“It is true, we don’t appear to be going anywhere in this fog, but why should you waste your time on Maria, Sir John?” she asked. “Unless you admit that you have other motives?”
“What ‘other motives’?” John asked calmly.
“You don’t fool me, young man. Things...” She waved her hand in the air. “Things that happen between a man and a woman. I haven’t reached this advanced age living behind the walls of a convent, I want you to know.”
“I’m certain that you haven’t, m’lady. But then I’ll be asking you why you’re treating Maria as if she should be living behind those very walls?”
Isabel stared, unable to answer his question.
“Lady Isabel, it’s clear that Maria relies on you. But for once, stay out of this and let Maria stand on her own two feet. I only hope to talk her into spending time with me. I’ll introduce her to those aboard who have some redeeming quality to them. As you say, this ship is going nowhere in these mists. What harm can it do, for the time we are on board, amongst strangers, to exchange a few friendly words?”
“She has a reputation,” Isabel interjected. “And it...well, it isn’t the exchange of words that I’m concerned about.”
As much as he hated to admit it, John knew exactly what she was talking about. “I’ll admit to you that I’m attracted to the lass, but I’ll also give you my word that while we are at sea, I’ll not whisk her away to my cabin, and I’ll not take her to my bed.”
His bluntness and his offer silenced Isabel at once. He had made the promise that she had wanted him to make. “Your word?”
“My word,” he repeated.
The elder woman contemplated his words. Looking at his face, she had no doubt of the sincerity of his vow. She had called Maria a fool the day before for falling victim to his words. And now she was doing the same thing. She was allowing herself to be charmed by him.
But he had a point. Maria was unhappy. She had always been unhappy. That sadness had been the reason why Isabel had made the trip from Castile. To come and save her, from herself and from her brother. Oh, let me burn in hell for it, Isabel swore under her breath. If this Highlander has the power to make Maria smile, and to make her happy, even for a few short days, then so be it. For Maria had always been living in a kind of darkness, she realized, never really allowed to feel the sun on her skin or even the rain on her face. What the future held in store was far too uncertain, but Isabel knew that the odds were overwhelming. Soon, Maria would take her place as queen, if not among the Scots, somewhere. This was, perhaps, her one opportunity.
“Aye, show her how to live.” Isabel nodded. “Show her the beauty of the mist!”
Chapter 10
The young woman curtsied before tucking the coin inside her apron and backing hurriedly out of the room.
As the door closed softly, Caroline vaulted easily off her bunk. Tossing the blanket of blond hair over one shoulder, she moved to the high table where she’d carelessly thrown the ring and gold chain a moment earlier. With great effort Caroline had avoided showing the serving lass how keen she was to learn whatever there was to learn about her adversary. After all, the prices would only go up if she showed much interest. And Caroline smiled smugly, thinking how cheaply she’d gotten away with this. The young sneak had believed Caroline’s little act completely. So far as the young woman knew, there was no value whatsoever in what she had stolen from Maria’s cabin, and Caroline had paid her accordingly.
Picking up the ornate ring and chain, Caroline brought the band close to the flickering lantern light. It was a wedding ring, that she could tell. The intricate engraving, so striking to the eye, was a coat of arms that Caroline had seen before, but could not immediately identify. Bringing the golden object closer to her eye, she couldn’t help but admire the rampant, crowned lion set against a ring of meticulously carved foliage and flowers. She stared again. The shield on the lion’s chest featured another symbol. She squinted her eyes. A double-headed eagle.
Many a family in Europe used these animals in their coat of arms, but this one was quite elegant. Wracking her brain, she tried to recall where she had seen this combination, but to no avail.
Well, it was a start, she thought, letting the ring dangle from the chain. Gathering the ring and chain up in both hands, Caroline smiled. She would find out more. She was only getting started.
“What do you mean, we have company?” Maria asked in shock, eyeing the new gown Isabel had somehow managed to change into. The deep maroon color of the fabric had brought some color to her aunt’s complexion. Isabel looked the best she had since being injured.
“There is a lovely dress for you, thanks to our hosts, sitting next to the chess-board. I recommend you change into it.” The older woman directed the young serving lass to get it. “I am tired of seeing you in that same thing, day after day. And if I were you, I would hurry. I need your help, and there is not much time left until our dinner company arrives.”
Maria watched in amazement as the servant jumped to her aunt’s commands. From her cabin, she had been surprised to hear her aunt ordering the young girl about, but, entering Isabel’s cabin, Maria had never expected to walk into commotion such as this. The room had been rearranged, and an extra table, laden with bread and fish and pastries, had been brought in and set up in one corner. The serving girl stood behind her, but Maria focused her attention on Isabel.
“You are a different woman than you were last night,” Maria said accusingly. “But as far as this dinner! Entertaining! Isabel, you don’t know anyone on this ship. How could you invite them to dinner?”
Maria waved her hand at the elegant dinner that awaited.
“This is not your...” Maria was about to say–your palace in Castile–but caught herself, remembering the presence of the other woman in the room. “You’re a guest! And not to mention, the wound in your shoulder is hardly healed enough to...”
“I don’t want to hear any more of this, young woman. Now be on your way. Go. Change. Make yourself attractive. I don’t want to do this alone.”
Maria stood her ground. “How did this thing ever get started, anyway? This has something to do with Sir John’s visit this morning, doesn’t it?”
“Were you listening at the keyhole, Maria?”
“There is no keyhole!” Maria shot back in denial. A light blush spread quickly to her cheeks as she thought of the serving girl listening to all of this. “You know I would never do such a thing.”
“You knew he was here, though.”
Maria nodded. “Of course. I made out his voice when he first came in, but I certainly didn’t eavesdrop on your argument!”
Isabel smiled. “So you heard us quarrel?”
Maria, blushing furiously, glared at her aunt. “Just answer my question, Isabel. Is this grand dinner tonight the result of your visit with Sir John?”
“Take her away,” Isabel ordered to the young servant, ignoring Maria. “Take her away and help her dress. And while you’re at it, see what you could do with her hair. Put some life into it, will you?”
Maria paused a moment longer, unwilling to surrender the field. Then, hearing the knock on the door, she watched in utter amazement as the door opened to her aunt’s command, and Christy marched in with two sailors carrying a number of additional platters of fruits and bottles of wine.
“Be on your way, Maria,” Isabel directed again.
Backing out of the bustling cabin, Maria turned and moved swiftly into the quiet of her own smaller room. The serving girl had already spread sets of underclothing and the dress on her small bunk.
“I can manage this myself,” Maria said gently to the young girl. “You will be of much greater use to my aunt than to me.”
As the woman politely curtsied and left, Maria remained where she stood, thinking over this new turn of events. She had been bound and determined not to see him again. And she hadn’t lied to Isabel in saying she hadn’t eavesdropped on their conversation today, though it had been difficu
lt to ignore their raised voices.
It had been a long and trying night, last night. She had laid awake in her small bunk for hours, haunted by conflicting feelings of duty and freedom–and by other things, as well. With her eyes open to the flickering glow of the lantern, her mind’s eye had been on him. John Macpherson and his magical touch, his soothing words. Lying there, she could almost feel, all over again, the incredible passion of their encounter. Why was it that she had never known desire such as this. How could it be that she had never even known that such feelings could exist? A lifetime of discipline, of doing the correct thing, of controlling all emotions, had all been upended in a single moment. He had made her forget, and had made her feel. The chaotic tumult of emotions battered at her reason, but still a ragged line of defense remained. She could not allow herself to capitulate so completely. Her future was too uncertain. The plan for her future lay too close...to close to him.
Exhausted, she had only started to drift off when the first gray hints of dawn had crept into the eastern sky. She knew she had good reason–even after being awakened by the soft, captivating burr of his voice in the next cabin–to stay away. But now, seeing the affair being readied in Isabel’s cabin, she wondered if she had done the right thing.
Maria pulled apart the laces that held the front of her dress together and stepped out of the dress. Who could possibly be joining them for dinner, she wondered. The Scottish noblemen and women who were aboard seemed to spend most of their time at cards in the galley, or chatting with one another in the narrow corridors. From what she had observed, few of the Scots had displayed much interest in them, though Janet Maule had from the very beginning been warm and solicitous of their needs. Certainly, none of the others had sought them out. Looking at the soft, cream colored dress lying on the bunk, Maria wagered inwardly that it had been Janet who’d supplied it. And as far as the dinner company went, Maria knew that–other than Maule family–neither she nor Isabel had met anyone in the Scottish delegation.
Standing only in her shift, Maria suddenly felt a chill race through her, though the cabin was snug enough against the chilling damp outside. She quickly stepped into the soft wool dress.
As she absently tightened the laces in the front of the low neckline, Maria considered the possibilities. They were few. Aside from the physician, whom Isabel did not seem to care for particularly, there were, perhaps, only the Maules.
Her blood ran cold to think of sitting and dining with Sir Thomas. The Scottish knight had seen her in Sir John’s arms. He assuredly thought her a loose woman. And then there was Lady Caroline Maule. Last night, she had been naked and quite willing in the Highlander’s bed. Caroline Maule was a loose woman. Maria wondered vaguely what penalty adultery carried in Scotland. And then there was Janet. Dear, thoughtful Janet. Maria finished tying the laces of her dress. She would like to know Janet better.
Perhaps David Maxwell would come along. The handsome Scot would make a witty addition to any company. Maria knew Janet Maule would have no objection to the navigator’s company.
Beyond that, there was only John Macpherson.
Maria leaned her head to the side and started to tame her long, tangled mane with brisk strokes of her brush. She could feel the heat in her face, the tingles moving down her spine. As much as she’d like to deny it, she could feel what the mere thought of the man did to her.
Sweeping her black hair behind her, she straightened up and paused. Yes, he would be there. She would see him again...tonight. Suddenly, she was conscious of the pounding of her heart in her breast, and she looked down, wondering with a mild sense of panic how she would look. Then, slowly, the absurdity of her responses sank in, making her smile. One moment she was complaining about what Isabel had done, and the next she was shivering with excitement at the prospect.
Walking toward the looking glass the serving girl had placed by the window, Maria scrutinized her image. Her unbound, black hair swept down over her shoulders, unbraided and unadorned. The cream colored dress had simple geometric forms worked in gold thread into the material, but the overall effect of it was one of simplicity. There were no buttons of pearl or gold arraying her gown, there were no jewels adorning her skin. There was no façade of grandeur or majestic splendor hiding her from the world. In a moment of unshackled joy, Maria gazed at herself and, for perhaps the first time in her life, relished the sight that met her eyes. Looking into the mirror, she saw a woman. Simple, plain, unadorned...and real.
The young navigator’s fist banged forcefully on the door. He knew Janet was in there. She hadn’t been in the galley with her father, and she wasn’t above decks.
“Mistress Janet!” He raised his hand again, but before he could knock once more, the door swung open on its hinges.
With a single glance at the tear stained face of the young woman, David’s anger disappeared, and he stepped into the room, pulling her into his arms.
Janet Maule went gladly into his strong embrace, a vague feeling of comfort and security washing over her as he wrapped his arms about her. For the entire day she had locked herself away, praying desperately for some inspiration, some insight that might guide her through the nightmare she was sure was about to unfold.
“Please close it,” she whispered, her tone muffled. “I won’t let him stab you in the back in my own doorway.”
“Stab me?” David responded, his eyebrows arching in surprise. “Who’s to stab me, lass?”
“My father,” Janet whispered forcefully before pulling suddenly away. Pushing past him, she peered nervously down the hallway and then closed the door.
David watched her long, white fingers tremble as they latched the door.
“What has happened, Janet?”
She turned and faced him, leaning her back heavily against the cabin door. “By now, Caroline has most assuredly told him that you were here last night.”
“Last night?” David repeated. There was no one in the corridor when he’d kissed Janet good night. “What of it, lass?”
The young woman reached up and wiped away the tears running down her cheeks. “David, why couldn’t you have stayed away.” Her voice was ragged with anguish. “What made you think to come back here while I was sleeping.”
“While you were asleep?” David was beginning to feel like the village idiot, repeating everything she was saying, but he hadn’t any idea what she was talking about.
“It was so humiliating to be discovered like that,” she continued through her tears. “Caroline treated me as though I were some tramp...”
“Just a moment, lass.” David shook his head. “This isn’t making a bit of sense. If we’re sailing into heavy weather...”
Janet moved away from the door and edged her way around him. Her face had taken on a wild, frantic look.
“She saw you, David. She saw you!” She was nearly choking on her tears. “And I am certain she will tell my father, if she hasn’t already.” The young woman lunged toward him, grasping both of his hands. “David, you must hide! Is there anywhere you can go? One of the other ships. You must get away. My father’s temper...you mustn’t let him find you!”
“Hold on, Janet!” David nearly shouted. “I don’t run from anything. And why should I, lass?”
“My father! Sir Thomas will...”
“I’ll take care to straighten things out with your father, Janet. But first, I need to know what it is that needs straightening out!”
“You have to be gone, David. We can’t let him find you here!”
“I’ll only be staying a moment, my sweet. Your father’s just sitting down to his supper, so we’ve plenty of time for you to tell me what this is all about. Now, sit yourself here.” David led the distraught woman to the bunk, and they sat hand in hand while Janet composed herself. “I’ll stay just long enough for you to tell me what’s happened.”
Janet nodded gratefully, and he smiled back at her.
“Now, what is this about Lady Caroline treating you poorly? Nay, we’d best start
from the beginning. Who saw me? And where? We’ve done naught we need to be ashamed of, Janet.”
She stared at him in confusion. “But you were here last night.”
“Aye, lass. In the hall. There’s naught in that.”
“Nay! You were in here.”
“I wasn’t, Janet. And you know that as well as I do. I left you in the hall.” David looked at her steadily. “Have you forgotten that already?”
“Nay! I haven’t forgotten,” she exclaimed, flushing scarlet at the memory.
David smiled. “I didn’t think you would.”
“But when you came back, Caroline saw you, and...”
“Came back? I didn’t come back, Janet.”
“That’s not what Caroline claims,” she responded, wringing her hands. “And then, there was your hat!”
“My hat?” he exploded. “What about my hat?”
“It was here on my bunk when I awoke this morning. On the pillow beside me.”
“Janet, I didn’t come in here last night.” David forced himself to consider what Janet was telling him. His hat. Why, he’d thought he had left his hat in Sir John’s cabin, though it hadn’t been there this morning. “And the last time I saw my hat, I was in the commander’s workroom. That was yesterday, lass. Now, I don’t imagine he’s been paying midnight visits to you, so I suppose we need to figure out just how that bonnet found its way in here.”
Wide eyed, Janet stared into the young navigator’s face. “Then you didn’t come to me last night?”
“Of course not, Janet. What do you think I’ve been telling you?” David’s eyes roamed her pretty face. “Though, to be honest, I’m certainly guilty of wanting to. But nay, lass, I never stepped foot inside this cabin until now.”
Janet threw her arms around him and sank her head into the crook of his neck. David held her tightly for a moment, and then, untangling himself, coaxed her to tell him all that had taken place from the time she’d awakened this morning–from the time she’d discovered his hat on her bed. Once she got started, the knot began to unravel for him...and for Janet.
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