Page 35 of To Claim His Highland Bride

“And you thought Rowena needed to die for their loss?” Marcus asked, trying to understand.

Gordon glanced away. “A life for a life.”

“If you blame anyone for what happened on this ship, it should be me,” Marcus said, his voice harsh.

“I should, but I don’t,” Gordon said with a hint of surprise in his voice. “Ye shared so much of the treasure we did find with the crew. Ye made us all wealthy men.” Gordon’s lips twisted. “’Twas easier tae hate the woman than tae hate ye.”

Marcus released a tense breath. He didn’t agree with Gordon’s methods, but he could understand his anger over the death of his siblings. Yet even on a ship justice had to be served. “For what you’ve done, I should lock you in the brig and turn you over to the constable when we next make landfall.”

“Nay!” Anger fled and fear brought shadows to Gordon’s eyes. “If somethin’ happens tae me, my ma will have no one.”

“Perhaps you should have considered that before you attacked my wife.” Marcus tried to restrain his irritation. The young man was clearly distressed.

“I dinna kill her.”

“You easily could have slain her and others when you sabotaged the sail. Once the line was cut, you had no control of the outcome.”

He nodded wearily. “What can I do? How can I make amends?”

“To start, you can return the necklace you stole from me.”

Gordon dropped his gaze to his feet. “I’ll return it as soon as I’m relieved from duty.”

“I’m relieving you from duty right now.” Marcus released a heavy sigh. “As the captain of his vessel, I must punish you for what you have done, Gordon. Sabotaging the ship is a serious affair, not to mention endangering my wife. But I am not heartless, nor do I believe you were driven by anything other than your own grief, so I’ll allow you to choose either two days and nights in the brig or three lashes. If you choose the brig and if we find the treasure today, I’ll have to reduce your share by half since you were not involved in the recovery.”

Gordon returned his gaze to Marcus’s. “The brig,” he said with a look of resignation. “I’m not brave enough tae take the lashings.”

“I believe you are, but that is something you will have to learn for yourself. Pain nourishes courage, and loss eventually teaches us to be both brave and wise.”

As the two slowly descended to the deck below, Marcus reflected on his own words. Until this moment, he’d only seen the loss of two-and-thirty men as failure on his part. While the loss aboard The Cliodna had been tragic, it had also moulded Marcus in ways he hadn’t expected. Loss had strengthened his sense of honour and duty, but it had also softened him. He was far more aware of the fragility of life. Tomorrow was guaranteed to no one.

Perhaps that was why he had allowed himself to be persuaded to marry Rowena and why he clung to the idea of her already being with child—to leave some part of himself behind when his days on this earth were through.

*

As a golden light crept through the window of the captain’s chamber, Rowena opened her eyes to see Marcus was gone. Disappointment tightened her chest before she forced the emotion away. She’d given Marcus no reason to stay. Besides, he had a ship to run.

After quickly running her fingers through her hair to tame the long locks into some semblance of order before she wove it into a plait, she left the bed, intent to go on deck to get some fresh air. Outside, she moved to the rail on the main deck. She raised her face, drinking in the warmth of the sun and the vigour of the wind.

She’d changed during the past few days. Perhaps it was because of all the obstacles that had been in her path, or perhaps it was because for once she was finally living a life of her own. But today she felt more alive and stronger than she ever had before.

Marcus might also have had something to do with those changes. Only once did she allow her gaze to stray to the forecastle where Marcus stood at the tiller. Just as quickly she pulled her gaze away, turning back to the shoreline slowly coming into view. At peace on this beautiful morning, she closed her eyes and relaxed into the wind.

“You should go back to our cabin and prepare for our arrival. We should disembark within the hour.”

She didn’t look at Marcus as he settled at the rail beside her. “Why was Gordon trying to harm me?”

Marcus’s hands clenched on the railing. “It had little to do with you. He was angry with me over the death of his brothers in our previous treasure hunting. He meant to take his revenge out on me through you. He will be punished.”

“Not too harshly, I hope. I was not injured, only frightened.”

Marcus was silent a moment. “Gordon returned your necklace to me and is currently in the brig.”

Rowena pressed her lips into a thin line at the news. “For how long?”

“Long enough to contemplate what he’s done and realise there are other ways to solve life’s problems.”

A long moment passed once again with only the wind whispering between them. Rowena felt herself relaxing as she gazed at the blue-green water slipping past. A motion near the wake caught her attention. She smiled when she identified the movement as dark-skinned seals frolicking in and out of the churning water. “I never imagined there would be seals all around Scotland like there are at Dunvegan.”