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“Ah… once or twice. The fish is always fresh and the shortbread tasty.”

Will shot him a side-glance. “Very diplomatic.”

Emily leaned in to the countess. “And you, dear Muriel, what say you to the Scottish dishes? Will you have some?”

“Possibly,” the countess replied. Through her quizzing glass, she gave the haggis a skeptical look. “I don’t suppose there is kale in that mixture of things? That would be a bit much, I would think.”

Chuckles ringed the table.

“No kale,” said Will. “I urge you all to remember that dessert will follow shortly. We’ve some fine Scottish specialties: Dundee cake, clootie dumpling and shortbread. All go well with champagne.” Lifting his glass, he said, “A toast to the bride and groom!”

Fourteen glasses were raised into the air. “To the bride and groom!”

Nash brushed her temple with his lips. “They are toasting us, my love.”

She turned to gaze into his hazel eyes seeing only love and hoped it would always be so. “Aye, my husband, they are.”

“For this night,” William said, “Captain Anderson has taken a room in town to give Ailie and Nash his great cabin on the Albatross. Having slept there myself on one trip, I can assure you the bed is most comfortable.”

Ailie’s cheeks flamed at the thought of sharing a bed with Nash. She wanted to be his wife in all ways, but they had not talked about the wedding night. Thinking about it gave her anxious thoughts because she knew so little. Her mother in Aberdeen had given up on her rebellious daughter ever marrying. Emily had told Ailie not to worry, that she would find pleasure in the marriage bed.

“Very kind of you to make those arrangements for us, Will,” said Nash. Then he lifted his glass to Captain Anderson, sitting farther down the table. “And very generous of you, Captain, to give up your cabin.”

Captain Anderson smiled. “I’d do that and more for Miss Stephen, the young woman I have seen grow into womanhood to become Mrs. Powell.”

Ailie was very fond of the often dour captain who, today, appeared quite jolly. “Thank you, Captain.”

“You will have your privacy,” said William, “and from the deck you will be able to see, and doubtless hear, the Hogmanay celebrations in town.”

Having been assured by Ailie’s brother that all aboard the Albatross had been made ready, Nash walked with Ailie to the ship. The sun was just setting behind the hills, casting a lavender blanket over the waters of the bay and turning the sky over the North Sea a stunning violet.

She gripped her tartan shawl tightly around her. “A beautiful night, aye?”

The nervous tremor in her voice was unmistakable. “Not so beautiful as my bride.” Before she could reply, he slipped his arm around her shoulder and cuddled her against his side. “You have nothing to fear, Ailie. It’s our first time together, that’s all. Trust me, you will like our joining.”

“I will?”

He smiled. “I know what I’m about, my love, and I promise to be gentle. Remember that I love you. Of all the women in the world, and I have seen many in my travels, I chose you for my wife.”

She let out a deep sigh, her breath coming out in a cloud. He hoped her sigh meant she found comfort in his words. Only once had he taken a virgin. Both he and the girl were too young to know what they were about, much less did he know about loving a woman. Since then, all his partners had been experienced women. He was glad, for what he had learned from them would allow him to treat his bride as a precious gift.

“Tonight we begin what we have a lifetime to enjoy.”

She tucked her head into his shoulder. “I know. Muriel said you’d explain everything to me.”

He chuckled. “Did she now?”

They walked up the gangplank and were greeted by the junior officer. “Welcome aboard, Mr. and Mrs. Powell. Your chamber awaits you. Unless you call for service, you will not be disturbed.”

With that, he left them and headed for the forward hatch. Nash escorted Ailie to the aft hatch and down the ladder.

At the end of the companionway, the captain’s door stood ajar. He pushed it open and stepped over the threshold bringing her with him. A lantern cast its subtle light over the large interior. Because of the raised overhead, the cabin had windows on both sides, covered now with dark blue curtains.

Ailie took off her gloves and he helped her to shed her cloak, hanging it and his own on the pegs near the door. She went to stand before the stove where coals burned brightly, warming her hands. The ship rose and fell beneath them like the breathing of a sleeping sea.

Her gaze drifted toward the round pedestal table where a bottle of champagne and two glasses rested beside a tray of fruit, cheese and bread. “They went to a lot of trouble for us, didn’t they?”

He took her hands in his, raising them to his lips. “As I would expect from those who love us.” He pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “We only have one wedding night, Ailie. It should be a special event.”