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“William? You coming?” Samuel called.
“Yes, be up soon.” William lowered his voice. “Let me go ahead. Wait for us to leave.”
“So it is safe for you to leave me now?” she challenged.
He let out a frustrated breath. “Has anyone ever told you how difficult you are, Pip?”
“Yes.”
He chuckled. “I must go. Be safe.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheekbone before turning and jogging—dangerously, in Pippa’s opinion—to the top of the lane. She heard his low voice quietly speak and disappear as he and Samuel made their way in the direction of Ravenwood Cottage.
Her body grew warm, a silly smile stretching over her lips as she picked her way quietly back to her house. She wasn’t sure if what she was feeling was merely attraction or the faint beginning of deeper feelings, planted and nurtured and starting to sprout like a seedling in new soil.
Whatever they were, William certainly returned them, and the idea made her belly warm. She made it to her front door and slipped inside before turning and locking the door behind her.
* * *
William followed the now-familiar lane toward his cottage, absently questioning Samuel on the details of what had happened after they separated at the beach, but his mind was not attending. His thoughts were locked on the moment when he’d had his arms around Pippa and his mouth so close to hers. He’d initially thought that covering her body with his had been a necessity. Despite the darkness, her scarlet cloak could have been easier to discern and given them away when Ainsworth passed by. William had done his best to protect them from being found by covering her with his own black-clad body.
But the moment he’d touched her, he’d known his mistake. Ainsworth’s danger hadn’t lasted long, and William had known the moment the revenue man had retreated, but he hadn’t been able to back away from Pippa. He’d wanted to kiss her, had hoped she’d wanted to kiss him as well. He’d merely been waiting for her to grant her permission in some way.
But it hadn’t come. Perhaps he shouldn’t have kissed her cheek before leaving her, but he was struggling with his need for her, and it had been a moment of weakness. Seeing her on that beach with a knocked-out exciseman had been a shock, but it likely shouldn’t have been. She seemed to be the sort of lady who often found herself in just these sorts of scrapes.
They rounded the corner and reached Ravenwood Cottage, but it was dark and quiet, the empty stillness reaching him with surety.
“Where is everyone?”
Samuel grimaced. “Likely gone on to the church, I suppose.”
“Why?” William faced the lad. He was wet, tired, and wanted nothing more than to strip his soaked clothing from his clammy skin and slide into the sorry excuse for a bed waiting for him upstairs. “Why have they gone to the church, Samuel?”
“There’s an old hideaway in the back of the chapel. Your father planned to use it if the revenue man found us, to keep the goods off your property.”
William wanted to curse. Instead, he clapped Samuel on the back and shook his head. “Do you know how to reach the church in the dark? A back way, perhaps?”
Samuel nodded, just as eager to prove himself as William had hoped. “Just this way.”
William gestured to the path before him and indicated that Samuel lead the way. He had a feeling he would not be falling into bed until just before the sun decided to awaken. Puffing a long breath through his nose, he followed the lad into the dark.
