Page 19 of The Lyon’s Lass

“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.