The Red Drifter of the Sea (Pirates of the Isles #3) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,103

because you left as a child?”

“Most likely that’s part of it. But Keith and I rarely use our clan name. In the beginning, we didn’t want anyone to know who we were or where we hailed from. Eventually, it stopped mattering, but we’d learned a new way to talk. It slips out from time to time.”

“I know. I like it,” Moira said around a yawn. “It’s comforting.” Exhaustion washed over Moira, reminding her that she’d yet to recover from her prolonged ordeal before finding Kyle.

“Do you wish to sleep, Moira?”

“I do, but not here. I want to go home,” she said around another yawn. The word “home” made Kyle’s chest feel pinched.

“Home?” Kyle repeated.

“Yes. To the Lady Charity. Home,” Moira explained.

“Not Dunluce?” Kyle checked.

“That is not home,” Moira said emphatically. “Unless we have that cottage you mentioned, the Lady Charity is home. I wish to sleep in your bunk.”

“Our bunk, sweet one,” Kyle corrected.

Moira looked up at him and smiled sleepily. “Ours.”

Unprepared for another knock on the door so soon, Kyle whispered, “Give me your knife. Tomas shouldn’t be back yet.”

Moira nodded and padded over to where she’d hidden the knife under a pillow while the servants brought the bath and collected her soiled gown. Handing it to Kyle in silence, he signaled for her to hide behind the door. With his finger to his lips, he reached out for the handle.

“Who is it?” Kyle demanded.

“Tomas.”

Kyle eased the door open, his brow furrowed. To his surprise, his first mate stood before him with fresh clothes. Tomas grinned at Kyle, but it fell when he looked into the chamber past Kyle’s shoulder and didn’t see Moira. Turning a worried gaze to Kyle, the first mate relaxed when Kyle tilted his head toward the door.

“You and the men can remain here with Keith and his men. I’m taking Moira back to the Lady Charity tonight,” Kyle explained. “We don’t want to be here when Dónal gets wind of where Moira is.”

“Wise.” Tomas nodded, then grinned again as Kyle looked down at the clothes. “There’s a haberdasher a few doors down who doesn’t lock up.”

Moira pulled her lips in between her teeth to keep from smiling. She knew it was wrong to accept the stolen clothes, but she couldn’t keep from grinning when she imagined Tomas looking at the women’s clothing and trying to figure out what to nab for her. As though he knew her thoughts, he added, “I tried to find something the right size for Lady Moira, but I didn’t know what that was. I brought a cloak too.”

“Thank you,” Moira called out from behind the door and shrugged when Kyle leaned back to frown at her. “My mother taught me manners.”

“I shall teach you something,” Kyle warned.

“Promise?” Moira mouthed playfully. She saw the heat flare in Kyle’s eyes, and she knew her need matched his. “We should dress now,” she said pointedly.

Thirty-One

Kyle shut the door as Tomas moved toward the stairs. In tacit agreement, they dressed themselves, lest they give into temptation and delay their departure. But Moira had no choice but to ask for help since the gown laced in the back. When they were dressed, Kyle swished the cape around Moira’s shoulders and pulled up the cowl. He dropped a butterfly-soft kiss on the tip of her nose as he fastened the frog. He pulled her hood up over her wet hair before leading her to the door. The same maid who took Moira’s dirty clothes had taken his. There was little left behind but the towels and tub to show they’d been there. They made their way belowstairs, and Moira looked around for Daisy. She was in a customer’s lap, but her gaze followed the couple.

“She’s already sent word to him,” Moira warned.

Kyle looked down at her, and she prayed he wouldn’t look at Daisy. Taking her word for it, he kept his eyes on Moira as they stepped off the last step. Tomas met them there with Kyle’s weapons in hand. When Kyle stepped forward, Keith rose from his chair and tapped the woman’s backside that had been resting in his lap. He handed the woman a coin and shook his head. With both captains moving toward the door, the men from both ships scowled as they turned away the women they’d thought to bed and left behind the ale they’d been sipping.

Moira stole another glance at Daisy, who didn’t bother to hide how livid she was. She not only couldn’t have Kyle, but obviously