Page 21 of The Smuggler’s Escape

Chapter 6

“Ouch!” Johnny Magee, the second-best kisser in Noelle’s limited experience, let her go and grasped his thigh. “Nothing to do with you, colleen. I had a bit of a turn-up with the excisemen tonight.”

“And you still managed to save some of the brandy?”

“Just stowed a dozen in the walled garden.”

She wiped away a stray tear as she caught sight of Richard thundering toward them. “Mordieu, I shouldn’t have let you kiss me. Richard will be enraged.”

Johnny grinned, his teeth flashing white in the moonlight. “Faith, the boy’s like a son to me. Don’t you worry, little Noelle.”

“You don’t understand.” Noelle wheeled Snowflake to face Richard as he approached. “He’s acting deranged. He thinks he has a claim on me after being gone for years.”

“So, and does he not?”

Richard arrived on a snorting, stamping Charger, saving Noelle from the necessity of a furious reply. “Tinker Johnny, what the devil do you mean by kissing my woman?”

“You see?” Noelle pulled out the flintlock. “If you so much as touch him, Richard, I swear I’ll shoot you!”

“Sure, and I’ve a brave protectress.” Johnny laughed. “I’m tempted to steal you, colleen, and be off with you on my travels.” He reached out a hand to Richard. “Eh, Dick, my lad, it’s good to have you back, but couldn’t you have waited a day or two longer so the colleen and me could be well away?”

To her astonishment, Richard gripped the proffered hand. “Johnny, you rogue. If any man could handle her, it would be you, but if you kiss her again, you’ll regret it.”

“Regret a thank-you kiss from a lovely lady?” He grinned at Noelle. “You can put the pistol away. Dicky won’t lay a finger on me.” He must have sensed her unease, for he added, “Or on you, or he’ll have me to answer to.”

“I’m not a savage,” Richard said mildly.

Noelle huffed. “Then why did you behave like one tonight?”

“I already apologized for that, love.” He eyed Johnny. “Thank you for what?”

Noelle returned the pistol to her pocket. Richard’s behavior made no sense at all, but neither had anything he’d done since his return. “Johnny just put a dozen tubs of brandy in the walled garden,” she said.

“Excellent. We’ll move them out tomorrow.” Richard leaned down to greet Spot, the old mongrel retriever.

“Turning free trader, are you, lad?” Johnny said. “You and the colleen are surely made for one another. The Dalbeys left some brandy under my wagon and led the revenuers a merry chase, but I scarcely had time to hide it in the trees before a couple of them arrived and rampaged through my wagon, the dirty bastards. Old Spot and I drove them off, but likely they’ll be searching all over come morning.”

“That’s what worries me,” Noelle said. “I can’t count on Uncle Matthew to deny them access to the garden, even after what happened there tonight.”

“Aye, but you can trust our Dick to come up with a scheme to outwit them.” Johnny showed no curiosity as to what had transpired earlier. Most likely, word had already reached him. “Always up to devilry as a boy, he was. I’ll be on my way. Dicky, my lad, stop by my wagon on your way home. I could use a little help.”

Noelle looked from one man to the other. “There are more tubs to move, aren’t there? The Dalbeys should have had a couple of dozen, by my reckoning.”

“Sure, and you’re a clever girl, colleen, but leave it to Dicky and me. With the two of us, it will take but one trip. You’ll only be in the way, and too visible on that white mare.”

“Very well,” Noelle said. “Thank you.”

“There’s a good girl.” Johnny beckoned Noelle closer and spoke in a stage whisper. “Strange it is indeed, but the kitchen door is on the latch.”

“Oh, no, do you think my uncle . . .?”

Johnny cocked his head. “More likely your sweet auntie saw you leave and wanted to ease your return.”

The tinker gave her a hearty buss on the cheek, and with a raised hand to Richard, took his leave. A second later the wood swallowed him, horse, dog, and all, and Noelle found herself alone with Richard once again.

Constraint returned with a vengeance. Although Johnny, apparently, might kiss her with impunity, he was as bad as everyone else in believing she belonged to Richard.

“I must go indoors before my uncle discovers my absence.” She moved up the drive without waiting for Richard. Trying her best to give thanks for being no fun at all—she didn’t want Richard to enjoy her company—Noelle made her way up the drive and veered onto the grass when they came within earshot of the house. Richard followed silently, dismounting when she did and tethering Charger out of sight. “I’ll stable her for you,” he said. “Go inside. If your nasty old uncle is waiting, screech and I’ll come running. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow.” True to his promise, he made no move to touch or kiss her.