Her grandfather listened in silence, his gaze on the horizon. When she stopped speaking, he said, "A pity the boy was so stubborn. He didn't have to leave and never come back."
Having met the laird, she could understand why her father had assumed he would be unwelcome. Tactfully she said, "Their world was each other and the army. I was glad they died at the same time." Her voice broke. "It… it would have been hard for one of them to go on alone."
She blinked back tears, knowing they were grief not only for her parents, but for herself. She had wanted a marriage like her parents'. Indeed, she had assumed she would have it. That expectation made her failure all the more crushing.
Her grandfather cleared his throat. "Your husband isn't what I expected. He seems steady."
"Colin and I were very young when we married. I won't deny that he had a wild streak, but he has never failed in his duty to his family or his men." That was the truth. It was equally true when she went on, "If I were to become your heir, I promise that Colin would bring no harm to Skoal or its people."
"Davin says he had sensible comments about how my land is farmed, and what changes might be good."
"He has an impressive range of knowledge." Unlike Colin, Michael had grown up on a great estate, and apparently he had paid attention to how it was run. Wanting to get away from the subject of her husband, she went on, "Davin pointed out Bone and told its history. Is it really such an unlucky place?"
"Its past speaks for itself. Besides Viking raids and plagues, Bone has always been popular with pirates and smugglers. Have Davin get a good boatman to take you over for a visit. The largest sea cave in the islands is at the west end." He smiled reminiscently. "It's quite unusual. There's even a hot spring inside. Be careful, though. The cave can only be reached at low tide. If you stay too long, you'll be trapped until the tide falls again."
"Sounds interesting. I'm sure my husband would like to see it as well. I hope there's time to visit before we leave."
Her grandfather drummed his fingers on the arm of the wheelchair. "How long do you mean to stay."
"Perhaps a fortnight?" She gave a hesitant smile. "Unless you decide we're hopeless company and sling us out."
"A fortnight isn't very long. You've much to learn here."
More and more, it sounded as if he intended to designate her as his heir. Trying to conceal her pleasure, she said, "I'll study whatever you think necessary, but we can't stay indefinitely. Colin must return to duty."
His heavy brows drew together. "You can stay without him."
Her grandfather was lonely. It was a state she understood very well. "For now, my place is with my husband and daughter."
He scowled. "What if you inherited and Melbourne decided he didn't want to live in such an isolated place? Would you stay with him and let Skoal rot?"
She regarded him steadily. "If you make me your heir, I will put the island first. My duty to a whole community must come before my duty to my husband. But truly, you needn't worry that Colin will try to keep me away."
"See that you remember that." He leaned back in the wheelchair, his expression tired. "Get on with you, now."
She rose, then impulsively bent and kissed his cheek.
"Don't think you can turn me up sweet, girl," he growled. "I've been frightening everyone on this island for over fifty years, and I don't intend to stop now."
She laughed. "Grandfather, any woman who has been barked at by the Duke of Wellington is very hard to frighten. Wouldn't it be easier to become friends than to try to terrorize me?"
He stroked the hound, whose head still rested on his knee. "Dinner will be at six o'clock. See that you're on time."
She took her leave and made her way to her room. She was proud of the fact that she only got lost twice. Remembering that Michael had intended to take a bath, she knocked before entering. His deep voice called, "Come in."
She entered to find that he had finished bathing but was not yet fully dressed. His shirt hung loose over his pantaloons, the white linen emphasizing the power of his broad shoulders. Practically every inch of him was covered, so why was the effect so devastatingly intimate?
He asked, "How did you get on with your grandfather?"
Tendrils of damp mahogany hair curled around his neck. Darker strands showed at the V-shaped opening of his shirt. She looked down and carefully peeled off her gloves. "Quite well. Under that gruff manner, he's rather sweet."
Michael gave an eloquent snort.
She smiled. "He approves of you, which surprises him."
"It surprises me, too." Michael went to the mirror to tie his cravat. "I asked the footman who brought the hot water about the laird's health. The problem is his heart. He can walk, but he's easily exhausted and any kind of effort results in terrible attacks of chest pain."
Her brows drew together. "Angina pains are very debilitating, but not necessarily life-threatening."
"His continued existence might prove awkward," Michael said soberly.
"I know. Yet I'd hate to lose him so soon after finding him. I rather like the old scoundrel." She sank into a chair. "Now that he's met you, I think I could come with Amy for a visit every year and say that my husband is too busy to accompany us."
"With luck, that will work," Michael agreed.
She locked her hands in her lap and wished she could trust her luck.
Chapter 25
"Would you like some more ale?" Catherine asked.
"Yes, please." Michael opened his eyes a fraction so he could study his companion. He was sprawled on a blanket on the sand, as relaxed as a man could be. Except, of course, for the tension of being so close to Catherine. Lazily he admired the supple reflex of her body as she lifted a jug of ale chilling in a pool of seawater and poured a mugful. He sat up and took a long swallow. "It's nice to have an afternoon off from our labors."
She chuckled. "Intensive study of the history, laws, and agriculture of Skoal are not what I expected of this visit. It's all interesting, though. The island is so self-sufficient." She gestured at the remnants of their meal. "Island cheese and herrings, eaten with fresh island bread, drunk with island ale, followed by island apples."
"And carried in an island reed hamper. But they can't grow tea and coffee here."
"A grave lack. I guess Skoal can't secede from the rest of the world after all." She drew up her legs and linked her arms around her knees. Under the fluttering blue hem of her muslin gown, her feet were bare. "I wish Amy were here. She loves the sea. It's in her blood, I think."
He studied her exquisite profile. Ever since she had saved his life, he had become acutely aware of how often blood was used as a metaphor for connection and affinity. Perhaps the gift of life that joined them was the reason he felt so hopelessly connected to her, so aware of her every word and movement.
A puff of breeze molded her gown to her body, clearly delineating the entrancing fullness of her breasts. He looked away when his body involuntarily responded. His gaze went over the beach, a crescent of sand sheltered by towering cliffs. It was a private, sunny place. Damnably romantic. "Davin was right that this is a good spot for a picnic. In fact, he's always right. Another saint-clear proof that he must be your cousin."
She smiled. "That makes Davin sound boring, which he isn't. He and Glynis are both excellent company."
Michael rested his mug of ale on his knee. The tide was coming in, the small waves splashing only a few feet away. "You've been on Skoal for a week now. If your grandfather leaves you the island, do you think you could be happy here? It's a narrow life compared to what you've known."