Page 64 of The Swan Syndicate
She noticed MacDuff right away. He was taller than the other man, who appeared to be his bodyguard since he stood two stepsbehind MacDuff. As they drew closer, she also noticed he had selected more expensive clothing for their meeting.
He bowed his head. “Lady Swan, you look more fetching each time we meet.”
“You’re too kind.” She took his proffered hand, ready for the warm kiss he placed on it.
“Will your bodyguard be joining us?” His eyes danced with merriment.
“He’ll wait outside with yours.”
“Of course.” He chuckled as he took her arm and guided her through the door.
She wanted to glance back at Lando for a last sign of encouragement, but she didn’t dare. Instead, she lifted her chin and ignored the men, who watched them as they strode to a table in a far corner where a server waited. All the other tables were occupied. MacDuff must have arranged it so they had a table waiting for them. Had he purposely squirreled them away from everyone else?
Before she took a seat, she noticed Michelson leaning against the long wooden bar across the room. He spoke with another man, who looked like a sailor, but she couldn’t see his face so wasn’t sure if he was someone from theDaphne’s crew.
“Do you prefer wine or ale with your meal?” MacDuff asked.
Stella turned her attention to him with an apologetic grin. “I’m sorry. I like to stay aware of those around me, and I prefer wine.”
“It’s a good practice, especially being a woman. But I doubt you have anything to worry about with your bodyguard.”
She sipped the wine and nodded at how good it tasted. He either had expensive taste or was trying to impress. “He’s never failed me.”
He ordered their meal then leaned his elbows on the table. “This is the second port we’ve run into each other. Are you following me, Lady Swan?”
She eyed him over the rim of her mug. “I believe I was in port before you. I should probably be asking you that question.”
He chuckled. “You’re right, of course. If I remember correctly, you mentioned you were running cargo along the coast.”
That didn’t take long. “Yes, and we make many stops along the way.”
He nodded. “If I’m not mistaken, you sound like you might be from the colonies.”
She took another sip of wine then set down the mug, reminding herself too much alcohol wouldn’t be a good idea. “We prefer to call it the United States of America.”
He smiled, and it was a lovely one. “My apologies. Apparently, your little colony did what Ireland hasn’t been able to do.”
She had expected him to say Scotland but remembered what Beckworth had told her. While he, Hensley, and the crew of theDaphnesuspected him of being Scottish, he’d been spending his time playing the part of an Irishman. What a twisted knot of deceit, and it was only going to get messier.
“Well, as they say, try, try, again.”
This time his laugh was a deep chuckle. He must have women falling over him in every port. “You have an interesting insight.”
“It comes from experience.”
He seemed to consider that. “So what made you leave your fledgling country?”
Now, she would learn which of them could spin the better tale. “A tragic accident, actually. My husband was captain of a cargo ship, carrying goods from Boston down the coast and, on occasion, would sail as far as New Orleans.”
“He was?”
She took a longer sip of wine and glanced away. When she turned back, she straightened her spine. “He ran afoul of a naval patrol. His ship was sunk, along with him and all the cargo.”
MacDuff’s surprise didn’t look fake. “That’s terrible.” Then his forehead scrunched in thought. “Was it because of the cargo?”
She shrugged. “There might have been one or two items that could have been considered…let’s just say not approved by the new government. Fortunately, I’d decided to stay in port. It was supposed to be a quick run to Jamestown. A few of the hands survived, and from what they told me, my husband thought he could outrun the ship, but a well-placed cannonball was all it took.”
“But why leave America?”
