Page 88

Chapter 20

29 December

Two days later, Nash woke from a restless night still wondering if Ailie would ever forgive him. She had remained polite but distant since discovering he was Sidmouth’s spy. Forgiveness, he knew, was an important part of marriage. He had seen its soothing effect in his parents’ marriage and knew how much it had been required in the marriages of his two eldest brothers.

If Ailie could not forgive him this deception which, to his mind, had been necessary and, to hers, a transgression, how could she forgive him in the future for others? After all, no man was perfect. Would she ever again be the woman he had held in his arms beneath the stars, the woman he wanted for his wife?

Last evening at dinner, she had announced she was accepting Muriel’s invitation to come to London. Everyone, save him, seemed pleased. Nash imagined the reception she would receive with the favor of the Countess of Claremont. Every bachelor in the ton would be nipping at her heels, asking for her hand.

Rising from his bed, he walked to the window, pleased to see the sun rising in a clear blue sky for the first time in days. Late yesterday, the storm had moved off to the west, but a sudden drop in temperature and a new snowfall had covered everything in white.

Today they were to sail to Stonehaven.

Adding a log to the fire, he turned to see Robbie, still asleep, his head no longer wrapped in linen. Now only a small white patch covered the ugly wound on his left temple. Robbie never complained but Nash had seen him wince when he changed the bandage, which Robbie now insisted on doing himself.

Nash thought about their return to London, less than a week away. He felt as if he were coming to the end of an era. He had expected that he and Robbie would one day part ways. And it seemed that day would be soon. He would miss his twin, having only holidays to look forward to when they would gather together with their other brothers. But, for now, he would enjoy the rest of the holiday with him.

“Time to rise, Brother. Today we are for Stonehaven.”

Robbie groaned and opened his eyes, squinting at the bright light spilling into their chamber. “The sun is shining?”

“Indeed, it is. Very pretty, too, on the new snow.”

Throwing off the cover, Robbie slowly sat up. “I’m glad we’re to sail. I miss being on a ship.”

“I as well.”

They joined the others for breakfast and, once their valises were loaded on the Albatross, Captain Anderson welcomed them aboard.

Nash followed William and Emily up the gangplank. At the top, the good captain saluted William and dipped his head to Emily. “Sir, Madam, ’tis a fine day to sail.”

“Aye,” William replied. “Should be beautiful, if chilly.”

“Ye’ll be staying for Hogmanay, sir?”

William nodded. “Through New Year’s Day, I imagine. Will you remain in the harbor on the ship?”

“Aye, sir, I will. We’ve a full stock of provisions and a few of the crew will stay on board as the watch. The others are looking forward to the celebration in Stonehaven, but I’ve no doubt we’ll be able see the Hogmanay fires from the ship.”

Nash tipped his hat to the captain and climbed aboard, Robbie behind him. The sky above them was the color of a robin’s egg with nary a cloud and the North Sea a dark blue beneath it. The sailing to Stonehaven, he’d been told, would be short as the town lay only twenty-one nautical miles to the north.

The wind blowing across the deck was biting, causing Nash to pull his scarf up to his ears. His fellow passengers had elected to stay on deck and now stood at the rail, bundled up in their woolens.

Once they were out of the harbor, Nash joined William and Emily at the rail where they watched the craggy terrain and cliffs go by off the port beam.

A large flock of seabirds flew overhead, catching his eye.

“That’s Fowlsheugh,” said Captain Anderson from amidships. “In the spring, thousands of kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills will be nesting on those cliffs. When they take to the wing, ’tis quite a sight.”

Nash tried to imagine what so many shorebirds would look like covering the jagged cliffs and was reminded of exotic ports to which he had sailed. After his time in Scotland, he planned to return the family business. There would be more ship travel to distant ports, only this time, he wanted to sail with Ailie.

He shifted his gaze to where she stood at the rail next to Muriel. He hoped the looks Ailie gave him meant that while she was not ready to forgive him, he was not forgotten.

The countess appeared to be enjoying herself, her sea legs keeping her as steady as the rest of them.

On Nash’s left side, Kit stood with Martin. “I must try and remember those cliffs. They are starkly beautiful covered in snow.”

“You’ve some amazing sketches already, Kitten,” said Martin.