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Aileen lifted her head. “Aye. I left orders that the crew were to take up their oars once I was secure on board.”

She swiveled and turned her gaze on Maxwell. “Ye’d dae well tae wipe that smirk off yer faceMaxwell MacNeil.‘Tis nay ye I want. If ye didnae resemble yer older braither so closely I’d nay have brought ye here. The Laird Everard MacNeil is the man I want.”

At hearing this, Maxwell drew his brows together in a forbidding glare. “A curse on all of ye,” he snapped. “What d’ye wish wi’ me braither?”

“I am doing the bidding of Laird Andrew Sutherland.” She raised a brow. “I daresay ye would ken him as a sworn enemy of the MacNeils. Sutherland will deal wi’ Everard MacNeil in his dungeons.” Aileen cast a rueful glance at Maxwell. “And ye? Why we’ll have nay need of ye once I have Everard.” She gave a careless shrug. “But nay matter. Ye’ll dae as bait fer the trap I’ll lay fer him. I daresay, he’ll soon be searching fer ye.”

Maxwell groaned inwardly. Of course, the lass was right. Everard would never rest until he’d done everything, he could to track his captive brother and bring him safely home. For yearshe had attempted to thwart the pirates use of the islands around Barra for their evil purposes. In the process of blockading the passage with his own vessels, Everard had earned Andrew Sutherlands undying enmity. If only there was some way he could warn him not to seek him out.

Maxwell wrenched his arms, rattling the chains holding him fast, earning a scathing glance from the man they called Sea.

“Lad,” he glared at the man. “Can ye help me tae stand? ‘Tis uncomfortable and unseemly fer me tae lie at yer feet.”

Séamus looked to Aileen for her assent to the captive’s request.

“Aye.” She did not look at Maxwell as she spoke. Ashamed perhaps? He took some pleasure in this small victory and Séamus leaned down and half-heartedly assisted Maxwell to his feet. He stood, swaying, glowering at Aileen.

“And now, take these chains off my ankles,” he commanded.

She cast him a scornful look, forcing him to modify his tone and add a hint of pleading. “If ye please milady.” This earned a half-smile from those lush lips of hers.

“If yer wee boat is sailing already, there’s nay place I can walk save to the railing to relieve myself. Ye’ve naught to fear from me if ye unbind me feet.”

Again, Séamus looked to Aileen and, again, she nodded without glancing at Maxwell.

He grunted. Yet another small concession. It would not take him long to convince them to unleash his arms. Even if it meant he would need to take up an oar to prove he meant no harm.

However, for the time being, he was content enough that he could move his legs freely. Well, as content as a man held captive could be.

“Ye can sleep on the deck wi’ the oarsmen.” Séamus bent to relieve the chains, regarding Maxwell with narrowed eyes. “Methinks ye’ll soon freeze tae death if ye attempt tae swim to shore.” He wheezed a malevolent snort of laughter.

“If I’m tae sleep with the rough galley men I’ll expect me shackles to come off me arms. I dinnae trust those brutes.”

“Ye must take us for fools, MacNeil.” Aileen shrugged. “Ye’ll sleep in yer chains or nae at all. ‘Tis nay me concern.”

“Mayhap it is nae.” Maxwell flung at her. “But ye’ve the makings of a lady and I thought ye may have some compassion fer a man that no so long hence ye were kissing and pressing with yer body.”

“I’m nay lady. I’d have thought ye’d have kent that by now.”

“Aye. Ye may be a pirate but ye can still have the manners of a high-born lass. Mayhap ye’re nay the hard lass ye play at being.”

She hesitated and Maxwell thought for an instant she would weaken. But she tossed her head. “Give him his cloak Finn, he’ll be needing it on deck. Ye’ll spend the night in chains MacNeil and I’ll see tae ye in the morning.”

He growled a curse at her as Séamus led him out to the deck. There, he hunkered down among the oarsmen amid a series of grumbles and mutterings at their being disturbed while he rolled clumsily in his cloak, the chains clanking, trying to maintain his body heat.

Lying awake, he stared into the void. A smattering of stars winked back at him from the wintry sky. This was a long way from the feather bed the lass had promised. He should have known by then that following the whims of his cock could lead him to trouble. But, thank the good Lord the weather was fine. There was a wind to fill the sails and spare the oarsmen, but no sleet or snow or rain that could be the fate of any Highlander who slept outdoors.

It was a long while before he allowed his clenched fists to unfurl and for the tightness in his chest to release, allowing him to sleep at last.

The sky was grey with pre-dawn light when he was wakened by Sea’s boot in his backside.

“Captain wishes tae see ye in the cabin.”

Maxwell grunted, his head thumping sorely where he had been hit, and rolled over, levering himself to his feet while Sea stood by, stamping his feet with impatience.

“I’d be damned faster getting to me feet if ye took off these shackles, ye knave.”

Sea snorted, turned on his heel and headed along the deck with Maxwell following. He ducked his head as he entered the tight space of the cabin to find Aileen seated at the table breaking her fast. She stood as he entered and he was surprised to see that she wore long, knitted, fingerless gloves that reached above her elbows.