“Oh, my God, your brother?” she asked, horror in her tone.
“Not by blood, but Mateo and I grew up together, and we were as close as any family. He was killed less than two months ago.”
“I’m so sorry, Carlos.” Poppy’s expression softened. “I’d be a wreck if I lost Rose.”
“He wasn’t just a casualty in a battle. He was murdered. And not back in Santo Domingo. It happened here in Cornwall.”
She paused, taking that in. “That’s why you’re here! You refused to tell me before, but that’s it, isn’t it? You’re here to find out what happened.”
“Exactly. I know a little, but I need to find his killer. His sister asked me to, and I promised her I would.”
“What will you do if you find him?”
“See that he’s punished for it.”
“Not through the law,” she guessed.
“We’ll see.”
“You don’t live quietly, do you,” she said, with a sad smile.
“I live the life I was given.” God, what was happening? He had Poppy alone in his room in the middle of the night, and they were arguing about war and philosophy?
“Well, tell me how I can help,” she said then.
“What?”
“I’m here all summer because I was lonely and miserable in London. Here I can help you do something important.”
“Poppy, I’m looking for a murderer. This isn’t a game.”
“I’m not asking you to arm me with a gun,” she objected. “I meant that I can keep my eyes open.”
He wanted to wrap her up and put her on the next coach back to London. “You need to stay out of this. Smugglers won’t treat you like a lady. They’ll kill you without a second thought.”
“He was killed by smugglers,” she said, enlightened. “So that’s what you were so interested in those caves down below, and the opium shipment! Do you think the smugglers from last night are connected to your friend’s death?”
“I don’t know,” he told her. “Based on the nature of the men I met today, I wouldn’t be surprised. But you need to stay out of it. Tell me you won’t go down there again, and that you’ll keep your mouth shut.”
“I’ll keep my mouth shut about what you’re up to, but I won’t promise not to go to the beach. You’re not my minder.”
“You need a minder,” he grumbled. “Or shackles.”
She raised an eyebrow. “So you won’t be supporting the emancipation of women, then.”
“I’m supporting the cause of you not getting hurt or killed because you got bored on a summer’s night.”
“I’m not bored now.”
Neither was he. Sparring with Poppy would keep him awake for hours. Though he could think of a few other things to do with her as well…also not boring.
“Poppy,” he said then. “I do apologize for disappearing on you for a year.”
“Te perdono.”
She forgave him? He blinked. “How do you know how to say that?”
“I studied.”
