Page 60 of A Two-Faced Laird
Edina had seen it before, of course, but she had forgotten how busy it was. There was a constant bustle of fishing boats and cargo boats being loaded and unloaded, women standing behind tables that were displaying row after row of gleaming silver fish. A pungent stench of fish and seaweed hung over everything, and they could see dozens of cats creeping under the tables and between the lobster creels in search of food.
Edina shuddered at the sight of the cats munching on fishbones, but she had to admit that the port had a strange charm that was all its own. She remembered coming down with her uncle and cousins to buy fish sometimes. Of course, they did not have to buy their own food, since they had servants to do it, but it was a treat to come and see how the other half lived sometimes.
Uncle John had said it would be good for them all to learn about the lives of others, and he had been right.
They began to stroll along the pier, looking at the fishing boats and other merchant vessels unloading their cargo. Itlooked like very hard work, Edina thought, although some of the men were smaller than Aidan, they all looked sturdy and strong.
As they watched, one of them, who was carrying a large heavy crate on his shoulder, stumbled and was about to fall. Then Aidan rushed to the rescue and grabbed it before it hit the ground and carried the man with it.
Edina ran over to them, and looked into the stranger’s face.
“Are you all right?” she asked fearfully. “You’re not hurt?”
He shook his head. He was young, perhaps the same age as Aidan, and although he seemed to have suffered no serious damage, he was shaking with fright. Instinctively, Edina put her arm around his shoulders to soothe him, then Aidan asked where to put the crate.
“I will take care o’ it, Sir,” the young man said. “Thank ye very much for your help.”
His tone was respectful, and Aidan guessed it was because of his own upper-class accent and the fact that he was speaking English and not Scots. He bent down to pick up the box again, but he had obviously hurt his back. Aidan did it for him, then followed the crewman’s directions to set it down.
The young man was pathetically grateful, and asked if he could do anything for him in return.
“You can tell me if there is a boat here that takes passengers,” Aidan said.
“Aye—over there is the Mary King,” the man told him, pointing. “She is goin’ tae France.”
“Thank you,” Aidan said as they turned away.
He smiled at Edina. “Do you want a trip to France, Mistress Findlay? We must go on a wedding trip.”
“I would love to see Paris,” Edina replied. “I have heard about its beauty. But what about finding work and a place to live?”
Aidan shrugged. Suddenly, nothing mattered but him and Edina; he knew that everything else would sort itself out somehow. He was in a mood to throw caution to the winds.
“We can last for a little while,” he told her. “Let’s enjoy ourselves while we can.”
The captain was a big, beefy man who was most foreigners’ idea of just what a Scot looked like. He had a big red bushy beard, fierce blue eyes, and an aggressive manner. However, when Aidan spoke to him, he revealed the kindest of hearts and the most beautiful smile.
“Captain James Ferguson, at your service,” he said, then bowed to Edina. “How can I help ye?”
“I believe you are going to France?” Aidan asked.
“Aye,” Captain Ferguson replied. “Strictly speakin’, we are a cargo ship, but we have a few cabins for passengers. We have nae special niceties for ladies, though. Nae nice dressin’ tables an’ mirrors an’ suchlike.”
Edina and Aidan exchanged glances and smiled.
“That won’t be needed,” Edina answered. “Just a bed big enough for two.”
“Ah!” The captain’s face broke into a wide grin. “Newlyweds?”
“Indeed we are,” Aidan replied proudly as he put his arm around Edina’s waist. “Married three days now. Are you married, Captain?”
“Indeed I am,” he answered. “Thirty years, an’ three sons, four daughters an’ still in love wi’ my bonny wife.”
Edina put her head on Aidan’s shoulder and smiled at the Captain.
“I hope we can be like you.”
Captain Ferguson patted Aidan’s shoulder.
