Marjorie spun, and Cormac spied the blade glittering in her small hand. The fool woman was meaning to charge.
“No,” Cormac snarled under his breath. He couldn't let her fight, couldn't let her spill a man's blood. He knew Ree; her conscience wouldn't bear it.
Marjorie pulled her arm back and lunged for the man, crying out with the effort.
“No!” Cormac shouted. He couldn't let her sully her soul; his was sullied enough for the two of them.
He sized up the scene in the fraction of a heartbeat. He'd no time to draw his sword, nor could he risk Ree getting in its trajectory if he did. He had his hands, though.
Cormac leapt, tackling the man around his upper thighs just as Marjorie's blade arm swept down. She missed, spouting a brazen curse that shot a surge of inexplicable delight to his heart. Always a spitfire, Ree was.
He rolled on the quay, tussling with her attacker, finally managing to pin him from above. And then the man's feet hammered against the rotted wooden planks as Cormac choked the life from him.
Cormac sprang up and ran to her. “Ree, look at you. ” She was trembling and covered in blood. Pulling her to him, he refused to think on the sweet wonder of her in his arms. “You braw, wee thing. ” He'd almost lost her. The thought was unbearable. The lass had placed herself in harm's way because she was stubborn, and she was impudent. And brave, and magnificent. Hugging her closer, he let the entire length of her soft body cradle close against his.
“He recognized me,” she said, her voice shaking with shock. She pulled away, and he saw the fear in her eyes.
“He knew me, Cormac. ”
He took in the two bodies littering the rotted wooden planks. “Aye, lass, I know it. Come,” he said, leading her from the pier. “Cover yourself with your cloak. We must be away from this place. ”
“I… I'm worried. ” She tucked back into him as they walked, her breathing gradually slowing to normal. “What if someone else saw me? What if this leads back to my uncle's house? We have to keep him safe. ” She bit at her lip.
“Oh God, I can't believe little Davie is out there with men like that. ”
“Aye, we'll need to keep your uncle safe,” Cormac t
old her. He glanced behind him, casting one last look at the dock. The smugglers' boat bobbed, heedless of what'd been just another fight along the quay. “I need a plan good enough that all eyes turn from him. ”
He gently pulled her chin up to look at him. She'd foolishly dressed herself in men's clothing, in trews that had revealed scandalous curves, clinging to her long, firm legs like sin itself.
When he'd come downstairs that morning to find her rubbing her breasts beneath her vest… He scowled. He had almost spilled his seed at the sight. How would a boatload of lecherous sailors react to the sight of her?
“You must stay out of this from now on. ”
“What should our plan be?” she asked, dismissing his last statement as he knew she would.
“My plan will be to continue hunting the docks for information, while you're safe at home. ” He directed them up a side street, toward the direction of Market Green. He felt too exposed near the docks and would have them surrounded by the morning's market bustle instead.
“I thought we just agreed we needed to keep away from Uncle Humphrey's house. ”
“No,” he said, stiffening. “We just agreed that I will devise a plan while you stay safe. ”
“But—”
“But nothing, Marjorie. ”
She raised her brows in challenge at the formal sound of her name on his lips.
“You try me, woman. ” He pulled them into the shadow of a tavern that'd already begun to hum with the day's business. “Was that scene by the docks not enough for you? I refuse to see you in harm's way. One more man, and I might not have managed them. ”
“I helped,” she protested.
“You did indeed. ” He let out a disbelieving chuckle and took her hands in his to study them. Using the edge of his plaid, he wiped a smear of blood from her palm. “But at what cost? Heed me,” he said, waiting for her eyes to meet his.
“From this moment on, I go alone. I will keep you safe, and that means keeping you away from smugglers and dock men. ”
Her countenance brightened, remembering something. “Did the smugglers give you any information?” He narrowed his eyes. The smugglers had told him much, and God help him, their words had stirred the embers of hope in his chest. But it was a dangerous game they played, and he'd keep her well away from it. He studied her, staring up at him expectantly, her eyes fever bright. He'd need to sneak away from her somehow, deal with this alone. “They say there's a ship docked in Justice Port. ”