She sighed. “Just when I finally thought a man was unique enough to see past my beauty to what was underneath, you prove otherwise. Men think with the member between their legs more often than their brains. Thankfully, it makes them easy to predict.”
“Don’t be naive. Your intelligence enhances your beauty. Why is that a bad thing? Your beauty gives you many advantages.”
Why did men see beauty as an advantage? “Name one,” she snapped. Beauty fades. Beauty hides a multitude of sins.
Rufus coughed. “Well, men are more likely to offer you the protection of their name. Beautiful women are assured of procuring a husband.”
“And what advantages does marriage bring to a woman? I see how a wife advantages a man, but how does it benefit a woman?”
“How!” he said. “You’d be taken care of. Provided for ...”
Seeing his expression of disbelief, Rheda almost shook her head in despair. “So, let me get this right. A woman of my intelligence—your words—should be content to marry simply to be provided for.” Her tone edged toward thunderous, but she didn’t care. “A woman of my intelligence couldn’t possibly provide for herself. Is that what you are implying? What do you think I’m doing out here at three in the morning walking a horse?”
He had the decency to look sheepish. “You, my delicious Rhe, I’ll grant you, are the exception. Perhaps that is why I find you so captivating.”
His soft tone was her undoing. Her body’s battled response slipped away, and a desire to make peace took its place.
Trust him,
a small voice whispered.
Tell him Dark Shadow won’t aid his father’s cause.
But she couldn’t. Not yet. She needed more proof before she’d allow herself to trust a handsome man. She swallowed guiltily. Did she have double standards? Would she trust Rufus if he was not so damn handsome?
“I swear I’ll earn your trust. When I do I pray it is not too late.” His voice was low and lulling. “Now off to bed with you. You need some sleep if you’re to relieve me in a few hours. I’ll take the first watch. There is one thing you can’t dispute. I’m stronger than you. It’s best I am here in case White Lily tries to go down again.”
She walked around White Lily and on impulse leaned in to him and kissed his cheek, a light lingering press of lips. “Thank you. I realize you could have used White Lily for your own ends.” She drew back. “Your actions have spoken to me louder than any seduction ever could. I will think about your request.”
She was almost to the door when he called softly, “Don’t think too long. A man of my position and nature is not known for his patience.”
She looked at him—really looked at him—and noted the lines of despair etched behind his eyes. Discovering the truth about his father meant as much to him as her need for independence did to her. His quest weighed him down as much as her lack of freedom smothered her.
“I’ll give you my answer after the ball. The ball is Daniel’s night. I won’t risk anything spoiling it.”
He nodded curtly. “I can settle for that. I’ll hold you to it.”
Chapter 15
T
he night of the ball seemed to arrive sooner than Rheda had anticipated. Her heart hadn’t stopped racing all day. Her dreams hung on the success of this night. Unlike other young women, she was not worried about the success of the ball. Rather, she was on tenterhooks about the final shipment under Dark Shadow’s leadership. If the landing went to plan, she’d give up smuggling and concentrate on her horses.
After her talk with Daniel, about Lord Strathmore’s likely purpose in Deal, her brother finally conceded that retiring Dark Shadow was sensible. When she explained her worries about the villagers’ plight, he agreed to help build her horse stud to ensure her independence, and to provide the villagers with a legitimate income. He saw the advantages of selling Caesar’s offspring and creating a breeding herd.
Both siblings recognized that they’d pushed their luck too far. With Rufus ferreting information about Dark Shadow, it was time to retreat and protect what they had built.
Rheda felt confident the night would be well received by their guests. Lady Hale and her servants had been in residence for the past four days seeing to the house’s preparations. Rheda had been too busy organizing the goods manifest to worry about the arrangements. Daniel, however, embraced the ball as if this one engagement would secure his place in Society for eternity.
She hoped it didn’t secure his place in infamy instead.
Concerned at Daniel’s high hopes, Rheda warned her brother not to be overconfident. They mustn’t take any risks tonight or try to be too clever.
She’d explained why it was important to be wary of the viscount. Daniel threw a tantrum when Rheda suggested changing the night’s final run. After much arguing and threats, Rheda finally saw the sense in continuing with their plans to land a shipment on the night of the ball. For once it would provide both of them with an alibi.
The ballroom would be filled with over one hundred guests who could vouch for their presence for the entire evening.
Daniel organized for Davidson to see the boat in and instructed his team to use the northern cavern entrance.
She bit her lip and looked out the window. Her eyes filled with concern as she noticed the darkening sky. She could feel the change in the air. There’d likely be a storm tonight. That should move the odds in their favor despite making the landing more difficult. Revenuers were reluctant to take to the sea in a storm. They didn’t know the coast and deadly rocks. Those born in Deal could sail these waters blindfolded.
As she made her way to her room Rheda knew she should be helping with the last-minute preparations, but she still had tasks of her own to complete.
She entered her bedchamber and looked at the dress Penny had arranged on her bed. It was perfect. That’s when her mind took flight.
Rufus was fixated on seduction in order to pry out her secrets, but she knew he also wanted her. He had to be kept busy tonight. Just thinking about giving rein to her own desires turned her blood to liquid fire.
But the question was how? Unlike Rufus, the infamous rake, she had limited sexual knowledge. She knew the rudiments, but how to entice a man of such experience was beyond her. Her previous fumbling attempts hadn’t even warranted a raised eyebrow from Rufus.
She picked up the dress and held it against her. She frowned. If she didn’t know better she’d think Penny had altered the neckline. It seemed to have dropped a few inches.
She stood swaying, watching her reflection in the mirror. She could always ask Meg, but it was getting late and Meg had already left. She put the dress back on the bed and sighed. There was no time to indulge her appetite for carnal knowledge. Perhaps she should simply entice Rufus and let him lead her.
Then she remembered something—something she’d seen at the cove a few months ago—she put her hands to her face to try to cool the hot flush—something she’d tried hard to forget.
One day, over a month ago, she’d agreed to accompany Lady Hale to Margate, but the older woman came down with a headache and cried off. The day had been extremely humid, and on the way back from Hastingleigh, Rheda had decided to pop to her private cove for a swim.
She was halfway down the path when she spotted the couple on the beach. Daniel and his lover, Sarah, naked and engaged in lovemaking. She knew she shouldn’t watch, but they looked so beautiful together. Their naked bodies, almost lost against the backdrop of sparkling sea water, were intimately joined on the white sand.
She’d watched transfixed as Sarah straddled her brother and made love to him with her mouth. She’d never seen anything so erotic. Daniel’s groans filled the air as he sunk his hands in Sarah’s hair. She’d watched transfixed as Sarah’s tongue, lips, and mouth worked their magic.
A picture of Rufus naked on the sand flashed in her head. Rheda imagined straddling Rufus the way Sarah had her brother. She closed her eyes. She could almost feel his roughened skin beneath her lips—almost taste his manhood in her mouth. She let out a dreamy sigh. She found herself growing warm. Her breasts began to tingle, and she pressed her hands to them, remembering Rufus’s hot mouth suckling her.
Rheda smiled to herself, opened her eyes, and began to get ready for the ball. Suddenly, she longed for the opportunity to cross swords with Rufus. She’d like a chance to play with one sword in particular—his rather large sword. When she got him alone, she’d show him that she was just as expert at seduction. At least long enough to ensure tonight’s shipment landed without a hitch.
Of all the nights for a ball, this had to be the worst. There was a storm coming and it was almost a new moon. Rufus’s suspicious soul screamed that this evening was not simply about introducing him to Kent. Rheda was too smart to let such an opportunity go by. A storm, a ball to keep him busy, and a nearly new moon. The perfect night for smuggling.
His carriage trundled its way through the darkening Kent night, rocking violently in the rising wind. Black rolling clouds had turned the evening’s dimming light to gray earlier than was usual in late summer. A warning splatter of rain drummed on the carriage roof.
He knew both Revenuers and smugglers alike gave thanks for the fine weather they’d experienced over the past week, but they had known it wouldn’t last forever. Rufus had hoped it would last at least one more night. Once again he was disappointed.
As if to prove its point, the threatening storm issued a flash of lightning that lit the dim interior of the carriage. It was followed by thunder rumbling in the distance. The two distinguished gentlemen occupying the carriage viewed the storm’s arrival with increasing anger. Although they were dressed in formal evening attire, they looked as if they were off to war rather than the baron’s ball. The carriage bristled with pistols and swords.
“Blast it all,” Stephen muttered. “It looks like we are in for a squall. That won’t help.”
Rufus glanced at his friend. “No moon. Storm clouds. No light at all. Daniel could not have planned the night better.” The two men continued their journey in silence. Rufus knew no one would suspect the carriage carried two of England’s best spymasters. The baron was in for a surprise. Smugglers always used the new moon because it kept the night dark and did not illuminate the coastline.
Lady Hale had confessed it was Rheda’s idea to hold the ball when Rufus tried to cry off attending.
He leaned back against the squabs of his carriage, closed his eyes, and tried to ignore the adrenaline pumping hot and fast through his veins. His plan would work. His men were in place. The trap was set. The preparation had been meticulous, and he did not expect any problems. His Revenue men were hidden on Baron de Winter’s cliff tops near the reported landing area.
Rufus’s finely honed senses suggested the baron, young Daniel Kerrich, was Dark Shadow. Who else would Rheda vigorously try to protect. That was obviously why she was so staunch in her refusal to provide him with information until after the ball.
Tonight all they needed was to catch the baron, with his smuggling gang, in the act. Then the man would have no choice but to lead them to the spy, whether he liked it or not.
“Are you sure about tonight’s plan? The baron appears to be far too young, and Miss Kerrich has told you nothing?” Stephen liked to double-check everything; that’s why Rufus favored working with him.
“We paid a lot of money to learn that he was the likely candidate.”
Stephen continued, “Informants have been known to take the money and flee, especially if they are mistaken.”
Uncrossing his legs, Rufus dryly responded, “Ardale is one of Alex’s men. He makes his livelihood from selling information. Trust me, if he says the baron is Dark Shadow, then he is.”
With a wan smile, Rufus knew the ball they were on their way to would be the perfect diversion. The baron sought to distract them by holding a reception in Rufus’s honor. With a wry smile he welcomed the opportunity to keep an eye on their target. However, the baron probably had other plans. Perhaps even to divert a notorious rake with womanly charms.
He pulled at his cuffs, refusing to admit that a certain woman added to his already tight-as-a-drawn-crossbow nerves. Since their previous interlude he could not get Rheda out of his head. He could still taste her.
He shifted uncomfortably on his seat and reminded himself that she was party to smuggling, and worse, treason. Besides, she was far too forward and opinionated. He pictured her delicate face and feline eyes. Yes, she was too much of a wild cat.
His mouth set. He shouldn’t be thinking of Rheda. Nothing and no one came before his mission of restoring his family’s honor.
As if reading his thoughts, Stephen interrupted, “It’s Miss Kerrich I am concerned about. We have been unable to ascertain her situation in all of this. Still, I think it hardly likely that a young woman would be involved in smuggling.”
Rufus let out a mild oath. “Do not underestimate the woman. You of all people must have noticed she is not your conventional demure lady. There is something uncultivated and uncontrollable about her. And even more dangerous than that, she has a brain.”
Why a woman so bereft of life’s social graces should set his pulse racing at the mere sight of her confused him. He was not immune to a woman’s beauty—far from it. He would admit to bedding countless women over the years, but only those who knew the game—no innocents or unmarried young ladies. And self-preservation meant he avoided any woman who might make him forget who he was and how he should conduct himself.
A woman like Miss Kerrich.
Rufus played with his cravat, his finger pulling at his neck. It seemed awfully tight tonight.
Stephen chuckled. “I agree Miss Kerrich is not your usual young lady. Few resounding beauties reached the age of five and twenty unmarried. Not for want of offers, either. Did you know she has declined several marriage offers from Christopher over the past eight years? And, given her younger brother’s purported need for funds, I find that very intriguing.”
In the dark interior of the carriage Rufus replied dryly, “Miss Kerrich’s perfectly capable of looking out for herself. Who do you think raised the young baron after their father’s death? Holding on to his inheritance until he came of age has no doubt meant she has ended up a bit unconventional.”
“Well, I never thought I would see this day—the honorable Lord Strathmore making excuses for improper behavior! I wonder what has caused this mellowing in your standards. Her beauty perhaps?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“She has got to you!” Suddenly, Stephen’s voice grew serious. “Don’t get so caught up in her at the ball that you let the vixen sway you from tonight’s mission. I know what a woman of such comely charms can do to a man’s senses. And you of all people know the danger.”
Rufus gave a wicked laugh. “Stephen, I carry the scar from the only woman I was naive enough to let deceive me. If Rheda is involved in this treachery, I won’t raise a hand to save her.”
“You have been spending a lot of time on a woman you have no interest in saving.”
“It was for the mission,” he said gruffly. “I was trying to learn about her brother, see if she would let anything slip. But she was far too clever for that.”
Stephen replied, “Of course, I am sorry. Here I was thinking she had turned your head. I should have known after your last mission you’d be well able to resist even such a delectable temptation as our Miss Kerrich.”
Rufus could not see the smug smile on Stephen’s face, but his friend’s tone indicated his concern. Under his breath Rufus declared, “A woman is of no importance tonight. Even Daniel’s barony won’t save him if Ardale is correct.” He rechecked his gun. With a voice as cold as the steel in his hand he added for Stephen’s benefit, “I will capture him, and he will tell us what I need to know.”
The carriage came to a halt in front of Tumsbury Cliff Manor. Stephen opened the door to a steady torrent of rain.
“Damn, we shall get wet through before we even get inside. We shall have to run.”
Before Rufus could respond, Stephen donned his thick coat and ran for the entrance.