Pleasing the Pirate: A Loveswept Historical Romance (30 page)

Phin spun them around and she clung to him, laughed with him. It was a relieved laugh, an unbelievable laugh. Carefully he set her down and put his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes.

“We did it,” he whispered.

“You did it.”

“We
all
did it.”

He kissed her hard, stealing her breath and her laughter as the rain peppered them.

The return voyage to England was tense. They sailed with the storm so the tired, battle-weary men had to now battle Mother Nature. When they docked all that was left was the low rumble of thunder in the distance and the wet streets.

It was late, well past the time that working people were in bed. It had taken them all day to help the damaged English ships then sail for England. The streets were strangely, eerily deserted.

Transporting Grant from the ship to land was a tricky business. He was rowed ashore by Phin’s men while Phin and Sebastian sat in the same boat. Mairi followed behind them in another boat. The moon reflected off the water and she could easily pick her brother out. He sat in the middle, Phin in front, Sebastian behind. His hands and feet were bound, but his back was straight, his head held high. When Phin removed Grant from the hold he’d stared through her as if she weren’t even there at all.

While she was torn apart with grief, knowing she’d sent her brother to his death, there was naught she could say to him, so she’d stepped aside and let them pass.

On shore a carriage awaited them with a driver that looked part criminal, part pirate and altogether unsavory. Grant was pushed inside the carriage and joined by two of the king’s men. Phin and Sebastian rode in front of the carriage. Mairi was given her own horse. She was so exhausted that she barely made it up on the beast before the entire procession of guards and carriage rumbled forward.

She was freezing, the storm having brought the colder weather with it. She shivered so fiercely she feared she’d fall off her mount. She’d been given a blanket, but it was difficult to stay upright and hold the blanket at the same time. She opted for staying on her horse, so the blanket was little protection against the biting wind.

If tension was high on the ship it was unbearable now. No doubt every man guarding the carriage was thinking of the last time Grant had been captured. All of the guards slaughtered.

She sent up many prayers to God that the same fate did not await all of them. For she had no doubt that the first person Grant would go after would be her.

As they slowly made their way through the streets, word spread of the strange procession passing through. Even though it was late at night and most decent people were in bed, they came out of their homes to watch—in their nightclothes, caps on their heads, eyes blurry. They knew something important was happening and they wanted to be privy to it.

Mairi ignored them and concentrated on keeping her seat. It was all she could do to keep her frozen fingers around the reins.

They reached the king’s residence and dismounted. Phin had to hold her for a few moments so the feeling would return to her legs. Feeling her feet was nigh on impossible and she gave up on that hope for the time being. Phin and Sebastian flanked Grant and they all marched up the steps and into the castle.

At any other time Mairi would have been mortified to enter the King of England’s residence in her sopping wet clothes, her hair a tangled, wet mess that hadn’t seen a brush in almost two days, but she was too tired and too grief-stricken to care.

She was walking directly behind her brother with the heavy thought that this would probably be the last time she ever set eyes upon him. She blinked away tears, reminding herself that this was his fault. Even so it still hurt that she was losing her last living relative. Grant had been a fool and no help whatsoever when she needed him the most, but he was still her brother and she feared being all alone in the world.

They entered a large room devoid of much furniture except for a chair here and there. The place was cavernous, the ceiling tall. And it was
cold
. There was no fireplace to warm them.

And there he was, sitting upon his throne, fully dressed as if it weren’t the wee hours of the morning when he should have been in bed. She guessed that was the life of a king. If you were needed, you had to be ready. He looked like any average man with the exception of his beautiful clothes. That surprised her a bit. She’d always thought of King George II as a giant, wielding his power like the highlanders wielded their claymores. But there were no claymores and King George was simply a man. A man with much power, but a man nonetheless. It made her feel a bit better.

Then she noticed Sir Atwater standing on the other side of Sebastian and she felt even better. At first she’d been wary of the man, but after learning who he was, that he was the man in charge of the Office of Intelligence and that Gabrielle and Sebastian trusted him, then her opinion changed. That he was here hopefully meant he was fighting for Phin’s life as well.

The king’s sharp gaze flickered over the lot of them. A bedraggled, grubby-looking bunch they were, too, with the exception of Atwater, who appeared as if he’d come from a ball.

Sebastian stepped forward and bowed, but before he could speak the king’s gaze settled on Phin. “So you found him. I was beginning to doubt the stories I’d heard of you, Lockwood.”

Phin stepped forward, dragging Grant with him. “I did, Your Majesty.”

The king eyed Grant for a long time. Her brother looked back impassively, never flinching, never faltering. In some ways she was proud of his strength, but that’s where her pride ended.

“What have you to say for yourself, boy?”

Grant pressed his lips together and stared at the king, who simply smiled and waved a bejeweled hand in the air. “Away with him to the Tower. I will deal with him in the morning.”

With a heavy heart Mairi watched her brother go. He never once turned back to look at her. He simply walked that last lonely walk with his guard and disappeared through a door.

Goodbye, Grant
.

“Your Majesty, if I may,” Phin said. “I would like to present Miss Mairi McFadden.”

She swung her wide-eyed gaze to Phin. What was he about now?

The king looked at her closely. “McFadden? Are you any relation to the miscreant Lockwood just brought in?”

Phin cleared his throat. “She is, Your Majesty, but I would explain if I may?”

At the king’s imperial nod Phin began talking. He spoke of Mairi’s kidnapping at the hands of her brother, how he blackmailed her into spying for him and how she learned the valuable information that eventually led to the defeat of France’s plan to invade England and how she put her life on the line to help capture Grant.

She feared that mayhap he was laying it on too thick. Sure she’d helped in whatever way she could, but the picture Phin was painting was of a strong lass who was willing to die for England. Which was balderdash. That wasn’t her. She was merely a woman protecting the innocent and abandoned.

“If not for Miss McFadden, we would not have successfully thwarted France’s plans and we would not have captured her brother.”

“Does Mr. Lockwood speak the truth?” he asked her.

She stepped forward on shaking legs and numb feet. “I, uh. I’m afraid Mr. Lockwood is
being too kind, Your Majesty. While I did do all of that, it wasn’t as grand or dangerous as he makes it seem.”

“You were held hostage in St. Giles?”

“Um. Yes.”

“And you traveled to France, entered a French pub and flushed your brother out among England’s enemies?”

“Well. Yes.”

“Then I believe what Mr. Lockwood has described is spot-on, yes?”

She licked her lips and blinked, overcome by the force of the king’s personality. She didn’t need Sebastian’s warning look to know it was suicide to nay-say the king. “Yes.”

He slammed his hand down on the arm of his chair, making her jump. “Then England is in your debt, Miss McFadden. What would you like in return as recompense for all you have done for us?”

She looked blankly at Sebastian and then Phin while Atwater stared impassively ahead. Was the King of England asking her what she wanted from him? Was this even really happening?

Sebastian smiled and nodded. Phin winked in encouragement and Mairi straightened her shoulders and faced the king. “Well, my lord, I would like to live without fear of the English soldiers terrorizing my people. I would like to live on the same land that McFaddens have lived on for centuries without fear that someone stronger and mightier than I will take it away from me. I want peace, my lord.”

Did one call a king “my lord”? She had no idea. Good Lord she’d probably just insulted him by using the wrong title.

The king frowned at her. “That’s asking much for a Scotsman,” he said.

She flinched. She had gone too far and asked for too much. But this was the only thing she wanted from England. Peace in her small part of the world.

He tapped his hand on the armrest, his many rings making a loud racket that echoed inside her aching head. She fought to control her shivers, but they intensified the longer he stared at her.

You’ll be walking the same path your brother just walked, Mairi dear. You were too greedy
.

The king nodded, as if coming to a decision. “Very well, then. I’m very aware of where McFadden land sits. It could play a pivotal role in future uprisings if, God forbid, you Scots get it in your head to raise arms again.”

She schooled her face to show no emotion even though inside she cringed. The king had no love of the Scots, that was for certain, and he also had no fear of expressing that lack of love.

“You may keep your land, Miss McFadden.”

She breathed out a sigh of relief so enormous she was certain he heard it from where he sat.

“However, I must insist that an Englishman oversee it and ascertain that you McFaddens stay loyal to the crown.”

“If I may, Your Majesty.” Atwater took half a step forward, breaking his silence. “I would recommend that Lockwood oversee the land. Now that he’s finished with his pirating he will have plenty of time on his hands. I feel it’s the perfect project for him.”

Mairi pulled in a deep breath, her gaze swinging to Phin, who was looking stoically at the king.

“Lockwood, eh? Yes, I believe you are right, Atwater. Capital idea, that. Can’t have him sitting idle.” He slammed his hand down on the armrest again. “It’s settled. Lockwood you are to look after this land. Make sure no Englishmen give Miss McFadden a hard time and keep those McFaddens in line.”

Phin’s lips twitched. “Yes, Your Majesty. Of course.”

Mairi just barely managed to maintain her giggle. And to think she had at first thought Atwater her enemy. She had thought all three of these men her enemy and in the end they had proven to be more of a family than her own brother had.

The king nodded and his men came forward to escort them away. Apparently their audience was at an end and Mairi never even had a chance to thank him.

The four of them walked out of the castle and breathed a heavy sigh.

“Well,” Sebastian said as he looked up at the dawning sky. “I believe I will go home to my wife now.” He slapped Phin on his shoulder and nodded to Mairi before sauntering away, whistling a jaunty tune.

“Miss McFadden.”

Mairi turned to Atwater. It was the first time he’d ever actually spoken to her.

“If you ever find yourself in need of a job, find me. I could use talent such as yours.”

Phin growled. Atwater smiled and ambled off in the opposite direction of Sebastian.

“I could never do that.”

“Do what?” Phin asked.

“Work for Sir Atwater. It’s too nerve-racking. I’d much rather work the land.”

Phin made a sound of satisfaction that had her grinning.

The street vendors were pulling their carts into place and the city was just beginning to wake up. Mairi felt like she had lived and died a thousand deaths in the past two days. But she also felt free and light.

She smiled up at Phin.

“Do you care that I will be overseeing your land?” he asked.

“Do you want to oversee my land?”

“I believe I do.”

“Well, as long as you don’t throw the women and children off the land or allow MacGowan to have it, then I’m fine with it.” Not that she had any say in the matter. But that didn’t even bother her because Phin was looking out for her heritage and that was all right with her.

“Never,” he said with feeling, then paused before saying, “What are your thoughts about living there?”

“Considering I’ve lived my whole life there, I’m very much in favor of it.”

“And what are your thoughts of me living there with you?”

She paused to catch her breath. “I, um, am very much in favor of that as well.”

“And what are your thoughts of raising our children there?”

“Children?” she asked faintly. “Well, I believe I would be in favor of that.”

“That’s good, Mairi mine, because I definitely want to live there with you and raise all of our children there as well. After we marry, of course.”

Her smile started inside of her, deep in a place that hadn’t smiled in a long while, then spread throughout her entire body. “I would have it no other way, Captain.”

He took her hand and they began walking. “Then let’s begin our new life together, shall we?”

Mairi found him on the battlement looking out between the crenels, the waning sun spreading its orange and gold rays across the McFadden lands.

“Surveying your domain?” she asked as she folded her arms around him from behind.

“I never thought my domain would be in Scotland.”

She hummed in agreement and looked at the newly plowed fields. “They’re finished.”

“Finally. I was beginning to worry.”

The happiest day of Mairi’s life wasn’t the day the minister declared she and Phin husband and wife, but the day King George absolved him of all his past sins and forgave the bounties on his head. His life was his to lead from that day forward. That he chose to live it with her still astounded her at times. It was a far cry from the day when she’d pointed a pistol at him and demanded his services.