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She stared down into the glen, looking blindly at the stone fence he’d built for them. She’d never again be able to look at that square of pastureland without thinking of him.
“My fence work is done,” he said, as though reading her mind.
Their tutoring work was at an end, as was his work on their farm. Would he be done with her too? Aidan’s enemy was within his reach. Would he find and kill the man, only to disappear from her life forever?
Unable to look him in the eye, she stared instead at her flock of dull-eyed beasts, feeding in the distance. “Does that mean I’ll no longer see you?”
“I think I might come back,” he said casually.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, and he laughed, and her cheeks broiled with embarrassment.
“Silly woman, look at me. ” He cupped the side of her face, and when she met his eyes, he told her, “Here’s a secret, luvvie. I despise milk. ”
She thought of all the cups she’d brought him, and all the times he’d come to visit, asking for more. She saw her amazed realization reflected in his smile.
“That’s right,” he said. “Why else do you think I’ve been coming around? It’s because I want to see you. Why else find a way to break from Fraser, but to be with you. ”
It was her turn to give a rueful laugh, and he placed a quick kiss on her smiling lips.
He pulled away, glancing around. “Your father is surely about somewhere. Now, are we of a mind, or do you need me to promise to build you another fence? I don’t know that my back can take it. ”
“No,” she answered sheepishly. “We’re of a mind. ”
“Good. Because we’ve yet to figure why he”—he shook his piece of paper—“is in league with Fraser. I can’t simply storm the Endeavor and kill this Captain Will. If we discover the nature of their business together, perhaps we’ll find your evidence and my opportunity, in one fell swoop. ”
She didn’t need to think. Only one obvious path unfolded ahead of her.
Heroines stood by their men, and she’d stand by hers. “With this betrothal, I have an entrée into Fraser’s inner circle. I can discover the nature of their business, find out when and how you can gain access to the man with the black pearl. Unquestionably, I must proceed with my father’s plan. ”
Aidan looked taken aback. “Unquestionably, you’ll do nothing of the sort. God’s bones, Beth, the sooner we put a stop to that nonsense the better. ”
“No, don’t you see?” It was all so clear, coming to her in a flash. “For now, I must proceed with the engagement. Would you like to hear my plan?”
He took a step backward, as if staggering from a blow. “You can’t actually tell me you’ll encourage his pursuit of your hand?”
“It’s the only way to find out more. ”
Aidan’s expression was stark. “How can you agree to marry him?”
“I won’t actually be marrying him. ”
“Then don’t actually accept this engagement. ”
“We need clues as to how to infiltrate Captain Will’s network,” she said. “This is the best way. ”
“I admire your courage,” he said, his voice tight. “You have an unusual habit of not showing fear. But this is too much. ”
“I have nothing to fear with you by my side. ”
“I won’t be by your side if Fraser takes you to the marriage bed. ” He shot her a bitter look, and it was like looking into the face of pain.
“Good heavens, but it won’t come to that. ” It was just like a man not to listen to her plan, focusing instead on a rival for her virtue. “This is merely a ruse,” she explained slowly. “One that will end when we discover hard evidence. ”
She began to walk down the hill toward her cottage. She had a plan to enact, whether Aidan liked it or not.
“This isn’t one of your books,” he said, catching up to her. “Not every tale has a happy ending. If you agree to this, who’s to say you’ll find proof of anything beyond what’s apparent to the eye—what if Fraser really is just an old merchant, inadvertently caught up in something over his head, and in possession of a fat bank account he’ll use to pay your father’s debts? What then? Or, who’s to say the man won’t simply ignore the engagement, and come and steal you away instead?”
She stopped on the hillside. “This may not be one of my books, but neither is it a page from your story. Not everyone is stolen away,” she said gently. “I shall be perfectly safe. Steal me away? Really, Aidan. My father would never allow such a thing. ”
