Elspeth’s dismay intensified. That didn’t sound anything like the man she knew and loved. “Maybe ye deserved it,” she shot back.
“Oh, ye are in love with him,” Duncan said, a bitter smile crossing features that might have been handsome at one time. “It’s written all over yer face. Ye tell him other captains’ secrets in exchange fer a roll in the sheets, is that how it works? I wonder what the laird would think if he found out about that.”
“I already told ye, I’m nae telling Graeme any secrets. I have nothing to do with yer mad ideas of conspiracy.”
He shook his head. “I dinnae believe ye. It’s too convenient that his good fortune would arrive exactly the same time ye did.” Duncan paused for a moment to consider her. “Mayhap ye’re some kind of good luck charm. Wouldn’t that be fine! I could use some luck these days…I might have to taste ye myself and see if that is true.”
“I’d rather die than let ye touch me,” Elspeth snarled.
Duncan tsked. “I think ye should reconsider. It would be foolish to waste yer affection on the likes of him. Graeme never lets his attention linger on a lass very long. Ye might be surprised what I could offer instead. One night with me and I could make ye forget all about him. All I want is the same favor ye’ve been showing Graeme.”
Elspeth pulled back and spat in Duncan’s face with a vicious scowl. “I’m nae fer sale. Ye’re daft! Or haven’t ye been listening? I dinnae care what ye say about him, I’d never betray Graeme.”
Duncan smirked while wiping off his cheek. “We’ll see. I still think ye’re hiding something. Graeme could nae have fallen on such impossible good luck by himself.”
Elspeth finally managed to break free and backed away from him down the alley. She turned and picked up her scattered basket of vegetables before running down the road. Elspeth didn’t stop until she arrived at The Salty Wench.
Chapter 24
Graeme parried an attack as Valan thrust his sword toward him. They’d been sparring for the better part of an hour and he was growing tired. When Graeme countered with a flick of the wrist, Valan spun around and managed to disarm him.
Alistair clapped from his seat on the bench and said, “Good, lad. That’s the way it’s done.”
Graeme chuckled as he retrieved his weapon from the ground, but Valan shook his head.
“He’s going easy on me.”
Graeme shook his head and smiled, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Nae, ye’re getting better at this. I would nae do ye the insult of throwing a match. Ye might be advancing fast enough that we’re now equally matched—the student has excelled his teacher.”
This seemed to cheer him slightly, and Valan grinned from the compliment. “Thank ye, Graeme. That means a great deal coming from ye. Would ye like to go again?”
He sighed and sheathed his sword into the holder. “Let’s take a break first. I’m out of breath and think rest is needed before we came continue.”
His fencing partner nodded and started removing his leather glove.
Alistair glanced around from his seat beneath the tree and asked, “Where’s Ellie? I thought I would have seen her by now.”
Graeme set his own glove on the table and poured himself a tankard of water, saying, “Bess asked her to run some errands in the market. She should be back shortly.”
They hummed in acknowledgement and poured tankards of water for themselves. After he’d downed the beverage, Valan turn to him with a smile. “Ye seem quite fond of her. Is it possible that some of the rumors around the village are true?”
“And what rumors would that be?”
“Oh, just that ye’ve been sharing a bed since the day she set foot on this isle.”
Graeme rolled his eyes as the young sailor wagged an eyebrow suggestively. “What goes on between me and Elspeth is nae of yer business. I have nae need to explain myself.”
Valan let out a frustrated groan and said, “Oh, come on. Ye’ve never held out on us before. At least let us ken if anything’s happened.”
“I’m nae going to discuss this with ye.”
Alistair cleared his throat, casting Graeme a meaningful stare. “Leave it alone, Valan. The captain dinnae need to tell ye anything he dinnae want to. I, personally, am just glad that she’s on our ship and has been such a valuable member of the crew.”
Graeme smiled at him appreciatively while Valan pouted. “Why are ye asking me about this anyway, Valan?”
“Because it’s been two months. Ye never said how long she’s going to be sailing with us and I would hate to see her go.”
Graeme winced at the thought of her leaving and responded. “Well, that is difficult to say. When we stopped in Oban after the Mary Rose I told her she could stay. I told her she could return to her family, but she came back to us.”
Valan lowered his cup and stared at him in shock. “Ye told Elspeth she could go, and then she still came back?”
“Aye.”
Alistair grinned and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “She dinnae come back fer us ye stupid git, she came back fer ye. She chose ye instead.”
He sighed, taking another sip of his drink. “I dinnae want to force this life on her if that isn’t what she wanted. Every day I worry she’ll regret that decision and demand I take her back.”
“So ye do have feelings fer her,” Valan clarified.
Graeme snorted. “Aye, Valan. I care about her a great deal.”
“Are ye in love with her?”
Graeme chuckled, looking down embarrassedly. “Aye, I think I am.”
It was not often that he would show true emotion in front of his crew, yet there was no denying the way he felt for her. Elspeth was so much more than the woman he’d brought with him on the ship—she was everything. If he’d known that such a woman existed, waiting for him all along, he would have sailed to her arms much sooner.
Valan choked on a mouthful of water and stared at him. Graeme wasn’t sure if it was his confession, or the semblance of emotion that had surprised him. “Really?”
Graeme nodded. “Aye. I think she may be the one. I’ve never cared about a lass the way I do about her.”
“Oh, ye scoundrel. Why dinnae ye say anything sooner?”
Alistair laughed, clapping his hand down on the captain’s back. “So, we’re nae keeping this a secret anymore?”
Valan turned on him and scowled. “Ye kent about this?”
“Aye, of course I did.” Turning back to Graeme, he added, “I’m glad ye took my advice. Ellie is the perfect lass fer ye, I’m glad ye found each other.”
Graeme’s fencing pupil offered him a sideways grin and asked, “What are ye going to do?”
He sighed. “I dinnae ken. She wants to stay, and I want her to as well, but I’d have to ask the laird’s permission to make it happen. I’ve thought about asking her to marry me—Bess has been hinting fer a while that I should, but that would require permission from the laird as well.”
“Then it sounds like ye need to make a trip to Kisimul.”
“Aye.”
“Once Thomas agrees to let ye marry, all of us will have to go out and celebrate.”
For the first time in his adult life, Graeme felt his cheeks get hot. “He would have to approve the marriage first.”
“He will. She’s a talented healer, which is exactly what our village needs. The laird would be a fool if he dinnae welcome her into the clan with open arms.”
“I will never marry,” Valan told them adamantly. “There are too many women in this world fer me to be content with only one.”
Alistair rolled his eyes. “Ye’re still young and naïve. Trust me, before long ye’ll see the value in having a good woman—one who loves ye unconditionally, that ye could build a home with.”
Valan shook his head. “Whatever ye say, Alistair.”
Bess interrupted their conversation by poking her head out from the kitchen. “Lads, come inside and have a bite to eat before the tavern gets too busy. I’ve got some lovel
y meat pies that will fill ye right up.”
The men all nodded and headed toward the door.
“Thank ye, Bess, that sounds delicious.”
She smiled as they passed her in the doorway and Graeme leaned down to kiss her cheek. They walked through the kitchens to where the dining area was lit with candles. Out of habit, Graeme led them over toward his booth and sat down on the bench. Bess poured them each a tankard of ale before going back into the kitchens, saying, “I’ll be right out with those pies then. Go on and make yerselves comfortable.”
As Graeme watched her leave, Alistair turned to him with a grin. “Ye ken this conversation isn’t over, right?”
He rolled his eyes and said, “As ye wish.”
Bess came out of the kitchen with a golden-brown pie and set it on the table in front of them. “I hope ye’re hungry,” she told them with an impish grin.
Graeme’s mouth watered at the smell of the delicious meal and he picked up a knife from the table. He served them each a hearty portion and ate to his heart’s content, wondering when Elspeth would return. Valan and Alistair exchanged idle conversation as they ate as well and continued teasing him about his budding romance. For the most part, Graeme allowed their lighthearted comments because he knew they were from a place of genuine affection and support.
Their meals were halfway finished when customers started to arrive. Graeme poured his table another round of ale and froze with his hand in the air as the door flew open and Elspeth rushed inside. Her arrival was barely noticeable over the chatter of the tavern, but Graeme recognized her distress immediately. Her eyes were wide with fright as she searched the tavern, still holding a basket of vegetables. Elspeth’s hair was disheveled and her cheeks flush from panic. When Graeme saw her, he set down his tankard and leapt from his seat. Panic rose inside him that something terrible happened and worry creased his brow as he hastened to her. “Elspeth, what’s wrong?”
Alistair and Valan saw her, too. Alistair’s eyebrows furrowed, and his expression darkened when she came toward them. They all rose from their seats to clear a path for Graeme to get to her, moving the chairs out of the way.
Elspeth maneuvered through the room toward him and threw herself into his arms. She was trembling when he pulled her close and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, “Graeme, there was a man outside who attacked me.”
His brow furrowed as he wrapped his arms around her shoulder and set her basket on the table. “Who was it? Tell me everything.”
“He said his name was Duncan,” she rushed out. “Ye mentioned him before, but I’d never seen him until today. He dragged me into the alley and put a knife to my throat. I-I...dinnae ken how this happened. I was so scared.”
Graeme froze at the mention of Duncan’s name and his face became stone.
Alistair growled with rage beside him. “That low-life. I should have slit his throat when I had the chance.”
Valan seethed quietly and his eyes narrowed as he listened to them talk.
“What did he say?” Graeme asked through gritted teeth.
She was shaking when she pulled back. “He accused me of having secret information about the raids, and dinnae believe me when I told him it wasn’t true.”
Alistair snarled, “That bastard.”
The mood of the evening has shifted drastically, and tension was thick in the air around them. Bess came out from the kitchen with a tray against her hip. When she glanced over at them and saw they were in an uproar and talking over one another, Bess marched over straightaway. The other patrons had stopped eating and drinking, craning their necks to watch the commotion.
“What is it?” she demanded.
Valan was the one to answer. “Duncan threatened her.”
Bess scoffed and set her free hand against her hip. “Graeme MacNeil, I have been telling ye fer months that ye need to do something about that man. If he comes after her again then be it on yer head.”
He took a step back from his aunt, confused. “Ye think this is my fault?”
“I never said that, but enough is enough,” Bess clucked and shooed the men away. “Come here, Ellie. I’ll make ye some warm broth.”
She put her arm around Elspeth and led her over to a table against the wall. Elspeth glanced back over her shoulder at him, beseeching him to follow her.
Graeme turned back toward his friends. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but Duncan crossed a line. This has gone on long enough.”
“What do ye propose?”
“Obviously, Elspeth is nae to leave the tavern unattended. I will see to Duncan myself, and if necessary, enlist the laird’s assistance. Duncan will nae set a finger on her.”
Chapter 25
Elspeth sat in her regular booth at The Salty Wench with a warm cup of broth in front of her. Alistair and the other men gathered around protectively, standing against the wall or leaning in to hear the conversation. She was still shaken by the confrontation with Duncan in the road and Bess hadn’t left her side since she returned. Bess’ arm wrapped around her and she spoke in soothing tones. The broth was helpful, but it was even more comforting to have support from her friends and Graeme. The pirate captain stood beside her and cast a wary glace in his aunt’s direction. Elspeth could tell they were communicating something, but she couldn’t read their indecipherable looks.
“What is it?” she asked.
Bess rubbed her shoulder and said, “It’s nothing, dearie.”
Elspeth scoffed. “It’s fine, Bess. Ye can tell me.”
“She’s upset with me fer letting it get this far,” Graeme informed her. “I wish I could say that she was wrong, but Bess has been warning me about Duncan since the day ye arrived.”
His aunt snorted. “Aye.”
Elspeth took another sip of broth before glancing over to where the men were speaking. Seamus had arrived shortly after her and Alistair relayed the situation. What concerned her most wasn’t that Duncan had approached her, but how forcefully the men reacted to the exchange. The mere mention of his name made Seamus and Valan recoil, as if the word was poisonous itself, proving that Graeme hadn’t been exaggerating Duncan’s reputation. Yet, the knowledge of her crew’s support was overwhelmingly cathartic and managed to calm her fears.
“Do ye think he’ll come back fer Ellie?” Valan asked the group.
Graeme angled his chair away from Bess and Elspeth and addressed his men. “I’m nae sure. If he kens what’s good fer him, he’d stay far away from here. I already warned him once to stay away from her. He deliberately went against my wishes. If I ever get my hands on him, Duncan is a dead man.”
Alistair shook his head. “What would he possibly be hoping to achieve? Elspeth dinnae have anything to offer him.”
“Ye mean aside from being a pretty blonde surgeon?” Seamus quipped. “Does that sound like anyone to ye?”
The quartermaster’s face went pale. “Morag?”
Valan placed his hand on the hilt of his rapier. “It dinnae matter what Duncan’s motives are. He threatened a member of our crew. That will nae stand.”
Elspeth had never seen Graeme’s fencing pupil enraged. She’d always known him to be a lighthearted, affable sort of fellow, who was always cracking jokes. Now, with his face darkened in savagery and bloodlust, his every muscle clenched and ready to spring into action, Valan looked every bit as deadly as Graeme. They had the same wildness in their eyes, a wildness that would not be tamed until Duncan was dead. Valan’s lip curled up into a snarl and he let out a string of profanities that made even the other sailors blush. For Elspeth, it wasn’t so much what he said, but the way he spat out the words, and the anger that lay beneath them.
“He’s right,” Seamus agreed. “We need to get ahead of him. If Duncan has grown bold enough to try something like this, I’d bet good coin it’s only the beginning. He must be leading up to something.”
Elspeth set down her cup and buried her face into her hands. She couldn’t listen to them anymore. “I’m so s
orry to cause this much trouble.”
Graeme’s expression fell as he sat down next to her. “This is what Bess worried about all along, I should have listened. Once Duncan puts his mind to something, there is little that can stop him.”
He cradled Elspeth’s face between his hands and said, “Ye have nothing to apologize fer. If anyone has done wrong, it’s me. I should nae have provoked him the other night.”
Elspeth’s heart quickened as she met Graeme’s cool, gray eyes, startled by the intensity of the emotions she read. She wanted nothing more than to lose herself in him and forget the terrible situation hanging over their heads.
“It’s a little late fer apologies,” Bess snapped, bringing Elspeth back to the moment. “What are ye going to do now?”
Elspeth wondered the exact same thing. The men quieted and leaned in closer around the booth to listen.
“I think I’m going to have to fight him,” Graeme said slowly. “I’ll go after Duncan myself, and end this once and fer all.”
“How are ye going to find him?” Alistair asked. “Nae one kens where he stays fer long.”
Graeme chuckled in the seat beside her as he placed a hand on Elspeth’s shoulder. “I ken exactly where Duncan would be staying. He’s never been long on imagination, and there are a limited number of places he would go.”
“Then I’ll go with ye,” Valan insisted.
Alistair grinned at him and nodded. “And I. I’m nae going to let ye have all the fun.”
Graeme pursed his lips and frowned. “I wouldn’t call it fun, but a necessary evil. Bess, can I speak with ye in private, please?”
His aunt nodded and excused herself from the table, taking the basket of vegetables with her. Elspeth’s eyes drifted over to the wilted stocks where some of the stems had been broken in half and let out a stifled gasp. “Oh, the leeks! Bess, I’m so sorry. I dropped the basket in the alley and must have lost some vegetables on the way.”
The tavern owner stared at her, confused. “Leeks? What are ye talking about, lass?”
Captured Hearts and Stolen Kisses Page 140