“No need for thanks.” He rubbed Sean’s leg. “And you, what a brave lad you were!”
As father and son regarded each other, neither aware of the relationship, Meg saw how alike their green eyes were, how similar their profiles. The sight felt like a lightning strike through her heart, bringing joy and sadness.
Tears streamed as she lifted her head impulsively to kiss Dougal’s cheek. His slight beard was raspy under her lips, his skin damp, tasting of salt. She closed her eyes, savoring his closeness.
His eyes crinkled in a smile, as he looked down at her. Secret and rare, that smile, more in his eyes than on his lips. Reaching up, he brushed a tear away.
“He’s safe now,” he murmured. “That’s all that matters.”
Nodding, meeting his eyes, she felt such a wash of love go through her, a warming, nurturing sense of home and rightness. No matter who he was, what had happened in the past, what conflict she had with him as the baroness, in that perfect moment, she loved him.
The peace of that feeling overflowed, and tears filled her eyes again.
He patted her shoulder. “You and Sean are both shivering. We must get you home.”
She nodded, hugging her son to her. Glancing up, she saw Mackenzie watching them. He had draped his coat over his shoulders too, his black hair wet, eyes kind and knowing somehow.
“Thank you again, Mr. Mackenzie.”
“It’s Evan. Not at all.” He smiled. “Dougal, yon lass was determined to rescue you herself.”
“I could have used help with that shark,” Dougal drawled.
Sean peeked out of his blanket nest. “Mr. Stewart punched the shark! It wanted to eat me.”
“You’re far too tough for a shark to bother with you,” Dougal said. “I just gave it a shove with my foot and it went away.”
“It listened because you are theeach-uisge,”Sean said. “Mother Elga says so.”
“Eck-oohska?” Evan repeated.
“Kelpie,” Dougal said. “A fearsome creature said to rule the sea. Miss MacNeill’s old grandmother is convinced I am that thing.”
“I cannot argue with that,” Evan drawled.
Dougal laughed, then pointed. “Sean, look. Everyone on the island wants to welcome you!”
As the boat entered the shallows, cheers rose from the fishermen and families waiting on the beach. Then Thora splashed into the surf and ran toward them, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Chapter Ten
Days later, seatedon the sand, Meg laughed as Sean danced a circle around her to show how he would cavort at the ceilidh, the celebration the islanders were planning in honor of his rescue. While she laughed, Sean suddenly stopped, staring. She turned to see a man approach. Dressed for the city in dark suit and top hat, he used a cane to make his way over the sands.
“Sir Roderick!” she said, getting to her feet.
“My dear Lady Strathlin,” he murmured. “How good to find you here, so clearly enjoying your holiday.”
She brushed sand from her skirts, avoiding his outstretched hand. “Whatever are you doing out here? We had no word of it.”
“A sudden decision.” He smiled and bowed, cane in one gloved hand. Tall and solidly built, he was neatly dressed and out of place, yet hardly a speck of sand clung to him. It would not dare, Meg thought. “Mother and I were on Mull, as I informed you earlier.”
She nodded, recalling that. He was striking in appearance, with a proud aristocratic air, a hawk-like nose, long-lidded eyes, oblong features. Two decades older than Meg, he was graying in his side whiskers and jowls padded his jawline.
She never felt entirely at ease when she met his gaze, for his brown eyes were so dark that they seemed oddly unreadable. His eyes were shrewd, his character sometimes cunning, though she had always believed that only reflected his pragmatic character.As Lady Strathlin, she had learned to trust him in financial matters, and he had gained her sympathy after the unexpected death of his wife two years earlier, for she saw how genuinely he suffered and seemed to soften.
“Little man,” Sir Roderick told Sean, “go and play.” With a startled look at Meg, Sean ran off.
He turned back to Meg, eyes glinting. “My dear, how quaint you look today. If this is how you dress when you take a holiday here, I wish I had thought to join you before this. Playing the provincial shepherdess! I will play King Cophetua to your beggar maid.”
