Highland Lover: Book 3 Scottish Knights Trilogy Read Online Free Page B

the background.
    “I must go,” Niall said, already turning away.
    When he shut the door, she called to the boys and heard Jamie shout that they’d be along straightaway. Realizing that Ciara was likely growing impatient in the cabin, and would either carp or complain, Alyson went below.
    The boys did not come immediately, but they did eventually, and Jamie brought his chessboard and pieces. When Ciara complained that the cabin was too small for four people, Alyson, weary of her grievances, said, “Mayhap you would liefer enjoy a nap in the boys’ cabin, where you can rest undisturbed.”
    With an injured look, Ciara said, “Mayhap I’ll seek some fresh air.”
    Alyson knew that the woman did not enjoy the voyage and could scarcely blame her. Thanks to the unfortunate weather and Niall’s preoccupation with his duties, Alyson would not have enjoyed it either had it not been for the boys.

    Jake was watching the skies. The weather had grown worse, and they were still dangerously close to the English coast. By midafternoon, besides the incessant heavy wind, the air was so damp and clouds so dark that a downpour was imminent.
    So far, they had had no difficulty following the
Maryenknyght
, because the galley was faster and moremaneuverable than the larger ship, and in the Isles, his lads often worked in heavy seas. But if the weather closed in, it would become much harder to see the merchantman.
    Feeling the first sprinkles of rain, he went to the top of the forecastle cabin to view the sea around them. A squall line had formed in the northeast.
    Turning, he saw five ships emerge from behind a massive outcropping to the west and head for the
Maryenknyght
.

    In her cabin, by the light of two oil lanterns swinging overhead, Alyson was playing dames with Will, supervised by Jamie, when Ciara burst into the cabin.
    “My lady—!” The ship lurched unexpectedly, making Ciara break off to grab the door jamb and Alyson fear for the lanterns as she and Will scrambled to grab and replace pieces sliding out of place and off the board.
    “My lady,” Ciara repeated as she latched the door, “a flotilla o’ ships be coming toward us! They must be some o’ them pirates we heard of in Leith. Ye’ll recall that the captain o’ this very ship warned that such villains plunder vessels along this coast.”
    “What I recall is that Captain Bereholt said the
Maryenknyght
would easily evade any pirates,” Alyson said. She watched the board to be sure that she and Will were putting the pieces back in their rightful places.
    Jamie said, “We heard talk o’ pirates, too. Aye, Will?”
    “Aye,” Will said, catching one of his pieces when the ship’s wretched rolling slid it off the board again. “Lord Orkney did ask that Mungo chap if he’d heard aught o’ them lately. But Mungo said he’d heard nowt.”
    “But he must have, because he traveled to France to arrange for this ship and back again,” Alyson said, looking from one lad to the other. “Sithee, Ciara is right. Captain Bereholt did talk of pirates. He told us, too, that we would be keeping at least ten miles off the coast to avoid running into them.”
    “We’re none so far off the coast now, though,” Jamie said. “Will and I could see it from the rail today after our midday meal. The clouds were hanging low, but we could make out the coastline.”
    Ciara stood nervously near the door, shifting from one foot to the other.
    Abruptly, Jamie said, “I’m going up on deck. I want tae see those ships.”
    “I’ll wager that they are just traders or merchantmen like this one,” Alyson said. “Doubtless, they are setting out for some European or Hanseatic port and travel together to deter the pirates.”
    “Likely, ye’re right,” Jamie said. “But I want tae see them. Come, Will.”
    Since she had no true authority over either boy, she warned them only to keep out of mischief, and won a grin over his shoulder from Jamie.
    When they had gone, Ciara said,