Page 90 of Tempted
The flotilla of ships managed to reach the Port of Ayr before nightfall. The sunset stained the sky crimson and in the distance the mountains seemed to be dark purple shadows. Tina immediately recognized the Thistle Doon, and when she saw the burly figure of her father aboard, a lump came into her throat. When he had paid Douglas to take her instead of Beth, she thought she could never forgive him, but just the sight of him made her realize that she and her father shared a deep and abiding affection for each other. She heard the chain rattle through the hawsehole as the anchor was dropped, then Ram was at her shoulder. “I’ll send a note tae yer father inviting him tae dine tonight”
“Oh, let me take it! I’ve a fancy to walk the deck of the Thistle Doon.”
For one moment he wondered if she would return to him if he let her go to her father. Then he grinned at his own foolishness. He was her lodestone; she’d always return to him. “I’m inviting Admiral Arran and a lot of other captains also.” He hesitated, “Why don’t ye stay aboard the Thistle Doon tonight? I’d just as soon ye weren’t here. Ye are far too distracting when I have tae do business.”
“What business?” Tina asked.
“I have tae sell some ships.”
She saw Scotland’s flagship, the Great Michael, and wondered if Patrick Hamilton was aboard with his father. Probably not—he was more likely to be patrolling the borders.
Tina, accompanied by Ada and Nell, made their way along the wharf to where the Thistle Doon was anchored. They were accompanied by a forbidding-looking Douglas, which prevented the sailors and seafarers gathered in Ayr from touching, propositioning, or even whistling at the women but not from looking their fill.
Rob Kennedy enfolded his favorite daughter in his huge arms and winked at Ada. Then he set Valentina away from him so he could see for himself how she had fared in the hands of Douglas. He had to admit she looked radiant. “I’ve missed ye, lass. When ye left Doon, it was as if ye took all the sunshine an’ fresh air wi’ ye.”
“How are Mother and Beth?” she asked dutifully.
“Naggin’ and whinin’ as per usual,” he jested. “I’ve spent a lot of time at sea lately. Took Douglas’s advice and installed cannon. Sank one o’ the English bastards lyin’ in wait fer a Scots vessel behind Holy Island.” He flung out his arm toward the ships that had accompanied the Antigone “Looks like Douglas has wasted no time. How the hell did he capture so many?”
Tina shrugged and handed him Ram’s note. “Ask him yourself. He’s inviting you aboard to dine tonight, but I warn you, Mr. Burque is back at Castle Douglas.”
Rob shook his head “I never thought I’d say this, but I miss yon prancin’ chef almost as much as I miss ye. Ye dinna miss the water ‘til the well runs dry.” His eyes strayed to Ada, and he and Tina burst into laughter as he knew she had read his thoughts. “Davie’s aboard. Ah, here he is. We’re invited aboard the Antigone”
“Hello, Firebrand,” David taunted. “Ye might have tae put up wi’ Douglas’s demands, but I sure as hell dinna.” He swept Nell with a leer. “Hello, Nellie.” The girl shrank from him, and Tina frowned. “Ada, take Nell belowdecks, we can all share a cabin tonight. Come, Davie—you can entertain me.” She took his arm. “Been on any raids lately?” she murmured.
“This isn’t the entertainment I had in mind,” he grumbled. “I’ll spare ye an hour, then I’m off tae the Spotted Dick”
“Ugh—why do taverns have such disgusting names?”
“It’s no’ a tavern, it’s a brothel.” He chuckled
She accepted a tankard of ale, and they stood at the taffrail watching as darkness descended and the ship’s lanterns were lit all across the harbor. “Where were you going when the English ship attacked you?” she asked.
“We were returning from France.”
“Oh David, you’re so lucky to go to all these places! I wish I’d been a son instead of a daughter! Show me the things you brought back.”
He took her below to show her the rich furnishings they’d brought back to sell. There was a great demand for French mirrors, which were fast replacing the old keeking glasses. There were padded silk screens, display cabinets, graceful boudoir chairs, footstools, and writing desks.
“Oh, this little laptop desk is so cunning, I must have it. It’s a perfect gift for an old gentleman I know.”
Davie laughed. “If ye know any gentlemen, I’ll swallow my sword without gaggin’ Take it—I don’t suppose father will mind. Belonged to the mistress of a French duc. Wrote all her billets-doux in bed, and it’s more cunnin’ than ye realize. Here, feel the fancy fretwork around the edge of the drawer and press.”
Tina placed her fingers where he showed her. “Oh, a secret drawer within a drawer. How fascinating!” When she tired of the furniture, she said, “You didn’t go to France without bringing back perfume. Father will never miss one bottle.”
David said dryly, “No, but he’ll miss half a dozen. I’ve already pinched five.”
“Oh, surely you don’t need French perfume to impress the lassies! Tell them how you sank an English galleon, and you’ll be the talk of every tavern along the quay.”
“No fear of that. All the talk is o’ the darin’ and dangerous Lord Vengeance.”
“Lord Vengeance?” Tina asked, intrigued by the sobriquet.
“Dinna tell me ye haven’t heard o’ the valiant Lord Vengeance. The raids he’s mounted in retaliation ha’ almost impoverished the English borders. He strikes by land an’ by sea—both coasts on the same night wi’ his phantom ships.”
“That’s impossible!” Tina declared.
“Nothing is impossible fer the valiant Lord Vengeance, it seems,” said David enviously. “He’s fast becomin’ a legend. He dinna just sink English vessels, he boards them and gallantly spares the crew by leavin’ them on some remote shore.”
