Pushing to a seated position, she gave him a nod, and it sent pain thrumming up her body. She shifted and gave a roll to her shoulders, realizing her left side had absorbed most of the damage.
“Good. ” His relief flipped into anger. “Then tell me, what in hell are you doing here?” Fingers curled hard into her upper arms as Jack snatched her from the floor. He wrenched her close, and she couldn't help yelping with the painful shock of it.
“Get off her. ” Cormac bucked against Aidan. “I swear to God, I'll cut off your stones and feed them to the fish.
If you harm her, I'll flay you, and then I'll—”
The click of Aidan pulling his pistol to half cock stilled him.
There was a gun at Cormac's temple, and it made her feel outraged and helpless. How could Humphrey be involved in something like this? “What's happening?” she demanded of her uncle. “Why are you here?”
“Och, Ree,” Cormac whispered. The look of pity on his face would've warmed her if it hadn't also confirmed her suspicions. “I'm so sorry. ”
She watched Cormac, saw the machinations on his face. He'd be thinking about simply turning and attacking his brother, despite the gun. “Don't,” she whispered. Her pride and well-being meant nothing if he got himself killed.
“So touching,” a woman's voice purred.
Marjorie's eyes flew to the corner of the cabin, knowing already whom she'd find. The bailie's wife stood in the shadows, looking like a Turk in what she imagined was Adele's lush interpretation of female sailors' clothing. The sight of the woman's smirk made Marjorie ill. “Why are you here? Would someone tell me what's going on?”
“Let Marjorie go,” Cormac said, his voice low with fury. “She has naught to do with this. Let her go, and you can have me. ”
“I already have you, MacAlpin. ” Grinning, Jack gave Marjorie a shake. “And now I have your wench as well. ” She flailed in the smuggler's grip. The sensation of utter powerlessness infuriated her.
Humphrey's sagging cheeks went red. “That wasn't part of the deal. Let the girl go. You will give me what I'm owed, put us in that… that dilapidated craft you keep on deck, and you'll not see either of us again. ”
“Craft? You mean my captain's gig? Ach, but that's the boat I use to get to shore. ” Jack paused, feigning consideration. “No, I think not. ”
Marjorie tried to stomp on the smuggler's foot, but he sidestepped her with an amused laugh. She made an exasperated growl, feeling like a trapped animal. “Humphrey! Why are you even with these people?”
“Shut her up,” Aidan growled to Cormac.
“You shut up. ” Marjorie raised her chin high, as though they were ten again.
“You were to stay out of this, girl. ” Humphrey's jowls quivered with exasperation. “Whatever I do, I do for you.
So you won't die a destitute spinster. But like a fox in the henhouse, you insist on hunting for mischief. Always it's been so. ”
It was a side of her uncle she'd never seen, and she flushed red, feeling like a child put in her place. Tears stung her eyes, hurt more by his words than from any of Jack's pawing.
“You'll not speak to her that way,” Cormac said, his voice like frost.
“You?” Humphrey pushed his chair back and stood, moving as slowly as a barge out of harbor. “You tell me how to speak to my niece? You're a dead man. ” Even in his anger, he looked befuddled. “I never did trust you MacAlpins… “
“Gentlemen, please. ” The bailie's wife sauntered into the fray, going to Jack's side. Marjorie coughed from the thick scent of her perfume, a cloying mix of sandalwood and cloves. Adele distractedly petted at the smuggler, giving a quick twirl to his hair. “You overestimate your value, Humphrey. Unlike your niece here. ” She tweaked Marjorie's ear. “I imagine she'll fetch a fair price, even though I'd wager she's no longer a virgin. ” Marjorie sputtered in outrage, flinching away from the other woman's clutch. “You… you wench! You're a… a… a nasty, spiteful, hateful virago. ”
“Am I indeed?” Chuckling, Adele leaned closer, taunting her. “Such fury, Lady Brodie. Perhaps a honeymoon sail to Barbados with your 'husband' will cool your anger. ”
Cormac wrestled against his brother, but Aidan pressed the pistol even harder into his temple. The sight of it put ice in her veins.
“What about your husband, Lady Forbes?” Marjorie asked, her voice level and cool. “Is he involved in this, too?” She shifted her glare to Jack. “I hear three's the charm. ”
Jack nuzzled Marjorie's neck, inhaling deeply. “Don't tempt me, luwie. ” She recoiled with an outraged gasp. “You disgust me. ”
“I warned you,” Cormac snarled through gritted teeth. “Get off her. ” Tittering with laughter, Adele traced her fingers along the smuggler's collar. “When it comes to the finer things, my husband the bailie” — she smirked with contempt — “is a dilettante. But Jack, here, has more of a sense for women… for wealth… “
An unearthly groan shuddered the ship's timber underfoot. Marjorie's heartbeat kicked up a notch.
“We're wasting time. ” Cormac began to wrestle free, but his twin kept the barrel dug into his skin. “Go to the devil, Aidan,” he sneered at his brother.