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Maisie frowned. “You cannot believe that. He clearly loves her.”
“He does love her. That is exactly the problem.”
Maisie frowned at him, then watched as the couple hurried off, each with a child by the hand.
Offering his temporary companion his arm, Roderick adjusted the neckerchief he had put on for the occasion. He was not used to such finery, and he’d had to hunt high and low amongst the men and their belongings to find something suitable to borrow for the event.
They stepped out together, promenading through the small town. Roderick was proud to be seen with her. He had gone ashore before she was even aware they’d set down anchor, and sought out the best inn he could find to make arrangements.
“I have organized a room where we can dine in comfort,” he said, as they mounted the cobbled lane that meandered from the harbor into the heart of the town.
“Why, Captain Cameron, you are being most charming. That wasn’t part of our bargain, surely.”
“Oh, I shall hold you to the bargain, never fear.”
She smiled and glanced at him most seductively.
“However, I want us to talk, to know each other a little better. I am most curious about my lovely passenger.”
Her smile vanished. Roderick felt her withdraw. Even her grip on his arm loosened. That was not good. Perplexed, he gestured at the inn ahead.
Maisie nodded. She didn’t say anything, but looked rather pensive.
Once inside, he caught the innkeeper’s eye, and the man took them to a private room. It was small but well presented, with a dining table, two chairs and a stoked fire. Candles stood in a row on the mantel, as well as in wall sconces, and there was a thick woven mat before the fire that gave it an air of comfort.
“It’s lovely,” Maisie commented, and smiled.
He was relieved to see the pensive look had gone.
She went to remove her cloak, but Roderick stopped her, stepping behind her and placing his hands over hers on the silver clasp at her collarbone.
She glanced back over her shoulder. “Thank you.”
The look in her eyes heated him to the marrow.
Aboard ship she appeared ladylike, moving elegantly all the while. Even when the ship tossed, or she was half-stripped, or was undertaking menial tasks alongside Adam. Here in the relative comfort of the private room in the inn, where candles abounded and the log fire crackled and hummed, she seemed even more elegant, sparkling like a rare jewel before his eyes.
He held out a chair for her.
She had pinned up her hair, and the pale skin of her nape was revealed to him as she took her seat. Roderick stared down at her, and before he moved away, rested his hand on her shoulder a moment, needing to touch her.
Taking the seat opposite her, he was glad the room was so well lit. It meant he could admire her. The way her throat curved into her collarbone made him want to kiss her there. The swell of her breast at the edge of her bodice had the same effect.
The innkeeper brought mugs of ale and assured them they would enjoy a good meal. When he departed, he left the door to the room ajar. The cheer of the crowd in the inn beyond—whilst amiable and infectious—made Roderick want to have her completely to himself again, much as he did in his quarters aboard the Libertas. Later, though, he would have that and more, and the thought kept his lust well stoked.
“Tell me,” she said, “how did Brady come to have a woman here?”
Roderick thought back on when it was. “We set down anchor here around five years back, in order to careen the hull.”
When her eyebrows drew together, he explained. “The outside of the ship gathers unwelcome baggage, barnacles and weeds and all manner of strange creatures. When they make their home on the boards they slow us down. They can al
so make the ship more vulnerable to taking on water. We dropped anchor in Lowestoft in order to take dry dock, to hove down, do repairs and tar the boards.”
“I didn’t know there was so much involved in your way of life.”
“It never ends, that is the truth of it, but it’s a wild old life and we welcome it. Careening is just one of many tasks that have to be undertaken to keep the ship seaworthy. On this occasion we’d been in warmer seas off the coast of North Africa, and the task took longer than expected, and while we were here Brady met his Yvonne. After we left he was so miserable that we started to call on the port whenever we were nearby. After a year he married her and secured her a cottage. Now there are two bairns to feed, but he is happiest when we sail closer to this part of the world.”
Maisie considered Roderick with a half smile. “You are a generous captain.”
