Page 38 of The Lyon’s Lass

“All is well.”

“You should lie down after such a fright. It’s not good for you to be…” Abigail looked about the destruction in the foyer and frowned again. “In a brawl with a large drunkard.”

Maisy could not argue. Even if she had not been with child, a brawl with a large drunkard was something she’d tried to avoid.

The constable arrived, and he and his son carried Mr. Garrow away.

Maisy didn’t ask what was to become of the man. He’d been accused of stealing from other estates in Scotland and England. He would likely hang for his crimes, but Maisy didn’t like to think of such things. She could only be glad she’d not have to worry over him coming to Kesson again.

She’d done it. Well, Mrs. Sutherland had done it. But they’d protected the castle on their own. They didn’t need Iain. They would be fine without him.

Not that they had much choice.

Chapter Seventeen

Iain woke late the next morning which was something he did quite often of late. He no longer took the helm at night, not wanting to think of the night he’d kissed Maisy in the moonlight.

He missed her. He could not keep himself busy enough to distract himself from that truth any longer. His heart hurt. He’d thought of going to visit, to ease the pain, but feared it would just cause more pain when he left again. And he didn’t think he’d survive anymore pain.

As he lay there looking at the sun rising through the portal above his bed he squinted. Why was he looking at the sun rising? His bed was on the starboard side of the ship. He should be looking at the coastline as they headed south.

Seeing the sun meant they were heading north.

“That bloody man,” he said in a hiss, and jumped out of his bed.

After pulling on enough clothes, he headed out on deck.

“Hodge!”

“Aye?”

“Why are we heading north?”

“We’ve cargo bound for Inverness. The only way to get there is north.”

“Oh.” He calmed down, but his heart continued to pound. “Very well.”

Hodge came closer and shook his head.

“It is far from very well. I’ll be departing The Rue at Inverness.”

“For how long?” Iain asked. Hodge had been with him since he’d sailed for the Crown. He couldn’t imagine not having the man at his side.

“Forever.” Hodge smiled and Iain couldn’t grasp what was happening.

“I don’t understand.”

“That’s the truth. These last months I’ve been thinking often of Mrs. Sutherland. She is a merry widow, indeed, but also funny and much better company than ye. So I’m leaving you at Inverness to go back to Kesson and be with the woman I want to be with.”

Iain shook his head.

“You and Mrs. Sutherland?”

“Aye. And to be true, I’m fond of Jack and Maisy, and miss them both as well.”

“But you love the sea, as I do.”

“I didn’t know you were so clout-headed. But neither of us loves the sea as much as we do someone else. Have you never noticed, lad? For all our love of the sea, she can never love us back. And isn’t that the best part of loving something?”