Page 59 of The Swan Syndicate
“Jamie has an assignment for you.”
She popped up, her face as bright as if the sun was shining on it. “Really?”
He grimaced at her excitement. “We need you to continue your persona as Lady Swan.”
Lines appeared across her forehead as she considered the statement. Then she slowly nodded. “You need me to get close to MacDuff.”
“We need him to believe you’re another smuggler with cargo that would be of interest to him.”
“Why? Oh, you need me to find out when and where he’s meeting with Cheval to trade cargo.”
“It’s a bit more delicate than that.”
She gave it more thought, and he gave her the time. She liked to figure things out for herself and typically did so with exceptional speed.
She moved, rising to kneel, then sitting back on her heels. No question as to whether she would accept the assignment. Her answer was written all over her shining eyes and breathtaking smile. “You want me to find out what his end game is.”
He grimaced again. She was going to get herself killed.
He rose to face her. “You need to move slowly. This is a very dangerous game.”
Her face relaxed, her expression instantly changing to one of concern. She placed her palm on his cheek, and he couldn’t help but lean into it.
“I understand the stakes. I’ll take this seriously and do exactly what the team tells me. I won’t do anything to risk myself or the crew.”
He nodded, thankful she understood the risk. Then she destroyed his calm.
She wrapped her arms around him and almost shrieked her words. “I’m just so damn excited.”
20
The sail to Burry Port was uneventful though a bit stormy. Not willing to take chances, Stella had taken one of her motion sickness tablets in addition to her daily dose of herbs. At the last port, Fitz and Lando had been able to garner enough eggs for the crew to enjoy poached eggs, sausage, and biscuits for breakfast.
After helping clean the galley, she’d spent the rest of the morning in the cabin while the men met with Jamie to discuss plans for the day. Their first task would be to search for theGrey GhostandThe Horseman. If they didn’t find the ships in port, they would most likely still run surveillance around town and the pubs in case they heard news of either MacDuff or Cheval.
All she’d been told was that Lando would take her for a walk around town after lunch. She’d been too nervous to eat so she read until she fell asleep, only waking when Cook sent a tray of cheese and bread to the cabin with two mugs of ale. If nothing else, the ale calmed her nerves.
Now fully rested and fed, she tugged at the bodice of her nicest day dress. If this was going to require more than one meeting with MacDuff, she’d need more dresses. She turned around.
“How do I look?”
Beckworth gave her a long perusal. “I prefer the dowdy dresses I bought you at the first port.”
She grinned and tapped his shoulder with the tip of her dagger’s sheath before it disappeared into her oversized pocket. “You’re only saying that because I’m dressing for another man.”
He pulled her close, his arm snug around her waist. “Don’t forget who your only man is.”
She stared into his heated gaze then stood on tiptoes for a long passionate kiss that, if this had been a movie, would have made her toes curl.
When they stepped back they both rearranged their clothes, and Stella ran a hand over her hair, ensuring all the hairpins were still in place.
“I won’t be far away.” Beckworth’s brows furrowed, his lips thinned, and his eyes got that hazy look that said he was rethinking a decision. Maybe he was thinking of tying her to the bed until they left port.
“Where’s your hat?” She glanced around the cabin but didn’t see it.
“Lane is lending me a knitted cap.”
She stood back. He was once again dressed in his dusty pants and shirt, and she wasn’t sure who would look more like a vagabond, him or Fitz. She gave him an approving nod.
