“But I’ll never tire of hearing it, m’lady.”

“Lady?” A tear of joy slipped from the corner of her eye. “I like the sound of that.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Captain!” shouted Runner as he pounded on the timbers. “I’ve spotted the Highland Reel.”

“I’ll meet you on deck, forthwith,” Kennan replied before he kissed his wife. “We’ve arrived sooner than I thought.”

Stretching, Divana beamed at him, looking more radiant than sunshine. “Must ye go?”

He retrieved his shirt from the floor and pulled it over his head. “I’d prefer to stay.”

“I ken it is an important day—not only because we are wed…” The bedclothes dropped as she slid up against the headboard. “But ye must reclaim your ship.”

“Our ship.”

“I love the way ‘our’ rolls off your tongue.”

Kennan kissed her again. “I’d prefer it if you stayed abed. There could be fighting.”

“And miss all the excitement?”

“If you join me at the helm, I need your word you’ll duck inside at the first sign of danger.”

She twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “If that is what ye wish.”

After he’d dressed, Kennan found Cuthbert at the helm, manning the wheel. “You’ve come along well these past years. I must commend your courage in capturing Jackson’s Hell. I was proud to have you fighting beside me.”

“Thank ye, sir.”

Runner joined them. “I hope ye don’t mind, but I signaled the Lady Heather to flank her on portside whilst we take the starboard.”

Kennan patted the boy’s shoulder. “Good man.” Then he returned his attention to Cuthbert. “How would you like to take command of the Silver Mermaid on the journey home?”

The young seaman beamed. “’Twould be a dream come true, sir.”

“May I act as quartermaster?” asked Runner.

“I can think of no one better, but first we need to take back my ship.” Kennan drew his spyglass from his belt. “Hold your course, men.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” bellowed the sailors on deck. The air was charged with the excitement from not only the plunder in the hold, but the anticipation of riches yet to come.

Kennan swept his gaze across the faces of his crew. All but one was smiling. All but one man was giving his best. He should have pegged Ethan for a scoundrel sooner. The laggard had never pulled his own weight, and even Kennan had caught wind of an offhanded comment or two.

But he’d deal with the mutineer later. There were bigger fish to catch at the moment. He raised the spyglass to his eye, gazing upon the detail of his beloved ship for the first time since he leaped to the sea months ago.

Aft, he spotted Jackson Vane and two other men cranking the anchor’s winch.

Only three?

Kennan made a complete sweep of the deck and saw not a single other man. An abandoned skiff bobbed in the water not far from the ship. He turned the barrel for a better look. Aye, ’twas the same wherry he’d seen when they landed on Jackson’s Hell.