Page 7 of Only By Grace
That appeasement being ever so convenient for the male crew. Tale had it that naked women calmed the sea, which is whyso many figureheads were unclothed creatures. The figurehead ofTheSelkiewas the mythical creature herself, half-seal, half-human.
But Ronan did agree something was in the air and he only prayed it was stronger winds to take them home faster.
Ronan spoke up. “Gather around.” His crew came to stand at the edge of the quarter-deck, and he looked down upon them with O’Brien and Kelly alongside, about to go to their berths to sleep. They were rough enough that they tended to stay below decks when other people were around, hence the night watch.
“As you’ve no doubt heard by now, we have an unexpected visitor on board. I want no one to go near her without my permission. I also want no one to speak of her or of being cursed by her. She will be treated with courtesy when you see her. She is under my protection and anyone who disobeys will answer to me. Is that understood?”
“Aye, aye, Captain.”
Well, if they did not say it with any gusto, they could not be blamed. He dismissed everyone then rechecked their course. The winds were steady, they were moving along at five knots and thus far not a cloud in the sky. He locked the wheel with the helm line, then stood back and watched the sea.
What was he going to do with Grace Whitford when they arrived? He would be too occupied with Flynn and whatever damage he decided to inflict on Ronan’s family this time to worry about her.
The problem of Flynn needed a permanent solution. This feud could not continue any longer. Especially not with Maeve caught in the middle—like the knot in a tug-of-war. Theories of its origin ranged from thwarted young love to jealousy over King Henry III’s favour.
At one time, Ronan had truly believed there was hope for a friendly generation. Why should something centuries old, that no one really knew the cause of, affect them now?
As young boys, they had befriended each other at school before either realized who the other was or why it mattered. Once the amity was discovered, it was quickly snuffed out and the vitriol infused into this generation by Flynn’s father, Baron Corlach. It was as though new life had been breathed into the feud.
Flynn had begun to terrorize and attack Ronan, which admittedly taught him to fight. Ronan had been sent to England to school after that, which was only a temporary reprieve. However, he’d made powerful friends, and it might be he would have to call in a favour from them to save his sister.
Flynn’s attacks had escalated with each passing year, his hostility against the Donnellan clan seeming to fester like an untreated wound. At first, it had been petty things—spreading false rumours, tampering with crops, and stirring unrest among the tenants. Ronan had confronted Flynn on numerous occasions, but words had proved futile. All the while, Flynn’s twisted charm masked the malice that lay beneath.
When Flynn began encroaching on Donnellan land, it became a more direct affront. Fences were torn down, livestock went missing, and fields were set ablaze under the cover of night. Ronan had tried to rally the local magistrates, but Flynn’s cunning ensured there was never enough evidence to hold him accountable. And then there was the poisoning of Donnellan’s prized horses—an unforgivable act.
Then he’d begun trying to control the waters. Flynn had turned to piracy, seizing merchant vessels and demanding bribes for safe passage. Ronan had armed his crew and patrolled the bay himself, but Flynn’s network of informants alwaysseemed one step ahead. The losses mounted, and the locals suffered, further entrenching the hatred between their families.
It had been one thing for Flynn to terrorize the bay and seas of Ireland like the pirate he was, but now to threaten Ronan’s sister?
That was beyond anything Ronan could tolerate. Flynn’s audacity had crossed a line. It was no longer about revenge; it was about survival…and protecting those Ronan held most dear.
He wished his mother had been more specific about the threat so Ronan could prepare his strategy. She’d only said, “Come quickly, Maeve is falling into his clutches.” What did that mean? Ronan was afraid he knew.
Flynn had made it his life’s mission to destroy the Donnellans, and it was Ronan’s to stop him.
CHAPTER 3
Meanwhile, back at Taywards…
When was the last time anyone saw Grace?” Westwood asked the group as they stood around after the wedding, ready to climb into carriages to depart for London.
“She was not feeling well during the wedding breakfast this morning, so I sent her to a cabin to lie down,” Faith explained.
“She must have fallen asleep,” Patience said with dawning realization.
All of the sisters exchanged panicked glances. Grace could sleep through the second coming.
“Oh, no!” Faith’s hand flew to her mouth. “We must return to the docks to see if we can catch them before they sail.”
“Ashley and I will go. The rest of you can go on to London, if you wish, before darkness falls,” Westwood said.
Patience could sense the hesitance, but Rotham took charge. “Even if she is on that ship, there is little for any of us to do. Carew will bring her back.”
Patience did not wait to see what the others decided. She was not about to be left behind. She ran to the stables and helped saddle another horse before they all set off towards the docks.
As they dismounted from their mounts, tied them to posts and ran out on the pier, they all stopped, their breaths heaving. There was no ship there.
“We are too late.” Patience stated the obvious as Westwood uttered a curse.
