Chapter Three

"There would have been many a heartbroken lass had you really been engaged," Drake said. His grin grew wicked. "I was looking forward to offering my comfort and condolences."

Nate shook his head and ignored his friend's jest. Instead he turned his attention to the ale in his hand. It would be his last for a while. He'd need a clear head for what was to come, especially if he was to keep that minx under control. If her own mother could not make her wear a dress, what chance did he have?

Either way, he was looking forward to the challenge. Smuggling was all well and good but they had only gone out once in the past month and all had been quiet. No excitement to be had. He was rather looking forward to the chance to indulge in some espionage and adventure.

Of course, Jacob Grey was aware of their illicit activities. Being a British agent had meant they had helped him before. He was one of the few residents of Penshallow who quite understood who was behind all the smuggling that took place in their small fishing village. Most thought Knight the face of it—the big, brooding, scarred hulk of a man opposite who spoke only when absolutely necessary.

At present, Knight's attention was on something near the bar. Nate flicked a glance over but could see nothing of interest. Only the usual overly drunk patrons gathered while Louisa, the innkeeper, worked her hardest to keep up with demand.

Other regulars littered the room, gathered around small tables. Some had cards in their hands while all had drinks. The Ship Inn was not the most savory of places but it was out of the way and the food was good. Not to mention Louisa was uncannily good at ensuring the customs men never came near the place. She had saved their skin many times and they repaid her help generously, ensuring she had a good supply of excellent French wine.

"You were a damned fool, signing up for this," Nate's brother said, thrusting a finger at him.

"What was I to do? You were off enjoying yourself with Hannah. Far too much it seems." His brother's gaze darkened and Nate immediately ceased any idea of talking of Red's fiancée.

Hannah was currently installed in lodgings in the village while they awaited the license for their marriage and to finalize all the details. His brother was, unbelievably, utterly in the love with the woman. It was not so much the woman he had fallen for that surprised Nate but that his brother had the ability to fall so heavily for her. Red had always been too busy to think of love, or even marriage.

Drake leaned in. The captain fixed Red with a slight smile on his lips. "Face it, Red. While you were distracted by petticoats, Nate held down the fort. I don't blame him for offering to help, after all, are we not in this to help the crown?"

"Since when are you so noble?" Red demanded.

"Since I have a pocket full of coin," Drake said smugly. "Things have been going uncommonly well of late. I don't see why Nate cannot help Jacob Grey and be back in time for our next outing."

"Uncommonly well?" Nate's brother lifted a brow. "After Knight's illness and the storm that near tore your ship in half, you were complaining of curses. Now you think things are going uncommonly well?"

Knight glowered. The giant of a man sat with his arms folded, a great scowl etched upon his face that in some lights looked as though it could be made of granite. Were it not for being friends with him, Nate would give him a wide berth. The man looked like trouble and, potentially, he was. No one really knew anything about him apart from the fact he was useful muscle and a damned hard worker. Though Nate suspected there was something more under that silent exterior. What that was, however, he was not sure.

"It was not an illness," Knight protested.

Drake laughed. "You vomited on my boots, Knight. What would you call it?"

Knight fell back into silent mode and glowered some more.

"Anyway," Nate said, taking back the conversation. "Aside from all of that, we have been doing well. The customs men have been chasing their tails and we've already sold on the last of our haul. As Drake says, we're meant to be helping the government, so why not agree to help?"

Red exhaled a lengthy, audible breath. "Do you know what this ‘mission' is going to entail?"

"Jacob has given me most of the details. His sister—if she will ever deign to talk to me rather than shout—is fully informed. She was to go with Jacob and pose as his wife before he fell from his horse."

"So you are to play husband for a while?" Drake asked, his grin lewd. "Will you get all the advantages too?"

"Drake," Nate said, "if you met her, you wouldn't be bothered by the advantages. As it is, I'm fairly certain she hates me simply for breathing."

"Then you'll have to change that." Drake took a gulp from his ale and paused, his brow furrowed. "Jacob Grey. Is his sister not the one who always wears breeches?"

"And there you see why I would not even attempt to take advantage."

"Yes," the captain mused, "she would be tough to conquer. Great set of tits though."

"You are obsessed with tits," Red snapped.

"What man isn't?" Drake demanded. "You're still sore because I noticed Hannah's assets before you did."

Nate saw Red's fist clench at his side. The four of them had been friends for several years now and they all trusted Drake with his life. He was an excellent captain, even if he did get distracted by breasts far too often. However, when it came to Hannah, Red had no sense of humor whatsoever.

"I shall go to Falmouth tomorrow," Nate declared in an attempt to break the tension. "There we shall pose as this married couple and await the arrival of a French woman who it seems has pertinent information. Once we have the information, I'll return. I cannot imagine it shall take more than a week."

"And we have nothing of importance to do for another three," Drake pointed out.

Red nodded slowly. "We cannot go anywhere until the ship is fully mended anyway." His brother eyed him. "Just be careful, that's all I ask."

Nate rolled his eyes. There was only two years between them but because their mother had died whilst giving birth to Nate, Red had taken it upon himself to play the older brother role to a fault. The whole reason for Red setting up the smuggling ring had been so Nate could have a taste of adventure and help the war effort after he had discovered he needed glasses and could not get a commission. He was thoroughly aware of that, even if Red never said as much. But while he was appreciative of everything his brother had done, he needed Red to stop treating him like a little brother and recognize him as a grown man.

Potentially completing this mission successfully would prove as much. If drinking and tupping had not already shown Red, perhaps this was his chance to get out from under his brother's bloody shadow.

"When am I ever not careful?" Nate asked.

All the men around the table chuckled.

"What?"

Drake leaned in. "That time you decided to climb the cliffs and nearly drowned."

"I had no choice. The tide was coming in."

"What about the time you snuck into that woman's bedroom. What was she? A countess?" Red suggested.

"A marchioness," Nate corrected. "It was worth it."

Red groaned. "You were nearly killed by her husband."

Louisa approached with a fresh round of ales. She placed the tray down and grinned. "Don't forget the time he got steaming drunk and tried to challenge Knight to a fist fight."

"I would have gone easy on him," Knight grumbled.

Nate straightened. "I could have won."

"You were lucky the rest of us had clear heads," his brother pointed out.

"Well, I promise, dear brother, that I shall be the most cautious man there ever was. I shall find this French woman, with or without Patience Grey's help and get this information. And I shall do it without a whisper of trouble."

The men glanced at each other. Louisa set down the beers and tucked the tray under her arm. The fair-haired woman shook her head in amusement. "Sounds like you chaps need to make a wager."

"I wager he gets himself arrested," Drake said.

Red nodded. "Very well, I wager he falls for the French woman."

"Thank you for the confidence, brother," Nate said pointedly. "It means a lot."

"Louisa, do you wish to place a wager?" Drake queried.

She shook her head. "I never gamble."

The captain turned his attention to the behemoth watching silently. "What about you, Knight?"

"I wager"—he eyed Nate with the oddest look on his face—"Nate falls for the sister."

A laugh escaped Nate. "The woman in the breeches?"

Knight nodded.

Nate shook his head vigorously. "The woman hates me and I certainly have no interest in her. Big tits or not," he said with a look to Drake.

Knight shrugged. "Your family has a history of falling for the women they help. I think you will fall for her."

Shaking his head again, he chuckled. "Red might have a thing for stubborn women who need help but I certainly do not. Patience Grey is not the sort of woman a man falls easily for, trust me."