The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor by Scott, Regina (christmas read aloud txt) 📗

right to propose sosoon. He’d spoken to Elizabeth no more than three times since being introduced.What, was he a fortune hunter?

That frown his sister called prodigious must have appearedon his face, for Donner paled.

“Certainly, sir,” Rob said. “Elizabeth, if you would leaveus a moment.”

His sister rose and gave Donner a polite smile beforecrossing in front of him. Her gaze met Rob’s, pointed. She needn’t haveworried. He had no intention of turning her over to a stranger. Few were in hisfather’s league for dispensing stern words to suitors, but Rob would do what hemust to protect his sister.

Donner followed her to the door, then shut it, and Robtensed further.

“Is there some need for secrecy, sir?” he demanded as Donnerpassed him again.

He thought the fellow would resume his seat on the sofa, butthe bounder had the audacity to move to the window and draw the drapes!

“Forgive me, my lord,” he said, as if that could erase thehigh-handed offense. “But I will take no chances that our conversation is seenor overheard.”

Rob raised a brow as Donner turned to face him. “Is theresome reason your pursuit of my sister must be a state secret?” he asked.

Donner flamed. “I am not pursuing your sister. That is,” hehurried on when Rob narrowed his eyes at him, “I would be beyond delighted ifyour sister were to return half the admiration I feelfor her. But my purpose in calling today was for a moment of your time.”

Rob crossed his arms over his chest. “Why?”

Donner reached into his dove grey morning coat, removed a foldedpiece of parchment, and held it out to him. “I am an agent of the War Office,sent to Grace-by-the-Sea to ferret out a smuggling ring connected to ourenemies in France.”

Rob accepted the parchment and gave it a quick read. Theletter from the War Office seemed official, down to its Royal seal and lordlysignature, but such things could have been fabricated.

“Will the Earl of Howland and Mr. Howland, the magistrate,vouch for you?” Rob asked him, handing back the letter.

Donner shook his head as he accepted it. “No. Neither knowsmy true purpose. I was advised not to trust either of them, northe Riding Surveyor, Mr. Denby.”

Denby? That must be Hester’s brother. Rob couldn’t help hischuckle. “And you were advised to trust me? I fear for the war effort.”

The so-called agent frowned. “Your father and brother werestaunch supporters of Mr. Pitt and the King.”

“They certainly were,” Rob agreed. “But I have more incommon with our charming Heir Apparent than his father.”

Donner’s frown only grew. “Then you refuse to help?”

“I didn’t say that.” Rob sat and nodded Donner back onto thesofa. “I am Viscount Peverell now. Of course I will do my duty. I’m merelysurprised that you doubt the same would be said of the Howlands or Mr. Denby.”

Donner leaned back on the sofa. “I’m more saddened thansurprised. Mr. Denby has done well enough surveying the area, but the incidentscontinue. We have evidence to suggest that the previous Earl of Howland activelysupported local smugglers known to have ties to France. We therefore cannot becertain of his son. And there have been too many oddities in recent months forme to feel comfortable enlisting the aid of the magistrate.”

“Oddities?” Rob pressed. “Such as?”

Donner rubbed a hand along his breeches. “Recently, DoctorBennett and his wife captured a French agent masquerading as a visitingphysician at the spa.”

“Doctor Bennett captured the fellow?” Rob interrupted. “Onyour orders?”

Donner colored. “Not exactly. I had suspected there werespies about, but Owens was a master of disguise.”

Not so much a master that the amateur physician and his wifehad mistaken him, but Rob decided not to rub salt in the agent’s wound.

“We also had a scare when a ship flying French colors sailedinto the annual regatta in August and prompted an evacuation,” Donner continuedundaunted. “Your steward will have alerted you that most of the village usedyour house as shelter.”

Funny that Mercer hadn’t seen fit to mention that. Robinclined his head but promised himself he would ask his steward about the matter.

“And,” Donner added, “before Iarrived, we were advised that a French sympathizer had been caught interceptingnotes passed by a mysterious fellow calling himself the Lord of the Smugglers.He apparently had access to Castle How when it was empty.”

Rob stiffened. “Did you hear of such things happening hereat the Lodge?”

“Not notes,” Donner assured him. “We have no reason tobelieve your home is in danger. We are more interested in the pier below theLodge.”

“We’ve had the same concerns,” Rob told him. “Elizabeth andI saw a blue flash the other night, as if smugglers were attempting to come in.I sent word to my steward to hire a night watchman, but I have not beeninformed of anyone on the grounds or the pier.”

Donner leaned forward. “Yet. I have no doubt your pier willprove too tempting. Until now, the caves beneath Castle How on the otherheadland have been the focus of all activity. When Miss Denby discovered hercrocodile on the cliffs near the cave’s entrance from the sea, she doomed thatarea to interest from visitors. Now there are too many people about to make ita safe landing area, whatever time of day.”

“The Dragon’s Maw,” Rob remembered. “I’ve heard the oldstories. The opening can only be navigated at the turn of the tide and couldkeep a ship stranded until the tide turns again.”

“Making your pier entirely too useful to forego,particularly by this so-called Lord of the Smugglers,” Donner told him. “Wehave reason to believe more than lace and champagne comes in with hisshipments, and he carries our secrets to France. I expect he may contact you,request the use of your pier, perhaps your cellars to store his ill-gotten goodsuntil he can safely move them inland. A dram for the lord, you know.”

Once he would have jumped at the chance. Duty-free champagneand fine Alençon lace for allowing the use of his facilities? What a bargain.What an adventure.

“What do you want from me?” Rob asked, watching Donner.

The fellow’s grey eyes kindled. “When the smugglers approachyou, agree to as much as you feel comfortable and learn all that you