When they’d both finished their cleaning work, they placed the artifacts in storage, then went down to the kitchen for a late supper. After they’d eaten, Signy moved to the window and gazed out at the night. “It’s a full moon tonight. Do you want to go for a walk? I’d like to see our ship by moonlight.”
“What a splendid idea. We’ll need to wrap up warmly, though. This close to the equinox, the nights are chilly.” He didn’t like thinking about how late it was in September. Broc and the rest of the guests still hadn’t arrived, and the official due date of the loan was almost upon him. All he could do was pray that Roald would make good on his promise to extend the loan.
They both bundled up with the skill of Northerners. He raised his brows when Signy slung her drawing bag across her shoulder and chest. “I might want to draw the ship by moonlight.” She gave him a mischievous smile. “And I have a small bottle of Callan’s best whisky as well.”
He laughed. “I love how well you look ahead.” Then he took her hand and they set off together.
It was indeed a splendid night for a walk. The eternally moving waves were silvered by moonlight, and the hills had an unworldly sheen that made him think of fairyland.
There was no need to speak as they traveled the familiar cliff walk. They descended the ladder to Fiona Brae, which looked like an ancient dream, then kept walking on the narrow beach path around the point. Ramsay was beginning to wonder if there would be a bit of beach smooth enough for making love.
They rounded the corner to the wider area that held the Viking ship and Ramsay stopped dead. A sailing dinghy was beached in the middle of the curving shore, and breaking sounds came from the Viking ship.
Signy whispered in horror, “Someone is looting the ship!”
Outraged, Ramsay swept across the stretch of beach, shouting, “Damn you, get down from there, you thieves!”
Furious cursing was followed by two dark figures stepping onto the scaffolding. They looked unintimidated and ready to fight.
* * *
Ramsay had charged forward too quickly for Signy to stop him. Didn’t he realize that tomb robbers might be armed?
Her fears were confirmed when both of the robbers produced pistols and aimed them at Ramsay. And—dear God, it was his cousins Axel and Annabel! Dressed plainly for once, Annabel held her pistol in both hands, eyes narrowed and determined. She looked like a dangerous criminal instead of a light-minded flirt.
“You!”Axel growled. “Why the devil did you come tonight? I probably shouldn’t kill you, but I will if you make it necessary.”
Signy realized that they hadn’t seen her in the shadows. Silently she opened her art bag and drew out her dirk. She hadn’t fenced with it for years, but she kept the blade sharp.
Leaping on the scaffolding and challenging Annabel and Axel to a duel wouldn’t be wise when they had pistols. But what if she got under the scaffolding? There was enough space below to move underneath, and the sound of the waves should cover any noise she made. The shadows cast by the bluff would hide her until she reached the open end of the scaffolding. Dirk in hand, she moved silently through the darkness and under the wooden framework.
Naturally Ramsay was talking, his voice calm and interested. “Why are you stealing old Viking bits and pieces when you’re two of the richest people on Thorsay? Do you need to steal because your father doesn’t give you enough money?”
“He doesn’t give us any money!” Annabel said resentfully. “He’ll buy us things, but he won’t give us what we want most: the freedom to leave Thorsay and live the lives we want!”
“Does he keep you prisoners here?” Ramsay asked.
“Close enough,” Annabel snapped. “Even if we could escape, we’d be penniless.”
“He makes me spend time at the kelp works, which I loathe,” Axel spat out. “And when I’m at the works and Annabel is home alone with him, she has to lock the door of her bedroom when he’s been drinking!”
Axel’s words were chilling. Signy knew such things happened, but she wouldn’t have suspected Roald. It was clear why his children wanted to escape him.
But living in a gilded cage didn’t give Annabel and Axel the right to damage and steal from a priceless ancient ship, or to kill Ramsay. Signy crept along under the scaffolding until she was below the Ramsay cousins. Through the narrow gaps between the boards, she could easily see the bottoms of the tomb robbers’ feet.
Who should she go after first? Axel was probably a better shot. He seemed to be wearing shoes, not boots. Good.
She lifted her dirk and slid the blade up through the slats, then slashed the dirk across the soles of his shoes with all her strength.
He shrieked with surprise and pain, then scrambled away from her dirk while she shouted, “Ramsay, dodge out of his aim.”
Then she swung around and slashed the bottoms of Annabel’s feet.
Annabel screamed and stumbled away. Signy guessed that her shoes had thinner soles. Losing her balance, Annabel fell from the scaffolding onto the shingle beach, knocking herself breathless.
She made it just too easy. Signy dived out from under the scaffolding and pinned the younger woman down, then wrenched the pistol from her grip. “Sit up and put your hands on top of your head,” she ordered. “I have your pistol and my dirk, and either will do for you if you make me angry enough.”
Weeping, Annabel did as she was told, her head bowed under her hands.
