Chapter Twenty

"Little as I do not wish to interfere in your life—"

"Since when?" Nate snapped, folding away the newspaper and glaring at his brother over the breakfast table.

"I am not at all sure where you got this idea that I am determined to manage your every move."

Nate pushed aside his plate, unable to find his appetite and put the newspaper down beside it. "Because you always have."

"No." Red pointed a finger at him. "You think that I have. There's a difference between wanting to remain informed when your brother decides to go through with a faux engagement and managing your brother's life. Were I intent on managing it, I would have ridden to Falmouth and seen whether these rumors were true or not."

"Well, they're not, I can assure you of that. It was all a misunderstanding. What was meant to be a joke and a ruse has somehow turned into the real thing."

Red shook his head and sighed. "You shall have to get her to call it off. You cannot very well ruin the poor girl, especially when it is probably your fault the rumor started."

"How is it my fault?"

"Someone must have overheard you joking about it."

Damn, it was not the first time his actions had come back to bite him on the arse and it would not be the last no doubt.

"I'm to visit with Patience and her brother today. I shall ensure she wishes to break it off then inform Harry that, alas, his sister does not think I am good enough for her and that will be that."

"You're not," Red muttered, "but does she believe that?"

"Patience does not want to get married, let alone to me, I promise you that."

Taking a slow sip of his coffee, Red nodded. "I hope you are right."

"Anyway, what do you mean I'm not good enough for her? You're my brother, you should be singing my praises."

"You're a flirt and a rake. Not to mention a smuggler."

"As are you," Nate pointed out.

"As if I could forget. But I am not a rake."

"Only since you met Hannah. Now you think yourself some paragon of virtue."

A smile crossed his brother's face. It was a soft one—one that he had never seen before Hannah had entered their life. "Hannah did change me somewhat, yes."

"Should you not be worrying about your own wedding plans, anyway? Get your nose out of mine and concentrate on your own."

Red's brows lifted. "So there are wedding plans?"

"No, damn it. You know what I mean."

"Well, today I am to take Hannah to town." He waved a hand. "Dress fittings or something, I forget. Her father will be coming to town in a week which means we have little time to ensure the last haul is distributed."

"When do we go out again?"

"The wedding is in just under three weeks so once we've honeymooned, I plan to send the ship out again."

Nate nodded. "Excellent. I may accompany them. Wait for all the gossip to die down."

And a trip over to France combined with some hard work would clear his head of all this Patience nonsense.

Patience.

Damn it.

In spite of the drama from yesterday, he was itching to see her again. It was odd to sleep in his bed once more, knowing he would not wake up to see her face at breakfast. Not being able to end the evening cuddled under a blanket and whiling away the hours was somewhat disappointing too. Regardless of what happened after this blasted mistake was put to bed, he hoped they could remain friends.

He scowled to himself. Friends? With a woman? He searched his memory for some similar incident but could not recall one. Certainly he was on good terms with many of his conquests but they had never been friends.

"I had better get going." He stood and pushed back the chair. "If I do not quell this marriage nonsense, the townsfolk will have me hitched to her before sundown."

"There are worse fates," his brother muttered, hardly looking up from the letter next to his plate.

Worse fates than being married to Patience? Perhaps. But, Christ, the woman could drive a man to an early grave. It was all very well spending time with her when he knew it was going to end but to be chained to her forever.

He paused on his way out of the hallway. The inevitable shudder of dread did not finger its way down his spine. The chill that usually overtook him at the very idea of being in the matrimonial state refused to take hold. In fact he felt...well, perfectly normal. Happy even. A little excited at the idea of seeing Patience.

God Almighty, what the deuce was wrong with him? He'd have to see a doctor if this continued.

Nate opted to ride to Patience's house. The short journey hardly warranted having the carriage made ready and he could do with a bracing ride to clear the fatigue from his head. After a night of tossing and turning in his own bed, he could barely keep his eyes open.

He would need his wits about him today, however. Why the devil did she not deny their engagement to her brother?

Though, of course, he understood somewhat. From all Patience had told him, he knew how much she adored and admired Harry. He had appeared truly happy that she had found someone. But, as happy as her brother may be, that someone could not be Nate.

Nate made his way to the stables and was nearly toppled by the sheep racing toward him. He took the brunt of the collision on his shins and grunted.

"Good morning, sheep."

The sheep gave him a nudge which tended to mean she was happy to see him.

"Sorry, my lord, she's been trying to escape all week." A stable hand paused to bend double and suck in a breath.

Nate waved away his apology. "Not to worry, I shall see her back to her pen." He motioned to the sheep. "Come on, girl. Let's get you some breakfast."

The sheep followed obligingly. At least she now remained in her pen. It was only when he did not visit did she try to escape and get into the house to look for him. For the first weeks of their acquaintance she must have snuck her way into the house a dozen times. The housekeeper was none to happy about the sheep droppings she left on the ancient and expensive carpets.

He fed and fussed over the animal whilst his horse was saddled. She gave him a mournful look as he stood. "I'll be back soon, girl. With a name for you too if I can help it. Though what the devil you call a sheep I do not know."

Nate followed the main path out of his brother's estate. Tucked back from the village and nestled between hills, the house did not receive the full brunt of being by the ocean. It wasn't until one had ridden out from the gatehouse and along the road that cut along one side of the valley did one know they were by the seaside. Sea salt filled the air, brought in on a breeze that whipped the collar of his coat and threatened to turn into something more aggressive. He welcomed the cool bite of it on his skin.

The estuary meandered beside him, drained at present from low tide. Only mud flats and a tiny excuse for a river flowed past him but by evening it would be full and ready for boats. He met no one until he reached the outskirts of the village. A few greeted him normally but plenty of the villagers offered their congratulations. He nodded and thanked them all with a tight smile.

Apparently, they had all been hoping he would settle because many said as much. About time , said some. First your brother, now you. We were all praying you would meet someone , said the milliner. Well done, congratulations, everyone is happy for you. All the words rang in his head until he reached the steps of Patience's house. He tried to shake them away. The last thing he needed was expectation. He'd done his best to avoid it all his life.

A maid answered the door and led him into the drawing room. Though he had been inside the Greys' house before, it did not feel homely or welcoming as it had in the past. Patience's brother stood at the back of the room, his back rigid, hands clasped behind him, like an old Grandfather clock slowly counting each second. Patience must have been sitting on one of the sofas and had risen upon his entry. Today she wore buff pantaloons and a white shirt. He only briefly noted the curve of her breasts—very briefly—aware of her brother watching over him. The warm welcoming smile had departed. Had Patience told him already?

"Good morning, Harry. I was wondering if I might have a word with Patience?"

Her brother nodded slowly, a flicker of warning in his eyes. "Of course."

Patience watched her brother leave. Once he had exited the room, she went to the door that had been left ajar and closed it gently so that it did not make a sound as it shut. She turned to him, eyes lowered, hands clasped in front of her.

"I know I should have corrected him instantly."

"Yes."

"I will rectify this. I just was so excited to see him and he seemed so thrilled for me."

Harry did not seem quite as thrilled now but there was no sense in wondering why. The chances were Harry had mulled over it and realized a rogue like himself was not good enough for his sister. He ran his gaze over her features, so downcast and guilt-ridden. Despite her melancholy, it pleased him to see her. He had missed those full lips, so often pulled into a mutinous pout, and those flashing eyes that were usually fired up with anger at him, because, of course, he always managed to rile her.

And, good God, did he enjoy riling her. Never had he had so much fun exchanging wits with a woman.

She had continued to adopt a softer hairstyle too. Though not as neat as one might expect, the wild curls about her face and piled atop her head made him want to thrust his fingers into them and pull her in for a kiss.

His groin tightened making him realize it had been too long since he'd kissed her. Too long, but perhaps not long enough. There wasn't enough time for him to forget the warmth of her mouth and her eager, inexperienced passion. Not enough time for him to put it to the back of his mind and remind himself that it had been one kiss and they were not engaged—not really. There would not be a repeat.

"I believe," Nate started, "that it may have been my fault we are in this pickle. Likely someone overheard me jesting with my brother. So we are both to blame here."

She opened her mouth then closed it. Moving around the sofa, she ran a finger across the carved wooden back before looping around and coming back to stand in front of him. He had to admit to spending most of those several precious seconds watching her arse and hips move in delightful ways.

"You must call it off," she finally declared. "Call it off and this shall all be over."

Nate frowned. "I cannot."

"But you must."

He shook his head. "No, you must call it off."

"I will not," she declared, that flashing in her eyes that he had been so fond of warning him he was in for trouble. Perhaps he did not miss that as much as he had thought.

"Why not? We have to put a stop to this somehow."

"My brother will be so upset with me that I turned you down. I'm sure you are aware that I am not flooded with offers."

"If I end things with you, you shall be ruined. No man will go near you again."

She waved a hand. "Yes, yes, I shall be tainted goods." She uttered the last word with distaste. "But I have no plans to marry, no eager suitors that shall be put off. You must be the one to end it."

"If you end it, little one, there shall be no scandal. The banns have not been read, you would be well within your rights to call it off, and no one would think any less of you."

"A woman is within her rights to change her mind, of course, but I know many who would think less of me. Why would a woman like me turn down a man like you?" She jabbed a finger against his chest. " You must do it. No one will question why. They will simply think you had a moment of madness and now you have awoken from it."

He snatched that finger and held her captive by that one digit. He tugged her close, using that small hold. They were nearly toe to toe by the time he was done with her.

"Your brother will call me out."

"He will not, I swear it. I will make sure of it."

"I'm not doing it."

"Well, nor am I."

"You must eventually. Much longer and the entire village shall be planning our wedding."

Her chin jutted out. "You do it."

Her breath whispered over his face, hot and erratic. His whole body tightened. He searched those blazing eyes. "You. Damn. Well. Do it."

"Never."

Any thought of arguing vanished. He would wear her down once she realized he would not give in. But, for the moment, he had other things he needed to do. Namely, kiss her.

He brought his mouth down hard, trying to punish her perhaps, except it did not work. She met his kiss with equal force and latched her hands around his neck. A groan tore from the back of his throat. He bundled her into him, holding her tight against his arousal.

Somewhere, in the distance, a door latch clicked. He heard it but could not register it until someone coughed. He instantly released Patience and turned around.

Patience's mother grinned at them. "Oh dear."

He grimaced inwardly. Now he would never be able to call it off. The only way to stop this marriage was for Patience to end things. Somehow, he would have to persuade her. The only problem was, with his mind still seared from her kiss, he could not quite recall why it was such a terrible idea.