The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh (29 page)

By the time she led Thunderer around to the back of the cottage, she'd stopped crying. A list, she needed to make a list. After building up the fire, she took a notebook and pencil from her pocket, but nothing came, no ideas, no plans, just misery. If only she didn't love him so much.

Sometime later, Anna was sitting at the table, staring into the fire, when the door slammed open.

Sebastian stood in the entryway looking every bit a warrior. His face was flushed, and his chest heaved when he drew a breath and growled, “You're not leaving me.”

“Get out. I'll do as I please. You don't own me!” Rage coursed through her. Anger at him for his betrayal and at herself for loving him, despite everything. She clenched her fists, wanting to pummel him for destroying it all.

His eyes were molten silver as he glared at her, as if he'd like to throttle her.

“You're right. I don't own you. Even when we're married, I won't own you.”

“Didn't you hear me?” She tried to keep the tears from her voice. “We are not going to wed. I'm leaving England.”

He muttered something under his breath. “I'll follow you.”

She threw her hands up and said through clenched teeth, “No, you will not.”

“You can't stop me.” He strode over to her, his face fierce and resolute. “I'll spend the rest of my life making a fool of myself dogging your footsteps around Europe or anyplace else you decide to go. I'll sleep outside your door.”

“You say that now, but no one loves another that much.” It was a lie. She loved him every bit that much. He was so close his legs were touching her knees, but his hands remained by his sides. The air between them crackled. Oh, how she wanted to believe him.

“I love you more than that.” He lifted her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her. “I was wrong for saying what I did. My only excuse is that I love you. If something were to happen to you, my life wouldn't be worth living.”

“I can't live the life you want me to.” No, she couldn't let him talk her round. “I'd suffocate and die.”

His arms were so strong, and her body heated, wanting him.

“I just wanted to keep you safe.”

He was so frustrating. “Sebastian, life is a risk. Women die all the time in childbirth. Will you keep me safe from that as well?”

A look of anguish passed over his face. “Anna, I'm sorry. When it comes to you, some primitive beast comes out. I just want to protect you.”

“I want to defend you too. It's part of being in love, but that doesn't mean I'd stop you from being yourself.”

He let out a breath. “You're right. I didn't think of it like that.”

She'd been gradually sinking into him. Reveling in his heat. His palms stroked her back, and he started nibbling her neck. “I don't know. I've no guarantee you won't try to control me after we're married.”

“We'll put it in the marriage settlement. Wife is allowed to tell husband to go to the devil when he acts like a prig.”

“Who will decide when husband is being a prig?” His hand cupped her breast. She moaned.

“Wife is at all times in charge of determining husband's state of mind.” He cupped her derrière, drawing her closer to him.

“I don't know.” His engorged member rode against her. She bit her lip to keep from moaning again.

“I'll frame a copy and hang it on the wall.” Cool air swirled around her legs as he rucked her skirts higher.

“I may need more convincing.” His fingers skated over the sensitive part behind her knee and kept going higher to the apex of her thighs. He stroked. That felt so good. Any minute now, she was going to melt.

“Hmm.” He lifted her on to the table, spreading her legs with his body. His shaft hovered near her entrance, making her quiver with anticipation.

“What about, wife is always right?”

“Always?” She wanted him so badly her whole body ached with need.

“For the rest of our lives.” She wrapped her legs around him, and he entered her.

“Yes,” she moaned.

“Yes, to this?” He plunged into her, again. “Or yes to us?”

Anna clung to him, panting. “Yes to both.”

“You drive a hard bargain.”

“You knew that.” God, it was amazing she could speak. Sebastian thrust into her again. She clamped her legs tighter as his hands steadied her back. She pulled his head down to her, sucking and biting his earlobe. Then she kissed him, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, taking him as he took her. She'd never get enough of this man. Even when he was being a dry stick, he was hers.

She came fast and hard, like fireworks exploding.

T
he next day, Rutherford handed Anna into the coach, as Harry assisted Emma before the men climbed in. Anna and Emma had decided they'd take the coach to Dover, explaining that if they did much shopping, it would be easier to carry their purchases home. Rutherford suspected it was to keep Emma warm. Anna said that her future sister-in-law had frozen the previous afternoon when they went to Thanport.

Yesterday had been a close call, but in less than a week, Anna would be his, forever. Rutherford had never thought he'd look forward to being leg-shackled, yet here he was, counting the minutes. The coaches pulled into the inn's yard.

“I received a missive from Jamison yesterday. I'll have to meet with the men.”

Anna nodded. “Look for us when you're done.”

Rutherford lifted her hands and kissed them. “I will.”

He waited while they walked over to the main shopping street, before turning toward the docks and the Sloop, a dockside tavern. As agreed, his associates were waiting for him in a private parlor in the back of the inn.

“My friend.” An elegant man, a little shorter than Rutherford, stood to greet him.

He glanced over the five men. He knew the first man and another one who stared out the window. “No names, I take it?”

“No. We, of course, have assigned names for each other. Just so that we don't become confused.”

Rutherford nodded slightly. “Indeed. Do any of you have a document for me?”

The elegant man grinned. “Is it for you?”

Yes, he would have read the betrothal announcement. “No, a friend of mine.”

The man took a packet out of his pocket. “Here you are.”

“Thank you for bringing it.”

The elegant man bowed.

“Now then, you know the assignment.” Rutherford took out a hand-drawn map and spread it on a rough table in the center of the room. “These are the directions to where I'll meet you. It's about a half an hour horse ride from here, longer in a carriage, and not difficult to find.”

He let the men study the map before saying, “We expect the shipment to arrive around three in the morning. Be at the meeting place no later than one thirty. I'll go over the details at that time. I'd advise you to get as much sleep today as you can. I expect it will be a long night.”

He turned and walked out of the inn and circled round to the docks, still busy with ships and sailors. After waiting for about twenty minutes, he made his way to the shopping district.

Harry leaned against the outside wall of a large fabric store, looking bored.

Rutherford grinned. “New gowns?”

His friend grimaced. “I'm not sure. I think it may have more to do with petticoats.”

Rutherford's smile deepened. The only interest Harry ever had in women's fashion was how to unfasten it. “Where do you need to go after this?”

Harry's discontent deepened. “I must buy Emma a ring. We don't have anything suitable in the family jewelry.”

The thought occurred to Rutherford that he wanted a ring for Anna as well. Something not tainted with his family's unhappy marital past. “Why don't I wait here, and you can go to the jewelers?”

Harry pushed himself away from the wall with a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“I'll meet you there.” Rutherford strolled into the store and found the ladies looking at flannel. “What is that for?”

“Petticoats.”

“I thought Harry was joking.”

“No. Poor Emma has been so cold. We are discussing the merits of wool over flannel.”

“Get both,” Rutherford said.

“That is a very good idea. Emma, you can wear the flannel under the wool, if you'd like.”

Rutherford rubbed his cheek. “How many, er, petticoats do you plan on wearing?” He knew some ladies wore up to five. He'd never found more than two on Anna. “Or is that an indelicate question?”

They laughed.

“It depends how cold I am,” Emma said. “Very well, I shall take the wool and the flannel.”

“Do you have much more shopping to do?” Rutherford asked.

“We are almost done. Why?”

“Harry is waiting for us down the street.”

Anna took Rutherford's arm. “I must say, you are much better to have with one when shopping than my brother. At least you're helpful.”

He grinned. “I aim to please.”

Anna's light laughter floated musically through the air.

He could listen to that sound forever. “Come, let's tell the clerk and brave the cold to the next shop.”

Rutherford took her arm and drew her away. “Are you making any purchases, my love?”

“Me? No. I have everything I need.”

“Do you?” All ladies could find something to buy.

Anna smiled. “Yes. I shall receive a rather large package from Madame Lisette soon. We should stop at the post office whilst we are here to see if it's in.”

“Ah, that explains it.”

“Why?” she asked with a curious look. “Do you wish to buy me something?”

“Yes, now that you mention it, and I will.” He glanced at the clerk who was wrapping Emma's purchases. “Please have that sent to the Ship.” He held an arm out to both of them. “Ladies? Let us see if we can find something more interesting to buy.”

Rutherford stopped at the door of the local jeweler. “It is not Rundell and Bridge's, but I'd match our man against them any day.”

Anna considered her question.

“You, my love, need a ring,” he said as he ushered them into the store.

“Oh, I thought you'd have one,” she said.

“Nothing I consider suitable.”

“This is going to cost you a great deal more than wool, my lord.” She swept into the shop.

Harry's brows were creased as he frowned over a tray in front of him. Emma went to him and glanced down. “What are you trying to decide?”

He glanced up at her. “You need a ring. Church won't marry us without one.”

“May I help,” she asked tentatively, “or would you rather do this yourself?”

His face relaxed. “You may help, if you'd like.”

Emma bent over the tray. She picked up a ring, finely wrought in gold. “I like this.”

“Do you? Are you sure you'd not like something with sapphires or rubies? That was what I was trying to decide. Which you'd like better.”

“Well, maybe for a necklace or a bracelet, but not for a ring.”

“That was easier than I expected.” He called to the clerk. “We'll take this one, and you may show me something else.” Harry studied her. “Emeralds, I think.”

Rutherford hid his laugh. Bending his head, he whispered, “Don't you dare tell me you want plain gold.”

She whispered, “No, I prefer rubies.”

“Of course, my love. Your taste is always exquisite.”

Rutherford selected a gold ring set with rubies and small diamonds, and then spoke in low tones with the clerk and the jeweler.

Anna and Emma had their ring sizes taken. The jeweler promised the rings would be done in short order, and the couples left to walk to the Ship where the landlord showed them to his best private parlor.

By the time they'd finished luncheon, the packages from the jewelers and the fabric shop had been delivered. Harry made a show of slipping the ring on Emma's right hand. “The next time I put this on you, it will be in church.”

Emma smiled, but her eyes were suspiciously damp.

Rutherford turned to Anna. “Your turn.”

He took the ring from the box and slipped it on over her knuckle. “I want this ring to symbolize a new beginning for the Rutherfords.”

 

Shortly after one o'clock the next morning, Anna, Sebastian, and Harry rode through the cold, dark night. Only a sliver of moonlight betrayed their progress. They reined in at the back of the cottage. Harry saw to the horses as Anna and Sebastian hurried inside.

Sebastian got out Anna's men's clothing while she stripped off her riding habit. He'd told Anna and Harry about the meeting with the other men before they left the Hill.

For some reason unknown to Anna, her mother had decided to stay up talking to her. Finally, Anna's yawning had convinced Mama she needed to retire. Just in case Mama decided to check up on Anna, Emma had volunteered to sleep in Anna's bed.

Rutherford picked up the clothes she'd cast aside in her haste, folding them and storing them in the bin. Harry came in and helped her braid her hair.

“I hear them,” Sebastian said.

Anna slapped her hat over her braids, pulled it down, and held out her hand. “The muffler.”

Harry gave it to her. She wrapped it around her neck and donned her thick wool coat and gloves. “Done.”

Sebastian glanced back at her. She nodded, and he opened the door. Five men filed in and stopped.

He'd described the men in detail. The elegant man's eyes widened. “Who are these gentlemen?”

“You may not remember Harry Marsh,” Sebastian said. “He ran the gang for Jamison before, and this is Mr. Arnold, who took over while Harry was gone.”

Anna narrowed her eyes as the men looked her over. Thank the Lord only one candle was lit, and it was on the table across the room.

Sebastian drew their attention away from her. “He's the one who negotiated the payment.”

The man called Henry nodded. “Did a good job with that. Jamison saw red, but there was nothing he could do but agree.”

Anna curtly inclined her head. Though her voice was low for a lady, and Harry had worked with her to make it lower, she didn't need to take any chances by speaking more than necessary.

“All right, then.” Sebastian spread out the map. “We're here. We'll meet the smugglers on the beach just by this jetty.”

He pointed to a spot on the map about three miles away. “If everything goes as planned, and there's no reason it shouldn't—the wind is in the right quarter, and we've no storms coming in—the ship should be off shore by around three in the morning.”

He glanced at them. “We need to be in place in the next half hour.”

Rutherford motioned toward Anna. “Mr. Arnold will meet with the smugglers an hour before the shipment is due. There's always a chance the ship could arrive early. Keep your distance from the smugglers until the packages arrive. I've been told they're glad for your help, but don't want you to be able to recognize them.”

“There is a cave right about here.” Harry pointed to the map. “You'll all stay there until we've received the signal from the ship.”

He turned to Sebastian. “Do they know about the complication?”

“Yes,
our friend
will be at a shack down the beach toward town. When we arrive, we must lose one of the packages. I'm told it will be recognizable.” He gave them the description Georges had given him. “Whoever has her needs to walk behind the others. We”—he waved to include Anna—“will be on the cliffs watching. If anything happens, we'll come down immediately.”

“What about the gentleman from the Foreign Office?” one of the men asked.

“One of the smugglers is to bring him. What you do with him is no concern of mine.” Rutherford glanced around. “Is everyone armed? Other than knives, the smugglers won't have weapons.”

They all nodded. “Right then,” Sebastian said. “Let's be off.”

“Rutherford,” a man drawled, “any chance of a warm drink after this is over?”

He stopped and looked back. “Curry, you'll be on your way to London when this is over. Have Jamison make you a nice rum punch when you return. Or better yet, go to Brook's.”

“I'll tell you what.” Curry slapped Rutherford on his back. “We'll go out when you come back to Town.”

“Sorry, I'm getting married next week. I'll have better things to do.”

Anna turned to hide her smile.

Harry cuffed her arm. “Come on.”

She followed him out in the direction of the stables, but Curry's voice trailed behind. “What's marriage got to do with it?”

 

Harry swung up on to Devil. “I'll relieve Rutherford so he can saddle his horse.”

“I'll wait here,” Anna replied. Sebastian had been concerned that one of the gentlemen might follow them back to the stables.

“See you shortly.” Harry rode around to the front to keep the other men company, while Anna waited on Thunderer for Sebastian.

He grabbed her around her waist and pulled her down.

Anna gazed up, concerned. “What?”

“This.” He hauled her to him, and for a brief moment his hard lips pressed down on hers. He helped her mount again. “Keep yourself safe.”

She cupped his cheek. “I will. You do the same.”

They rode out to meet the others. Other than the sound of horses' hooves beating a tattoo on the frozen ground, the night was silent. When they reached the copse of trees, Anna signaled for them to stop and dismount. She ran to the cliff, dropped down and peered over the side. The beach was empty.

Waving her arm, Anna led the way down the path to the cave. “You gents can wait here with his lordship.”

Harry followed her as she strode toward the beach.

“It's going well.”

Anna turned to him. “When it's finished, it will be.”

“Superstitious?”

“No, experienced. You forget. I ran this gang for over two years during the war. I kept everything going. They made larger profits because
I
bargained harder. And I did it all, while still managing to be in London for the Seasons, without the freedom of movement you had. Just because I know I cannot continue doesn't mean I don't want to.”