Page 70 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“How good of you to come, my lord,” she said.

“Is something wrong? Oscar sent word that you needed to see me right away.”

“We understand you were kind enough to purchase provisions for the remainder of the trip.” She tilted her dinner plate so that he could see its contents.

Erroll frowned. “Good God, what is that?”

“Steak,” she said.

“Steak—not the steak I brought aboard?”

“According to Oscar, yes.”

“What the devil did the cook do to it?”

“I believe he slaughtered the cow a second time,” she said.

And with a vengeance. “Most ship’s cooks are not known for their culinary skills, but this is particularly bad.”

“We would prefer the salted beef,” she said.

“The steak wasn’t that terrible,” her sister interjected.

Eve Crenshaw cast her a recriminating glance. “You didn’t touch yours.”

“I can’t say I blame you,” Erroll said.

“It will be a shame to waste the remainder of the provisions you brought aboard, my lord,” the elder sister said. “I want to serve as chef for the remainder of the voyage.”

“Can you cook?”

“Of course.”

“As interesting as it would be to see you in the galley—” and he had to admit, it would be interesting “—I must refuse.”

Her mouth parted in surprise. “You asked if I could cook.”

“I was curious.”

“I can cook enough for everyone,” she said. “We are willing to share the food you bought.”

“That would only spoil the crew.”

“No danger there,” the younger said. “Eve is not so good a cook that she will spoil anyone.”

“I beg your pardon. I am a tolerably good cook.”

“I am trying to help you,” her sister said.

“Oh. Yes, well, in that case, she is right, my lord.”

Erroll shook his head. “I am sorry, the answer is still no. It is too dangerous for you to leave this cabin.”

“Rubbish,” the younger said. “There are three of you, and only two of us. Eve is asking only to work in the galley for two or three hours. It will be no hardship for Oscar to be there with her, and Lord Somerset can keep watch over me.”

Erroll started to deny the request a second time, then realized that placing Somerset in the lady’s path played into his plan. “You do not wish to accompany your sister to the galley?”

She actually shuddered. “Heavens, no. I have never so much as made a cup of tea.”