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CHAPTER19
“Go! Run now!” Pippa yelled, heedless of who she alerted. She needed to warn William and his men to run for safety before Mr. Ainsworth located his senses and his weapon.
After her shout, Mr. Ainsworth ceased mumbling and pushed himself up into a seated position, his hand resting on the back of his head where she’d hit him. Urgency strung through the cold air, and the scuffle of men’s feet running up the path sounded behind her, broken by the roaring of the waves crashing onto the sand.
“What happened?” Mr. Ainsworth asked, his voice groggy. He struggled to his feet.
Pippa picked up her skirts and ran before he could see her well enough to identify her.
“You there!” he called after her. “Who are you? What happened?”
Pippa ran faster. The men who’d done the illegal smuggling were gone, as far as she could tell. She made it halfway across the sand when someone grabbed her cloak from behind and yanked her back. She lost her footing and fell onto the sand, something hard cutting into her ribs like a piece of driftwood or a large rock. Mr. Ainsworth stood above her, panting, and rested his hands on his knees. He looked unsteady, and she rolled to the side and pushed to her feet.
Mr. Ainsworth lurched toward her but fell onto the sand, and she took the opportunity to run for the path again.
Someone took hold of her hand, and she attempted to yank it away, but couldn’t get it free.
“It’s me,” William said harshly, pulling her toward the path his men had disappeared on. Warmth enveloped her in the safety of his voice. His grip was firm but gentle, nothing like the jarring attack from Mr. Ainsworth.
She looked over her shoulder to find Mr. Aisnworth on his feet again, and she tightened her hold on William’s hand. “This way,” she said quietly. She tugged him to the side, away from the main path. His men were gone, and the darkness consuming the side of the cliff extended down onto the sand beside it, covering them.
“Should we not attempt to get away?”
She pulled harder. “As long as he doesn’t have his lantern, we’ll be safe. Now cease talking and follow me. Is everyone else safe?”
“Yes.”
She pinched her lips closed and tightened her hold on William’s hand. He was without gloves, and the feel of his fingers wrapped around hers, albeit cold and clammy as they were, laid a blanket of encouragement over her.
“Where are we go—”
“Don’t talk,” Pippa said. They didn’t know where Mr. Ainsworth had gone, or if the beach was clear yet. She led him toward the steep path that would deliver them directly in front of Camden Court. It was dangerous in the daylight—now it would be too unsafe to even attempt. But they could hide behind the rock at its entrance.
“Here,” she whispered, releasing William’s hand and pushing on his chest until he was flush against the rock. She tucked herself beside him and bent forward to peer around the rocky edge of the path. “I don’t see him.”
William put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back into the safety of the inlet. “This was either brilliant—”
“Thank you.”
“—or incredibly foolish.”
Notwhat she’d wanted to hear. “In what way is this foolish? Your men are away safely, and you cannot be caught here.”
“But we can be blocked in. No one is safe until the goods are stored, anyway. I should be with my men.”
“Then go.”
“I cannot leave you here.”
“You needn’t remain.” She pressed herself further into the inlet, distancing herself from William enough so his hands fell from her shoulders. “Go. I can get myself home without being seen.”
His low scoff reached her ears. “I am not leaving you.”
“Perhaps I won’t give you a choice.” She turned away when his arms wrapped around her.
He pressed her back against the rock, bending his head until his lips were so close to her ear that she could feel his breath and tingles ran down her neck. “He’s near.”
Pippa’s body stilled. She was less concerned with the presence of the law man and very much aware of the way her body reacted to William essentially holding her in an embrace. “And you need to hide me from him?” she whispered.
