“That is clearly impossible, lass.”
“Why? Women have done such things in the past—”
“I assume ye refer to that memoir by Mary Lacy?The Female Shipwright?”
“Aye, among others. I am hardly alone in my wish to remain aboard.”
“But . . . why? Ye were raised a lady.” Bafflement rattled in Kieran’s chest. “Why would ye wish tae remain aboard ship, risking physical harm and subsisting on salted beef and hardtack, when ye could be sipping tea and nibbling shortbread with the vicar?”
She snorted. “That’s precisely the point! I may have come aboard this ship out of desperation, but now I want tae stay out of love of the job. I had no idea it could be so satisfying working with one’s hands. I’m bored to tears when faced with an embroidery hoop but, turns out, I can work miracles in wood. Can ye not understand? Ye have spent your life being permitted to explore the things that most interest ye. But women are not granted that luxury. Yes, my mother raised me tae be a lady. But I’ve realized that isn’t all life can be. On this ship, I feel reborn in more ways than an adopted name.”
“That’s all well and good,” Kieran narrowed his eyes, “but the risk to yourself is too high.”
“Yes, but it ismyrisk to assume.” She tapped her chest. “Mine tae choose.”
“And what happens when others realize you’re a woman?” Kieran hissed. “What will Mr. Chen do?”
She stilled, her gaze abruptly absorbed in the contents of his bookshelf.
Kieran’s expression sank.
“Mr. Chen knows ye are a woman.” It wasn’t a question.
She sighed and nodded, turning her eyes back to him. “Please don’t be angry at him. But we share a cabin, and he is perceptive. He realized within a day or two. He says I am like a daughter to him.”
Kieran stared at her.
If he expected her to feel the weight of his gaze, he was again disappointed. She met it with steady courage.
“If ye send me back tae Scotland, I’ll just run away again. I’ve found a freedom I didn’t know existed for a woman.” Her chin raised a notch, taking on a decidedly stubborn look. “I won’t be thrust back into a cage.”
Admiration rose and stretched in his chest.
Charles had probably been prescient to keep this fascinating creature out of Kieran’s reach.
He admired her spirit and courage far more than was wise.
“We shall see,” he hedged. “I dinnae know how we’re going tae keep this from the rest of the Brotherhood, though.”
Again, her eyes slid sideways away from his.
Kieran’s heart sank. “Bloody hell, woman! Who else knows?”
“Well . . .” Her voice drifted off, lips pursing.
Kieran beckoned with his fingers.Out with it.
“Alex, as a doctor, is most perceptive. He confronted me about it just a day or two after we formed the Brotherhood.”
“Is that all?”
“Uhmm, Ewan asked tae sketch my face and realized that my bone structure matched that of a woman, not a man. Something about my brow bone not being properly mannish.” She pointed at her dark, finely-sculpted eyebrows.
Kieran raised his own brows, waiting.
She licked her lips. “Andrew and I—”
“Andrew, too?!”
