Page 41 of A Perilous Passion

He ushered her inside the farmhouse where, to her enormous relief, Rafe stepped through a side door, a half smile on his face.

When he saw her, the smile faded. “What in God’s Name are you doing here?”

She swallowed. He looked tousled and more handsome than ever. Thank heaven he was alive! “I needed to see you,” she said, gathering her wits. “I was concerned for your welfare.”

He scowled down at her. “I distinctly recall telling you we weren’t to meet again.”

“You do know the young lady, sir?” asked the man behind her in surprise.

“Yes, Paynter, I do. That will be all for now, thank you. I’d be much obliged if you’d scout around to make sure nobody followed this foolhardy young female.”

Damn him! She’d stolen out in the dead of night because she feared he was dead, and all he could do was loom in the passageway, glaring at her.

She felt the prickle of tears and spun round to follow the man called Paynter back out the door.

An iron grip fastened on her elbow. “In here, madam,” Rafe said. “We need to talk.”

Disappointment warred with joy. He was alive—frustratingly, annoyingly, arrogantly alive. He looked sturdy and strong as ever, the power and heat of him filling the gap between their bodies. She barely took in the detail of the room he drew her into—her eyes were trapped by his penetrating gaze.

“I thought you had some sense about you,” he said, “but I see I was mistaken. Didn’t I make it clear our liaison was at an end?”

Liaison?

She shook herself free of his grip and held her head high. Why did he look so angry? She was the one who should be furious.

“Don’t flatter yourself that I came because I couldn’t bear to be parted from you. I merely wanted to make sure you weren’t the poor soul killed on the heath last night. I know you sometimes haunt the place as part of your assignment.” She ground her teeth. “Though, why I should care a jot for your worthless hide is beyond me.”

His face—that sculpted, devilishly handsome face—softened not one bit. He said coolly, “I appreciate that you care about my worthless hide, but you endanger yourself being out alone after dark. The woods are full of bandits, the bracken and the beach are crawling with smugglers, and militiamen aren’t known for their gentlemanly behavior where unescorted young ladies are concerned. You’ve been very foolish, indeed.”

She crossed her arms over her midriff in frustration. “How else was I to find out what had happened to you? I was careful, I was quiet, and I’m sure no one saw me, or followed me.”

“The danger is greater than you believe. Any association with me could bring suspicion down upon you.”

She knew quite well what risk she was taking.

Unless there was something he wasn’t telling her…

“But I am associated with you,” she said crisply. “If you’re so worried, wouldn’t it be better for you to offer me protection, rather than rail at me?”

He gave her a considering look. “Much as I’d like to, I don’t have the manpower. I can’t risk being seen with you again, Paynter’s keeping watch, and Hamblett, my valet, would be insulted if I asked him to do guard duty.” Rafe grimaced. “So. What am I to do with you, now you’re here?”

She scanned his face in the flickering candlelight. His anger had cooled, and so had his manner. Yet, there was something else, a fierce glint in his eye that belied his coldness—something deeply primal that called to her.

Something that made her want to throw herself into his embrace and kiss him senseless.

Time to leave.

“Now that I’m assured of your safety, I’ll go,” she said firmly.

“No!”

The violence of his reaction made her step back.

“No,” he repeated, more gently. “Too dangerous. You must remain here until daylight, then I’ll take you back myself.”

She shook her head vigorously. “I can’t wait till then. They’ll know I’ve been out, and I’ll be imprisoned again. I must go now.”

He ran a hand through his hair, closing his eyes as if in pain. “Why won’t you listen to me? It’s too dangerous.”