Page 35 of The Swan Syndicate #1

Stella tossed the day dress on the bed and turned her back to Beckworth. “I need new dresses. Nothing fancy, but I can’t possibly be expected to play a proper role without the right accessories.”

She thought that might get a chuckle out of him but all she got was a tug on the ties as he loosened them. He slid the dress off her and held her hand as she stepped out of it. He pulled her to him and gave her a kiss that sent shivers through her body.

He wrapped his arms around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He hadn’t said a word when they’d returned to the ship. Lando had told her to go to the cabin while he followed Beckworth to where Jamie stood on the far side of the deck.

Her first instinct was to follow, but Beckworth was already on edge, and she’d disobeyed Jamie’s orders.

Things had turned out better than expected, but there was always that slim possibility that something could have just as easily gone wrong.

She could talk her way out of Jamie’s rebuke, but she didn’t want to have to do it in front of Beckworth.

Fitz came to the cabin thirty minutes later. Beckworth had been sent on another assignment, but he’d return before her dinner with MacDuff. Then he winked at her.

“I don’t care what the others say, nice job. None of us expected MacDuff to be around while the ship was being moored. Lando was impressed by how you handled yourself. Just do the same thing at dinner. Conversation and a little flirting, then find a way to slip in the smuggling.”

She’d laughed. It all sounded so simple. Just drop a hint about smuggling. Maybe right after dinner was served. It was more likely she’d mention it before racing out of the inn for the safety of the ship.

When Beckworth returned, he’d been sullen, but his earlier kiss had told her everything she needed to know. She pulled away from his arms and placed a chase kiss on his lips.

“Dinner, a little conversation, and then back to the ship.” How would that work? “He’s going to want to walk me back to the ship.”

Beckworth nodded, and his game face appeared.

“We discussed that. Michelson will already be inside the inn to keep an eye on things. Lando will remain outside the inn while you have dinner. It will show some trust in MacDuff. Once dinner is finished, he might want to take you for an evening stroll. If so, Lando will stick with you. We prefer that MacDuff doesn’t discover what ship you’re on.

Not yet. Though chances are he’ll have his own people watching you. ”

This time her shiver was cold and not the heated one that Beckworth always produced. “That’s a rather unsettling thought.”

“Lando will step in as necessary. Just find out what port he’s going to next if you can.”

“Alright. Help me into this dress.”

Once she was properly attired, Beckworth tugged at one of her locks.

“Do you need help with your hair?”

“I thought I’d leave it loose and pull back the sides with a couple of hairpins.” Once she completed the task she turned to him. When his gaze immediately heated, she grinned, then glanced around. “Where’s my dagger?”

He picked up the dress she’d worn earlier and searched the pockets. “These pockets are big enough to hide a small child.”

“Funny. All the dresses I brought from Waverly have them. I guess AJ started the trend based on the hidden spaces Maire kept in her trunk. They come in handy.”

“Finn and Ethan were right.”

“How so?”

“Women are devious.”

She took the dagger from him and stuffed it in a pocket. “Always a good thing to keep in mind.” She took a deep breath. “Walk me up, will you?”

Lando met them at the top of the stairs. “You look fetching as always.”

“Why thank you, Lando.”

“Do you have your swans?”

“No. Am I supposed to use them tonight?”

“Damn,” Beckworth said. “I forgot to tell you.” He fished in his pocket and drew out three swans.

“In case he asks about them. It’s up to you whether you show him one.

We also thought it might be a good way to tell us if you need help.

Simply drop one when you can. We’ll assume you need assistance. ”

She nodded. “Excellent idea. I have more in the cabin on a bookshelf. Well, there’s also probably one or two lying around. Maybe on the sideboard. Oh, and maybe next to the bed. I might have left one or two in Jamie’s office.”

Beckworth took her hand, a soft smile on his kissable lips. “We know. There are a few in the galley, too.”

She gave a shaky laugh. “I admit, I’m a bit nervous.”

This time Lando took her arm and placed it through his. “A little walk before dinner will shake away the jitters.”

She took a deep breath. “Absolutely. Let’s get this party started.”

M ost of the stores were closed, but as Lando had said, the walk alone was what she needed. The sea air always calmed her, and though she didn’t see any of the team, she sensed them out there.

“Jamie has several of the crew in the pubs and the inn. They’ll eat, drink, and keep an eye out, but Michelson will be the only one remaining inside until the two of you leave.”

“What about Beckworth, Fitz, and Lane?”

“They’ll be out there. Nothing for you to worry about.”

“MacDuff probably has his own men out there.”

“Beckworth’s earlier assignment was to monitor the men leaving the Grey Ghost and, if possible, determine which men are the closest to MacDuff. He might say he has his own ship but he’s not the captain.”

“Interesting. The smuggling business must be good if he can afford to pay a captain.”

“It’s difficult to know what the man is doing. He doesn’t seem to be above chicanery.” He slowed as they approached the inn. “Looks like he’s waiting for you.”

She noticed MacDuff right away. He was taller than the other man, who appeared to be his bodyguard since he stood two steps behind MacDuff. As they drew closer, she also noticed he had selected more expensive clothing for their meeting.

He bowed his head. “Lady Swan, you look more fetching each time we meet.”

“You’re too kind.” She took his proffered hand, ready for the warm kiss he placed on it.

“Will your bodyguard be joining us?” His eyes danced with merriment.

“He’ll wait outside with yours.”

“Of course.” He chuckled as he took her arm and guided her through the door.

She wanted to glance back at Lando for a last sign of encouragement, but she didn’t dare.

Instead, she lifted her chin and ignored the men, who watched them as they strode to a table in a far corner where a server waited.

All the other tables were occupied. MacDuff must have arranged it so they had a table waiting for them.

Had he purposely squirreled them away from everyone else?

Before she took a seat, she noticed Michelson leaning against the long wooden bar across the room. He spoke with another man, who looked like a sailor, but she couldn’t see his face so wasn’t sure if he was someone from the Daphne ’s crew.

“Do you prefer wine or ale with your meal?” MacDuff asked.

Stella turned her attention to him with an apologetic grin. “I’m sorry. I like to stay aware of those around me, and I prefer wine.”

“It’s a good practice, especially being a woman. But I doubt you have anything to worry about with your bodyguard.”

She sipped the wine and nodded at how good it tasted. He either had expensive taste or was trying to impress. “He’s never failed me.”

He ordered their meal then leaned his elbows on the table. “This is the second port we’ve run into each other. Are you following me, Lady Swan?”

She eyed him over the rim of her mug. “I believe I was in port before you. I should probably be asking you that question.”

He chuckled. “You’re right, of course. If I remember correctly, you mentioned you were running cargo along the coast.”

That didn’t take long. “Yes, and we make many stops along the way.”

He nodded. “If I’m not mistaken, you sound like you might be from the colonies.”

She took another sip of wine then set down the mug, reminding herself too much alcohol wouldn’t be a good idea. “We prefer to call it the United States of America.”

He smiled, and it was a lovely one. “My apologies. Apparently, your little colony did what Ireland hasn’t been able to do.”

She had expected him to say Scotland but remembered what Beckworth had told her. While he, Hensley, and the crew of the Daphne suspected him of being Scottish, he’d been spending his time playing the part of an Irishman. What a twisted knot of deceit, and it was only going to get messier.

“Well, as they say, try, try, again.”

This time his laugh was a deep chuckle. He must have women falling over him in every port. “You have an interesting insight.”

“It comes from experience.”

He seemed to consider that. “So what made you leave your fledgling country?”

Now, she would learn which of them could spin the better tale. “A tragic accident, actually. My husband was captain of a cargo ship, carrying goods from Boston down the coast and, on occasion, would sail as far as New Orleans.”

“He was?”

She took a longer sip of wine and glanced away. When she turned back, she straightened her spine. “He ran afoul of a naval patrol. His ship was sunk, along with him and all the cargo.”

MacDuff’s surprise didn’t look fake. “That’s terrible.” Then his forehead scrunched in thought. “Was it because of the cargo?”

She shrugged. “There might have been one or two items that could have been considered…let’s just say not approved by the new government.

Fortunately, I’d decided to stay in port.

It was supposed to be a quick run to Jamestown.

A few of the hands survived, and from what they told me, my husband thought he could outrun the ship, but a well-placed cannonball was all it took. ”

“But why leave America?”

“His first and second mate escaped and came to me immediately. I wasn’t safe. We had—” She glanced away, bit her lower lip, then turned back to him. “We had stockpiled a stash of coins. More than enough to start a new life, so we found a ship and left for France.”