Serena

“Thank you,” she said meekly. She felt guilty about Freddy, although it had not been her idea to set about such a story. That was all on the magistrate. In fact, she had not even completely agreed. Freddy had jumped at the chance, and there had been no talking him out of it. Even so, she felt a twinge of guilt. She should not have agreed to be a party to it.

“I shall be here for you at ten … sharp,” he said, and she saw a twinkle in his blue eyes.

“Very well,” she answered.

“Serena, believe me when I tell you that I shall miss you till then,” he said softly.

“And I you, my lord,” she answered and saw the surprise in his eyes. If it had not been for the seriousness of the situation, she might have giggled at his expression.

* * *

“What were you doing, Uncle?” Freddy said as they drove away from Moorely Grange. “Were you flirting with Serena? For if you were, I think it a paltry thing to do.”

“I shan’t deny it, but you have said that I am too old to catch her interest, so it does not mean anything … does it?” his uncle said glibly.

“I don’t know,” Freddy returned doubtfully. “I tell you what, though. You can’t fool Serena. She is up to every rig. If you aren’t sincere … she’ll know.”

His lordship eyed him thoughtfully. Was she? Was she up to every rig? And had he been flirting, only flirting, or did some part of him actually mean it when he said he would miss her until the morrow?

The bigger question still remained. Would she give up Freddy if she believed she could bring him to point non plus? And could she? Was that what was happening to him? Was he diving head first into a pool that would leave him forever hungry for this one woman?

~ Eleven ~

THE QUAINT SEASIDE village of Lymington was full of activity and bustle. Tourists flocked to its charming dockside inns and its delightful shops. It was a haven for the sporting sailor, and regal yachts of all sizes could be seen in its harbor. Joe Reed breathed in the salt air and sighed. He loved this village. He would hate to leave.

He made his way just outside the village center and took a back road that ran along a narrow but deep rivulet. He followed the dirt path’s irregular route past a weather-beaten courtyard stable whose name was proudly displayed as the Lulworth Tavern.

Lulworth was frequented by seamen and every now and then by excisemen on the prowl, but few others. A wandering traveler might unwittingly enter, but a quick look around would be enough to tell such a traveler to go a bit farther down the road for rest and refreshments—and the safekeeping of his purse.

Joe Reed rubbed his three-day beard and then ran a hand through his light brown hair before he returned his gaze to the darkly clad gentleman seated in a corner of the room. He made his way, drew up a chair, sat, and said immediately and without preamble, “Lookee … Oi had no choice, Oi tell ye. No, Oi did not. Free-trading, that’s whot Oi do best, but we had a prime bobbery, didn’t we, and then Big Tee, he got loose-tongued, didn’t he? Ye wanted him quieted, and so Oi did the job, didn’t Oi? Was it me fault those two twigged a look at me when Oi was on the run? No, it wasn’t. Fact is, Oi disremember they even saw me phiz.” He shook his head in disgust. “M’scarf must have pulled loose … though I disremember it doing that. Thing is, there is those that say the two gentry fools saw me. Well, can’t let those two cry rope on me, can Oi? Ye told me to handle it. Well, that is whot Oi did.” He sighed and shook his head. “Missed me shot, Oi did, and then nearly got nabbed when that flash cove Newton came riding up. Oi won’t miss me mark next time. Depend on it.”

“You will arrange the matter more carefully,” the other man said on a hard note. “And you will not touch the girl. Leave her to me.”

“Oi know, Oi know, ye made that clear yesterday, but whot Oi want to know is when do we get some of those pretty yellow coins we twigged? Whot be the sense of going to all that trouble jest to leave them be? Seems a queer fetch to me, it does,” Joe Reed grumbled.

“When it is safe, we shall divide the take as agreed. In the meantime, I have paid you and your men enough to tide you over for the time being.”

“Aye, and ye ain’t going nowhere, are ye?” Joe’s eyes held a warning glint, as did the angle of his chin.

The darkly clad flash cove opposite him sneered. “Am I not?” He rose from the table and started to leave.

“Hold.” Joe was on his feet. “When do we meet again?”

“When I wish to, not before.”

Joe Reed watched him go. Damn, but he was a cool one, but he seemed to know what he was doing. He had gotten them this far. When it was over, he would take his share and hop a boat to the colonies, he would, and live the life of leisure, with none the wiser.

* * *

Serena was up early. The new black, a three-year-old gelding she had purchased a week ago, had been delivered late in the afternoon of the previous day, and she wanted to have a go on him.

He was young and untried, but two things had moved her to make this purchase. The first, his owner was a horrible man who was about to sell the black gelding as a city hack. When she had inquired why, he had shrugged and said no one else wanted him—too spirited a horse. The other reason was the fact that she fell in love with the black as soon as she saw him.

His price had been more than affordable, and she purchased him on the spot and had been waiting anxiously for the black’s arrival.

She hurried down to the stables, dressed in her well-worn britches and buckskin riding jacket, pulling on her kid-skinned gloves as she walked.

“Good morning, Grimsly,” she called merrily to her groom. “How did he do last evening? Was he nervous about his new surroundings?”