Page 29 of The Lyon’s Lass

“I’m surprised to find you still in bed, Capt’n. You usually can’t sleep while we’re on land.”

Hodge wasn’t wrong. But last night after making love to his wife, he’d pulled her close and drifted peacefully. However, he wasn’t about to tell Hodge that.

Iain had planned to have her again in the morning, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen now.

“I must have been tired,” he offered instead. It was true enough. After little sleep the night before and getting in late last night, all his physical activities caught up with him.

“Well, I must get you downstairs for breakfast before Mrs. Sutherland comes up after ye. She’s ordered the kitchen to impress. You better bring your appetite.”

He was famished, but not just for eggs and ham. He would have loved to take his wife back to bed and devour her with the sun in her reddish-brown hair.

He frowned when he remembered the amendment to their agreement. Just one night. So their marriage was real.

It wouldn’t be right to continue on in that way with a lass who had once wanted love. Not when he planned to leave as soon as things with the castle were in order.

Which meant getting out of bed and going down to the morning meal.

“Before we go, there is another matter I need your assistance with.”

Chapter Thirteen

Maisy was nervous, which seemed absurd considering what they’d done to each other the night before. He’d seen her without clothing last night, and now, sitting there in her appropriate gown, she felt almost as naked as before.

It made no reason that it would continue to get worse as the mantle clock ticked away the minutes as they waited. Well, she waited. Jack had launched into his meal like a starving jackal on an antelope.

Even more confusing was the way her nerves dissipated almost completely when Iain finally entered the room. Or at least she thought it was Iain.

He was the same man who took her to his bed, but different. When he smiled she could see a dimple on the left side of his face that made him seem almost boyish.

She smiled back. How was it possible he was even more handsome?

“Your beard…” she said, touching her own chin as if he didn’t know his whiskers were gone.

“Aye. You said my beard made it difficult for Jack to read my lips, so I did away with it while I’m here.”

He looked toward Jack and shook his head.

“Perhaps he’ll notice after he’s done attacking his plate,” she offered, causing Iain to smile again. She wanted to say things to make that dimple come out for the rest of her life.

She took a breath, trying desperately to quash the longing in her heart for a man who had plans to leave. No good could come of wanting him.

She suddenly felt exhausted after having slept so well in his arms.

“I assume you wish to look at the ledgers first thing?” Maisy asked, bringing them back to business.

Iain frowned but nodded.

“I suppose so, though I’m not sure what good it will do. They’ll make no sense to me.”

He’d told her of his affliction when it came to letters and numbers.

“Then I shall offer my services. I know my way about a ledger. When we lived in the country, I always saw to the books. And then when my father grew ill and we moved to London, Nelson couldn’t be bothered with frivolous tasks like making sure the title was solvent.” She shook her head, remembering all the spending Nelson did when their father wasn’t able to stop him.

Once her father passed, it probably wouldn’t be long before Nelson spent every farthing they’d had on women, gaming, and horses. But it didn’t matter because she and Jack were safe in this rundown castle.

“I would appreciate your help. Perhaps you can take a look at the books while Jack and I take stock of the roof.”

Jack had noticed Iain and read what he’d said on his lips.