With a toss of her hair, she swiveled on her heel. “Fine, let us return. But do not expect me to bake you any more delicious bread.”
Drake grinned as she stomped on ahead, even as his heart sank to his feet. He’d keep his distance from now on. Knight had been right—he was no good for her.
Chapter Sixteen
“Coo-ee.”
Julianna snapped her attention to Louisa who was waving a hand in front of her face, and grimaced. She clutched the broom and began sweeping again. “Forgive me.”
“Are you well?” The innkeeper paused, a tray of ales in hand. “You have been strange ever since yesterday.”
Julianna forced a smile. “I am fine.”
Louisa gave her a disbelieving look but shrugged. “Far be it for me to interfere, but you know where I am if you need to talk.”
“I am fine,” she repeated. “I promise.”
She was. Really. Even though she knew John was out there, hunting for her. Even though she was falling in love with an utter rogue. Even though she had run away from home and was working as a maid in an inn. She was utterly, utterly fine. And that was the strange thing of it. Her chest was full and her head, giddy. She could not stop recalling Drake’s mouth on hers or how his eyes darkened every time he looked at her.
Yesterday, she had seen a side to him she doubted anyone knew. He’d been vulnerable and frustrated. And all she had wanted to do was wrap herself around him and tell him everything would be all right. After everything he’d done for her, it was the least she could do.
Though, where the blasted man was, she did not know. Considering he’d vowed to protect her from John, he was doing a fine job of steering clear of the inn.
She glanced up when the door opened, her heart doing a little jig before sinking. Not Drake. Two men entered and headed toward the bar, followed by Knight. He spotted her and came straight over.
“Do you have a moment?”
She nodded. “A quick one, though. We are getting busier.”
Knight drew her out into the stairway and shut the door to the taproom behind him. “I have a solution, a way to keep you safe from John.”
“I cannot help hope he has returned home already and given up.”
“If I know John, he will not. And if he does not, it could be our father. I will do everything in my power to protect you, Julianna, but you need to be gone from here.”
“Gone?”
“I have an acquaintance who will take you in—the Countess of Redmere. The countess has family in Hampshire. She can take you there and keep you safe.”
“Hampshire? No. It is too close to London. Too close to people who might know me.”
“The countess will not be taking you out into London society. She has an aunt who can look after you out in the country. No one will know you are there apart from the earl and I.”
She scowled. “Why would this countess wish to help me anyway?”
“I am...friends with her husband, as you well know.”
“So I am to just wait in Hampshire for how long?”
“For as long as it takes me to organize a match.”
“A match?”
Creases appeared between his brows. “Yes, Julianna, a match. A good one. With a man who can offer you protection. Once you are married, neither John nor our father can touch you. You will be another man’s property.”
“Property? But...” A multitude of thoughts flurried through her mind. She could not leave here, she was happy. She liked Cornwall. She did not even mind the work. And how could she...how could she leave Drake? No, it was impossible.
“I will ensure he is a good man, I promise.”
She eyed her brother and folded her arms. “No.”
“No?”
“I’m not leaving. I like it here. Besides, I am surely safer here with you and...and Drake.”
Knight narrowed his eyes. “Drake?”
She avoided his gaze. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said softly.
“This is all about him, is it not?” Knight’s voice rose. “Drake? You want to stay with that man?”
Her gaze shot to his. “So what if I do?”
“I already told you to stay away from him.” He thrust a finger at her.
“You might be my brother, but you cannot dictate my life to me. I came to you for help, not to have you act like our father and order me about!”
“I am ordering you about for good reason. Do you not think that I want the best for you? Trust me, Julianna, Drake is not what is best for you.”
“How do you know? You do not know him like I do, you do not—”
“He’s a smuggler, Julianna.”
The words cracked through the narrow corridor, beating a path directly to her heart. It gave a painful judder.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice fragile.
Knight sighed. “He’s a smuggler. We both are. Believe me when I say I know Drake well enough.”
“But...”
“I would not lie to you.”
Julianna stared at her brother. It explained many things. Why he wanted her gone from here. How Drake appeared to have money yet did little work. Why her brother was always vanishing. The man who had wanted Drake to take him to France must have known too.
“Why...why did you not tell me?” she demanded.
“You were better off not knowing. Then you could deny all should you ever be asked.”
“Because you are criminals.”
“There is risk involved, yes.”
“Why would you do such a thing? Smugglers are...they are terrible people.”
Knight shrugged. “We hurt no one, I can promise you that. But there are little opportunities for disgraced gentlemen to make money. This was a fine one.”
“I do not know how you can be so calm about this, how you can think this is fine!”
“I’m not arguing with you. You can understand why I want you far from here now, can you not? Have your belongings packed by tomorrow and I shall escort you to the countess.”
“But, Knight—”
“Do not argue with me, Julianna. Be ready.”
Julianna stared at the door as it slammed shut. She clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms. How could her brother lie to her? How could Drake? They both had plenty of opportunity to tell her. To think she had been feeling...well, it did not matter. Drake had lied. After everything they had talked about yesterday, why had he not told her?
Well, he would lie to her no longer. As soon as her work was over, she was going to march down to his ship and demand an explanation. She was tired of these men keeping secrets and trying to tell her what do. First, she would get Drake to tell her the truth and then...well, she did not know yet, but it would not involve her brother making a match for her. She had not come all the way to Cornwall only to have her fate dictated to her once more.
Chapter Seventeen
Drake paused halfway through pouring a whiskey and eyed the amber liquid mournfully. He stared at the door to his ship’s quarters and straightened when the footsteps came to a stop. The door burst open.
“Julianna?” He hadn’t been sure who it might be but he sure as hell had not expected Julianna to barrel into his quarters tonight—or any night for that matter. After what he’d told her, she should be keeping her distance.
“Why did you not tell me?”
She stormed into the room. Her hair was caught up in a wild knot of black silken strands. Several skimmed her cheeks. Her cloak billowed out around her as she stomped across the room at the rear of the ship. He stood behind his desk, not far from the windows. She covered the space in mere seconds to thrust a finger at him. “Why did you lie to me? Did you find it amusing? Me ranting away when you knew that you were a smuggler all along?”
“Ah.” He lowered the crystal decanter to the table and faced her head on.
“Yes, ah. How could you not say anything?”
He folded his arms. “What did you wish me to say?�
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“That...that you were a smuggler!” Two bright blotches of red blazed on her cheeks, highlighted by the golden glow of lamps. “You should have told me. If you had, I would have... I would never...that is...”
“Would have? Would never have?” he taunted, letting a smirk dance on his lips. At least if she was furious with him, she’d leave him in peace.
She opened her mouth then shut it, balling her fists at her sides before lifting her chin. “How could you involve my brother in this? He could be hung.”
Drake made a dismissive noise. “No one will hang him. You two are from money after all, are you not?”
“That is beside the point. And my father would never save him from the gallows. He’d likely take delight in his disowned son dangling from a rope,” she spat.
“Do you really believe I could persuade Knight to do something he does not wish to do?”
“I...” She huffed out a breath. “You must have. Knight is a good man.”
“And I am not,” he finished for her.
“Apparently not. To think that I thought...” She shook her head. “It does not matter now.”
“Whatever you thought, you thought wrong, Princess. I’m a smuggler.” He spread his arms. “Through and through.”
She peered at him. “You have no defense for yourself?”
He lifted his shoulders. “I like money. Smuggling makes money.”
“Who else is involved?” she demanded. “Who else have you dragged into this?”
“As I said, I did not drag anyone into this. Knight joined us of his own free will.”
“Us? There’s more, is there not?” She paused. “The men you spend time with...” she lifted a hand to her mouth. “Not the earl surely?”
Drake forced a laugh. “Of course not.”
Her eyes widened. “He’s involved. Good lord, you involved an earl in your smuggling? But why? Everyone thinks so well of him—he cannot need the money surely. And his wife? Does she know?”
“Princess—”
“What of Louisa? Does she know you are all smugglers? Does she know you’re putting her at risk?”
“Princess,” he warned again.
“I have to warn her, I have to—”
“Julianna, damn it.” He grabbed her arm and tugged her into him. “You will tell no one.”
She wriggled against his hold. “If you are doing something wrong, I have a duty to inform the authorities.”
Drake groaned inwardly. The damned fool woman was going to put them all in danger. He pushed a hand through his hair and tugged out a chair. “You came here for an explanation, did you not? Now sit and I’ll explain.”
She opened her mouth to protest then apparently changed her mind and sat. Staring up at him, she opened her palms. “Go on then. Explain how you became a smuggler. Explain why you have entangled good men and women in your mess.”
He eyed the untouched whiskey and moved back to lean against the window frame. As much as a good stiff drink would help, he did not need Julianna thinking he was drunk and speaking falsehoods.
“Many of the locals know of the smuggling. Most do not know the Earl of Redmere or his brother are involved.”
“Louisa knows?”
He nodded. “And assists at times to hide us or our goods from the customs men.”
“But why would she put herself at risk like that? I know Louisa, she’s a good woman, she would never—”
He held up a finger. “Will you let me explain or not?”
She folded her arms across her chest. “Fine.”
“Red—the earl—put together our small group because his brother could not get a commission as he had always hoped.”
She scowled. “That makes no sense.”
“Princess,” he said, “you have no patience. It makes perfect sense.” He gestured to the ship. “This is all owned by the earl. Under the pretense of shipping goods, we also smuggle. And under the pretense of smuggling goods, we also aid the war effort.”
“The war effort?”
“Information, spies and goods need to be snuck into France on a regular basis. Smugglers still operate in France, particularly with the embargos on French wine and goods. You can hardly arrive on the French coast as a merchant...but you can as a smuggler.”
“So...you are a captain, who ships goods”—she ticked the words off on her fingers—“who pretends to be a smuggler. Who also really does smuggle, but at the same time you take spies and the like to France.”
Drake chuckled. “Well, when you say it like that...”
“So the earl recruited you?”
“He knew of me from a friend. A washed-up captain with little to do with his time and a fortune lost to the winds. He gave me a purpose and a way to continue to help.”
“And this is endorsed by the government?”
“Endorsed is a strong word. If we were discovered, they would deny all knowledge.”
She stared at her hands for a moment then lifted her head. “Why did you not just tell me all of this?”
He smirked. “Would you have thought any better of me? What was it you said about smugglers? That they are the dirt of the earth?”
“Yes, but you are doing something good.” Julianna stood and came around the desk. “I wish you’d told me,” she said softly.
He shook his head. “I could not. It is not just my secret to tell. The lives of the men who man my ship and your brother and Nate and Red are in my hands too. All you could have known was that I smuggle, and where would that put me in your estimation?” He ran a hand over his bristled chin. “No better than your fiancé, I’d wager.”
“He is not my fiancé. He never will be,” she said determinedly. Eyeing him, her gaze softened. “I suppose you are right. If I had known, I never would have—” She paused and glanced away.
“Never would have?”
She looked back at him, a gentle smile curving the edges of her lips. “Fallen for a rogue.”
A flourish of triumph burst through him, making his heart soar. He tried to summon a response, but his mind wanted to take the time to wrap itself around the words. Julianna had fallen for him. Or was falling for him. Or...well, whatever it was, it was enough. He was a fool to ever push her away. He needed the woman more than air. More than the damned sea.
“You mean that?” He stepped close, narrowing the gap between them.
She licked her lips and nodded, lifting her chin to look him directly in the eye. There was trepidation there, a tiny tremor in her body, but not a glimmer of a lie. Courage and determination shone brightly in her gaze. Christ, how he loved this woman.
He curved a hand over her cheek and she closed her eyes, offering herself to him. Drake eyed those petal-pink lips, took in the fan of her dark lashes across her cheeks. He could hardly believe he deserved such an offering, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to take it. Julianna had burst into his life and twisted him upside down and inside out.
“I’ve never met a woman like you,” he murmured.
“Just kiss me,” she said, eyes still closed.
He chuckled and lowered his mouth to hers. He let his lips skim hers, following the curve of her lips and dancing from corner to corner. Hand to her other cheek, he cradled her face and tilted his head to lay his mouth fully over hers. She released a satisfied sigh.
He kissed her again, harder this time. Julianna wound her hands around his neck which closed the gap between them for good. Her lithe body aligned with his, making him groan. She opened her mouth to him and teased him with her tongue.
Drake took what she offered, clasping her to him and kissing her fiercely. She tasted better than the finest whiskey. Every kiss added satisfaction while stoking the fire in his belly and sealing in his mind something he’d known for a while—he could never get enough of her.
Rocking her hips into him, she spread her hands down his back. A shudder ripped through him when she found the hem of his shirt and pressed her hands up and under, her soft finger
s working over his muscles. His arousal grew agonizing.
He drew back, slowing the kiss until he could pull away and rest his forehead against hers. He rubbed a thumb across her cheek. “Julianna...Christ...”
“Why did you stop?”
“Because your kisses make me addled, Princess. I cannot think straight.”
“Nor can I,” she admitted.
“I might be a rogue, but I would not take advantage.”
“How are you taking advantage, Drake? I am here, willingly. You know that you could never force me to do anything I do not wish to do.”
He smiled. “Yes, I do know that.”
“Then take me to bed.”
He considered saying no. Considered trying to be a gentleman. But the rogue in him could not deny her. He swept her up into his arms, kicked open the door to his bedroom quarters and laid her down on the bed. She fit perfectly against the red and white sheets, her dark hair splayed about her. She watched him as he laid down beside her, angling himself on one hip to view and fully appreciate her.
Running a finger down her nose, across her lips, along her neck and pausing at the dip of her breasts, he shook his head to himself.
“What is it?” she asked.
“You are too fine for me.”
“Nonsense.”
“It is true. I cannot fathom how a man like me deserves such a woman.”
“Enough talking.” She put a finger to his lips and pushed him back with a hand.
Drake pulled her roughly onto his lap as she slid over him. A growl escaped him at the feel of her soft body under his hands and the heat of her juncture against his agonizing erection. His fragile thread of self-control was on the brink of snapping.
Sitting, he thrust hands under her hair, tugging until the ribbon around it loosened and sent silken strands spilling over her shoulders. He put hot kisses to her neck then he pressed his lips to hers and she gasped.
He gripped her tightly as her hands wound around his neck in an attempt to pull herself closer. As his tongue tasted hers, he worked his hands up her body, brushing against her breasts. She whimpered. He stroked her hardened nipple and released a groan as he relished the feel of her soft breasts.
Waiting for a Rogue Like You (Rogues of Redmere) Page 11