Page 12 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge (Safely in Scotland #3)

G ood God, Reese had been seconds from kissing the woman. No, not simply kissing her, but claiming her. For he was short on control as she spoke of her nights spent bathing in moonlight and nothing more.

He imagined the way she would pin the mass of her hair up so it wouldn’t get wet, only to have the weight of it fall down her back to curl in the water.

He envisioned the way her nipples would tighten as she descended into the cool, dark lake.

And then the way the moisture would make trails down her skin as she stood.

Each droplet merging with another as they traced their way along each glorious curve.

He’d grown hard just thinking of it. He was grateful she was studying his face or she would have clearly seen the way his breeches failed him and modesty.

Since they’d spoken yesterday of the things she wanted in a mate, Reese had been making his own mental list of his criteria. Willing to swim naked during the summer evenings was now at the top of his list.

He’d already been amused to think of her riding in men’s breeches. He’d done his best to downplay his interest in such a thing. For imagining her arse being caressed in a saddle in tight-fitting fabric had stirred him.

He’d made a grave error to taunt her. She had clearly won.

“If you’ll excuse me,” he said abruptly and turned for the house, leaving her there in the garden.

She’d been pleased that her ankle would hold her, which meant she could find her way back to the house without his assistance.

It was still rude for him not to provide escort back to the house, but ruder still would be for her to catch a glimpse of how she had affected him.

Stealing into the entrance of his study from the terrace, he pressed against his aching cock as if that would make it go away.

Closing his eyes tightly he conjured a memory of when he was a boy and was forced to eat haggis.

It hadn’t gone well for him. The memory was just horrible enough to cool his blood.

When he’d reigned himself into control, he exited the study for the front of the house to greet his guest.

“Albert?” Reese said having recognized the man who was handing Finch his hat and coat.

“Reese! How do you fare? How’s the leg?” the man asked.

He knew about Reese’s run-in with Merrick.

Not only because he was an agent himself, but because he was there that night on the docks when Reese had been shot.

He’d been the one who had found him and taken him to the surgeon, saving Reese’s life.

He owed the man more than a hearty greeting, but that’s what he could offer at the moment. At least until he’d learned why the man had come.

“What brings you this far north?”

“Your letter to the home office. I was sent to intercept the Zephyr in Inverness. That’s where it’s moored, yes?”

“Aye. That’s where it was headed eight days ago.

I’d imagine it is still there.” The man must have ridden as if the devil was chasing him to get here so quickly, but it was nothing Reese wouldn’t have done himself back in his days as an agent.

“It would not be a quick thing to offload smuggled brandy and whatever other contraband fills its holds. Please tell me there is more than just you on this mission.”

Albert chuckled.

“Yes. Evershire and Willard have ridden on ahead to gather men in Inverness. Hopefully, we’re not too late. The man is like the mist.”

“Merrick will also be waiting there to receive a ransom for the lady. He will not be leaving until it arrives.”

“Even though he no longer has her?”

“I’m sure he’d think her dead after she jumped overboard.”

Albert nodded his agreement. “She’s a brave one. Many a miss would have cowered in a corner. I’d like to interview her. Learn how she escaped.”

“We can ask, but if she is uncomfortable discussing it, I’ll not allow her to be upset.”

“Of course,” Albert agreed. But Reese saw the flare of curiosity in the man’s eyes.

He’d held the same desire for knowledge when he’d been the one asking the important questions.

It was an easy thing to forget how fragile a person could be during the retelling of something distressing.

He’d been guilty of it many times in his search for information.

He’d not allow Harlow to be pressured into sharing more than she wished.

“If she refuses, that is the end of it.”

“Of course,” Albert repeated and gave a nod as well.

“My mother is in residence as Lady Harlow’s chaperone. You may not see her during your visit, but the lady’s reputation will not be called into question, do you understand?” If the man didn’t hear the threat in the tone of Reese’s voice, he surely saw it in the cock of his brow.

“I believe I did see your mother in an upstairs window as I was coming down the drive,” the agent said though Reese was certain the man had never even met his mother so even if she had been at Slains he’d not know it.

Albert only wanted the information needed to capture Merrick; anything else was irrelevant.

But there was one more thing Reese needed to address.

“And you’ll not tell her of my being an agent.”

“You aren’t an agent anymore. Nothing to tell,” Albert said surely with a nod.

With a nod of his own, Reese went to get Harlow.

*

After the earl’s abrupt departure in the gardens, Harlow and Belle had finished their walk and were sitting on the terrace. She wasn’t sure where Reese would take his guest to visit, and Harlow didn’t want to be seen at Slains Castle with no chaperone.

It would be a miracle if she could make it home with her reputation intact, but she would do her best not to make any reckless mistakes that would otherwise seal their fate.

For if Harlow was publicly ruined, her father would demand Reese marry her. Something she couldn’t bear. Neither of them wanted to be forced to wed. She’d not be the cause of such an outcome.

She was seated on a bench, rubbing Belle behind the ears the way the dog seemed to like best when the earl came out through his study.

He didn’t speak until he sat next to her, taking up rubbing the dog’s other ear.

“There is a man here. His name is Albert. He’s an agent with the Home Office, sent here to look for Captain Merrick and take him into custody for crimes against the Crown.”

“I see,” she said, glad her voice didn’t tremble.

For she didn’t see. She’d never been mixed up in such serious things before.

The Home Office, agents, treasonous captains that kidnap innocent women…

It was all the stuff of novels. But she was living it now.

She focused on Reese’s face as he continued.

“He would like to question you about the events that brought you here. I told him only that I would ask. No one will make you, do you understand?”

She nodded and opened her mouth to explain that she’d be more than pleased to help bring the captain to justice if not for the danger to her reputation, but Reese spoke as if he already knew what worried her.

“He’s been sworn to secrecy regarding the nature of your visit here. I assured him my mother was in residence, and he has agreed. No one will know any differently, I promise ye. But it is still up to you if you wish to speak of what happened.”

“I can do it. If it means having the man stopped. I want to help.”

“I thought ye might. You’re a brave lass.” He looked out over the grounds before looking back at her. “I will stay with you while you tell him the story. But if you were to speak of your uncle’s part in this, he would surely be arrested.”

Harlow looked up at him to see what he thought of this, but he gave nothing away.

“If Uncle Edgar is arrested, he wouldn’t be able to come here. I’d not get to see him again. Not get to hear him explain himself or see him beg for forgiveness he will never get.”

“He would likely be dealt with along with Merrick. It is likely to be a severe punishment, Harlow. I want to make sure you understand what could happen.”

She understood. But there was something else she had wondered and needed to know before she went any further.

“It may be some time yet until he arrives. When I first planned revenge, I didn’t give much thought that you might not want me here so long. With my ankle recovered, I could return home.”

He nodded slowly without looking at her.

“You are welcome to stay in my home for as long as you wish. I’d not cast ye out no matter the length of your stay and surely not after you’ve been back on your feet for less than a day.”

She nodded. It was what she had expected any gentleman to offer. But he hadn’t said he wished her to stay. Was that because he wanted it to be her decision or because he truly didn’t care.

“I will tell ye,” he said looking her in the eye.

“There is something to be said for getting closure on this event. You had no control over how you ended up on that ship, but you can take that back now. My leg… well, the person who did it got away, and I think the matter bothers me more because I wasn’t able to see it through.

That’s why I’ll help ye with whatever you need. ”

This time when she nodded she was more resolute.

If she were not so set on seeing her uncle again and making him explain why he’d let her be taken, she might have been content to allow the authorities to handle it.

But she needed to know why he’d betrayed her in such a painful way.

She needed to look him in the eye while he told her the truth.

“I wish to handle him myself. I need to have my chance.”

He nodded. “If you can relay the facts without mention of Polk it would serve your plans better. Try to keep to the truth as much as possible.”

After a deep breath she took the hand he held out to help her up. She slid her arm over his so he could lead her inside, where she would give a stranger every detail of the worst moments of her life.

She closed her eyes for a second and gathered her strength around her. She would do this so no one else would fall victim to that monster.