Ellie couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Why?”
Meg gave her a sympathetic smile. “He loves women too much to ever settle for one.”
Meg didn’t need to tell her that. Ellie had realized that the first moment she set eyes on him. He was just like her father: too enthralled with being loved by everyone to become attached to one person. Falling in love with a man like the captain would only lead to a lifetime of misery. She pitied the poor girl who forgot it.
It was near dusk as Erik made his way up the rocky cliffside to the small hillock beyond. As he neared the edge, he could see the soft plumes of smoke swirling from Meg’s holding just ahead.
He was still angry at himself for letting Ellie get to him earlier. What did he care what she thought? But the little nursemaid had blared her disapproval loud enough to hear her across Scotland, let alone Meg’s small hall.
Still, he shouldn’t have teased her. Not when she’d looked so tired.
It wasn’t like him to be so uncaring toward a lass, but she didn’t act like any damned lass he knew. Her reactions confounded him—irritated him. Something he couldn’t recall a women ever doing before.
Ah well, he would be free of the little termagant soon enough. Another day or two, and they should be able to leave. There was no reason to rush; he might as well give the hunt time to die down.
He and Domnall had climbed to the top of Wood Hill to get a good look at the surrounding waterways, and what they’d seen had been worse than he’d expected. The entire English fleet had to be in the channel. From what he could tell, the English had positioned themselves near every major crossway, cutting off any attempt to go north to the Isles, south to the Isle of Man, or west to Rathlin and Ireland.
He had no doubt he could get around them if he needed to, but other than his anxiousness to get rid of the lass and rejoin Bruce and the others, he had no reason to risk capture or leading the English to Bruce. In the meantime, he’d try to think of a way to send a message to Chief—the leader of the Highland Guard—and warn him of the danger. Bruce would be making his way to Rathlin soon.
But patience wasn’t one of Erik’s stronger attributes, and he suspected the next couple of days were going to crawl by at a snail’s pace. He was already restless.
He stopped when he reached the top of the cliff to survey the bay below. Everything appeared normal. A few small fishing boats were scattered across the harbor, but all signs of their presence were gone. Earlier he and his men had carried thebirlinninto the cave, hiding it from the sight of any passing patrols who might luck upon them.
With dozens of small islands between Ireland and Scotland, the English might make an effort to search them but would need help to find them. There were too many places to hide. As long as the villagers kept silent, they were safe—which was another reason he’d come here. Until MacDougall had stolen it, Spoon Island belonged to the MacSorleys, and the islanders still considered Erik their rightful chieftain. When Bruce reclaimed his crown, he would be.
Erik started toward the old stone and thatched longhouse. He didn’t need to be here, but he couldn’t stop himself from checking on Ellie. It was his duty, he told himself. Until he took her home or handed her off to Bruce, she was his responsibility.
He lifted his hand to greet Duncan, whom he’d consigned to guard duty while he healed, squared his shoulders as if he were about to do battle, and pushed through the door.
Ah, hell.
Any residual irritation he might have been feeling from this morning was forgotten in the peaceful sight before him. The little nursemaid was curled up in the chair before the fire sleeping, a plaid wrapped around her shoulders and her feet tucked under her bottom. From the freshleineshe wore and the damp tendrils of dark hair curling softly around her face, he guessed that she’d bathed recently. The faint scent of lavender still lingered in the sultry air.
She didn’t look like a drowned cat anymore.
Her hair was beautiful. Thick and glossy, it hung in freshly combed waves around her shoulders like a heavy cloak of rich sable. He knew just by looking that it would feel like a veil of silk on his skin.
In repose she didn’t seem like the kind of woman who could have caused him so many problems. He studied the small face that had looked upon him with such indifference. She would never be a beauty, but there was something pleasing about her face all the same. The warmth from the fire had colored her pale cheeks a soft pink. With her stubborn chin relaxed, her pursed lips softly parted, and her too-perceptive dark eyes closed, her face looked softer … younger … and far more vulnerable.
He felt an uncomfortable twinge in his chest that felt suspiciously like guilt. Despite all the trouble she’d caused, none of this was her fault. Neither was it his, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel responsible for getting her home safely and as soon as possible.
Her long lashes fluttered, and she startled awake. Seeing him standing there, a flush rose to her cheeks. “What are you doing here?”
Hastily, she untucked her legs from under her, giving him a view of two dainty, perfectly arched feet. Small and pale, with tiny toes, they were absolutely adorable. Much too adorable for a bossy nursemaid. He stared for a moment too long, and she quickly tucked them under her plaid.
Inexplicably angry and feeling a little bit like a lad who’d been caught with his hand in the honey pot, his mouth fell in a hard line. “Where’s Meg?”
He didn’t like being alone with her. He nearly laughed at the sheer oddity of that thought—he couldn’t remember ever being uncomfortable around a woman.
“She went to check on one of the villagers. Mhairi, I think her name was. She’s to have a child soon.”
He didn’t say anything, but just stared at her as if his discomfort were somehow her fault.
“Is there something you wished me to tell her?” she asked encouragingly, clearly as eager to be rid of him as he was of her.
He shook his head. “Nay, I will speak with her later.”
He turned on his heel to leave, but she stopped him. “Is Thomas all right?”
