Kennan took her fingers and kissed them. “I reckon you’re right, m’lady. Cuthbert, I’ll leave it to you to sink the wherry—after all, we cannot make it easy for him to escape.”

Would Ethan survive his punishment? Most likely. Eventually a ship would drop anchor off this isle, but whether they saw fit to take him aboard would depend on how well the scoundrel had learned his lesson.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Three

It took three weeks of days with excellent wind to sail back to Scotland. Three weeks of utter bliss. Kennan treated Divana like a queen throughout the entire journey, her every need catered to. She laughed as he balked when she set out to dust the cabin. God forbid she try to pick up a mop or set foot in the galley, lest the captain accuse her of anarchy. After all, she was a lady now—a member of the gentry.

Her trepidation grew after they disembarked at Loch Eil and worsened throughout the hour’s ride to Achnacarry. It didn’t help that Kennan had grown quiet as well.

“Are ye certain I look presentable?” Divana asked when they rode through the gateway into Achnacarry’s courtyard. She smoothed her trembling hands over the skirts of the blue gown Kennan had purchased at the shop in Nassau.

He helped her down from her mount. “You’re the bonniest woman within a hundred miles.”

She tucked an errant lock of hair beneath her new bonnet and gave him a nervous smile. “Only a hundred?”

Tweaking her nose, he took her hand. “Bonniest in all my travels, I’ll say.”

Together they climbed the stairs toward the keep. “Let me speak to my father.”

“I hope he doesn’t cast me out.”

“He won’t. But if he tries, he’ll be casting me out as well.”

She gripped his hand as the butler opened the door. “But—”

“Kennan!” bellowed Lochiel, his arms stretched wide. “Och, son, I thought you’d be away for another year at least.”

The captain squared his shoulders and faced his father. “We made good time of it for certain, sir.”

“And what of Vane?”

“Handed him over to the queen’s dragoons after we disembarked.”

“Imagine that. My son captured the greatest scourge of the high seas.”

“And claimed his fortune.” Divana peeked around from behind her husband. “Grand enough to build an empire.”

After they’d left Ethan on Hades, they found no fewer than fifteen chests filled with priceless jewels, gold, and silver. They’d given the men generous shares, but only Divana and Kennan knew the extent of the fortune they now possessed. Kennan said he wouldn’t be surprised if they were the richest people in Scotland.