Read Online Highland Lover: Book 3 Scottish Knights Trilogy by Amanda Scott - Free Book Online
Authors: Amanda Scott
Ads: Link
House only one night before going home to Duncraig, on the west coast of Kintail. The news of Traill’s death reached him a month later, and his grief had been almost as great as if he’d lost his father.
Captain Wat Maxwell, Giff MacLennan, and others had taught Jake all he knew about sailing. But Traill had taught him things that were just as important, if not more so, primarily the value of strong friendships.
Although the wind still howled around them, Jake had reached that familiar state of sensing the movements of a boat without thought and recognizing intervals needed before resetting the sail. He hoped to be north of theheadland before it came into view and thus avoid anyone’s seeing them from the south harbor or town.
However, the chalky whalelike shape of Flamborough Head loomed out of the murk ahead portside with some distance still to go. He was sailing as near to the wind as he dared, but the coble was out far enough for them to pass the head safely. Also, the murk had thickened in Bridlington Bay. He could not see the harbor, which meant that no one in the harbor could see them.
Adjusting course slightly to give himself more room to turn inland, he heard Will wonder aloud how much longer it would be. Jake realized that sitting as low as the two in front of the mast now were, they could not see what lay ahead. In the driving rain, they had probably stopped paying heed in any event.
Alyson glanced up, smiled, and his memory flitted back to the crackling fire in the comfortable hall and a distant clatter of some menial dropping a tray on the dais. The charming lass with whom he had been enjoying pleasant discourse had looked up from a more demure posture and smiled at him just so.
He had been flirting shamelessly with her at the time, and her smile had encouraged him. Then Ivor had joined them long enough to let him know that she was soon to marry, thus taking the wind from Jake’s sails.
Smiling at the memory, he recalled how Lady Alyson had seemed to be aware of what everyone in the room was doing and saying, even as she carried on her conversation with him. Twice, she had briefly disengaged to answer a question he had not heard and to inject a comment into another conversation. He had been astonished at how deftly she did such things without losing the thread ofwhat he—or, for that matter, she—had been saying at the time.
Once, when a dispute arose, the two most involved had soon drawn others into the argument. He had nearly grown dizzy looking from one person to another. But a quiet observation of Alyson’s had settled the matter in a trice.
He saw that she had returned her attention to Will. Her cloak was soaked, and she was still clutching her hood to keep it up. He knew few women who would not complain bitterly at finding themselves in such a situation.
“Do you know where we are, sir?” she asked, raising her voice in the apparent belief that he would not otherwise hear it over the wind.
“We’re approaching Flamborough Head,” he said. “ ’Tis the place from whence the pirates sailed. They appeared from behind the headland when we were north of it, so they had harbored in Bridlington Bay. I’m nearly certain they’ve returned to shelter there.”
“Then should we not head inland, to see where they go next?”
Will declared, “Aye, we should. We need tae see where they take Jamie.”
“If Mace and I were alone, I might risk that,” Jake said. “No one aboard those ships but Orkney would recognize us easily. He and Jamie are the only ones likely to recognize Will, Mace, or me. And they both have sense enough to say nowt. But everyone who was on the
Maryenknyght
would know you, my lady.”
“But Ciara—” She broke off, biting her lip. Then she said, “Nay, you are right, sir. Ciara would shout out my name the instant she clapped eyes on me.”
“Nay, she—” But Will, too, broke off whatever he had been about to say.
“What is it, lad?” Jake asked. “You
Captain Wat Maxwell, Giff MacLennan, and others had taught Jake all he knew about sailing. But Traill had taught him things that were just as important, if not more so, primarily the value of strong friendships.
Although the wind still howled around them, Jake had reached that familiar state of sensing the movements of a boat without thought and recognizing intervals needed before resetting the sail. He hoped to be north of theheadland before it came into view and thus avoid anyone’s seeing them from the south harbor or town.
However, the chalky whalelike shape of Flamborough Head loomed out of the murk ahead portside with some distance still to go. He was sailing as near to the wind as he dared, but the coble was out far enough for them to pass the head safely. Also, the murk had thickened in Bridlington Bay. He could not see the harbor, which meant that no one in the harbor could see them.
Adjusting course slightly to give himself more room to turn inland, he heard Will wonder aloud how much longer it would be. Jake realized that sitting as low as the two in front of the mast now were, they could not see what lay ahead. In the driving rain, they had probably stopped paying heed in any event.
Alyson glanced up, smiled, and his memory flitted back to the crackling fire in the comfortable hall and a distant clatter of some menial dropping a tray on the dais. The charming lass with whom he had been enjoying pleasant discourse had looked up from a more demure posture and smiled at him just so.
He had been flirting shamelessly with her at the time, and her smile had encouraged him. Then Ivor had joined them long enough to let him know that she was soon to marry, thus taking the wind from Jake’s sails.
Smiling at the memory, he recalled how Lady Alyson had seemed to be aware of what everyone in the room was doing and saying, even as she carried on her conversation with him. Twice, she had briefly disengaged to answer a question he had not heard and to inject a comment into another conversation. He had been astonished at how deftly she did such things without losing the thread ofwhat he—or, for that matter, she—had been saying at the time.
Once, when a dispute arose, the two most involved had soon drawn others into the argument. He had nearly grown dizzy looking from one person to another. But a quiet observation of Alyson’s had settled the matter in a trice.
He saw that she had returned her attention to Will. Her cloak was soaked, and she was still clutching her hood to keep it up. He knew few women who would not complain bitterly at finding themselves in such a situation.
“Do you know where we are, sir?” she asked, raising her voice in the apparent belief that he would not otherwise hear it over the wind.
“We’re approaching Flamborough Head,” he said. “ ’Tis the place from whence the pirates sailed. They appeared from behind the headland when we were north of it, so they had harbored in Bridlington Bay. I’m nearly certain they’ve returned to shelter there.”
“Then should we not head inland, to see where they go next?”
Will declared, “Aye, we should. We need tae see where they take Jamie.”
“If Mace and I were alone, I might risk that,” Jake said. “No one aboard those ships but Orkney would recognize us easily. He and Jamie are the only ones likely to recognize Will, Mace, or me. And they both have sense enough to say nowt. But everyone who was on the
Maryenknyght
would know you, my lady.”
“But Ciara—” She broke off, biting her lip. Then she said, “Nay, you are right, sir. Ciara would shout out my name the instant she clapped eyes on me.”
“Nay, she—” But Will, too, broke off whatever he had been about to say.
“What is it, lad?” Jake asked. “You
Similar Books
