“Serves you right for stealing and threatening people with firearms,” Signy said dryly. “Kai, when should they be off in the morning?”
“I have to talk to Alan Innes, but I believe the tide turns late morning, so by then.” Ramsay offered Axel a hand to help him up.
The younger man lurched a little but made it to his feet. “Thank you, sir,” he said seriously. “Thank you both for listening and giving us the chance to make our own lives.”
Signy chuckled. “I won’t miss seeing the two of you swanning around Clanwick pouting and looking ill-used.”
Annabel started to protest, but her brother caught her arm and steered her toward the dinghy they’d come in. “She’s not wrong, Bel. You’re getting a new beginning and so am I. Let’s be grateful.”
“One last thing,” Ramsay said. “Did you take anything from the ship?”
Axel shook his head. “We’d just started.”
“I hope you didn’t do too much damage,” Ramsay said. “Now off with you!”
Signy went to his side and slid an arm around his waist while he hugged her shoulders. Silently they watched as the young Ramsays departed, sliding into the moonlight until a breeze caught the sail and the boat turned south toward Clanwick.
“Ill met by moonlight,” Signy murmured. “Do you think they’ll find the lives they want?”
“There a reasonable chance of it,” Ramsay said. “They want to escape their father’s control, and they’ve apparently always been each other’s best friend.” He glanced down into Signy’s face, subtly lovely in the moonlight. “When we arrived here, I was wondering if I might be able to seduce you on the beach, but I’m ready to go home.”
“So am I.” Her voice dropped into deliberate provocation. “We can discuss the issue of seduction when we get to Skellig House.”
He laughed and swung her around, and they started their moonlit trail home.
Chapter 32
Later that night as they lay in each other’s arms after making love, Signy asked softly, “Have you thought much about what you’ll do if Roald demands repayment of the loan and you haven’t enough funds?”
Ramsay sighed. “I’ve thought about it a lot, mostly going in circles. I’ll still be the laird even without Skellig House, but I don’t know how much I’ll be able to achieve. Fergus tells me that the three ships aren’t included in the collateral for the loan, so at least I’ll be able to fulfill my promise to Axel if he earns it. But I’ll miss Skellig House, and what if Roald tries to take our horses?”
“We could send Odin after him. He’s a first-class rat catcher, and Roald is one large rat.”
When Ramsay chuckled, Signy shifted so that her head was on his shoulder. “I’ve been thinking too. I have a very pleasant cottage, but it might be a bit tight for two tall people. We’d be on top of each other.”
He kissed her forehead. “I wouldn’t mind that! We can take turns being on top.”
She smiled into the darkness. “It’s too small for entertaining, but it could still be your official residence. By this time you’ve met people all across Thorsay. They know and like and respect you. You’re still the laird with all the legal powers and responsibilities that go with it.”
“You’re right,” he said slowly. “I believe I can make it work as long as you’re beside me.”
“Where else would I be?” She lifted herself up enough to kiss him. “And now to sleep, my bonny laird. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
As she drifted off to sleep on his shoulder, he spared a moment for a prayer of thanks that they had found each other. Now that she had pledged herself to him, she was sharing her intelligence and warmth completely.
How had he become so lucky?
* * *
Ramsay was up early the next morning to go into Clanwick to talk to Alan Innes, captain of theFreya. It was surprisingly easy to persuade him to take Axel on as an apprentice. “He’s often around the harbor,” Innes said. “I talk with him sometimes. I think he has a sailor’s soul.”
“I hope you’re right,” Ramsay said, a little surprised to learn that Axel really had been showing interest in a sailor’s life for years. But Ramsay had been away for so long, it wasn’t surprising that he didn’t know his cousins well. He liked the idea of helping them escape from their father’s crushing control.
But Roald wasn’t going to like it one damned bit.
* * *
The truth of Ramsay’s realization was demonstrated that night when he and Signy were about to dine. Roald stormed into Skellig House, slamming doors and shouting threats. “Damn you, boy, I’ll tear you into pieces of fish bait!”
