“Aye.”
“What will that do? Other than make the men smell like bait for the fishes?”
“True. I confess, ’tis no’ the same as being on land and freshening their linens, but ’twould be better than the state of their clothing now.”
Colin studied the lad. He was serious. Colin could tell by the stern yet hopeful look on the boy’s face.
“Fine. When ye bring Mac his tunics, tell him to fetch a pail of sea water. Do with it what ye will.”
Sean smiled, pink tinging his cheeks. “Aye, Captain. Thank ye.”
“Dinna thank me yet. Ye have no idea how the men will take to ye making them smell like bait.”
The boy turned and started walking toward the sleeping quarters.
“Sean,” Colin called out.
“Aye, Cap’n?” The boy didn’t turn to face him, just stopped his forward advancement.
“After ye bring Mac his tunics, go into my cabin, and in my wardrobe to the left are a couple of items that could use yer skill with a needle and thread.”
“Aye, I shall tend to them straightaway.”
Colin watched as the lad disappeared around the corner. Conflicting emotions roiling inside his gut making him question everything about himself. He spun and headed back up the stairs in search of a cask of ale. He needed to drown away the thoughts rolling around inside his head.
Seonag hurried downthe hall, quick to get out from under Honey’s scrutiny. She paused and leaned against the wall, blowing out a deep breath when she was out of his sight, clutching Mac’s tunics tightly to her chest. Her heart was beating a steady thrum and that last encounter with Honey had her stomach in knots.
Surely, she wasn’t the only one who felt the charge between them? After catching her breath, she hurried to the sleeping quarters and left Mac’s tunics in a neat pile on his cot. The room was empty so she couldn’t ask him about the water, but she would the next time she saw him.
Making her way back to Honey’s cabin, she did as she was ordered and opened his wardrobe to find the items that needed mending. There were only a few. Her eyes wandered over the contents. Her fingers itched to touch upon them, even though she knew it wouldn’t be right.
But she wanted more insight into the person that Honey was deep down inside. She’d glimpsed the softer side of him. There was more to him than just the gruff exterior he put on in front of his crew. He was caring and kind.
Her curiosity almost won and she nearly rummaged through the articles in the wardrobe, but she managed to control herself and grabbed the items and closed the doors.
She inspected what she needed to mend. A pair of trews, one sock, one tunic. They would be easy enough. Gathering the thread and needle, she sat in the chair at Honey’s desk and started on the sock. She turned it inside out and pinched the material together, then added her stitches, making sure they were extra small so as not to irritate his feet when he wore it. She could only imagine how painful it would be to have a lump in your stocking as you wore your boot. That would definitely cause a sore and she wanted to prevent that from happening if she could.
After she finished her sewing task, Seonag tucked away the needle and remaining thread in a small box and folded Honey’s items before returning them to his wardrobe. Then she headed to the galley to see if anything needed to be done for the men’s next meal.
Duncan was sitting on a barrel when Seonag entered. He acknowledged her with a grunt, but didn’t question why she was there. She took that as a sign of progress.
Wiping her sweating palms on her trews, she approached and asked what she could help with.
“There’s naught for ye to do here, lad.” Duncan answered.
“Are ye sure? I’ve no tasks and want to help where I can.”
Duncan tilted his head and studied her a moment.
His scrutiny made her uncomfortable. And nervous. Did he know her secret?
“I heard a rumor today,” he stated.
Her heart leapt to her throat. He knew! Would he tell Honey? Surely, he would. If he wanted to keep his captain’s trust, that would be his only option.
“What have ye heard?” She asked quietly, scared to hear the words she already knew he was going to say.
“That ye stitch clothes better than ye stitch skin.”
