Page 68 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“I do, in fact, but this is for Grace. The food aboard ship is not fit for civilized people. She will arrive in Scotland in a much better frame of mind if she isn’t forced to subsist on salted meat and hard biscuits the duration of the voyage. Oh dear, I am not showing her to her best light, am I? To be fair, you really cannot expect her to do well when thrust into an unplanned voyage on a cargo ship.”

“Of course not,” Erroll agreed.

“Once we reach Mull, you will see that she can be very sweet,” Eve went on. “Not to mention, she is an exceptionally beautiful woman. You cannot deny that is pleasant.”

He had to agree, and willed himself not to glance at her bodice to confirm that truth. He remembered too well the pleasure of her erect nipple in his mouth.

“There is still the one problem,” he said, aside from the lust that kept him awake nights. They reached the shop and he stopped. Miss Crenshaw looked inquiringly up at him. “I did say I would not marry a woman who lies. It is unnerving to wonder what her next lie will be.”

She gave him a shrewd look. “Everyone lies, you included.”

“What do you lie about, Miss Crenshaw?”

Her mouth parted in surprise, then she pulled her hand from his arm and stepped toward the door. “As we will not be marrying, that is none of your concern.”

*****

Eve stared down at the dark mass in the middle of the dinner plate Oscar set on the table before her.

“What is it?” Grace asked.

“I don’t know.” Using her fork, Eve lifted the corner of the charred heap. She shifted her attention to Oscar, who stood waiting. “What is this?”

“Steak, Miss.”

“What happened to the salted beef we ate yesterday?” As hard as it was to believe, it looked better than this.

“His lordship had this cooked especially for you,” Oscar replied.

“He hates us,” Grace said.

Eve wondered if Grace was right. “That is cruel and unusual punishment.”

“He had supplies brought aboard, but better food doesn’t mean much when the cook is no good,” Oscar said.

Grace pushed the plate away. “I will have one of the sweet goods we brought aboard.”

“Can we expect more of the same tomorrow?” Eve asked.

“I think so,” Oscar said.

Eve cast another glance at the meat and shuddered. “Call for his lordship.”

Oscar looked uncertain. “Miss, he is busy and—”

“Good God, Oscar, you have known the man three days and take his side against me on every occasion. I will not forgive you for this.”

“Probably not, Miss,” he said. “But it is better you’re alive to stay mad at me.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You could have escorted Grace and I from Gretna Green back to Manchester. That would have been a far safer course of action than this one.”

“I couldn’t let your sister go with his lordship alone.”

Eve gave an impatient shake of her head. “We would have all returned home to Manchester.”

“Your sister wasn’t going to go with us,” he replied.

“He is right,” Grace said. “My only choice was to accompany Lord Rushton. This ensures we will marry.”