Page 67 of Highland Treasure (Highland Brides 9)

Simon nodded wearily, and glanced past her to the icy water spreading out around the ship, and then lifted his gaze to the steep cliffs they could just make out in the distance. The shores of Scotland, though she had no idea where. Somewhere far north, she supposed, if they were only a day away from Thurso.

“Simon, no,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “You would never make it. You will freeze to death or drown.”

“And hanging is better?” he asked softly, keeping his voice low so that Rory couldn’t hear. “I am sorry for trying to kill you, m’lady. It was a terrible struggle for me even to attempt it each time. Mayhap that is why I failed,” he added wryly, but then shrugged and said, “But while I know I should give myself up and let them hang me for it, I find I have a great desire to live . . . if only long enough to have a word with Capshaw.”

“Simon,” she began, but it was too late. Releasing her arm, he dropped his sword, stepped past her and disappeared over the side of the ship.

Chapter 17

Elysande rushed to the railing and leaned forward to peer anxiously down at the water below. It seemed to take a long time, but finally she saw Simon’s dark head bob to the surface, and then he struck out, swimming for the distant cliffs.

“Do you think he will make it?” she asked when she felt Rory’s heat at her back and his hands at her waist.

“I do no’ ken,” Rory said solemnly. “But if he does, I hope he heads to France or somewhere else on the Continent.”

“Why?” Elysande asked, glancing around at him with surprise.

“Because do we meet again I would have to kill him,” Rory admitted solemnly. “And I suspect ye would no’ like that.”

“Nay, I would not,” she agreed, turning back to watch the man struggle through the frigid water. “He was only trying to save his family.”

“By killing you,” Rory said grimly.

“Would you not kill for your family?” Elysande asked quietly, and when he scowled at the question, she said, “I would have killed de Buci in a heartbeat to save mine.”

Rory let his breath out on a sigh and slid an arm around her, drawing her into his side. “Ye’re a fierce lass. Have I mentioned I like that about ye?”

“Nay,” she said, leaning into him.

“Well, I do,” he assured her, and laid a kiss on her forehead before releasing her. “Now go away.”

“What?” Elysande turned on him with surprise, but stilled when she noted the green tinge to his skin, and the sweat above his upper lip. “Your stomach is churning again,” she realized, and then muttered, “Of course ’tis. The tincture I gave you yesterday will have worn off.”

“Aye,” he groaned, and moved to lean over the railing. “Now go away. Ye do no’ need to see this unpleasantness.”

“Oh, aye, but watching me on the plank is so much more pleasant,” she said dryly, moving to his side, and pulling his hair back from his face to hold it out of the way for him.

Her words startled a half chuckle out of Rory that ended on a groan as he clutched his stomach. “Dear God, I hate boats.”

“And yet traveling to Sinclair by boat was your idea,” she said softly, pressing a kiss to his arm.

“Aye. It was the best way I could think o’ to keep ye safe,” Rory admitted. “I’d ride into hell to keep ye safe, lass.”

Elysande felt her heart swell, and pressed a kiss quickly to his cheek. “I love you. I will be back directly.”

Rory merely groaned as she released his hair and hurried out of the heads.

“Oh, good. I was starting to worry, lass.”

Elysande’s steps slowed, and she smiled at the captain as he approached. “Worry about what, sir?”

“Well, I saw that Englishman follow ye out to the heads,” he explained. “Looked to me like he was up to no good, so I thought I’d best warn yer husband. He hied himself out there, but the three o’ ye were down there so long I worried the Buchanan was tossing the bastard overboard.”

“Oh, nay,” Elysande assured him quickly, and then explained, “Simon jumped overboard.”

“What?” he squawked with alarm.

“Aye. He was planning to kill me until Rory arrived, and then he dropped his sword and jumped when he knew he was caught,” she explained. “And thank you for waking and warning my husband, Captain. Now I hope you will forgive me, but I have to go. Rory has a touch of tummy upset from the motion of the ship. I need to fetch him his tincture.”

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