Page 23 of A Temptress in Tartan

Elizabeth stepped back, forcing Roland to release her. She moved to Lachlan’s side, standing close but not quite touching him. “Lachlan Douglas is my new life.”

Roland’s eyes seemed to bulge in his face. “You married a Douglas? Your father agreed to this union?”

“Aye. As did the king and queen. I had no choice but to do as they bid me. No matter how much I might wish otherwise, this is a man’s world and women have few choices about their own lives.”

Lachlan clenched his teeth, ignoring the disquieting feeling settling in his gut. He wanted to argue that Elizabeth had far more choices with him than she had ever had within the confines of her clan. But that was not something he could make her accept. She had to come to the conclusion herself, no matter how long it took.

“The crossing is getting rough,” Lachlan said, ignoring the wild mixture of emotions tearing through him that he was half-afraid to examine. It did not matter that Roland and Elizabeth had a past. He and Elizabeth had a past as well, but he doubted she remembered as much. Besides, Elizabeth was his wife. For better or worse. “You should join the others below deck.” Lachlan had barely finished speaking when the ship pitched suddenly. Before Elizabeth lost her balance, he pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her, holding her steady as the iron and wooden ship shuddered.

The ship rocked again and Roland was thrown sideways. He clutched the rail, avoiding a second spill into the dark waters.

“With the winds to the southeast, the waves will only get stronger and the wind more forceful as we approach Aberlady’s coastline,” Lachlan said, still holding Elizabeth tight against his chest. “The captain does not need any distractions if he is to keep us from being blown against the rocks or caught on a sandbar outside the bay.”

Roland gained his balance. He glared at Lachlan one more time before he staggered toward the hatch leading to safety below deck.

When he was gone, Lachlan loosened his hold on Elizabeth. She did not pull away. Instead, she studied him defiantly as she ran nervous fingers through her tousled brown hair, trying to tame it in the wind. “You needn’t glare at me. I did not know we would cross paths with Roland.”

“His presence changes nothing. We will leave him in Aberlady and continue as we had planned.”

“But—”

“There is nothing to discuss here, Elizabeth.” His tone was soft but edged with steel. “You and I have our plans. Roland has his own.”

She started to speak but he stopped her.

“Leave things as they are.”

Pink rose to color her cheeks. Her gaze clung to his and suddenly he was startled to see her bravado fade into wariness. She looked hurriedly away and gave an uncaring shrug. “As you wish.”

Lachlan stared at the stubborn, willful, and exasperating woman before him. None of this was as he wished. If things were as he wished the two of them would be safely back at Whittingehame and a willing Elizabeth would be in his bed, ready to begin their new lives together.

Chapter Seven

The Golden Rose dropped anchor outside the Bay of Aberlady. Those aboard who were not continuing on to Spain were tendered the short distance to shore. Elizabeth sat in the boat along with the fishermen and Roland, while Lachlan swam with the horses to the sandy beach.

Instead of watching the man swimming beside the boat, Elizabeth looked to the sand and the dunes beyond. The golden sand seemed to go on forever, only relieved by green grass and windblown shrubs farther away from shore. In the distance, she could see several buildings. It was common for there to be not only an inn, but also a stable in these seaside towns for travelers by sea or over land to utilize. No doubt, they would make use of them both.

When they reached the beach, one of the seamen stepped out of the boat, then offered Elizabeth a hand so she could do the same. Or at least the seaman tried to help her until Roland edged the young man out of the way. “Allow me,” Roland said, assisting her as she stepped onto the golden sand.

The fishermen scrambled over the side of the boat themselves, grateful to once again be on land.

Finally, Lachlan and the horses emerged from the water.

The afternoon sun shone brightly overhead, taking the edge off the wind when Lachlan and the horses emerged from the water. Sunbeams glinted off beads of water that rolled down his bare torso. The sea had molded his breeches to his long, powerful legs. For a moment his eyes met hers before he turned to the horses. “Well done,” he said in a soothing tone to the animals.

Jolted by the sight of him naked from the waist up this time in the bright light of day, she swallowed roughly. His back was to her and she could see his muscles rippling as he stroked first one wet neck and then the other. Both horses responded by rubbing their muzzles against his broad shoulders.

He chuckled then raked his hands through his hair to remove a bright shower of excess droplets, before heading to the boat where he plucked his shirt off one of the wooden benches. After he slipped the garment over his head, his gaze met hers once more. Hot color rose to her cheeks and spread down her throat.

He said nothing as he returned to the horses, grabbing their reins in either hand before coming to stop before her. He handed her one set of reins. “We’ll need to give the horses a rest, and allow them time to eat before we continue.” He pointed to a wooden structure in the near distance. “There’s a stable up there where the horses can get feed and water. And we should be able to find something to eat at The Cairn Inn next door.”

Before she could comment, he moved away toward where the fishermen stood talking among themselves about how they would return to their homes. “Follow us to the inn and I will pay for you to stay there tonight then leave at dawn with another fishing vessel.”

Thomas, the fisherman who almost drowned, stepped forward with a frown. “Our families will be worried if we dinna return tae them by nightfall. And Dillon’s mother deserves tae ken she lost her son tae the waters of the Firth.”

Lachlan placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “If you return by water tonight, in this wind, you all might join Dillon in his watery grave.”

Continuing to frown, Thomas returned to the others. The four men gathered close, discussing their options. After a time, Thomas turned back around. “Yer right. We shouldna push our luck too far fer one day.”