Page 82 of Desires of a Duke Collection

No matter how many times Hannah yawned or rubbed her eyes, she could not rid herself of the fog brought on by lack of sleep. She peered at the bright sunshine that split the clouds for a moment before vanishing again. At least the weather had dried up and the clouds were white and fluffy with little threat of rain. The white puffs cast shadows over the headland that stretched out in front of them.

She and Red had ventured out in the early hours, both unable to sleep after their adventures the previous night. He strode ahead, following the worn grooves left by the carriages that ventured along the coast. Here the cliffs didn’t drop but rather rolled down a steep slope to the sea. Beneath, the waves washed over a sandy beach. A chill was still in the air, but it did not stop her wanting to slip down the hill and bury her feet in the sand and perhaps even close her eyes and sleep the day away.

However, the stone that Red carried forced away thoughts of relaxing and catching up on sleep. They had to get it to safety before anything else happened. With the luck they were having, she feared it might end up damaged or lost or something else terrible. The plan was to find transport at the next town then hopefully make enough progress to sleep in a more comfortable inn tonight.

Red strode ahead with the stone tucked under one arm. His greatcoat was slung over one shoulder, and he carried his luggage with ease. She envied the strength in those broad shoulders and arms. It frustrated her that she needed to rely on a man to help her with the stone.

Those arms…

A sigh escaped her. She scowled at herself. She had never, ever sighed over a man.

It didn’t help she now understood fully the strength in those arms. Hannah’s frown deepened. Did it matter if he was strong? Did it matter if it felt absurdly good to be in his arms? Why should she care about such things? It wasn’t logical. She enjoyed intellect in men and manners and… well not strength and arrogance and the many other traits that made up Red.

“Miss St. John?”

She realized she had slowed her pace to almost nothing in her contemplative state. She hastened to catch up.

“Are you tired?”

Hannah shook her head and clamped her jaw shut as she fought an encroaching yawn.

“We’re only about three miles from town. It should not take us long.”

She heard his unspoken words—if she kept up with him.

“I am perfectly well, I promise. I will not hold you up.”

"Never fear, Miss St. John, we shall have you in a comfortable carriage before long.”

“You have me marked as a pampered woman, do you not? Surely it is you who is the pampered one, considering your position?”

“An heir to a title is never pampered, let me assure you of that. He’s forced to grow up very quickly.”

“So you did not live a comfortable life?”

He smirked. “Comfortable, yes. I have every benefit afforded to me by wealth and do not think I am not aware of that, Miss St. John. However, a first son is cast into the flames as soon as he’s able to walk.”

“You make it sound as though your childhood was hard.” She eyed his profile, aware she was being thoroughly rude with her curiosity, but considering his behavior so far and the various…er…situations they had been in, she was fairly certain they were past worrying about manners.

Besides, he fascinated her. People seldom did. She was much more interested in history and the evidence of it left behind for people to discover than the fickleness of individuals. However, Red was entirely unlike anyone she had ever met.

Her father was connected with several high-ranking men of society through his studies, and it was not unusual for them to have an earl or a viscount over for dinner at their manor house. She might only be the daughter of a baron, but she had experienced plenty of time in the company of men like Red.

And yet they were so unlike him.

She wanted to study this new specimen. Understand him better.

For purely scientific purposes of course.

“My father was an excellent man. My brother and I were content and well-looked after. I merely mean to point out that it is not all a bed of roses being the heir to a title.”

“If your life was so excellent, why turn to crime?”

He stilled and threw her an amused look. “And here I thought you had forgotten what I was for a moment.”

“Did you wish me to?”

“Not at all,” he said, his voice deadpan. “But you are terribly fond of ordering me about like a servant. I had wondered if you had forgotten my fearsome reputation.”

She clutched her bag to her. “Are you trying to scare me?”

“If I was, there would be little point now. We are stuck together, Miss St. John, for better or worse, until this blasted stone is gone.”

“Good. Because you don’t.”

He glanced at her again, amusement tugging up his lips.

Hannah almost hated that look. It was patronizing and frustrating. She was not here to amuse him nor was she here as some silly little girl who could not possibly understand his way of life. She had been in the adult world for quite some time and had experienced a lot of life through her father. Why, he had trusted her to fend for herself since she was a girl of three and ten as he travelled the world. She was not some innocent chit who knew nothing of life.

“I think I could scare you if I wished.” He paused to place down the stone, readjust the wrapping, and move his bag to his other arm.

“Fear is illogical. It is based on the unknown. Humans fear change and difference, and things we do not understand. All one needs to do is take the time to study what it is one fears and inevitably the fear vanishes.”

“Like rats? Have you studied rats?”

She lowered her bag and gave her arms a little stretch. “I do not have a fear of rats, but they are disease-carrying creatures. Of course I do not want one running around the same room as me. That is entirely logical.”

“Logical...illogical...do you ever feel something without weighing up if it is rational of you to do so?”

“Of course. I am human, after all.”

Red’s gaze flickered over her face, landing briefly on her lips. Fleetingly but long enough for her to notice the action. That same thick air had followed them over the hills. It swirled about them like a current, which was ridiculous because there should only be the fresh breeze coming from the sea, ripe with salt and seaweed. Instead, as he took one step closer, they were blanketed in a hot current. It made her skin warm and her cheeks heat, her mouth dry and her limbs heavy.

As he took another step, bringing them almost chest to chest, she lifted her gaze and felt her eyelids flutter. Her heart beat so fiercely it was like a war drum. Surely the whole of Cornwall could hear it and would come running to her aid at any moment? Just exactly what was he doing?

He jerked forward suddenly, as though he was about to land his lips upon hers and a sound escaped her. What that sound was, she could hardly say. A squeak like a mouse perhaps, or even a sort of an oh sound. Whatever it was, it had been what he wanted.

Red took two steps back and gathered the stone. “You are scared of me.”

She ran her tongue across her dry lips. “I am not.” Her words were breathy.

But true. Entirely and completely true. That was not fear making her jolt or release nonsensical sounds. Terror did not make her body feel as though it had separated from her and she was no longer in control. She had seen the evidence and weighed it in her mind. She was wildly attracted to this inappropriate man.

“If you say so.” He gave a knowing grin, except she was certain he had little idea what was really behind her reaction, and she had no intention of admitting to anything either.

If it served his ego to believe he intimidated her, let him believe it. All she needed from the Earl of Redmere was some strong arms and protection. Did it matter if he mistook her desire for something else?

No. And it was probably better that he did. After all, he was a smuggler, known across Cornwall for his criminal ways. Who knew what he would do if he understood she had hoped he would follow through on his threat and kiss her?

“Are you done now?” she demanded. “We have little time to waste.”

He hefted up the stone and nodded. “Come then, Miss St. John. I will do your bidding once more.”

“I am paying you,” she reminded him. “Handsomely.”

He snorted. “I could bring in more money with another shipment and in half the time.”

“The money is important to you? Is your estate so very expensive to run?”

“You really are a bold woman, are you not? Did your father never teach you that such matters are not for women’s ears.”

“Never. He always taught me to ask questions, regardless of my sex. A quiet woman never learns anything.”

“A quiet woman never gets thrown off a cliff either,” he muttered.

Hannah ignored the grumbled threat. If he was only used to meek and mild ladies, it was about time he met someone who was not intimidated by him. “My father never had time for the ridiculous rules of society and neither do I.”

“You mean he never took the time to teach you them.”

“It is true he was an extremely busy man. If I could not accompany him, I remained at home. But I certainly do not think I missed out on anything by being encouraged to speak up and ask questions.”

“Marriage,” Red said.

“Pardon?”

“You will likely miss out on marriage.”

Hannah laughed. “From what I can see, there is little to be missed out on. Why would I want a man who wishes me to be silent and stupid as my husband?”

“All women want marriage, do they not? I cannot think you are that different from the rest of your sex, Miss St. John.”

“Just as all earls want an heir, I suppose, and yet you do not have one.”

“I haven’t had the time to find a wife.”

“Or the inclination.”

He chuckled. “Perhaps.”

“Of course, I cannot imagine many women will want to marry a smuggler, titled or not.”

“You take a great deal of interest in my affairs, Hannah.”

Her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine. “As do you with mine, my lord.” She emphasized the last two words, drawing them out pointedly. “But if we are to spend over a week in each other’s company, I see no harm in getting to know one another.”

“I think you’re simply a curious chit. You cannot fool me that you genuinely want to get to know me.”

“Curiosity is not a bad thing. If it were not for curiosity, you would still be living in a drafty old castle instead of a stately home with nothing but tallow candles for company.”

“Curiosity is not an attractive trait in women.”

She gave him a pointed look. “You sound just like an etiquette book.”

“Well my governess shall be pleased. Perhaps something sank in all those years ago. However, I will concede that curiosity is not always a bad thing. Unless it is coming from a determined woman after my fortune and my title.”

“Well you need not fear. I am after neither.”

He stopped and glanced her over. “Excellent. Then you may ask me anything you like.”

“Why smuggling? Are you truly poor? When did you start? Does anyone else know about it? Are you not scared you will get caught?”

Red’s laughter caused her to stop. “Anything else?”

“Absolutely. But that will do for now.”

“I am not poor. I purchased the ship some three years ago. Once I’d gathered my crew, we began trading within a few months. Small shipments at first, but they have become larger of late. Louisa, the innkeeper, knows of our activities. There may be a few others, but they benefit well enough to keep quiet. To most people in Penshallow, I am entirely respectable. And no, I am not scared.”

“Because they will never hang an earl?”

“Well, that too but there are other reasons.”

“What other reasons?”

He sighed. “You know what, Miss St. John...” He held up a hand. “Hannah. I have wearied of your questions. Perhaps we can concentrate on getting to the next town, and when I am rested, I will answer some more.”

Hannah scowled and opened her mouth to press further but closed it at his dark look. There was more to this smuggling than simply gaining riches, that was clear, but what was it and would he let her in on the secret? The facts about Red did not all align and more than anything, she wanted to know why.