by Bree Wolf
Swallowing, Garrett shook his head as air rushed from his lungs. “I’ve tried to picture him so often,” he whispered, his gaze not veering from his son, “but he was only an idea, a thought, a dream. I couldna quite see his face.” A slow smile claimed his lips, and he lowered his hand another fraction, the tips of his fingers gently brushing over Aiden’s head. “I canna believe he’s truly here. Right here. I can…I can touch him.” His gaze rose to meet hers, and Claudia could see awe shining in his face. “He’s so warm…and strong.”
Smiling, Claudia nodded. “He is,” she whispered, feeling tears sting her eyes. “And heavy.”
Garrett chuckled, disbelief in his eyes. “He is? He looks so small.”
“Carry him around all day, and we’ll talk again,” Claudia laughed, brushing a gentle hand over her son’s cheek. “By the end of the day, my arms feel like lead, and I think I’ll never be able to lift them again.”
Garrett sighed, “I’d take him for ye, but…” He glanced down at his soaked clothes. “I guess I’d better change first.”
Claudia nodded. “Yes, I think that’d be for the best.” Still, there was one thing that she did not want to wait for any longer.
The moment Garrett turned away, looking over his shoulder at the large ship drifting nearby, Claudia reached out. Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt and pulled him back to her. She had a moment to notice a slight widening of his eyes as well as the hint of a frown drawing down his brows before her lips claimed his.
Despite his surprise, Garrett did not hesitate in his response. Cupping her face gently, he pulled her into his arms, careful not to squeeze his son. His lips moved over hers with bold familiarity, and Claudia could feel the flame between them ignite once more. “I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered against his lips.
“I’ve missed ye as well, Lass.” Smiling down at her, Garrett planted another deep kiss onto her lips before he pulled back, his gaze still dark with longing. “Let’s go home,” he whispered, a question in his eyes that conquered Claudia’s heart all over again.
“Yes,” she said smiling. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Forty – Questions Asked
Night was fast approaching by the time Garrett found himself in the captain’s quarters of Duncan’s ship. After returning to the large vessel, Garrett had led his family down to his cabin and immediately changed into dry clothes, his eyes fixed on his son. Then he had held open his arms and Claudia had gently settled his little boy into the crook of his arm.
“I dunno know what ye mean, Lass,” Garrett had chuckled. “He’s as light as a feather.”
Claudia had rolled her eyes at him then and mumbled something about there being a difference between a moment and days on end. Garrett had barely heard her though as his son had held his full attention.
Aiden’s dark blue eyes had sparkled with such curiosity and interest that Garrett had been awed by the intent way his infant son had looked up at him. His little hands had moved rather randomly and without direct focus. However, the moment Aiden’s hand had touched his father’s, his little fingers had curled around Garrett’s thumb, holding on with a strength that had nearly taken his breath away.
“But he’s strong.” Trying to wriggle his finger, Garrett had found that Aiden had been far from willing to let go. Instead, he had snuggled into the crook of his arm and soon closed his eyes, his little hand still holding on tightly to his father.
In that moment, Garrett had lost his heart to his little son, knowing without thought that his life would never be the same again. The earth no longer revolved around the sun, but around this precious little boy.
And it was right that it should do so.
After a small respite, they were now all gathered in Duncan’s quarters: Duncan as well as his first mate, Finn and Ian as well as Garrett and his wife and son. Aiden still slept peacefully in Garrett’s arms, and his father marvelled how odd it felt to suddenly be holding his son in his arms while at the same time, it felt perfectly natural and as though it had never been any different.
“Would ye tell us what happened?” Duncan asked Claudia, a disbelieving smile on his face. “I must say I was rather taken aback when I saw ye lowered to the water in that dinghy.” He laughed. “We wouldna have expected the captain to simply release ye.”
Claudia sighed, and Garrett could see that she was weighing her words. “It’s a rather long story,” she told the small group of men assembled around her. “All I can say is that Captain Duret and I…have a mutual acquaintance.”
Duncan’s brows rose. “Ye do? That, I wouldna have expected. I had thought he might have been able to sympathise with ye because he was a father and husband himself.”
Claudia chuckled, “No, he’s not married, but he told me he’ll be an uncle soon.”
“What else did ye talk about?” Ian pressed, his brows drawn and his eyes dark with wariness. “How long were ye on his ship? How many days? And nights?”
Garrett was not the only one who understood Ian’s questions for what they were, thinly veiled suspicions. While Finn rolled his eyes and Duncan shook his head, Claudia met Ian’s gaze without flinching. Still, the look in her blue eyes betrayed her displeasure with his questions, and yet, she remained calm. “Do not hide behind politeness−if you can even call it that,” she said, her chin raised as she met Ian’s gaze. “Ask what you wish to know, and perhaps I will answer you.”
Ian’s face tensed, and he linked his hands behind his back. “Verra well. Did ye share the captain’s bed? Is that why he released ye? Because ye paid him?”
If his son had not been sleeping in his arms, Garrett would have pounded his friend into the ground. Although Ian had always been a suspicious sort of man, Garrett had never before noticed the dark bitterness that clung to him.
Still, Garrett could not deny that he wanted to hear his wife answer Ian’s questions as a dark part of him recalled the familiarity with which she had conversed with the dark-haired captain. Had they met before? Or−?
Claudia scoffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Those are questions a husband might ask,” for a brief moment, her blue eyes drifted to Garrett, “but what is it to you?” She took a step toward Ian, and his gaze narrowed. “The Voile Noire is gone. It no longer poses a threat to us, to you. Why would your thoughts turn to betrayal before anything else?”
Ian’s face darkened, and Garrett could see that the fuse had been lit. Soon, his friend would explode, and Garrett did not think that anyone would care for such a confrontation. “Enough,” he said, drawing all eyes to him. “I believe all questions have been answered. Duncan?”
Shifting his gaze from Ian to Garrett, the second-in-command of Clan MacKinnear nodded. “Aye, ‘tis been a long day, and we all could do with some rest.” Curiosity still lingered in his eyes, but there would be time for more questions later. Questions asked out of interest, not out of suspicion.
“Will ye talk to him?” Garrett whispered to Finn, his gaze following Ian as his friend stormed out the door.
Finn nodded. “Aye. But I doubt it’ll do any good. He’s grown more and more sullen these past few years. He’s not a happy man, not like we are.”
Garrett nodded, aware that Ian’s marriage had not been a love match. Although he and his wife had come to care for one another in the beginnings of their marriage, at some point something had happened to draw them apart with each year that passed. More than once, Garrett had wondered what that had been and if there was any chance to lead them back to one another.
Unfortunately, it did not seem likely.
“I’m happy for ye,” Finn said, drawing Garrett’s attention back to the here and now. A large smile clung to his features as his gaze shifted to where Claudia spoke to Duncan. “Ye fit well together.”
Garrett nodded. “Aye. I’ve thought so since the moment I first laid eyes on her.”
Finn chuckled, “I know what that feels like. See ye tomorrow, old friend.”
Bi
dding his friend a good night, Garrett walked up to his wife and Duncan. “I assume we’re headed back to Glasgow.”
Duncan nodded. “Ye’d assume right. Now, get some rest. There’ll be time to talk again tomorrow.” Smiling, Duncan looked down at Aiden, a father’s pride in his eyes. “He’s a braw lad. He’ll make ye proud.”
Garrett sighed, meeting his wife’s blue eyes, “He already has.”
Nodding knowingly, Duncan sent them back to their cabin before he turned to his first mate.
“He’s a good man,” Claudia commented as they walked along the dark gangway. “He’s a father, isn’t he?”
Garrett nodded, holding open the door to their cabin. “Aye. His son is only a few weeks old as well. I believe that is why he took this chance. He can imagine what it feels like to have his family stolen from him.” Closing the door behind him, Garrett met his wife’s gaze. “A part of me feared I’d never see ye again, Lass.”
Swallowing, she nodded, and he could see the faint shimmer of tears clinging to the lashes. “As did I,” she whispered before a soft smile tugged on her lips. “But then I remembered how you came looking for me, and I knew that you’d find us.”
Touched by her trust in him, Garrett drew in a slow breath, reminding himself that all had turned out well. That his family was here, safe and sound. His gaze drifted lower, touching his son’s sweet face as he slept peacefully, fortunately unaware of the danger he had been in. Garrett could only hope that he would remain safe from now on until the end of his days.
“Ask me.”
“What?” Looking up, Garrett found a strange look on his wife’s face. Her eyes were open and intent, holding his, and yet, there was a hint of a challenge in the way she stood before him. “What do ye mean?”
“Ask me about Captain Duret.”
At her words, Garrett felt the room grow cold, chilling his bones.
Chapter Forty-One – Answers Given
The moment Ian had spoken, giving voice to his accusations, Claudia had known that at least a small part of Garrett was in doubt. Perhaps it was only natural. Perhaps it had nothing to do with who they were. Perhaps it was merely circumstantial.
Would she have wondered if Garrett had spent days on a privateer’s vessel in the company of a female captain?
As much as she wanted to deny it, Claudia had to admit that despite the fact that she trusted Garrett she would have needed to hear his assurance that nothing had happened. She would have believed him, but she would have needed to hear him say the words.
Still, Claudia could not deny that Ian’s accusations stung. After all, she had done nothing wrong. In fact, if she had not pleaded with Henri, she and Aiden would be on their way to France right now.
At her words, Garrett had grown still, his face pale even in the dim light from the lantern dangling from a hook in the corner of the room. Dread and even a hint of fear stood in his eyes, and a part of Claudia rejoiced at seeing it, knowing that there would be no fear without love.
Swallowing, she stepped toward her husband and gently took her son from his arms. Then she lay Aiden down on the cot in the corner, piling blankets and pillows around him so he would not roll out. Then she turned to face her husband.
While her back had been turned, Garrett had come alive again. His gaze flitted around the small cabin as he raked his hands through his hair. “Is there something ye need to tell me?” he asked, and a full second passed before his gaze rose to meet hers.
Stepping toward him, Claudia drew in a slow breath. “Ever since Ian…” Sighing, she shook her head. “You’ve been wondering. I can see it in your eyes.”
Garrett’s jaw clenched, and for a brief moment, he dropped his gaze. Then he was suddenly in front of her, his hands reaching for hers as his eyes caught her gaze. “I never meant to doubt ye, Lass. I swear it. But I canna shake that feeling that there was…something between ye.” He swallowed. “I saw ye, the way ye reached for him, the way he looked at ye.”
Claudia frowned. “You saw us? How?”
Garrett’s teeth gritted together, and she knew every second that passed was pure agony for him. “Through the spyglass. I saw ye standing on deck, and there was something about the way ye spoke to each other as though…as though ye were in each other’s confidence.” His hands tightened on hers. “And so, I will ask ye. How do ye know that man?”
Squeezing his hands, Claudia looked up at him. “I never met him until a few days ago,” she said, feeling at least a bit of the tension leave Garrett’s body. “But I heard my brother speak of him last summer. From what I was able to gather, Henri had come to−”
“Henri?” Garrett growled out, displeasure clear on his face.
Claudia laughed, unable to help herself, “Yes, Henri. Will you let me finish?”
Inhaling a deep breath, Garrett nodded.
“Well, as I said Henri came to London to help his cousin.” As best as she could, Claudia told Garrett about Lady Juliet and her unfortunate betrothal to an old man, about her half-sister’s desire to liberate her from said betrothal and how she and her new husband had called upon friends and acquaintances to assist them in said pursuit. “That was how my brother and Henri crossed paths, and how I came to know his name. And so, when his crew boarded our ship, I decided to introduce myself to him and hope that he would be willing to help.”
Garrett swallowed. “’Twas dangerous drawing his attention to ye, Lass. What if he had been a different kind of man? What if he−?”
“If he had been a different kind of man,” Claudia interrupted, “he would not have come to London out of fear of seeing his cousin harmed.” Squeezing her husband’s hands, Claudia held his gaze. “I trusted my instincts, and they have not led me astray. Henri Duret is a truly good man, and he acted more like a gentleman than those rakes in London. Besides, whether he wants to admit it or not, his heart is already taken. He had no interest in capturing mine.” Biting her lower lip, Claudia smiled up at Garrett. “Not that he’d ever have had a chance.”
Sighing in relief, Garrett drew her into his arms. “Aye?” he whispered, his green eyes dark, and yet, vulnerable as they looked into hers.
“Aye,” Claudia responded with a smile, leaning into him. The feel of his arms around her was heavenly, and she only then realised how much she had missed him. For fear of losing faith and courage and determination, she had forced herself not to dwell on his absence, on their separation, on what it felt like to be without him. But now, all those emotions came rushing back in the form of utter relief, and she sank deeper into his arms, sighing with contentment.
Garrett’s chin rested on the top of her head, and she could feel him relax as well. Tension had been on his face, in the way he had reached for her from the moment they had met again on the open sea. He, too, had lived with doubts and fears, and they had marked him. But now it was time to let them go and look toward the future.
His chest rose and fell as he inhaled a deep breath. “I love ye, Lass. Have I ever told ye that?”
Feeling a smile claim her face, Claudia lifted her head and found dark green eyes looking down into hers. Shadows danced over Garrett’s face as he held her tight, speaking to the uncertainty she could see in his eyes. “I love you as well,” Claudia whispered, reaching up and cupping a hand to his face.
A large smile claimed Garrett’s face then, and before she had time to draw in another breath, his mouth came down on hers in a searing kiss.
For a long moment, they clung to one another, allowing past doubts and fears to fall from them, revelling in the knowledge that they had not been wrong. That they had not been deceived. That they had been right to trust their hearts.
Their instincts.
For they had led them on a winding path to the one person who was meant to walk at their side.
“All this time,” Garrett began as he traced his thumb along the line of her jaw, “we’ve never even spoken about what we’d do once we found our son.” For a moment, his gaze travelled to the peaceful
ly-sleeping child on the cot behind her, and a blissful smile lit up his face. “I tell ye now that I’ve always wanted to take ye home with me, to begin a life together in Scotland.” He sighed, “But I now realise that I never asked ye what ye wanted, Lass. So, I’m asking ye now.”
Leaning into his caress, Claudia smiled. “I want to go back to England and see my family.” Guilt claimed her heart, and she wondered what they were doing in that very moment. “I left in the middle of the night, leaving nothing but a note that in truth told them very little.” She scoffed, shaking her head. “After all, I didn’t want them to come after me and stop me.”
Garrett nodded. “Aye, they need to know that ye’re safe.”
“And I want them to meet Aiden,” she whispered, unable to suppress the smile that slowly stole up her face, “and you. I want them to know how happy I am and that all ended well.”
Garrett chuckled, “Nothing is ending, Lass. ‘Tis only the beginning.”
“Only the beginning,” Claudia echoed his words, realising that she had never felt so hopeful and confident about her future. All of a sudden, she knew exactly what she wanted, what would make her happy. “And then we’ll go home to Scotland,” she told him, not a single doubt in her heart, “and start over as a family.”
Happiness shone on Garrett’s face as he looked down at her. “Are ye certain, Lass? ‘Tis a different way of life. ‘Tis−”
“It’s an adventure,” Claudia interrupted as her teeth sank into her lower lip before a face-splitting grin could claim her whole. “I’ve always wanted that.” She nodded her head. “Yes, I’m certain. I’ve never been more certain in my life.”
That night, they spent curled up together on a single cot. Claudia’s head rested on his shoulder while Garrett’s arm reached around her and settled on hers. They fit together perfectly, and Aiden lay safely tucked between them, a little smile playing on his face as he slept.