Pleasing the Pirate: A Loveswept Historical Romance (27 page)

“He said that?”

“No, but I saw it. I was a spy, remember? I know these things.”

Could Gabrielle be right? And if she was right, why had he not told her? This was all so muddled and so much was going on that she had no right to even think about this. It seemed that King George was still mucking around in her life.

“I hate Englishmen.” She meant to only think the words but they were out before she could stop them. She covered her mouth, her eyes wide. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to say that.”

Gabrielle laughed. “No need to apologize. I can understand why you would feel that way.
Since Sebastian and I tracked Grant for a long time, we know what your family went through.”

Mairi thought of Aileen, of the men she’d grown up with who were no longer. Of the surviving men forced to leave for work in the bigger cities and of the women and children waiting for her to return with Grant. When she began this journey she never thought she would end up not only
liking
some of the English she met but falling in love with one of them.

Because, yes, she was in love with Phin, as well, but was unsure what to do with those feelings when her life was such a mess right now.

Falling in love with an Englishman was tantamount to treason in her family.

“I don’t feel that way anymore,” she said. “I like you and Sebastian. And Emmaline and Nicholas and Claire and Nathaniel.”

Gabrielle patted her knee. “I’m glad. Because we like you and we think you’ll be good for Phin. Make him settle down. He’s been running for far too long.”

“I hope we get a chance,” she whispered. If Phin even wanted a future with her.

A shadow crossed Gabrielle’s face and it wasn’t reassuring. “I hope so, too. But Sebastian has a plan, and if you knew Sebastian, you’d know that his plans almost always succeed.” Gabrielle slid off the bed. “We’re serving a light dinner in the dining room. You’re welcome to join us if you’d like, but I understand if you don’t want to.”

Mairi stood, too. Being alone with her thoughts only made her more anxious. She wouldn’t be able to eat and she probably wasn’t the best company, but she wanted companionship, so she followed Gabrielle to the dining room, where Emmaline was already seated.

Gabrielle and Emmaline talked and Mairi half listened. A footman put a plate of food before her, but she merely toyed with it.

Toward the end of dinner, when Mairi was certain she couldn’t take any more of this waiting, the front door opened. Gabrielle and Emmaline’s conversation abruptly stopped. Mairi stood on shaking legs, a hand to her throat.

Sebastian entered first. Mairi anxiously looked behind him, her heart clenching in a fear so horrible she couldn’t bear it. Nicholas followed.

And then there was Phin.

Mairi cried out and ran to him. He opened his arms and caught her. For long moments she stood in his arms, uncaring that others in the room were watching. She listened to the steady
beat of his heart, felt his hand move up and down her back and breathed in the lemony scent of him.

He was alive. He hadn’t been arrested. She was so relieved, her knees buckled. Phin tightened his hold and looked down on her with concern, but she shook her head.

Footmen brought out more plates of food. The men settled around the table, making noises about how hungry they were.

Mairi sat next to Phin but was unable to eat because her stomach was doing somersaults. She didn’t like the shadows in Phin’s eyes that told her that while today’s ordeal might be finished, it wasn’t over.

“Well,” Gabrielle demanded, “are you going to tell us?”

“I wasn’t arrested,” Phin said.

“We assumed that by your presence at our table,” Gabrielle said. “I feel there is more to the story.”

Phin nodded, his look grave. Mairi covered his hand with hers and squeezed his fingers. She didn’t think she could ever let go. He shot her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“We waited for hours to get an audience with the king and when we finally did speak to him he seemed to be in good humor.”

“Because he’d just left his mistress,” Nicholas muttered, shoveling another bite of food into his mouth. “Excuse me for being indelicate,” he added, nodding to each lady.

“I’m sure that was the reason but it was our good luck,” Phin said. “Or my good luck, at least. He was not pleased when he learned I was so close to McFadden and didn’t bring him in.”

Mairi’s fingers tightened around Phin’s. He turned his hand over and held hers. He smiled at her, but she had no smiles inside. There was more to the story and she feared it didn’t bode well for him.

“He questioned Nicholas extensively about the attack. I’m pleased Sebastian thought to bring Nicholas with us. I believe it helped. Although in the end he didn’t seem too concerned. I’m of the opinion that he thinks of this attack as more of an inconvenience than anything.”

“He believes England is too strong and powerful. That France is foolish,” Sebastian said.

“And he would be correct in some aspects, but I still feel this threat is real and could cause considerable damage,” Nicholas said. “However, we had to be delicate with our wording. We couldn’t let him think we doubted England’s might.”

“It was a balancing act,” Sebastian agreed, reaching for his wineglass and taking a sip.

“I still think it’s too late in the year for a successful attack,” Nicholas said. “It’s too cold with winter approaching. The king agreed.”

“The men Grant was speaking to were adamant on the date,” Mairi said.

Sebastian nodded and set his wineglass down. “That’s what we told him. In the end he agreed with Nicholas that we at least needed to be prepared, so he’s ordering his ships into place.”

Mairi glanced at Phin, worried that he’d suddenly become silent. “So he believes the attack will happen?”

“I’m not certain,” Sebastian said. “But he agreed to consider the possibility and to dedicate part of the navy in defense just in case. He’s asked Nicholas and Emmaline to help.”

Emmaline smiled and nodded. “Splendid.”

Nicholas scowled, apparently not liking the idea of his wife fighting the French in a sea battle.

“And what about Phin?” Mairi asked softly.

The table fell silent. Sebastian and Nicholas looked at Phin.

“The agreement still stands. I must bring Grant McFadden in or my life is forfeited.”

Mairi closed her eyes as a sick feeling of despair crept over her. So it wasn’t finished yet. The threat still hung over them.

Phin squeezed her hand, but she felt no reassurance from it.

“We have men looking for Grant,” Sebastian said. “We’ll find him.”

They’d better find him before she did because
his
life would be forfeited if she found him first.

For the next few days Mairi barely saw Phin except at night when he climbed into bed exhausted. She should have been embarrassed that they were living in sin, but she couldn’t find it in herself to be. They were living on borrowed time and the clock was ticking down.

There had been no sign of Grant until today when they finally heard that he had fled to France, which did not bode well for Phin. He didn’t seem phased by the sudden shift, however. “I’m a pirate, Mairi mine. I can sail to France if need be.”

Phin, Sebastian, Nicholas and a few of the king’s men met daily to devise a plan to stop the French. They seemed upbeat most of the time, secure in the knowledge that England would succeed because, well, it was England. There was no other option. Mairi had to roll her eyes at their arrogance.

In the meantime she thought about what would happen when this was finished. What would happen to her land? Her people? And she tried to cope with the reality that she’d turned her brother over to her enemy.

But the guilt she should have felt wasn’t there. She’d done the right thing. Trying to overpower a dominant country such as England was not only foolish but deadly. She hated what England had done to her way of life, but this was not the answer. More bloodshed, more deaths, more widows and more children without fathers would not solve anything.

She mourned her brother. Or at least the brother she used to know. This new man wasn’t the Grant McFadden she grew up with. This was a man eaten up by the hatred inside him. The boy she used to know had been kind and funny and loving. She often wondered what Aileen would think of Grant now. And their ma and da. What would they think?

All of those people were gone, however, and she was the only one left—the last of the McFaddens.

She was passing the library when she heard Sebastian and Phin discussing Grant.

“My sources found him in Cherbourg. Apparently the French fleet is converging there in preparation for the invasion.”

They were leaning over Sebastian’s desk, looking at a map. Sebastian poked his finger on
the map. “Our best plan of action is to hide the English fleet on the small channel island of Alderney.”

“That’s smart,” Phin said. “It’s far enough away that they won’t get wind of us but close enough we can head them off before they reach England.”

Sebastian straightened and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m worried about McFadden. It will be damn near impossible to find him once the fighting starts.”

“Our best chance is to go into Cherbourg and snatch him beforehand.”

“But how? He’s on alert. He knows we’re aware of their plans. He’ll have himself surrounded by his men.”

The two fell silent, each looking contemplative.

“Perhaps I can help.” Mairi stepped into the room. The men’s heads swiveled to her.

“How long have you been standing there?” Phin asked.

“Long enough to know you need someone to flush Grant out so you can capture him.”

Phin’s smile was thin and weary and a bit patronizing. “We’ll figure something out.”

“I can do it. I can bring him to you.”

Phin shook his head, but Sebastian appeared intrigued.

“Why not?” she asked.

“It’s far too dangerous,” Phin said dismissively.

“And you’re the only one who is allowed danger?”

Phin looked at Sebastian for help, but Sebastian was contemplating her with interest. “It could work.”

“Absolutely not,” Phin growled.

Sebastian held up his hand, still looking at Mairi. “What is your plan?”

She shrugged. “I have no plan. But if you know where Grant is staying, I can go there. I could draw him out.” She was warming to the subject, her mind whirling with possibilities and ideas.

“It won’t work,” Phin said. “He knows you overheard his conversation. Hell, Mairi, they’re looking for you.”

“Then I shall give myself to them.”

Phin looked furious, his gray eyes the color of storm clouds.

“It would be dangerous,” Sebastian warned her.

“I’m aware.”

“All we would need you to do is get him outside where we could grab him.”

“I can do it.” Even as she said it, she was wholly convinced she could do it. The thought that she would be involved, that she would be useful was exciting and exhilarating. Would he trust her enough to follow her outside? What would she say to him? How would she convince him to talk to her alone?

Sebastian narrowed his eyes at her. “I think we should do it.”

“No!” Phin all but shouted. “Hell no!” He spun to face her. “I’ll not allow it.”

“It’s not for you to allow or disallow. This is my brother. My choice.”

In the end, it was simply too big for Phin’s objections. They pulled Gabrielle into the discussion and she agreed to give Mairi a crash course on spying. Of course she wasn’t to spy. She was merely to persuade Grant to walk out of the inn where he was surrounded by his men.

The thought brought butterflies to her stomach, but she knew that she needed to do this. She had to do this if she wanted any kind of future with Phin.

That night, Phin came up to bed earlier than usual. She hadn’t even changed out of her gown yet when he walked through the door. His jaw was covered in blond stubble, his eyes were weary and bloodshot, his shirt undone to halfway down his chest. He looked like the pirate she’d first met and her heart went out to him. Rugged and dangerous and sexy. Her pirate.

He slipped off his waistcoat. His cravat was long gone.

“You’re exhausted,” she said.

“I’m worried.”

“About me.”

He tossed his waistcoat on the nearest chair where it slithered to the floor in a heap.

“Why? Why are you putting yourself in danger?” he asked.

“Because what Grant is doing is wrong and he needs to be stopped. And because you’re putting yourself in danger. I can do no less.”

“This won’t stop the invasion.”

“But it will stop the king from hanging you.”

He looked away, rubbed the stubble on his jaw. “So you’re willing to risk your life to save mine?”

“Of course I am. I love you, Phin. I’d do anything for you.”

He went still, his red-rimmed eyes searching hers. “Ah, Mairi mine,” he whispered.

“You don’t have to tell me you love me too—”

“But I do.”

“It’s enough, my love for you. I know I come with … Pardon me?”

“I love you too,” he said softly.

“Do you truly mean that?”

“Would I say it if I didn’t?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.”

“I think I fell in love with you the moment you pointed that silly pistol at me.”

“It wasn’t silly. It was a real pistol.”

“That would have put you through the wall of my cabin if you’d shot it.”

“I wasn’t planning on shooting it.”

His brows went up. “Then what were you planning? To use it as a cudgel?”

“It was meant to frighten you.”

He laughed softly. “It intrigued me more than anything. You weren’t the first woman to enter my cabin looking for something, but you were the first to point a pistol at me and demand my services.” His eyes twinkled, the shadows absent for once.

She didn’t even mind the reference to the other women, she just liked that they were bantering and that for a small moment the gravity of their situation was pushed aside.

“What frightened me was that you ruined my best pair of boots,” he said lightly.

“All part of my plan.”