Rogue Scot: Brethren of Stone Page 4

  “But it hasn’t?” he asked, cocking his head to one side. He let go of one of her hands and clasped her waist again.

  “I don’t have many other choices, really. The only alternative is as a servant.” She shrugged. “So I’ve decided to be exceedingly careful in what type of husband I pick. My father has taught me what qualities not to look for in a man.” She gave a tiny shudder. “In moments like this, I have to be honest, it’s far better to be male.”

  Matt stared down at her. She had a point. She was almost completely dependent on a stranger to see her safely to England. No wonder his brothers were always helping people like Bridget. If they didn’t, the alternative was awful. “I’ll see you to London with your dowry.” His body still ached for her, but his mind had cleared. He leaned down and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. “There are times when we all need a little help.”

  “Thank you, Captain,” she whispered.

  “Call me Matt,” he said and then let her go.

  As he spun about to take over the wheel, he noticed several of the crew staring at him. No one said a word, but he could see the questions in their gazes. He’d leave them unanswered. If the men thought that Bridget belonged to the captain, she was far safer on the boat. He looked back at her, his body tightening again. Did she belong to him? Did he want her to?

  Chapter Eight

  Over the next day, a lightness filled Bridget that she hadn’t felt in years. Maybe ever. She was free from her father.

  And thanks to Matt, she was safe despite being on the open sea.

  As afternoon sun filled the January sky, Bridget and Mary walked about the deck. Mary was kind enough to stay between Bridget and the rail. They’d arrive in Aberdeen at any moment and excitement filled her to think of being back on dry land. She’d learned that two of Matt’s brothers were Highland lairds and each had farmland where they produced grains. Matt ran the ships that delivered their goods. In addition, his oldest brother was an earl, and a powerful one at that.

  No wonder Matt walked with such confidence and purpose. He was a man who understood both power and responsibility. She found she rather liked his walk instead of being annoyed by it as she had first been. It wasn’t an idle swagger but the stride of a man willing to take action.

  She glanced up at him as he steered the ship with his legs set wide apart and his broad shoulders flexing with the effort. Being pressed against him yesterday had been a sweet torture. Just remembering the feel of him made her shudder.

  Turning her face up to the sun, she let the warmth of it heat her skin and hide her blush. She had to put these thoughts away. He’d been explicit in his statements about marriage and his reasons behind them. Besides, he wasn’t the sort of man she wanted at all. He’d bend her to his will, not the other way around. She’d enough of that in her life already.

  And once she arrived in London, she’d have to say goodbye and begin the search for a husband without thoughts of a swarthy sailor clouding her judgement.

  The ropes snapped above her and the sail swung, as the boat began to tack toward the shore. The boat shifted and she clutched Mary’s arm.

  “You’re all right. We’re almost to the town,” Mary soothed.

  A long pier jutted out from the beach. Set back on the land was a large structure, like a barn. “It’s not a town,” Bridget murmured to Mary. “At least I don’t think so. It just looks like a farm on the ocean with a pier.”

  “We’re in the Highlands now,” Mary said back, grinning. “I quite like it.”

  Bridget gazed at the land beyond the beach. It was sparser than the south but beautiful in its own rugged way. Only the occasional tree broke up the flat land punctuated by jutting piles of rock. It reminded her of Matt. Strong and rough it silently stood above the rest of Scotland.

  She wanted to be pressed against him again. To feel that strength flowing through her body.

  Fortunately, people began moving on shore, coming to the end of the pier to greet them. The moment the ship was tied, a bustle of activity began.

  Goods of all kinds were unloaded from the ship. Once done, bags of barley were loaded back on.

  Two men approached the ship and Bridget straightened as they came closer. Their walk, their shoulders, their hair all reminded her of Matt. She watched as he jumped down to the pier and embraced each in turn. These must be his brothers.

  They talked for a minute, heads bent together. What would it be like to be part of a family like this? She could feel their bond from here, the way they stood nearly touching, their faces set in matching looks of concern.

  Then, Matt looked back at her and the other two followed suit, all three of them, staring as heat infused her cheeks.

  “Bridget,” Matt called, waving for her to join them.

  She started to move but her progress was slow as they stared. What was being said about her? Matt had promised to take her to London himself. Why did he call her now? Had he changed his mind?

  The tallest of the bunch, though not by much, gave her a gentle smile. “My brother plucked you out of the ocean did he?” He glanced at Matt. “You’re lucky to be given such a gift.”

  Matt scowled. “Don’t start, Blair.”

  The heat radiating from Bridget’s cheeks doubled. “Oh, it isn’t like that.” She held her hands up. “I’m to go to London to live with my aunt and—“ She stopped. Gads, was she about to tell these men her entire life story?

  “Blair’s wife will get you and Mary some new clothes to wear,” Matt scowled at his brother as his hand came to her back.

  “I’m Will,” the other man smiled, giving her a wink. He wore his hair in a longer style, pulled back from his face. It was quite handsome on a man with such a strong jaw. Much like Matt’s.

  Bridget looked to the ground. “Pleased to meet you.”

  Blair waved for them all to follow. “I’ll bring you up to my home and introduce you to my wife, Elle. She’ll have you as good as new in no time.”

  “Thank you,” she murmured. Mary had come up behind them and she waved to the other woman to follow. “My companion is in need of clothing too. We’d appreciate any extras you had to offer.”

  Blair gave her a nod, his face soft. “I’m sure we have more than enough and whatever we don’t, Will’s wife, Gemma, can supply. I can’t imagine losing all your belongings.” He gave her a light pat on the shoulder. It was brotherly and quite comforting. Matt’s hand tightened on her waist.

  “We’re going to get them back,” Matt answered. “The boat went down in Heron’s Cove. It has a shallow beach and the boat should appear when it’s low.”

  Blair looked back at him as he straightened, his features sharp. “The shipment is already late.” Then he looked at Bridget, his features relaxing. “My apologies. But our reputation for timelines is part of what makes our business successful.”

  Matt stopped straightening too as he pulled her closer. Both his brothers watched the gesture. If he were trying to prove there was nothing between them, he was doing a poor job.

  Matt gave a low rumble in his chest and it vibrated through her. “What happened to the family motto, Sinclairs help people?”

  “I am helping people get barley for their animals to eat.” Blair fired back. “I was only going to suggest that Hennessey take the shipment to London and you take Bridget on one of the new vessels to the cove. If it sails well, continue on to London. If not, come back. We’ll get Bridget and her companion to London on our next run.”

  Matt gave a tight nod. “Fine.”

  “Fine?” Will quirked a brow crossing his arms. “I’m surprised yer willing to hand over control that easily. Matt doesn’t like to brag but he’s built our reputation, which keeps us in business.”

  Matt gave a shrug and started pushing her forward, his hand still at her waist. “I was going to wait to tell you this but it seems like an opportune time. I’m retiring.”

  “To get married?” Blair asked, slapping Will on the back.

  Matt stopped again, jolting Bridget. “No, we just went over this. I’ve purchased a mine. It’s turning a nice profit so I intend to buy more. Be a land owner like all of my big, annoying brothers.”

  “And find a wife,” Will added. “Like all of your big annoying brothers.” He slapped Matt’s other side, which happened to be the side Bridget was on, The force of it knocked Matt’s shoulder into her head. She attempted not to scowl. They didn’t mean any harm but gads, they were a rough bunch. No wonder Matt scowled all the time and seemed so tough. Anyone growing up with them would have to be. “Women like it better when you live in one place on land. Isn’t that right, Bridget?”

  She glanced back at the man. Had she been jealous of family a few minutes before? They were meddlesome and brutish. “I suppose. I think my parents would have been happier if they’d been separated more.”

  “That’s only because yer da isn’t worth the dirt he’ll be buried in,” Matt grumbled.

  She looked up at him. His words were completely true. “I’m not even sure he is my father. You heard him.”

  Matt winked at her, his smile soft. “All the better for ye, really.”

  Blair knocked Matt’s shoulder again. “What’s all this? What are ye two on about?”

  “They already have little inside stories,” Will called from just behind them.

  “Is your other brother like this?” she asked Matt quietly.

  Matt shrugged. “He’s not so loud, but he’s hard as the rock he was carved from, I swear.”

  * * *

  Matt watched as his sisters-in-law pulled Bridget away, discussing the finer points of what color gown would suit her best and how they should style Bridget’s hair.

  She was in good hands, he knew that, but something had unsettled him. Perhaps
it was the meeting with her father. The man had been truly awful. He’d thought Bridget difficult when he’d first met her, but the woman had a right to be. She’d endured a lot of abuse, he was certain of that.

  And honestly, he had to admit, he liked a strong woman. Bridget had held up remarkably well considering the challenges that she’d faced.

  He looked back over at his brothers. Will, in particular, reminded him of Reginald. It was the shape of his eyes, dark and turned up at the corners like their mothers. When their sister, Delia, had fallen over one of the cliffs near their family home, she’d landed on a ledge. Reginald had attempted to rescue her only to fall himself and get swept away by the rushing spring current. One minute he’d been standing next to Matt and the next he was gone.

  They’d put up a stone next to their parents’ grave, though they’d never found him. Perhaps that was what had him on edge. The memories.

  Turning, he headed back to the dock. Hennessey could oversee the loading of the ship. He wanted to have a look at the newest boat his brother had bought. The one he’d be sailing back to Heron’s Cove.

  He ran his hand through his hair as he walked. He’d expected Blair to be upset about the announcement he was leaving the business. He hadn’t been at all. In fact, Blair had seemed happy for him. He supposed Blair had been more excited about the possibility of Matt being interested in Bridget. Why was that? He’d never understood how his brothers could just move on. Go about their lives while Reginald didn’t get to have one at all. Weren’t they worried they’d just suffer for opening their hearts again?

  He reached the beach and walked further down to where the new pier was being constructed. Tied to its frame was the new vessel. He liked the look of her, sleek with a double mast. Climbing aboard, he began to look at the particulars of its construction, running his hands along the fresh wood. Before he knew it, the sun was setting and the tide was rolling in.

  He loved the boat already. Her name hadn’t come to him yet, but it would. Running his hand along the rail, he amended to buy the boat from his brother.

  He climbed over the side and onto the dinghy, intent upon saying goodbye to Hennessey before he headed off to London. Then he’d go back to Blair’s house for dinner. In the morning, he’d assemble his crew for the voyage to Heron’s Cove.

  Many of the rescued sailors were still with them, he’d guess they’d be willing to sign on. It would both give them a job and allow them to recover some of their own lost goods.

  As he climbed the stairs in Blair’s newly built home, he heard feminine laughter coming from one of the sitting rooms.

  He followed the sound until he found the source. There, surrounded by candlelight, stood Bridget. She wore a gown of cream silk, her hair loosely pulled back from her face as soft pieces fell about her shoulders.

  A slight haze from the smoke of the fire and candles filled the air but it only seemed to add to the intimacy of the setting. As did the twinkling in her brown eyes as he stared at her. “Hello,” she said softly.

  “There you are,” his sister-in-law, Elle, held out her arms to him. He started in surprise. How had he not noticed that other people were in the room?

  He embraced Elle and then Gemma, his brothers coming to stand next to their wives. He hadn’t noticed them either. “Yer quiet,” Will said giving him yet another smack. “Even fer ye.”

  Matt frowned, not answering, as he stepped over to Bridget. “Ye look lovely, lass.”

  Her cheeks stained a delicate shade of pink as she turned her face toward the fire. “Thank you.”

  He wanted to touch her. What was happening to him? “If ye wouldn’t mind waiting for a few more minutes, I really should change.”

  Blair let out a grunt. “Yeah ye should. Ye smell like ye’ve been mucking with the fish.”

  Matt gave his brother a glare. “I’ll be right back.” He nodded to Mary who sat off to one side. She looked uncomfortable in her formal gown.

  He didn’t blame her. He preferred the more casual look and feel of his working clothes. But tonight he wanted to stand next to Bridget. He had the urge to dance with her. Hold in her in his arms. He’d likely regret this decision in the morning, but for once, he wanted to forget the past and the future.

  Chapter Nine

  Bridget looked about her. This could be a dream. Blair and Elle’s home was lovely. It smelled of fresh wood and sea air. Each piece of furniture glowed with a golden sheen of oil while the new silver shown in the candlelight.

  Bridget held up her fork and watched the glow of the candle sparkle off its teeth. The brocade tablecloth was a rich red that offset the gold rims of the plates. “Your home is beautiful,” she murmured to Elle.

  Elle gave her a smile. “Seven years ago, I was an orphan barely able to support myself and my brother. Blair rescued me from a boat accident as well and hired me to cook for him.”

  “You were a servant?” Mary exclaimed. Then her cheeks flamed red as everyone else looked at her. “Begging your pardon.” She held up her hands. “But I thought I didn’t belong here.”

  Elle gave her a warm smile. “Of course you do. The Sinclairs believe in hard work and helping others. They pride those values over station every time.”

  Gemma nodded. “I was a seamstress and a laundress before I married Will.” She reached over and held Mary’s hand. “You’re welcome here, Mary.”

  “Well said,” Blair slapped the table with his hand. “And I would add, that if you don’t find the dowry and your aunt won’t take you, you have a place here.”

  Bridget opened her mouth as surprise rippled through her. How did he know all of that?

  Before she could ask, Matt cleared his throat. “Forgive me, Bridget and Mary. I shared some of your story with my brothers.”

  She nodded as she looked at the table. Blair’s offer for help was beyond generous but she hadn’t shared the details of her life with many. “Most kind of you, Laird Sinclair.” She set down her fork, folding her hands in her lap. “I’m sure you already have a nanny, but I am versed in several languages, play the pianoforte with exceptional skill, and even attended finishing school. I would make an excellent tutor for your daughter. And Mary--”

  Blair held up his hand. “Ye misunderstand, lass.” He leaned forward, his grin pulling at one corner of his lips. He gave a quick wink as though he were up to mischief. “I wouldn’t hire ye. Elle and I would sponsor ye for a season here in Scotland.” He turned to Mary. “And we’d help ye make a match too, Mary, if that’s what ye be wantin’.”

  Bridget reached for Mary’s hand and they clasped them together. Emotion clogged her throat, and she stared across the table at Matt. He gave her a nod, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything. But if ye don’t find yer dowry, come back.” Blair sat back in his chair. “A toast. To new friends and to helping those who need it.”

  Bridget raised her glass. Matt did as well, though he said nothing. His gaze still followed her every move, his face a mask.

  They finished dinner and rose, filing out of the dining room. Blair turned to her. “We’ve recently purchased a new pianoforte, Bridget. Perhaps you could play for us?”

  “I’d be delighted,” she answered.

  Matt stepped up next to her, brushing the small of her back with his fingers. “Elle and Gemma, do either of you play?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Elle answered. “But Lily’s teacher has already agreed to play a few songs for us as well. She’s quite good and Lily’s lessons are coming along wonderfully.”

  Matt gave a nod and then leaned down and breathed in her ear. “I wish to request a dance.”

  The words, his breath, the feel of his fingers all made her tingle as she gave a slight nod of acceptance. She remembered the feel of his arms. Anticipation buzzed through her at the thought of being held in them again.

  * * *

  Will watched Bridget play, pride and pleasure tightening his chest. She was exceptional. The notes flowed perfectly from her fingertips even as they transferred the emotion of the piece into the instrument. It was a highland song of a lost love and Matt wanted to stand and cross to her, cup her cheek, and comfort her. He could hear the sadness pouring from her heart.