Page 140 of The Devil of Clan Sinclair
It seemed like he did.
“You can swim,” he said. “You would have saved me some bad moments there if I’d known. Why do you hate the ocean yet know how to swim?”
“My father insisted I learn,” she said, “since we lived so near the Hudson.”
“Well, thank God for your father, then, and I’d never thought to say that.”
What a foolish reason to weep again. Truly, it was the chloroform.
“There’s a ladder,” he said. “Can you manage it? If not, I can carry you on board.”
She turned to face him, still treading water.
The sight of Macrath, hair slicked back, his blue eyes intent, was the most stirring thing she’d ever seen.
“You’re very handsome,” she said. “Have I ever told you that?”
“You might have. Shall I return the compliment? Or concentrate on getting out of the harbor?”
“How did you know I’d be here?” she asked. “Hannah told you,” she said before he could speak. “How is she? You really must arrange to have Paul Henderson arrested. He struck her viciously.”
His fingers traced her bottom lip and she winced. “Did he strike you, too?”
“Can we stop the ship? Or send word to America? He can’t be allowed to go around doing awful things to women.”
He didn’t answer, but his face changed, became the stern Macrath she’d heard about but rarely seen.
“You’re very fierce with your expression. I’m not afraid of you, though. I never was.”
“Good. I don’t want you to be. Henderson’s another matter.”
She contemplated the thought of Macrath pummeling Paul again, and realized the idea didn’t disturb her at all. When she said as much to him, he smiled.
“Can we continue this conversation once we’re on deck?”
She looked up at the ship, and didn’t like the fluttery feeling in her stomach when she saw how far up she’d have to climb.
She could reach out now and touch the hull, but would much rather have just swam to the pier.
What a pity she couldn’t simply decide to be courageous and everything might be magically easier. She would have to work on overcoming her fears, starting right now.
She turned, kissed his mouth softly, given her swollen lip, then forced herself to face the rope ladder stretching straight up into the sky.
As she gripped the first rung, it occurred to her that she was already brave. She’d given birth nearly alone, stood up to Enid, come after Elliot, descended a cliff, stood her ground with Macrath, and jumped from a ship.
What was a silly ladder?
“You have to look away,” she said. “I’m nearly naked. I’ve only my shift on.”
There was that severe look again. She had the feeling Paul Henderson should go somewhere very far away, where Macrath couldn’t find him.
Chapter 33
Virginia stood at the ship railing, staring at theOregonas the vessel entered Moray Firth.
Macrath studied her silently. Even here, hair slicked back and drying in the warm salty breeze and wrapped in a blanket, she was the most captivating woman he’d ever known.
And perhaps the most troubled.
