The Beauty of the Mist (25 page)

“Aye. I mean nay!” he blurted. “I was looking for Sir John.”

“Sir John?” Isabel questioned. “You don’t know his whereabouts?”

“I don’t! Nay, I mean I do. Well, I will.” David shook his head. What was it about this woman that made him sound like a blathering idiot? “I’ve just begun looking for him.”

“So you came here.” Isabel gave the young man one of her most scornful looks. “All I have to tell you is that you’d better find your commander at once. And I want my niece found, as well. I don’t like the sound of this at all. On your way, Navigator.”

David only nodded resignedly and bowed to the two women. With a quick and gentle look at Janet, the ship’s officer went off down the corridor.

“Nice young man,” Isabel said sweetly to Janet.

“Hmmph,” Christie put in, slouching against the bulkhead.

“I shouldn’t loiter down here, Janet, with the likes of this one hanging about.” Isabel gave the aging sailor an icy look and then shut the cabin door with conviction.

“Aye, David. Stay the course.” Maria watched his broad back as he blocked the partially open door. David was clearly concerned about the sails that had been sighted on the horizon to the south. “I’ll be on deck in a wee bit.”

John closed the cabin door and turned to her. His blue eyes swept over her, as if the bedclothes that she hid beneath were as transparent as air. A liquid heat pumped into her veins, and Maria felt almost wanton at the thought of being so affected by his simple glance. It was, undeniably though,
his
look that stirred her so.

John took a deep breath as he walked toward the bed. Maria had buried herself beneath the blankets, and she now peeked out from one end. Though it had taken a moment to clear his mind and grasp the fact that someone was at his door, the pounding had sent Maria skittering away in a panic. He’d smiled, and in a selfish way, her response had made him quite happy. Her brazen comfort extended no further than his own door. Gazing at her as he approached the bed, a wave of possessiveness suddenly washed over him. A thought came into focus for John that he realized had been lying half concealed in the recesses of his mind. He wanted her only for himself, and he had no intention of giving her up. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

“You have to go,” she said quietly.

“Aye, lass. They need me on the deck.” He said to her as he sat beside the bed and pulled the blankets away from her face. As she pushed herself up on her elbows, the bedclothes settled provocatively over the tops of her breasts, and John felt the embers of desire stir once again. He shook his head to clear the notion. He looked into the sparkling emerald of her eyes. “From here, we’ll be running down the coast to Antwerp, and with the number of guns we carry, it’s important that no one see us as looking for trouble.”

She just nodded in agreement. She had heard everything David had said.

He lowered his mouth and kissed her, thoroughly. Drawing her up in his arms, the Highlander caressed the cool, smooth skin of her exposed back. He pulled back, leaving them both breathless.

“Ah, perhaps you heard,” he whispered. “Your aunt is looking for you.”

“I heard.” John could hear the husky note of passion in her voice.

“You and I have a wee bit of unfinished business to tend to, you know.”

“I know. But you didn’t break your promise,” she said quickly.

He laughed, pulling her blankets and all onto his lap. “Aye, and spoken like a fine man of law! Acquitted of all charges! Though, if the truth be told, it wasn’t for lack of trying.” John pulled her tight and kissed her again soundly. Drawing away, he returned her steady gaze. “But it won’t be long now, Maria. Once we’ll reach land, there’ll be naught to stop us.”

Her hands encircled his neck, causing the blanket to fall away as he crushed her to his chest.

“It’s very likely, lass, that I’ll not see you again...alone...until we tie up in Antwerp. But once we do, you and Isabel will stay in the cabin until I come for you.”

She hid her face in the crook of his neck and said nothing in response. There was so much that he just didn’t know. He assumed that they had no one waiting for them in Antwerp. That Denmark was still their destination.

To let out a long breath. Deliberately, she had been avoiding any thought of what was to come. Avoiding any thought that the only happiness she’d ever known was coming to an end. Avoiding any thought of leaving John Macpherson and disappearing into the dark. Into the mist. At Antwerp.

The breeze from the open window raised gooseflesh on the older woman’s neck. Vaguely, she recalled a lesson from childhood. The westerly wind’s like a monarch gone mad, driving his courtiers to shipwreck and death. Shivering involuntarily, Isabel looked out into the growing darkness, shook her head, and exerted her will. I must be getting feeble minded, she thought, to let such foolishness prey on me.

Turning her attention to Maria, the older woman glanced from her niece’s face to the young woman’s hands as she busily changed the shoulder dressing. Maria showed real ability in the task. Her face was all business and her fingers worked nimbly and competently on the linen wrapping. How different, Isabel thought. So much had changed in the young woman since the two of them first set foot on the
Great Michael
. What Isabel had tentatively hoped to accomplish in taking away Maria from the bullying of Charles seemed to have been accomplished almost overnight. Right before her eyes, Maria had bloomed in body and in spirit. Suddenly, Maria was so independent. Oh, certainly Isabel had seen her niece play her role of queen, wearing the imperial guise that professed power and feigned indifference. But now...now there was a reality to her confidence. Never had Isabel seen Maria so comfortable with herself.

Isabel chuckled to herself, thinking back on the conversation that they’d had when Maria returned to their cabin. The look her niece had given her had actually been enough to stop her from questioning Maria on the time she’d spent alone with the handsome ship’s commander. It appeared she and Maria had crossed a new boundary, one that moved their relationship into a new realm. Isabel had an idea that Maria was no longer going to be so submissive to an authoritative tone. In fact, Isabel thought it would be quite nice to develop a more compassionate and harmonious relationship with Maria. Ah, perhaps they had both changed on this journey, Isabel thought.

“I heard about that we may reach Antwerp as early as tomorrow night,” Isabel offered.

“That’s what I heard, as well,” Maria put in quietly.

Isabel waited for her niece to offer more information, but the young woman appeared to be concentrating on her task. Isabel waited a few moments longer before continuing.

“Have you given it any thought? What you will do, I mean, once we come into port?”

“I’ll not go back to Charles or to the Palace,” Maria stated decisively, lifting her chin combatively. “That much I am certain of. But if I’m to accomplish that, I might just need to jump overboard before we drop anchor.”

“The water is cold, child. You’ll die of a chill for sure.”

“True,” Maria agreed. But then again, perhaps that was a better fate than being handed over to her brother. “Well, I suppose an alternative plan would be to cut my hair, or alter my looks somehow, and just hope that I’ll not being recognized in the city. Perhaps I could mix in with the common folk...find a place for myself, perhaps.”

A smile crept onto Isabel’s face. “It won’t work, my sweet. What would you do? You are far too pretty–far too healthy–to be taken for a harbor wench. And I don’t think you’re considering what the good Sir John might think of such a plan. I believe he’d most likely skin you alive if he ever saw you living in such condition. He knows you are no commoner.”

Maria’s hands left off their task, and she sat abruptly in a nearby chair. She could feel the heat rise in her face at the thought of John Macpherson feeling somehow protective of her. Already it was like some dream to think on the moments of passion they’d shared. Embarrassed, she realized that her aunt was sitting quietly before her, watching her every move. Maria knew her emotions played across her face. She feared that Isabel had most likely guessed what was going through her mind. But there was no mockery in her aunt’s expression. No hint of disapproval, no censorious look. Maria stood up and, finishing the bandage change, helped her aunt pull her dress over her shoulder.

“I need to think of something, Isabel. I wish I had friends in Antwerp. Some place to hide, someone to go to. But I haven’t any. I don’t even know the city all that well. You know the only times I’ve ever visited Antwerp were the two times when Charles brought me in to ship me off...the gilded bride. I was only at the Palace a month before he trundled me off to Hungary. And then this time...well, I simply sulked in my apartments before you helped me run away.”

Isabel remained silent as she watched her niece struggling with her dilemma. After the divine power saw fit to have them rescued after they’d lost their first ship, Isabel had wondered if it might not be for the best for Maria to return to her brother Charles. Let the fate lead her where it would. But then again, this new turn of events–this obvious infatuation which Maria had developed for John Macpherson–complicated everything somewhat. But then again, perhaps fate was taking a hand, after all.

Maria sat down again and gazed out into the deepening twilight. She couldn’t keep him out of her mind. He was around her; everywhere she turned, she could feel his presence. She wondered briefly if he felt her absence the way he felt hers. Probably not, she thought. He had his work, his ship to occupy him. The responsibility of all their lives. The responsibility of his mission. She let out a silent sigh, thinking of his beauty. No doubt he’d had so many women in his life. But the way he’d shuddered beneath her lips when she’d kissed his body, when she’d returned his touch. He’d seemed almost in awe. He’d delighted in her. In her–Maria of Nowhere! A castaway, a nobody. No tall, fair-haired Scottish lady. In her, just Maria. He delighted in her body, with a passion that she shared for him. But was there anything more in what he felt for her? She considered that for a moment. Their conversations were so comfortable, so enjoyable. She thought he did. But even if his feelings did not equal hers, perhaps, someday, he’d care for her the way...

Maria shook her head and bit at her lip. What was she doing? No, the future was impossible, and here she was, giving herself hope. An impossible hope.

Turning her eyes away from the young woman, Isabel tried to weigh out what good would come of Maria returning to her brother. She knew that the young queen’s future with the King of Scotland was finished, but how far-reaching would Charles’s wrath extend. At best, Maria would spend the rest of her life in a convent. At worst...

Suddenly, Isabel didn’t need to take any more time to know what she herself must do. Another look at Maria and Isabel decided. They had to push forward with their original plan. There was no other way.

“I have friends in Antwerp,” Isabel said energetically, breaking in on Maria’s melancholy thoughts. “People who can help us. But I just can’t take you to them. They’ll know you immediately. And even if I could convince them to put their loyalty to me above their loyalty to the Emperor, they know that their lives would be forfeit if they were caught defying his wishes. But I do have an idea.”

Maria’s eyes brightened, quickly catching on to her aunt’s enthusiasm.

“Has John Macpherson learned anything more about you?”

Maria looked at her steadily, feeling the blush creeping into her face. “You mean, about my true identity?”

Isabel nodded.

“Nay.” Maria shook her head emphatically. “There was no way I
could
tell him.”

“That’s good,” Isabel responded. “This makes it easier for us to get away.”

She paused, considering the ramifications of her plan. She would be leaving Maria on her own. Glancing at the young woman, Isabel knew it was worth the gamble.

“Come, Isabel.” Maria prompted impatiently. “How can I make a decision until I hear your plan.”

Isabel smiled. She very much liked this new Maria.

“Janet Maule visited me here this morning,” the older woman continued. “And while we were talking, she passed on an interesting bit of news. One that we can use to help you escape.”

Maria slid her chair closer to her aunt’s.

“Janet mentioned that when this Scottish delegation reaches Antwerp, the nobles will be taken to Charles’s palace, but that John Macpherson will be staying elsewhere. Apparently, his older brother is a diplomat, Ambrose Macpherson...” Isabel peered at Maria’s expression, but there was no flicker of recognition. “Of course you wouldn’t know of him. I’ve never seen the man myself, but when Janet mentioned the name, I recalled a number of women speaking of him. Quite handsome, if my memory serves me...”

“Very well, Isabel. Please get on with it.”

“Well, Ambrose and his wife, who is a sculptor or something outrageous...Nay, I remember. She is a painter...you’ve
got
to love her...well, the two of them have holdings all across Europe. And, as it happens, they also have a place in Antwerp, and that is where John will be staying.”

Maria sat restively, her heart thudding in her chest. She hung on Isabel’s every word.

“Aye, I thought this plan might interest you.” Isabel nodded, smiling knowingly. “This is the way I see it. We ask the good ship’s commander to put you up when we reach port. After all, that’s understandable, considering he thinks you have no one there and, after the ship being sunk, have no money. Once you’re safely behind ensconced in his brother’s house, you’ll be safe–for the time being. There is no way Charles could even guess of any connection between you and Sir John Macpherson, Lord of the Scottish Navy.”

All Maria could do was stare.

“It’s absolutely the
last
place your brother would think to look for you!”

Staying with John, Maria thought, no longer confined to the promises binding them aboard ship, the possibility of...