Off the coast of Cyprus April 12, 1191
L iam MacEgan hated ships. Though he’d spent many years of his life exploring the waters of his native éireann, being trapped aboard a wooden vessel for months was somewhere between purgatory and hellfire.
It was your idea to go on Crusade, he reminded himself. He’d believed he was embarking on an adventure, to see the Holy Land and fight to free Jerusalem. His family had been firmly opposed to it. His father, King Patrick of Laochre, had demanded that he face his responsibilities as a future provincial king.
But he’d needed an escape from his homeland. He’d grown up listening to the stories of distant lands, told to him by his uncle Trahern. He longed to see the glittering foreign cities and taste new foods. He needed this last chance to see the worlds that were forbidden to him . . . to feel the sting of desert sand against his face . . . to learn the secrets of exotic women.
And so, defying his family’s wishes, he’d slipped out one night and arranged passage to France, to join in the service of the King Richard, Coeur de Lion.
Liam stared out at the fierce blue of the Mediterranean, and a bittersweet tang of homesickness caught him. The sky was a dark gray, and clouds rolled in the distance. He was dimly aware of a woman moving along the side of the boat, just behind the oarsmen. Her long dark hair was covered by a veil, but the length of it stirred in the sea winds.
Adriana, daughter of the Vicomte de Manzano, was one of Princess Berengaria’s ladies. She was a dark beauty, with olive skin and raven hair. Her hands curved over the wood of the ship, and she turned back to stare at the waves.
He wanted to go and talk to her, but he sensed it would be an intrusion of her time alone. Her eyes lifted to the darkening skies, as though she were afraid.
Instinct made him glance behind him, and he spied the Count of Berduria staring at the young woman. The unrestrained lust on the man’s face made Liam cross over to Lady Adriana’s side. Though she shied away from him, he said in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid. I came to offer my protection, not to disturb you.”
When she sent him a confused look, he added, “The count is watching.” At that, Lady Adriana settled her gaze back upon the sea. Liam wasn’t certain whether or not she wanted him to stay. “Would you rather I left you alone with him?”
“Stay,” she whispered. “Unless your intent is the same as his.” She shivered in the wind, rubbing her shoulders. Liam unfastened his cloak and settled it around her shoulders. It was meant to offer her warmth, but it also sent an unmistakable message to the count.
She pulled the cloak around her. “You’re one of King Richard’s men, aren’t you?”
“I chose to fight at his side, aye. But I am not his vassal.” He refrained from mentioning anything further, not wanting to admit his own rank. During this journey, he’d told no one that he was an Irish prince, save King Richard. He wanted to experience life as a common man, as a soldier. It had meant giving up the luxuries he’d come to enjoy, but in return, he’d seen a side of life that his family had tried to protect him from.
“Has King Richard spoken of the princess?” Adriana asked. “My lady Berengaria worries that he seems so . . . distant, ever since the new betrothal.”
Liam shrugged. “His Grace is preoccupied with the journey to the Holy Land. He’s eager to fight for Jerusalem.” He paused a moment and asked, “What of you? Do you intend to travel wherever the princess wishes to go? Even to the Holy Land?”
She nodded. “She has no choice, any more than I do.” The young woman clasped her hands together as she stared out at the sea.
“You could marry or return to your family,” he suggested. “Jerusalem is dangerous for a woman.”
“Not for me.”
He stared at her, and she sent him a confident smile. “I have four brothers. I know how to protect myself.”
“How?” He moved closer, until his knee brushed the edge of her silk gown.
The tip of a knife touched the soft skin above his throat. “Like this.” Adriana’s dark brown eyes were dancing with amusement. “You wouldn’t be likely to harm me now, would you?” She removed the blade and offered it back to him.
Son of Belenus, it was his own blade. She’d somehow stolen it from his belt without him even sensing her.
“How did you do that?”
Her face transformed with a knowing smile. “You should know better than to underestimate a stranger. I am one of the princess’s guards, just as you protect King Richard.”
It was rare for a woman to surprise him, but he found himself fascinated by Adriana. Her full mouth drew his attention, and her scent reminded him of aromatic spices, like a heady mulled wine.
“Men are often distracted by a woman,” she said. “Just as you were.”
“You are a distraction,” he agreed. Her expression shifted, and he saw the wariness in her eyes. She wanted nothing from him; that much was evident. Stepping back, he asked, “What if your enemy overpowered you? Your strength would be no match for an attacker’s.”
“I rely on myself. And I protect the princess when there is need of my blade.” She squared her shoulders and removed his cloak. “Take this back. You’ll be cold.”
“It’s far colder than this in my homeland. I’m accustomed to it.” He nodded toward the aft side of the ship. “Are you wanting me to escort you back to the princess?”
“Not yet.” Lady Adriana took a deep breath. “She gave me leave to do as I please for the next hour. I’ll go back soon enough.” She donned his cloak once more, and the wind buffeted the sails, the sky turning ominous. Within minutes, the rain began to fall. The change in the weather was enough to send the count away from his pursuit. She lifted her face to the droplets, smiling wryly. “Isn’t it my ill luck to have rain during the only moments of freedom I’ve had?”
Liam ignored the rain and studied the waves. The sea water reflected the gray skies, and as they continued eastward, the waves were rising. “You should go below, a chara. The storm is going to get worse.“ Already the oarsmen were fighting the winds, their arms straining to keep control of the ship.
As if in response to his warning, the vessel lurched, and Adriana went flying. Liam caught her before her head could hit the deck, and he steadied her on her feet. “Are you all right?” She nodded, but he kept her hands at her waist for balance. “You need to go back to the princess. I wouldn’t want you to be swept overboard.”
Her face had gone pale, and she glanced out at the waves. “How far are we from land?”
“Don’t think about that now.” Aye, it was likely that if the ship capsized, they might drown. Liam was a fair enough swimmer, but it was spring, and the water would be uncomfortably cold.
Adriana removed his cloak and handed it to him. “Take me back to the princess.” Liam donned the garment and walked behind her as she returned to the princess’s tiny chamber.
“Stay with Her Royal Highness,” Liam said. “And tell her not to be afraid.” Even as he spoke the words, he knew they were unconvincing. He was struggling to remain on his feet, and when the ship tossed again, Adriana struck the wall hard.
She rubbed her shoulders, wincing at the pain. “I’ll be all right,” she said, before he could ask. “But promise me something.”
Liam rested his hand against the wall for balance. Adriana stood only inches away, her dark hair resting over the shoulder of her crimson gown. He waited for her to speak, though his gaze was caught by her lips and soft skin. “If the ship is going to sink, I want to know. Don’t let us drown.”
“If the storm seizes the ship, I’ll do everything I can to save you and the princess,” he said.
Adriana lowered her head in a silent nod. “What is your name?”
“Liam MacEgan.”
She studied him, and her expression held doubt. “You’re not like the other men I’ve seen aboard this ship.”
“Why?”
“You don’t behave as though you serve the king. You carry yourself like an equal.”
“Perhaps I am his equal,” he said in a low voice.
Though her gaze said she didn’t quite believe him, there was enough hesitancy in her expression to suggest that she knew he was not as he seemed to be.
“I’ll come for you if the storm worsens,” he promised. Lifting her gloved hand, he pressed his mouth upon it. “Guard your princess. And I’ll guard you.”
But the worry didn’t dim in her eyes. If the storm worsened, as he suspected it would, there was a very real chance that all of them would die.
Adriana paced across the small chamber while Princess Berengaria held on to a golden necklace, lost in thought. The ship heaved in the water, and the necklace went flying across the room. Both women grasped the edge of the bed, struggling to keep their balance.
“Are we going to die?” Berengaria whispered.
Adriana didn’t want to think of that, especially when she didn’t know how far they were from shore. She gripped the princess’s hand. “The king’s man said he would let us know if we were in danger. It’s just a bad storm.”
Though Adriana wanted to believe it, instinct told her otherwise. The violent sway of the vessel seemed far more than an ordinary storm.
A loud knocking resounded at the door, and her gaze snapped toward the sound. Adriana hurried to answer it, and Liam MacEgan stood at the entrance. For a moment, she faltered at his presence, for she couldn’t deny her secret attraction. Liam had dark blond hair and gray eyes, and he wore a black cloak fastened with a brooch the size of her palm. But more than that, he carried himself like a king.
“My lord MacEgan?” Adriana addressed him. Though she didn’t voice her fears, she already knew what he had come to warn her about. He wouldn’t be here otherwise. He met her gaze with his own, and the look in his eyes terrified her.
Princess Berengaria interrupted and asked, “Are we going to sink?” The young woman’s terror echoed her own.
“We’re near the coast of Cyprus,” Liam said. “The captain is going to divert the ship towards the coast, so that if the worst happens—“
”—we can swim to the shore,“ Berengaria finished.
Adriana took a deep breath, trying to steel herself for the worst. She met Liam’s gaze and gave a single nod. “Thank you.”
After he left, she turned back to the princess. Berengaria’s eyes were filled with tears. “Adriana, I can’t swim. If the ship goes down, I’m going to die.”
She moved to the princess’s side. “I can swim. Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you.” Though she wasn’t the strongest swimmer, it was better than nothing.
Berengaria reached for a rosary and began to pray, running her fingers over the beads. Adriana echoed the prayers in her mind, but her own fears rose up like the waves.
Then, a loud cracking noise resounded, and the ship tipped violently.
It was less than an hour before water came pouring within their chamber. If they stayed inside any longer, Adriana worried that they wouldn’t get out. Her feet were soaked, and she left Berengaria with the king’s sister Joan while she went in search of Liam.
He’d kept his word to tell them of the worst, and she trusted that he would tell her the truth. She saw him rowing alongside the other sailors, his arms straining against the oars as the men fought against the sea’s power. Adriana took one of the ropes and wound it around her arm as she moved forward. On one side of the ship, she saw half a dozen men bailing water with buckets.
As soon as he saw her standing there, MacEgan yelled at one of the men to take his place at the oars. He fought his way toward her and gripped another rope to hold his balance.
“You need to stay below with the princess!” he yelled over the roar of the storm. “It’s not safe for you here.”
Adriana stumbled when the ship bucked, throwing her to the ground. Her arm wrenched from the rope, but it kept her in place. Liam pulled her back, unfastening the rope and guiding her back. His gray eyes glared at hers. “You could have been tossed overboard.”
“Our chamber is filling up with water,” she shot back. “And we’re going to die anyway, aren’t we?” Her hands were shaking, her clothing soaked from the rain and the seawater. “I’d rather take my chances with the sea.”
Liam kept her in his arms, warming her shoulders. “Not if I can help it.” He nodded outside. “We’re only a few miles from the shore. We need to make it as close as we can. It’s our best chance to survive.”
“But we’re sinking right now.” She gripped his shirt, her feet frigid in the cold water. “I don’t know what the ship struck, but we don’t have time to reach land.”
He kept his hands around her waist, and she made no effort to push them away. “Listen to me.” His voice was commanding, reaching inside her to push back the fear. “If the worst happens, swim as hard as you can toward the shore. I’ll find you.”
Her hands were shaking, and she felt his arms come around her, as if to offer shelter from her fear. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured. “I swear it.”
Despite the freezing water and rain, there was a steady warmth in his embrace. Her instinct was to trust him, to let herself believe that there was a man she could rely on.
“Now go back with the princess and Queen Joan,” he insisted. “Find a place below deck to keep you from going overboard. We’ll get as close to the shore as we can.”
She held on to his forearms, as if she could take a piece of his courage with her. Then, unexpectedly, he leaned down and touched his lips to hers. “For luck,” he said.
Then he left her standing there, while he went back to the others.
The ship was going down. Liam knew it with a surety in his blood, but he’d be damned before he’d let the sea claim him. The vessel shuddered, and it was reaching the breaking point. They couldn’t bail the water out fast enough, and now it was only a matter of time before they abandoned the ship.
He let out a curse as another wave soaked the deck. A moment later, the women returned, their gowns sodden above the waist. Adriana led them forward, holding Princess Berengaria’s hand. Another woman followed behind, gripping a strand of rosary beads. He recognized her as Queen Joan of Sicily, King Richard’s sister.
“We’ll drown if we stay below,” Adriana told him. “We’re running out of time.”
Liam gathered the women together and pointed toward the shore. “We’re doing what we can to stay above water as long as we can. But if the sea takes our ship, try to make it toward land.”
Princess Berengaria’s face was white, her hands gripped together. “I can’t swim.”
Liam suppressed a curse and surveyed the others. “What of the rest of you?”
“I can,” Adriana said. Queen Joan nodded as well.
“Try to stay together,” Liam urged. To the princess, he added, “If the ship breaks apart, hold on to the largest piece of wood you can find. It will keep you afloat.”
The vessel started to tip as the lower quarters filled with water. Liam heard their shrieks and saw Adriana lunge toward one of the younger maids, who was pulled under by the force of the water. She caught the girl’s hand, struggling to hold on, but the sea fought to keep its prey.
“Adriana, no!” Berengaria cried out. And then both women disappeared beneath the water.