Mischief Afoot

G rabbing hold of his bagpipes, Niven hurried down to the dock when a clerk gave the signal. The 32 nd Cornwall Regiment had arrived. It wouldn't be the first time he'd played in the rain, but the drizzly weather was hardly auspicious.

The Knotty Pine had been used before as a troopship, so the captain and crew knew the route and the destination. It was spacious enough to accommodate the six hundred or so men of the regiment and the officers' horses. The duke had told him he'd decided to bestow the names of trees on his newer ships as a tribute to his late wife. Niven considered it a touching way to honor her memory.

He waved to the captain on deck, puzzled when Johnson failed to reciprocate in the normal friendly manner but, instead, left the deck, apparently in a hurry to see to the loading of the horses. Niven wondered if perhaps the captain hadn't recognized him in his Scottish outfit.

Shrugging off the uncharacteristic behavior, he positioned himself to pipe the soldiers aboard. He'd done the same a week or two before for the Cameron Highlanders whose broad smiles indicated they appreciated the gesture. Most of the men of the Cornwall Regiment of Foot looked at him as if he'd landed from another planet. Rowan in particular refused to meet his gaze, as did Ash and Thorne when their companies boarded. Niven put their rudeness down to embarrassment at being obliged to wear the 32nd regiment's rather effeminate uniform trimmed with gold lace. Or perhaps they were just playing the part of superior officers in front of the men. Whatever the case, not one of the Three Trees acknowledged his presence.

Were they aware of his plan to elope with Willow? Determined to ignore the trickle of doubt squirming in his gut, he kept on playing.

Rowan glared at the captain. "My father expects his orders to be obeyed."

Johnson paled. "Of course, my lord, but it's highly irregular. Are you sure…"

"I don't appreciate having my orders questioned," Rowan replied. "Mr. King is to be brought aboard and not allowed to leave. It's my father's wish. Do you understand?"

"Perhaps if I understood the reason why a man who's not a soldier is to be taken to the Netherlands…"

"My request is reason enough," Rowan retorted, not surprised the captain was balking. He'd worked with Niven King for years, probably respected him, whereas Rowan was a stranger who wished he could rid himself of the guilt tying his belly in knots. For once, he was relieved Ash and Thorne hadn't followed him.

Apparently accepting the inevitable, the captain nodded, opened the door and summoned his cabin boy. "Tell Mr. King I need to see him urgently."

Niven found it curious that the captain would send for him when the Knotty Pine was about to cast off. "He wants to see me now? What's it about?"

"Dunno, Mr, King," Harry replied. "Master said 'twas urgent."

Perplexed, Niven thrust his bagpipes into the bairn's hands. "Take care o' this. I'll be right back."

He loped up the gangway, shouldered his way through groups of soldiers clogging the companionways and finally arrived at the captain's cabin. Impatient when he received no answer to his knock, he was about to knock again when the captain opened the door and ushered him in. He should have known mischief was afoot when he saw Rowan sitting at the desk.

"What's so urgent?" he asked, turning to look at the captain behind him.

"I apologize, Mr. King," Johnson said. "This isn't my doing."

With that, he left.

Icy dread crept up Niven's spine. He knew before Rowan uttered a word that he wasn't getting off the ship.

Willow lay in bed, blinking away welling tears. She'd barely survived the aggravating afternoon with Kenneth and Daisy. The strained evening meal with her Papa had tested her resolve. While reading to him after he retired, she'd listened for Niven's footfall in the foyer, but it had never come. Why was he so late coming home? Had he been delayed at the dockyard? What could have kept him?

She refused to think he'd changed his mind. They loved each other. An elopement meant giving up a great deal for both of them, but it would be worth it to be together.

They'd discussed the ramifications at length and she was sure they were both committed.

He'd be back soon. If only she could stay awake long enough to be reassured. Her brothers were gone, so there was no reason why Niven shouldn't sneak into her room when he came home.

William Halstead kept his eyes closed, but knew he wouldn't get a wink of sleep. His precious daughter had tried hard to conceal her nervous anticipation of Niven's return home. He'd been tempted to take her into his arms and tell her he wasn't coming, that she would never see him again, that it was for her own good. She'd eventually understand.

Then why could he not convince himself?

He didn't know exactly what his sons had planned but, if Niven died as a result, how would he explain his death to Tavish and Payton King and to Kenneth Hawkins?

Worse still was the dread knotting his stomach. Willow might never forgive him for sanctioning the kidnapping of the man she loved.