endure his company for the day. Lord Somerset grasped her elbow on one side and Grace’s elbow on the other, and helped them across the deck to the gangplank.

“Wait here,” he instructed Eve, and proceeded down the steep gangplank with Grace.

Eve caught sight of a waiting carriage with Lord Rushton and Oscar standing beside the vehicle. She had the ridiculous urge to whirl and flee back to the cabin, but the earl turned and looked at her. She couldn’t read his expression, but she knew if she returned to her cabin now, he would believe she had run from him. It was best she met him head on.

Eve started down the gangplank alone. She took four steps and slowed when the gangplank lifted with the rolling sea. For an instant, she feared she would lose her balance and topple into the murky water without a railing to prevent her fall. She took another cautious step and looked up to find Lord Rushton hurrying up to her.

He reached her side and grasped her arm. She was chagrined to have to lean into him for fear of stepping too close to the edge of the gangplank as it lifted and then fell with another gentle swell. He led her down the gangplank with the steady legs of an old seadog and they reached the wooden dock without mishap.

He released her. “The Irish Sea is mighty cold this time of year, Miss Crenshaw.”

His tone remained light, but Eve didn’t miss the censure. “When is it not cold?”

“Never,” he replied, which she interpreted as ‘never do that again.’

Lord Somerset waited beside the carriage as they neared.

“In you go, Somerset,” Lord Rushton said.

The viscount complied.

“Come along, madam.”

Lord Rushton reached for her hand and warm fingers closed around hers. An unexpected flutter in her stomach caused her knees to weaken. She managed to lift her skirt and cloak as he handed her into the coach, but she nearly fell into the seat beside Grace in her fervor to free her hand from his. Curiosity flickered in his eyes in the instant before he sprang inside the compartment and settled beside Lord Somerset in the opposite seat. Oscar closed the door and the carriage listed slightly as he climbed atop the carriage with the driver.

“Was it really necessary to bring Oscar along?” Eve asked as the carriage rolled forward with a gentle lurch.

Amusement appeared in Lord Rushton’s eyes. “You feel for poor Oscar, but care nothing for what Somerset and I must endure?”

“Oscar is not the one who insisted we take this voyage,” she replied. Though he had stood with Lord Rushton in his insistence they go.

“So Lord Somerset and I are to suffer for our chivalry?” the earl asked.

“I imagine you and Lord Somerset will suffer a great deal before this is over.”

“Nothing less than we deserve?” he asked softly.

“I suppose not.”

“I doubt Oscar would have let us leave without him, in any case,” the earl said. “He has appointed himself the protector of you and your sister. Along with Somerset, of course.” Lord Rushton gave him a nod.

“More like Judas,” Eve muttered.

“Judas?” He looked horrified. “Somerset, I do believe you have been demoted in Miss Crenshaw’s estimation.”

“Not Lord Somerset,” Grace said. “Oscar. Eve is angry because he sided with you in getting us onto the ship.”

“I see.” Lord Rushton looked at Somerset. “You can rest easy, Somerset.”