“Indeed, I can.”
Claire grew wistful as they reached the parapet walkway and gazed out toward the sea. “Have ye ever been in love, Miss Elspeth?”
Elspeth chuckled, her thoughts turning immediately to Graeme. “I believe so. There is one who is dear to my heart.”
“It’s a heavy burden,” Claire continued. “But I hope perhaps I can trust ye with my secret?”
“Of course.”
“I’ve been in love with the same lad since we were children, fer as long as I can remember. He’s a part of me. I dinnae ken what will become of me if I’m forced to actually go through with this marriage and leave him. It would be like ripping out my own heart.”
Elspeth nodded in understanding. “Who is it?”
“I wouldn’t risk putting him in danger,” Claire explained, wringing her hands on the fabric of her dress. “The last time he beseeched my da fer marriage, declaring his love fer me, the guards beat him to a bloody pulp. He almost dinnae survive. Therefore, I’ve sworn never to bring it up again, or risk losing him fer good. To this day he still carries a scar from the attack—a gash across his cheek.”
Elspeth listened quietly to the lady’s tale and Claire’s face turned wistful once again.
“They sent him away after that, but in his letters my love tells me that he considers it a badge of honor.” Claire chuckled humorlessly. “So, tell me, who is it that has set yer heart aflame? I could see it in yer eyes before.”
She blushed. “It’s of nae consequence.”
“It is to me,” Claire told her. “I think it’s yer captain, Graeme. He is rather handsome, dinnae ye think?”
“Aye, he’s pleasant to look at,” she agreed. “But it’s complicated.”
“I think love is as complicated as ye want it to be. The emotion itself is very simple. We add on additional stress and unnecessary hurdles to jump over. I wish ye the best of luck and hope that things turn out exactly the way God intends.”
Elspeth smiled at her. “Thank ye, Claire.”
~ * ~
Duncan stood in the shadows of the blacksmith shop, watching the blonde girl as she returned from Kisimul. He took another drag from his pipe and breathed out a puff of smoke. The MacDougall lass was gaining quite a reputation around the village, and rumor had it she was selling secrets to Graeme so he’d have an upper hand while they were out on raids. It was the only explanation for his recent, inexplicable, success.
The lass came to Castlebay a nobody, yet in a matter of weeks it seemed like everyone already kent her name. How was that possible?
Elspeth, that’s what Graeme had called her…
His eyes narrowed as he watched the guard help her off the boat and then escort her to Bess’ tavern. It wasn’t right that she should be treated with such regard and have an audience at Kisimul when he himself had never been granted such.
An outsider should nae have access to the clan nobility.
If he could get her alone, he would finally be able to figure out what was happening. She was up to something, he was sure of it.
Duncan brought his pipe to his lips and smoked a line of tobacco. Elspeth and her escort grew closer to him along the road and Duncan’s scowl intensified. She was pretty, that much was obvious, but he knew that already. He had seen her in The Salty Wench and got a good look at her face. He had also seen Graeme’s obvious liking of her. Why else would he have reacted the way he did when Duncan showed up at the tavern?
That made her even more intriguing.
Graeme always got the easy lot. Even back when Jamie was alive, Graeme was treated like a prince. All because he was the nephew of the laird’s favorite captain.
It wasn’t fair.
Graeme and his men scorned him after the captain died, but they knew the blade wasn’t meant for him. Jamie was not the one he intended to kill.
Damn Jamie MacNeil. Damn Graeme, too.
Duncan’s teeth grit together as his anger grew. This is what he’d been waiting for, the girl was the key to everything: if she wasn’t secreting Graeme information about what ships to raid then it had to be emotional. He already knew the girl had fallen prey to his affection, but he could only guess as to where Graeme’s heart was leaning.
One way or another, he would find a way to take away Graeme’s happiness.
Chapter 23
When Elspeth left Kisimul her heart was soaring. She couldn’t wait to get back and speak with Graeme, telling him all about her trip.
She gazed up at the storm gray sky as Gregor rowed them back to Castlebay. Waves splashed against the side of the ship and he maneuvered the ship into the harbor.
“Did ye enjoy yer day at the castle?” the guard asked her pleasantly.
Elspeth exhaled a shaky laugh as they were exiting the ship. “Aye, Lady Claire is most agreeable. I enjoyed her company.”
Gregor nodded. “Aye, she’s a kind soul.”
They started down the road and out of nowhere rain began to fall. Great pellets of water poured down from the clouds above as the heavens opened in an afternoon shower. Raindrops came pouring down on top of her and a low rumble shook the earth from the sound of thunder in the distance. Patrons from the market went rushing past them in search of shelter. Gregor sighed and looked down at her with a frown, “Should we run fer it?”
She nodded and picked up her skirts to rush down the road toward Bess’ tavern. The rain started pouring down even harder and by the time Elspeth made it to the doorway. She was completely soaked head to foot. Cold drops of water saturated her golden hair and her dress was completely ruined, but she didn’t care. All she could think about was finding Graeme.
Elspeth and Gregor took refuge inside the tavern and she exhaled with a smile.
As she was glancing around the room, Graeme looked up from his seat and turned to them. When his eyes found her at last Elspeth’s heart fluttered. She didn’t mind in the least that her clothes were soaking wet, because all she could see was him.
Graeme…
He came over to them instantly and observed her apparel, saying, “Good gracious, Ellie, ye’re soaked! The storm must have rolled in fast. Come in and I’ll have Bess bring ye out a bowl of warm broth.”
Elspeth smiled up at him with her dripping hair when he took her by the arm. “That’s sounds lovely.”
Gregor cleared his throat. “I must be heading back, so I’ll leave her in yer care,” he motioned to Graeme. Turning back to her with a bow, he added, “Have a pleasant day, Miss Elspeth. I hope to see ye at Kisimul again one day soon.”
Graeme nodded to him appreciatively as the guard left, and then wrapped his arm around Elspeth. “Ye must be freezing.”
“Aye, I should go change into some dry clothes.”
When she glanced up at him, Graeme’s eyes were dark with longing. “W-would ye mind giving me a hand?”
He seemed to understand her meaning and gave her a subtle smile, while placing his hand on the small of her back. “T’would be my pleasure.”
She nodded as he tightened his arm around her and started leading her toward the stairs. Together, she and Graeme made it up into her bedroom and he shut the door behind them. Elspeth shivered from her wet clothing and looked up at him, saying, “I’m sorry about this, really. It just started on the way back home.”
He shook his head and told her, “Ye have nothing to apologize fer. All I want to do is get ye out of those wet clothes and changed into something warm.”
Elspeth nodded and reached up to untie the lacings of her bodice. Her fingers stopped when they reached the tie as she glanced over at him uncertainly. Graeme noticed her hesitation and quietly stepped up to handle them himself.
“I’m going to take care of ye,” he whispered.
As he began loosening the bodice strings, his motions brought with them a sense of longing. She gazed up at him and Graeme moved in slowly, kissing her on the cheek and pulling the garment off her shoulders. When he dropped it on the floor, Elspeth looked up at hi
m with a timid smile. The wet chemise clung to her breasts and waist, giving hint to the body underneath.
He kissed her gently on the lips and pulled away to lift the fabric over her head and she stood before him completely naked. Graeme’s eyes darkened at the sight of her and he breathed out raggedly. “Ye are so beautiful.”
Elspeth trembled as she reached over for another set of clothes. Graeme helped her finish getting dressed and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, peppering her cheeks and hair with kisses.
By the time she was dry and comfortable, all she could think of was how much she loved Graeme.
“Ye’re cold,” he murmured, gently wrapping his arms around her.
She let out a contented sigh and rested her head against his shoulder. “Stay with me,” Elspeth pleaded.
“Of course.”
They lay down together on her bed and he held her close. Eventually, she fell asleep in his arms and drifted off into a loving embrace of warmth and happiness.
~ * ~
Elspeth woke up the following morning with Graeme snuggled up beside her. He was the most perfect and glorious thing she could imagine waking up to. Her heart swelled with love as she gazed at his face and kissed him gently on the lips. As their lips touched, he woke blearily from his slumber and met her with sleepy affection. “Mmm…good morrow.”
She smiled. “Good morrow—”
He cut her off by pressing his lips hard against her and kissing Elspeth passionately. She smiled against his mouth and lay back against the pillow. As Graeme pulled away, he brushed his hand along her cheek. “I love ye.”
Elspeth sighed happily and rolled over to look him in the eyes. “I love ye, too. With all my heart.”
She and Graeme spent a delightfully lazy morning in bed with each other. They talked about small and large things, from his favorite memories of being on the sea to her hopes and dreams. As the noon sun rose in the sky, a knock at the door roused them from a light slumber.
“I was all fer leaving ye be up here,” Bess told them, through the door, “but I won’t tolerate this kind of laziness from ye, Graeme MacNeil. Get up and get to yer chores before Valan comes fer his lesson.”
She stomped off, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Graeme chuckled into Elspeth’s shoulder, her body spooned into him snugly. “I guess she figured out where to find me.”
“Is she going to scold ye fer being here?”
Graeme shook his head. “Nae. Bess is nae scandalized easily. She’s just upset that I haven’t gotten up to do my chores.”
“I promised I’d go to the market fer her,” Elspeth gasped as if she’d just remembered. She tried to wriggle out of his grasp as he laughed at her and pulled her back onto the mattress. “Graeme!”
“Why would I want to rush?”
“Because Bess will break down the door and drag ye downstairs by yer ear.”
“Aye,” he said, the laughter still rumbling in his bare chest. “That she would. But it would be worth it.”
Graeme’s eyes bored into her as he leaned across the bed to envelope her in a kiss. Although she met him will gentle resistance, her resolve weakened. She wanted nothing more than to continue their private moment of joy and happiness. “We must get up. What if Valan arrives and ye’re nae dressed yet?”
Graeme grinned. “Then it would be an awkward lesson indeed, or he’d have to wait until I was ready.”
She laughed. “Enough of this nonsense. We’ve both got responsibilities and must get out of bed.”
He threw off the covers with a lighthearted groan and said, “Ye’re right of course. It is just that I dinnae want to lose a single moment.”
Elspeth smiled. “I’m nae going anywhere.”
~ * ~
The small market on the other side of the village reminded Elspeth of Oban with its stalls manned by grouchy old men, young boys, and hardened women. No price was final; everyone bartered for the best deal, and when they couldn’t, they got the best value for their coin. She consulted Bess’ list again and headed toward the stall where carrots and radishes were being sold. She picked one up and brought it to her nose, inhaling deeply. The carrot smelled of earth and had the faintest scent of the sea, as did everyone and everything in the Barra, she’d noticed.
“Ye must be Captain MacNeil’s lady friend,” said an old woman.
Elspeth blushed, all too aware of the languidness of her body and the glow of her skin. “Aye, I’m the ship’s surgeon.”
The woman smiled. “Ye’re quite the talk around the village after saving Jack. It’s a rare lass who’s willing to sail with men like ours and patch them up when needed.”
She laughed at that. “It was an odd circumstance that brought me here, I assure ye.”
The woman’s eyes glanced back toward the vegetables. “Can I help ye get anything?”
Elspeth shook her head. “I’m just picking up a few odds and ends fer Bess.”
She nodded in understanding. “Have ye got any leeks?”
“Nae…it wasn’t on the list.”
The old woman handed her a portion of the green vegetables and smiled. “It’s best to be prepared, Bess is always running short on leeks, it one of her tavern’s specialties. Sausage and leek pie tastes divine when it’s prepared with the proper recipe.”
“Oh, thank ye. I’m sure she’ll appreciate the thought. How much?”
As Elspeth offered the woman coin, she gently refused. “Nae charge, dearie. Just tell Bess that Grace sends her regards.”
Elspeth placed the leeks into her basket and smiled. “I will. It was a pleasure to meet ye, Grace.”
She acknowledged her with a curtsy and wandered off into the market, exploring other shops and taking in the bustle of the Castlebay market. She spent the next hour talking with the few vendors in the square and learning as much as she could about the people. By the time the sun began to lower, she felt as if she’d been there for years.
On her way back to The Salty Wench Elspeth heard footsteps following her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she could feel someone watching her from the shadows. Her stomach clenched, and rush of fear shot through her. The shadows from the buildings were long across the ground and she realized it must have been later than she thought. She was about to turn on the village square when an arm shot out in front of her, pulling her forcefully onto one of the side roads.
Elspeth screamed as a man slammed her back against the wall and put a knife against her throat. The edge of the blade pressed into her skin, the cold metal as sharp as the knife Bess wielded in the kitchen. She whimpered in fear and turned her head away from him.
“Hello, dearie. It’s time ye and I had a little chat,” her attacker told her, his voice hoarse with disuse and tobacco, if his teeth were any indication.
Elspeth struggled to break free, but the man held her close. When she managed to yank her arm away from him the man responded by pressing the blade even harder against her collarbone. He was stronger than her, larger too. Her heart raced as she glanced down the road to Bess’ tavern, her one refuge. It was so close, and yet so far away; there was nothing she could do to get there. Graeme warned her that Barra could be a dangerous place—Elspeth just wished now that she’d listened to his advice.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Alone on the empty road with the strange man, Elspeth’s eye’s welled with tears. She thought about fighting back, but the man released her rather abruptly and she gazed up at him in fear. His hand still restrained her by the wrist and she was unable to leave despite her attempts.
“Who are ye?” she demanded.
The man in the shadows grinned. “Ye may have heard the captain speak of me. My name is Duncan.”
Elspeth thought back to the conversation with Graeme the night he’d brought her dinner to her room. He was upset that Duncan had seen her, but at the time she did not understand why. “Ye’re Duncan?” she asked him slowly.
His breath reeked of al
e and he wore a bonnet on the top of his head, but she paid no attention to his other clothing. It was the only part of his silhouette she was able to pick up on in the darkness, everything else blended into shadow. The man’s smile widened as she looked him over. “Ah. I see ye have heard of me. What has Graeme told ye about me exactly?”
“Nothing good, I’m afraid,” she responded through gritted teeth.
“Ye should be careful what rumors ye chose to listen to,” Duncan warned. “Graeme is nae kent fer his honesty. He may choose to twist the truth.”
“He has nae reason to lie.”
“He has every reason,” the man argued. “Graeme’s life has much improved since ye came on board his ship. I’d like to ken what secrets ye’ve been telling him.”
“Nothing!”
“Dinnae lie to me! Ye’re sneaking him private information to assist in his raids. I’d wager ye’re a spy.”
Elspeth cried. “What? Are ye talking about? I have nothing to do with his raids, I’m responsible fer tending to the injured. I dinnae ken anything about the other goings on.”
“Ye expect me to believe that?” Duncan sneered. “I think ye ken a lot more than ye’re letting on, and Graeme is keeping ye all to himself. If ye’re hiding secrets from the other captains Laird MacNeil would nae be pleased. I’ll make sure he sees Graeme hanged fer treachery.”
Elspeth blanched. “Graeme hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“Then tell me what ye’re hiding!”
Elspeth stared back at him, furiously meeting his gaze, and swallowed hard. She grit her teeth and stared up at him defiantly.
“I see…” he said quietly. “Ye’re in love with him, is that it?”
“And what if I am? There’s nothing shameful in that.”
Duncan laughed. “Ye have nae idea what he is capable of, lass. Ye think ye ken the truth, but I ken the real Graeme, the one he dinnae want ye to see. He stole my life from me and I will live to see the day that man suffers fer his crime. We were close, like brothers, he and I…until Graeme saw fit to betray me. That’s what Graeme does, lass–he uses people. Once they’ve served their purpose he discards them.”
Captured Hearts and Stolen Kisses Page 139