Page 53 of The Guardian's Bride

“My purse! How did you get it?” She tugged at the knotted wet string.

“Took it off that rascal as we went overboard. Else the fishes would have it.”

“The stone!” She drew it out of the wet sack, crystal gleaming, silver washed bright. “I do not know how to thank you.”

“I told you if all went wrong, I would be there for you.” A smile played at his lips.

She laughed. “You did. Wait here.” She stepped away, bent beside a bench, and returned holding something in her hands. As a wave slapped the boat, she tilted, caught herself. Aedan took her arm as she handed him two leather pouches. “These dropped on the deck while you and that man fought.”

“What luck!” He hefted the pouches in his hand. “This one is mine, and the other is Brian’s. Excellent. Once more, I am in your debt.”

“I just happened to see them fall. But I did not see your other one.” She looked about. “I hope it did not have anything of value.”

“Some coins, a pilgrim’s shell, simple things. This is the important one. Gold coins, and a key I could not lose.”

“You traded that purse to help me. I am the one indebted to you again.”

“Fortunately for you, I am a courteous knight.” He gave her a lopsided smile.

“Thank you.” Resting a hand on his arm for balance, she rose on her toes to kiss his bruised cheek. Yet as he looked down, she came up, and their lips met.

The boat seemed to rock under him, and his fingers tightened on her arm as his lips moved over hers for a moment, the surge in his body stronger than that of the sea.

“Oh!” she said, dropping down.

Astonished too, he was silent, feeling his heart somehow widen. He looked into her beautiful gray eyes and saw starlight and silver in them. “Rowena—”

“Sit down, Aedan MacDuff, and let me look at your eye.” When he sat, she leaned to look, fingers cupping his cheek. “Is there an apothecary in Dunfermline?” she asked.

“Is your stomach unwell?”

“I will be fine once we are on land. I want to find something to soothe your cuts. My purse—the herbs were drenched.”

“At Castle Black, my sister and aunt may have what you need. But I will be fine by then too.” Something went topsy-turvy within, and he realized it might be his heart as he looked in her eyes. “Besides, Lady Rowena has secret healing ways, I think.”

“She does.” She lowered her hand and stepped back, and Aedan rose to his feet. Then she kissed her fingertips and touched them to his cheek. “There. My cure.”

Aedan laughed softly. “That ought to do it.” Wanting to truly kiss her, a delightful lunacy in the aftermath of excitement and her faery-like touch, he heard Brian call out.

“Aedan!” Brian hurried toward them. “The galley!”

He had forgotten about the other ship, thinking only of the girl. Whirling, he saw the English galley closer and very large, wide sail billowing, flag whipping on the mast. Several men stood within. The one by the prow shaded his eyes against the cloudy sky. His blue surcoat was unnaturally bright in the fog.

Aedan groaned. “Malise Comyn.”

Chapter Fifteen

“Comyn,” Brian muttered.“We should hurry ahead, but a crewman is injured.”

“I will take his oar, but if they pull even with us, Malise must not see the lass.” Aedan noticed Rowena watching the rapidly approaching galley, and called to her.

“Both of you need to keep out of sight,” Brian said.

“True. Lady, sit in the prow and pull your hood up,” Aedan told her. She did.

He went to an empty bench to pick up an oar and set to, with a nod for Tom Robertson and the men near him. Another glance over his shoulder showed the English ship closing fast, powered by more oars in the water and a bigger sail.

“A-hoi!” came the shouted cry, a Flemish word used often out on the ocean. Malise Comyn cupped his hands to his mouth. “A-hoithe ship! Haul over!”