Page 20 of Lost with a Scot
“That’s all right with you, isn’t it?” Lydia asked Anna.
Anna looked to Aiden, strangely needing his reassurance that he wanted her to go where he went. He smiled at her, the soft expression full of sensual promise, and yet his eyes held such a tender compassion that she knew she would be safe with him.
“I suppose... I don’t know where my ship was bound or what I’m to do, so I have no idea where I should go.” She also didn’t want to be parted from Aiden, but she wasn’t about to tell Lydia that. What existed between the two of them was something they didn’t understand, so how could anyone else?
“It’s settled, then,” said Aiden. “I will meet with Dr. MacDonald and tell him where ye will be should he learn of any news of your ship.”
Anna brightened with the hope of that idea. “Perhaps more survivors will be found and someone will know me.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Lydia said to Aiden. “Come along, Anna. I have a purse full of coins that need spending on pretty clothes.” She winked at Anna, and Anna found herself smiling.
Anna let Lydia take the lead, and they were met on the stairs by Aiden’s dashing dark-haired brother.
“Brodie, this is Anna. We’re off to the dressmaker’s.”
Brodie smiled. “It’s a pleasure, Miss Anna. I hope my brother has been treating ye well.”
“Very well,” Anna assured him. “He’s been quite the hero.”
“Aye, that sounds like my brother.” Brodie chuckled as he walked past the ladies, and Lydia let out a little shriek and jumped.
“What’s wrong?” Anna asked, but even as she said it she heard Brodie snickering behind them.
“Pinching my bottom—honestly, the nerve,” Lydia muttered, although she was grinning. “Let’s go before those two decide to tag along on our hunt. The last thing we need is men underfoot when we have so much to do.”
* * *
“Well?”Brodie asked as he and Aiden crossed the courtyard of the inn and headed toward the stables. “Whatreallyhappened with you and Anna?”
“Everything I told ye was true. She washed up on the shore like some half-drowned selkie who’d had her skin stolen. She lost her memories when she hurt her head.”
“Ye found no other survivors?”
Aiden shook his head.
“No other bodies?” Brodie pressed.
Again, Aiden shook his head.
“That doesna sound right to me. Unless they were far from shore? I suppose sharks could’ve... disposed of all the bodies save one? Ye see how mad that sounds?”
“I ken how that sounds, but that isna what happened. She was the only one I saw wash up on the shore. You ken as well as I do that shipwreck debris can travel far. It’s possible other survivors could be farther up or down the coast or still out at sea. She truly doesna remember what happened when the ship wrecked.”
Brodie slapped his leather gloves on his thigh. “Christ, Aiden, this sounds like one of those novels Joanna likes to read about drafty castles, evil lords, and other such nonsense.”
Aiden kept his thoughts to himself, knowing his brother wouldn’t understand if he tried to tell him that he’d been dreaming of Anna since he was a boy. They entered the stables, where Aiden began checking on Thundir and Bob. His mind was already preoccupied with thoughts of taking Anna home. He had so much to show her, so much to experience with her now that he’d found her.
“I ken what it sounds like, but that’s the truth.” Aiden stroked Bob’s nose.
Brodie leaned against the stall. “I canna believe I’m asking this of ye of all people, but what are yer intentions toward this woman?”
“My intentions?” Aiden wasn’t sure himself. He only knew that he wanted to be with her in whatever way fate would let him.
“Are ye going to bring the wee lassie home and marry her?” Brodie’s brusque tone sounded far more commanding, more like Brock. Normally, Brodie was the brother encouraging him to tup every woman in sight.
Aiden couldn’t help but tease his brother for his sudden sense of propriety, which was quite uncharacteristic of him. “I canna speak for the lady, but ’twas my plan to topple her into the nearest haystack and have my wicked way with her.”
Brodie scowled, and it made him look so much like their eldest brother, Brock, that Aiden burst out laughing.
