“Good lord, they’re completely mad,” Will said.
Myrtle stepped out from behind the boulders, her rifle snug against her shoulder and aimed at Will’s heart. “Come on, gents. Let’s stoplollygagging about and head to the guardhouse. I’m sure the British Navy will be very happy with the presents we’re bringing them.”
“Should we tie them in a bow?” Rose asked as they marched the men toward the center of the islet.
“They’re already decked out in ropes,” Thorfinn observed.
“But the hemp isn’t pretty. Gifts should have shiny ribbons on them,” Rose complained, feeling more like herself than she had in a long, long time. Her wit didn’t make her empty or frivolous. It could be so much more than a protective mask. There could be a deepness in humor. It could expose truths otherwise ignored, help process the harshness of the world, or provide a balm when nothing else would ease the pain. Rose didn’t need to live a somber, dull life to find meaning. What she needed was afullone—one where she embraced the quiet momentsandthe exciting ones.
“In this case, I don’t think the packaging matters,” Thorfinn shot right back, and Rose smiled.
Her joy, though, proved short lived.
Moments later, three figures appeared in the dim light. Young Thomas had Myrtle’s Colt trained on two German agents as he marched them in the direction of the guardhouse. But Percy—the softhearted scoundrel—was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Percy?” Rose asked, fear rushing back.
“He’s fine, Miss Van Etten,” Young Thomas called. “He just twisted his ankle in a rock crevice a few dozen yards back. He’s hobbling a peedie bit, and he didn’t want to delay me in getting the prisoners to the guardhouse. He told me to go on ahead, and he’d catch up for the celebration.”
A celebration. The words rushed through Rose, and for once the idea didn’t make her cringe.
Theydeservedto celebrate.
“I cannot believe those puffed-up fools did not want to believe us! They even chastised us for firing our guns and causingthemalarm!” Rose flopped angrily against the upholstered seat ofThe Briar. “They only started to listen to us when Percy showed up, andhebarely even knows what’s going on.”
“He is a duke,” Thorfinn pointed out.
“Any Tom, Dick, or Harry could be a duke. It certainly doesn’t mean they have godlike knowledge.” Rose crossed her arms.
The light had just transformed back to gold, and the world appeared gilt. Minnstray’s docks were directly across from Mainland, Orkney, and the bucolic, rolling hills looked like the Elysian Fields. The seas were calm, the glistening water lapping against the shores. It was a glorious early morning—a perfect one to celebrate the defeat of a plot to end peace.
But the British sailors on Minnstray had ruined the stunning sunrise with their refusal to radio their commanders on the guard ships until they could “confirm” the evidence of the plot. Of course, the spies had pleaded their innocence, pretending to simply be bird-watchers set upon by a duo of crazed females aided by two poor, deluded crofters. The daft Brits had even come within a hairbreadth of believing the conspirators. Not only had the whole scene been horribly annoying, but the guardsmen had wasted precious time by failing to immediately direct the British ships to intercept the German relief vessel.
Fortunately, Percy—theduke—had limped up in his silk pajamas and signet ring and convinced the men of the Royal Navy to actually rouse themselves enough to venture out and see the indisputable evidence of the bombs that had so nearly ended all their lives. Rose had been so disgusted with the entire proceedings that she’d left as soon as the men had begun finally conveying the information to their superiors. Unfortunately, it seemed their bosses were being equally slow to accept the idea of a conspiracy being stopped by negligee-clad women and two locals. It appeared that the British Navy was intent on writing off thesaboteurs as a small cadre of madmen. After all, how could a broken enemypossiblysneak anything by the oh-so-mighty Royal Navy?
“Should we set sail for Hamarray?” Thorfinn asked as he joined her aboardThe Briar.
“No,” Rose said grumpily. “We’ll wait for the others in case His Majesty’s Navy deigns to ask either of us a question.”
“I might take a peedie kip, if you don’t mind.” Thorfinn wriggled down into the cushions, looking incongruously like a schoolboy despite his massive physique.
An undeniable swell of love burst through Rose as Thorfinn’s golden eyelashes swept downward over his left eye. “If anyone has earned a rest, it’s you.”
He gave a sleepy nod that ended in a massive yawn. Thorfinn tucked his head against his chest, and his breathing almost instantly slowed into the measured rhythm of sleep. Rose reached for a dry blanket and tucked it around him.
Her Viking managed to look both vulnerable and fierce in slumber—this strong man she’d almost lost. Now that the urgency had ebbed and the plot was foiled, the emotions she’d kept at bay streamed forth. Rosecaredfor this man in a way she had not believed possible. Love had been a concept for naive dreamers ... until Thorfinn had nearly been taken from her. Now it had become real to her—a palpable force, stronger than any she’d ever encountered before.
It frightened Rose with its power, as it left her with no shields. She had denied love for years, protecting herself from craving the one thing that her parents had difficulty showing in abundance. She’d let herself go hollow and empty—thinking that tonotfeel affection was surety against disappointment, rejection, and even hurt. But it had led to its own soul-biting pain—a constant ache of feeling loss and ofbeinglost.
But here in Orkney, Rose was found. She had connections. Not just the incredible one with Thorfinn—as powerful and magnificent as it was—but with all the islanders, from little Alex and Margaret to WidowCraigie. Yes, opening herself to them meant accepting the sorrows that invariably accompanied deep attachment—for one could not share just joy but must share agony too. But bonds of community, offamily, made the rough times bearable and the good times more meaningfully joyous.
Oddly contented, Rose trained her eyes on the biggest island in Orkney. The entire island chain was a fierce place yet a calm one too. Harsh but bucolic. It suited her—this land of contrast and beauty. She could see herself—
Was that a flash?
Rose bolted upright and grabbed Myrtle’s binoculars as she stared at a cove on Mainland. There it was again. A reflective wink of light off glass. Then another. Binoculars? Spyglass? Or something innocuous?
The red nose of a speedboat appeared next as it shot out of the secluded inlet and headed toward the Atlantic Ocean, exactly where the conspirators had said the German relief vessel would be. Unlike in the closely guarded North Sea, a ship could sit undetected in the open waters, awaiting the signal to steam in and unleash the interned fleet that could keep the terrible war alive.
