Page 20 of The Smuggler’s Escape

The rage in her voice astonished him. Tentatively, he said, “No to the debt or the money?”

“To both!” She shook the reins, and Snowflake obligingly picked up her pace.

With a sigh, Richard caught up again. “Since you appear to have sufficient funds for pin money, and since your uncle, albeit reluctantly, continues to house and feed you, I fail to understand why you have an immediate need for more.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you understand, since it’s nothing to do with you. Peste! Stop grabbing Snowflake’s reins.”

“Then slow down and stay beside me until we finish this discussion. I wish to stop, strike a light, and show you the list Geoff gave me, so we can formulate a plan. Otherwise, I shall be obliged to visit the Dalbey boys tomorrow and arrange everything myself.”

“You know far too much about smuggling,” Noelle said in a sulky voice.

“My dear girl, I grew up in Sussex. Geoff has run goods through the alehouse since I was a boy, and Dalbeys have been free trading since the Conquest, if such a profession existed then.”

Noelle tapped his hand away with her crop. “I don’t need to see the list. The most likely hiding places are in the walls of the church, in Sir William Luttrow’s stable, and in a hidden well at the alehouse. We don’t use the tombs much anymore. Oh, and in the gatehouse of your estate, which has been empty a few months now, since the old gatekeeper died and his widow went to live with her sister. Alternative locations are behind the forge and in the doctor’s shed, but these are far from ideal and are only used in emergencies.” She bit her lip. “We’ve had too many emergencies lately. Lieutenant Hale is a bully, and I intend to outwit him.”

Richard laughed. “My valiant Noelle!”

“Vaurien! Don’t mock me!”

“Sweetheart, that was not mockery, but admiration. I never dreamed of seeking valor in a bride. What an excellent quality in a woman! Think of the fun we shall have foiling His Majesty’s Excise Office.”

“Is fun all you ever think about?”

“When tiresome thoughts don’t intrude.” Richard watched her through half-closed eyes, regretting his earlier promise. “Without kissing and fondling, we won’t have anywhere near as much fun as we might.”

“That was your idea,” she blurted, adding with aplomb, “and I agree completely. With lustful actions out of the question, you will realize that we are completely incompatible, and will very soon be thankful I have refused to marry you.”

They had almost reached the main road. Richard said nothing, wondering what she would come up with next.

“Lust is not an appropriate reason for marriage,” Noelle pronounced.

Good Lord. “What an unutterably stupid thing to say. Why would I want to marry you if I didn’t want to tup you? You’ve spent far too much time listening to that uncle of yours.”

“I haven’t had a choice,” Noelle retorted.

They came out of the wood onto the moonlit road. “We’re suited in any number of other ways, too,” Richard said. “Except that you’re nowhere near as much fun as you used to be.”

He knew immediately that he had blundered badly, but it was too late. He caught only a glimpse of her pale, anguished face before with crop and spur she sent Snowflake flying along the open road.

He urged Charger to follow at an easy canter. She couldn’t get into much trouble between here and her home.

How bloody tedious. He wanted the old Noelle back, the one who met insult with insult and kiss with kiss. Something was going on, something he didn’t understand. If she wasn’t spying—and he still refused to accept that possibility—then what was it?

Near the drive to her uncle’s house, Noelle slowed. Snowflake pranced in the moonlight. From the forest beside the road a stocky man in a tricorne hat emerged, riding a huge horse dark as night, a spotted retriever at its heels. His laughter echoed along the open road.

Noelle, his Noelle, laughed in response, took the man’s hand, and reached up to kiss him.