Page 21 of The Lyon’s Lass

Jack tapped her arm and made a questioning gesture.

“He said Hodge has taken over.”

Jack grinned and looked toward the wheel before leaving in that direction.

“I’m afraid my brother plans to take over your ship. I never knew him to be a pirate,” Maisy teased.

“He knows Hodge will let him take the wheel as much as he wants. Your brother has bewitched my entire crew,” Iain said with the same indulgent tone she often heard in her own voice.

Maisy nodded. “He has charm in folds, that boy.”

“He does.” Iain looked down at her with a smile. “You are not without your own charms.”

She chuckled as that shiver of excitement went through her again.

“Are you chilled? Perhaps you should go in out of the air.”

“No,” she answered, quickly. “That is, I’d like to stay and look at it a little longer. I don’t know when I’ll ever see it so close again.”

It was the truth, but not the entirety. She found she wanted to stay with him a little longer as well.

Before she realized what he was doing, he shrugged out of his coat and settled it over her shoulders.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You need not keep thanking me every hour,” he said and she could tell by the crinkling near his eyes, he was teasing her.

“Perhaps you do not wish to hear my gratitude, but I am thankful for everything you’ve done for my brother and myself. Not just marrying me and bringing my brother along to your home, but for your kindness and acceptance of Jack.”

Once again, Iain shrugged off her gesture of appreciation.

“The situation benefits both our needs.”

Right. The money. She hadn’t forgotten that he’d only married her for her dowry. Still, she knew well that he didn’t need to be kind to get what he’d needed from her. But knowing he didn’t like her making a fuss, she refrained from saying it again.

“It did,” she agreed instead of arguing.

“We’ll get to Aberdeen late tomorrow and be at the castle by evening.”

“Oh. That is very good.” The way her stomach seemed to drop to her feet betrayed the truth. She’d not wanted their journey to end so quickly.

She glanced up at him to see if he was pleased by this situation and found him looking at her again. She couldn’t read the look on his face. He wasn’t smiling any longer, but he didn’t seem angry as much as…intent.

“Your eyes look like gold in the moonlight,” he said.

“Do they?” Her voice came out breathy and thin as she swayed toward him. And not from the movement of the ship.

He reached up and placed his fingertips along her jaw.

“Your skin almost glows.” His eyes moved back and forth as he searched her face. “Your hair shimmers between red and copper. If I encountered you in the water, I’d swear you were a siren.”

“I can assure you, I do not wish to drag you to your death.” She always turned to humor when she was uncomfortable, and his words had her cheeks burning. Maybe not so much discomfort as it was excitement.

He shifted closer, only half a step, but it made all the difference in the world. It took him from being close to being too close. At least he would be considered too close for respectability, but here on this ship there were no gossips of the ton to judge them. And after all, they were married. They were expected to stand close to one another. In fact, in their room it would be acceptable for them to be even closer. So close there was nothing between them when skin touched skin.

Caroline had told Maisy everything that happened between a husband and a wife. Much more than was proper for a married woman to tell a maiden, but Maisy—while thoroughly embarrassed—was grateful to her friend for telling her everything so she knew.

But in this moment, Maisy realized what a curse knowing might be. Because knowing could easily turn into wanting.