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.”
“The lad wanted to try,” Hodge explained further.
When Maisy turned to the first mate, she couldn’t help but notice the man seemed insulted by her accusation. She well knew of Jack’s impulsive curiosity. He likely wouldn’t have stopped at asking, but likely had begged anyone to let him guide the ship. Except.
“How did you know he wanted to try?” Jack couldn’t read the bearded men’s lips and they couldn’t understand his signs.
Hodge chuckled. “Not everything needs to be communicated with words, my lady.”
She knew that. And as she looked up at her brother, she didn’t need words to know he was enjoying himself. His grin was huge as he looked over at Iain for a nod of approval.
Jack noticed her then and waved. She waved back and climbed the stairs stopping by her husband’s side.
“Don’t worry. We’re not close to any shoals. As long as he keeps her heading north, there’s no damage to be done.”
“Look how happy he is.”
“Who wouldn’t be happy sailing a ship?”
She looked over at him and he winked.
“You should try it,” he suggested, holding out his arm toward the wheel.
“Me? Surely, I can’t steer a ship.”
He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “’Tis not so hard, lass. Give it a try.” He gave her a little push toward her brother and she went closer.
Upon seeing her, Jack smiled and took his hands off the wheel to speak, but then grabbed the wheel when it started to move. Holding it with his elbow, he signed to her.
Sister, look at me. I’m the captain!
She laughed and nodded before asking if she could try. He quickly surrendered the duty over to her. He signed to her telling her she was doing well. She wasn’t so sure since it took a bit of strength to turn the wheel even the slightest amount.
A warm body pressed in behind her and large hands covered her own, assisting.
“You’ve got it,” Iain said, his warm breath touching her ear.
“Do I?” She couldn’t help but laugh despite her concern that it took more strength than she had. “It’s very… freeing.”
“Aye. It is. You’ve already learned the reason why anyone does this.”
“To feel free,” she said looking over her shoulder at him, though she could feel him nodding.
She’d spent much of her life in the country with her younger brother.
At the time, they’d had nothing but freedom.
Until she’d come of age and was brought to the city to find a match.
She’d assumed it would be an easy thing to procure a husband willing to take Jack, and that sense of freedom and security would return.
It hadn’t happened as she’d expected. Not until this man.
And soon she’d be living in a castle in Scotland with nothing but freedom. She wouldn’t even have to worry about appeasing a husband. She could do whatever she wanted.
Strange how what she thought she’d wanted came with the sting of something akin to regret.
After Maisy went to break her fast, Iain spent the rest of the day either captaining the vessel or working on a temperamental rudder. Fortunately, he now had the funds to see to the repair properly when they got to Aberdeen. It was a weight off his shoulders.
Jack spent a good bit of time at his side. Despite their challenges with communication, Iain found the lad to be a solid sort. Always a ready smile and offer to assist. It would have been a tragedy for him to have been forced into an asylum by their wretched brother.
While the situation still angered him, it also cast a light on his wife.
The lengths Maisy had gone in order to ensure her brother’s safety at the expense of her own spoke to her strength and loyalty.
He imagined many a lady would have just married who she wanted with no thought of what would come of a younger sibling.
He found himself watching her from his place behind the wheel as she strolled the deck with the sea air twisting her auburn hair. She was beautiful, and he’d liked the way she’d rested against him that morning when he’d helped her man the ship.
He was no untried lad, but there was something about her that enticed him more than the ladies he spent time with at the ports.
“Do you wish me to spell you so you may take dinner with your wife?” Hodge asked that evening. The older man had been up before him and had been by his side as they worked to loosen the rudder.
“Nay. Have some provisions brought to me, and then see to your bed. We’ll need to sail into the night, to make up for the time we were down with the rudder.”
“Aye, Capt’n. I’ll see to it straight away.”
“Give my wife and brother-in-law, my apologies,” Iain added before thinking. Why didn’t he use their names instead of the new terms of relation between them? He didn’t want to think of them as family. He’d been without family for the last eight years.
Hodge smiled and raised his bushy eyebrows.
“Aye.”
Iain waved him off with a frown and turned back to his work. He didn’t need a family. The only thing he needed was his ship and the sea air in his face.