Page 33 of A Heart Worth Loving

“I can truly get him hired by the Crown.”

She shook her head. “He needs to quit smuggling. It is too dangerous.”

Ewan grunted. “I doubt anything short of death could dissuade your father from his chosen profession.”

Her heart sank. That was just as she feared.

“My way, however, he will not go to prison,” Ewan said.

“A British prison, perhaps,” she said. “The French have a bounty on his head.”

“Never fear, my dear,” her father said. “If I am caught by the French, I will not go to prison.”

Kyla blinked, then tears filled her eyes.

“Brodrick, upset your daughter again and the French will be the least of your problems.” Ewan strode to her and pulled her against his chest.

Kyla tried to push away, but his arms tightened around her and a comforting warmth began to seep through her. “I will not marry you,” she said through tears.

“Of course, you will,” he said in a gentle voice, then whispered, “How else will you keep your father out of prison?”

She snapped her head up and met his gaze. She started to ask him if he was out his mind, but Mister Laurent groaned. Kyla stepped from Ewan’s embrace. He released her and they all faced Mister Laurent as his eyes opened.

He frowned at Ewan, then grasped the top of the divan back and pulled himself into a sitting position. “Where the devil am I?”

“Blackstone Abbey,” her father replied.

Mister Laurent twisted in his direction. “Brodrick.” He stood and wobbled slightly, then steadied himself and said to Ewan, “This man is a wanted smuggler.”

“Wanted by France,” Ewan murmured.

“By the Home Office,” Mister Laurent snapped. “You are to turn him over to my custody immediately.”

“Did Willoughby send you?”

The man frowned. “I know no Willoughby.”

“Who then?” Ewan asked.

“Lord Hastings, if you must know.”

“Then we shall contact Lord Hastings.”

Mister Laurent swore. He yanked a pistol from his coat pocket. Kyla gasped. Ewan stepped in front of her.

Mister Laurent backed up so that he had all of them in his sight. “I will shoot your daughter, Brodrick.”

“I will go with you,” her father said.

“Papa.” She started around Ewan. He seized her wrist and she was startled to see that his hand trembled.

“Hush, Kyla,” her father said.

He started toward Mister Laurent. Ewan’s hold tightened convulsively around her wrist. Kyla glanced down at his hand. He abruptly yanked her behind him, then lunged. Mister Laurent swung the pistol in Ewan’s direction. Her father dove. The gun roared.

Ewan rammed into Laurent. He knocked the gun from his hand with a crushing blow, then drove his fist into the man’s jaw. The man drew back a first, but Ewan head butted him. Kyla cried out. Ewan drove him backwards. They crashed into the divan. The divan slid aside and they hit the floor, Ewan on top. He seized the man’s lapel and yanked him up, then hit him in the face again.

Her father reached them. “You will kill him, Kilbreck. He is no’ worth it.”