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Authors: Ella Quinn

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BOOK: The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh
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The muffler fell away. Rutherford took her face in his hands, grazing his lips against hers until she responded. His tongue caressed her mouth, encouraging her to open them. When she did, he entered. He moved one hand to her breast and rubbed lightly against her nipple. She moaned. He smiled through the kiss. This might end up working in his favor.
 
Anna could have sworn with frustration. The minute he'd touched her, the burning feeling coursing through her strengthened. When he ran his hands over her breasts, intense heat threatened to steal her wits. Her nipples hardened under his touch.
Sebastian
.
She wondered how long she could keep her identity from him. His low chuckle made her furious, and she struggled again. He'd told her he wanted to marry her, and here he was ready to do whatever to another woman.
Anna's heart beat faster as his lips reached her throat. When he kissed her, she thought nothing could be better; then his tongue moved against hers, and she thought she'd swoon. She tried to put her arms around him, but they were trapped under his body. It was as if he were possessing her. Thank God he didn't know who she was. To him she was just some female.
How dare he?
“Anna, tell me what you're doing here,” Rutherford whispered into her ear.
Drat
. Well, the secret was out now. “How did you know it was me? I thought you were just kissing . . .”
He stared at her in disbelief. “You thought I'd kiss just any woman? What the hell do you take me for?”
She struggled to sit up, but his body weighed her down. “I haven't even given you leave to kiss me, and you're doing even more!”
“Harumph.” He bent his head to kiss her again. “And I plan to continue.”
“Sebastian!” She wiggled to get out from under him.
He groaned. “Anna. Be still. I'll let you up when you tell me what you're doing here. Until then . . .”
He moved his hand over her breast again, and an ache started between her legs. His mouth covered hers, and she opened to him. His tongue skated over her teeth, before caressing the inside of her mouth. She'd never imagined a kiss could be like this. He lifted his head.
“Why did you stop?”
“I thought you didn't want me to kiss you.”
“That was when I thought you were kissing someone else.”
Giving a short laugh, he said, “I suppose that, in a sort of convoluted way, that makes sense.”
“I'm being perfectly logical.” She twisted to try to free her hands.
He grimaced as if in pain. “Anna, don't move. Why are you here?”
Could it be he hadn't put it together? “If I tell you, you can't tell anyone else, and you must promise not to interfere.”
“I promise not to tell. I won't promise not to interfere. This is a dangerous game you're playing, my love.”
“I'm just doing what Harry did. There's really no danger.”
Rutherford stilled, and his brows snapped together. “Are you telling me
you
took over from Harry when he left?”
“Of course I did. Who else could do it?” She struggled to get out from under him again. “I could ensure that only the proper goods were smuggled. You know, no people or information.”
“How
did
you get in with the smugglers?”
“Harry introduced me before he left the last time.”
Rutherford groaned. Only Harry Marsh would think allowing his younger sister to run a group of smugglers was a good idea. He'd need to get Anna out of this as soon as possible. She had no business dealing with smugglers.
“Kiss me again,” Anna demanded. “You may touch me as well.”
God, how things change in the dead of night.
Rutherford kissed her and changed breasts, reveling in her moans each time he rubbed his finger across her nipple. “Who are you meeting tonight?”
“One of the gang was approached by a man wishing to smuggle wool to France. It doesn't make sense. I set the meeting so I could make out what he really wanted. I always arrive to these things at least an hour early, just to make sure it's not a trap.”
What the hell had she gotten herself into? “I'm coming with you.”
“Kiss me, and I'll think about it.”
He supposed he could tie her up, though his marriage prospects wouldn't be very good afterward. “You'll not be able to think if I kiss you again.”
“I will. I've had several thoughts already.” Anna's chuckle was low and sultry. “Such as, I never knew how hard your body is.”
If she only understood how hard.
“How can I refuse a challenge like that?” He crushed her mouth under his and plundered.
That,
for believing she could think while he was kissing her. Her body sunk into his. Her brain couldn't possibly be functioning. His barely was.
She pulled her arms out and pushed them under his coat. His muscles contracted as her hands roved, then held him closer. He pulled back from the kiss. “Well?”
Anna's breath came in short pants. “You're right. There was no use trying to think. What time is it?”
“We have more time. Are you going to let me come with you?” Better, at this juncture, to let her think she had a choice.
“If you stay hidden. I don't want to scare Kev. He's my chief man. By the by, what are you doing here?” she asked sharply as if her thoughts had finally coalesced.
Rutherford kissed her again, deeply, intending to steal her thoughts as he ran his hands over her body. He held her to him, reveled in her mouth, and fantasized about what it would be like to have her naked beneath him. To feel her soft skin rather than the rough muslin shirt and woolen jacket she wore. An urgency to possess her that he'd never felt for another woman shot through him. He had to have her. Even untutored, she was all he could want, but he'd need to stop soon. They must be ready for the meeting.
He slowly broke the kiss and watched her stare up at him, her desire clear.
“Come on,” he said. “You need to get back into place. It wouldn't do for someone to happen along and see us like this. They might get the wrong idea.”
“How could that happen? They wouldn't know who I am.”
Rutherford smiled at her innocence. “They would recognize me, and you're dressed like a man, remember?”
“Oh.” Her eyes grew wide.
He stood and helped her up, then kissed her again. “The next time I touch these”—he stroked her breasts again—“I don't want to do it through a band.”
“Who says there will be a next time?” she asked haughtily. “This may have just been an aberration.”
Ah. Miss Marsh of the London drawing rooms was trying to come back. “
This
was no aberration.” He scowled.
Anna's eyes were wide and challenging. “No?”
“No,” he growled as he reclaimed her lips.
Chapter 11
I
t took Anna several seconds to catch up with Rutherford as he repossessed her mouth. Her tongue tangled with his, matching his fierceness with her own. A low growling emitted from him, and a strange shaft of pleasure shot down her body, causing a throbbing between her legs. Long moments passed after he'd stopped kissing and caressing her for Anna to get her senses back in order. Her breasts and lips were swollen and still yearned for him. She couldn't allow him to touch her again.
She shook herself and got back into position, peering over the cliff again. Kev arrived with the London gent. Scooting away from the edge, she scrambled to her feet.
Rutherford pulled her into his arms.
“They're here,” she whispered. “I'll go down first. Stay back so they can't see you. Once you get to the bottom of the path, there is a small cave. You can hide there.”
He nodded as she slipped away. Hunched over, she began her descent.
She pulled up her muffler, and stepped out from behind the lean-to on the rocky beach, staying far enough away so that the gentleman couldn't get a good look at her. “What we got here? Looks like a nob.” Anna lowered her voice and spoke more in the vernacular.
“Ye got that right, sir,” Kev said.
“Well, Mr. Nob, what ye want from us?” Anna asked. “It'd better be the truth, or I got nothin' to say to ye.”
“I need to bring some people in,” he replied.
Exactly what she'd thought. Anna narrowed her eyes. “Not the same story ye told before. What kind of people would they be?”
“Some French friends of mine.”
“Frenchies?” Anna pretended to spit on the ground. “And why can't these
friends
use a packet?”
“That's not something I can discuss,” he said. “Do we have a deal?”
“No,” Anna replied.
“What do you mean no?” the man asked, offended. “I'm prepared to pay well for your services.”
“Ye can't pay well enough to take care of me men and their families if we're caught.”
“If you don't do as I ask,” he said in an aristocratic drawl, “I'll make sure you are caught. You do know the penalty for treason?”
A chill crept up her neck. “Ye can try,” Anna said in her best Harry imitation.
“I'll give you until tomorrow night to think about my offer.” The man turned and sauntered back down the beach.
Anna pulled Kev to the side of the hut. “Follow him. I don't care where he goes. I need to know who he is. And Kev, don't let him see you. If anyone else is around, get them to help.”
 
Rutherford remembered the cave, having hidden in it once while waiting for a ship to take him back into France. He had a good view of Anna and the two men, yet he could hear nothing they said.
He recognized Kev from the tavern. The other he guessed to be the London gentleman in question. Rutherford sat up and tried to get a better look. It was nothing she did, but he could tell Anna was agitated. Something was definitely wrong. He removed his pistol from the pocket of his greatcoat and watched until the other man left.
Kev shook his head. Anna said something. Kev took off after the gentleman, hanging back and hugging the side of the cliff.
“What did he want?” Rutherford asked as Anna slipped into the cave.
“He wants us to smuggle in his
French
friends. I knew this would happen. There has already been talk of getting Napoleon off Elba,” she said a little shakily.
Rutherford's jaw dropped. “How do you know about that?”
“Rumors from the others across the way.” She frowned. “He threatened to expose us and blame us for treason. S'bastian, I will not allow him to hurt my men. I'll have to . . .”
“What?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
His heart contracted, then grew. He drew a ragged breath. She was not only the woman he loved and would make his wife, she was also the little girl who had called him Bastian before she could pronounce his name. The link to his whole life, and he had to get her out of this mess. “Come, we need to talk.”
“Follow me.” She turned and walked back to Thunderer. Rutherford started to throw her on to her horse, then realized she was riding astride. He cupped his hands to give her a boost, mounted his horse, and followed her to the cottage. She led him around back and showed him the stable.
Rutherford tied his horse to the iron ring in the wall. “Were you here yesterday evening?”
“Yes, why?” she asked suspiciously.
“I came by. I saw a little smoke from the chimney but nothing else.”
She nodded. “I heard your horse.”
“Anna, why didn't you tell me about this”—he waved his arm to encompass the cottage—“and the smugglers?”
“I promised Harry I'd not tell anyone.” She grabbed Rutherford's hand and pulled. Once they were in the cottage with the door barred, Anna turned back to him. “Sebastian, what are you doing here?”
There was a mulish cast to her chin and mouth. One he knew well. If he didn't do something, and quickly, this was going to turn into a battle royal. He grabbed her waist, pulled her to him, and kissed her. His idea to make a plan burned to ashes as her lips set fire to his.
Rather than giving him a token resistance, she launched herself into the kiss. He groaned. Her hands clasped his face, and she tilted her head. Her tongue danced with his as if it had been waiting for this moment. He stroked her back and pulled her closer. She was on her tiptoes, trying to get closer.
“Oh, God, Anna,” he mumbled into her mouth. “You'll be the death of me.”
Anna chuckled.
“I thought you wanted to talk?”
Her voice was breathy. “No, you wanted to talk. I want answers.”
His member hardened, and he held her tighter.
She sighed.
He began to caress a breast and found the band and glowered. “Take this thing off.”
Anna responded as if cold water had been poured over her, and jumped back, eyes wide staring at him. Then her hand covered her forehead. “Oh, no, what am I doing?”
Strategic mistake. He'd gone too fast. He reached for her and caught the hands she waved at him to fend him off.
She jerked them away. “No.” Tears misted her eyes. “This isn't right.”
“What's not right about it? Anna, I want to marry you.”
She clenched her teeth. “No, you do not. You want to marry a woman who is safe, and comfortable, and easy to manage. That's not me.”
“Where did you get a daft idea like that?”
She threw her hands up and shouted, “I heard you tell Marcus!”
For the first time in his life, he wasn't sure what to say. His blood seemed to rush to his feet. “You heard . . .”
“Yes. Which is why we can't do any of this. I'll accept your assistance with the London gent, but after that”—her voice seemed to fail for a moment—“after that, you should stop coming to Marsh Hill.”
He rubbed his face. This couldn't be happening. “Anna, I love you.”
She shook her head slowly. “No, you love who you want me to be, not who I am.”
What a mull. How was he to convince her he'd been wrong? “That's not true. Not any more. I want you, as you are.”
“You're thirty-one years old.” She put her hands on her hips. “You should know what you want in a wife. Even if you think you love me now, how do I know you won't change your mind, again?” She gave a small sob. “Sebastian, marriage is for life.”
Not knowing what else to do, he drew her into his arms. His throat hurt so badly, he didn't know if he could speak. Yet, he had to say something. “Yes, marriage is forever. Give me a chance to show you that I won't change my mind.”
She shook her head. “I don't know if I can.” She lifted her tear-stained face to him. “It hurts too much.”
His heart fell to his feet. He couldn't imagine his life without her. “Please don't give up on me that easily.”
She stepped back, piercing him with a stern gaze. “How do you plan to convince me?”
If he didn't come up with something soon, the premonition he'd had in London of her walking out of his life would become reality. “We'll discuss the settlement agreements. I'll make sure you have a large enough allowance to do what you wish.”
Anna crossed her arms across her chest and turned her back on him.
He raked a hand through his hair as his mind raced, searching for something.... “You may start helping me run the Priory.”
She turned to him, her eyes wary. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“We'll go on as if we were married. Start making decisions about the estate together.”
After the longest few moments of his life, she finally nodded. “Very well, but there will be no betrothal announcement. I've not accepted you yet.”
“I understand.” He put his arms around her again and rubbed her back until she leaned against him. “Do you love me, at least a little bit?”
Letting out a sigh, she replied, “If I didn't love you, I wouldn't even consider your suggestion.”
Relief coursed through him. Perhaps getting her to accept him would be easier than he thought. He smiled and kissed the top of her head. “Then everything will be all right.”
“Sebastian,” she said sternly, “love does not conquer all.”
“But, there is always luck with love.”
He had a feeling changing her mind was not going to be easy. Though he held her, she didn't put her arms around him. After a while, he said, “Let's talk about spies and smugglers.”
She nodded. “I'll tell you while I change.”
Rutherford swallowed.
“Change?”
She frowned at him as if he were an idiot. “I can't go home dressed like this.” Making a twirling motion with her hand, she said, “You'll have to turn around.”
He stifled a groan, but did as she asked.
“Why have you been following me?” Anna asked. “That is, I hope it's been you the past couple of nights.”
“You remember I told you I worked as an intelligencer?”
“Yes.”
Articles of clothing hit the floor. He started to look over his shoulder and stopped. “I was called back in to discover if any of the smuggling gangs are involved with or have been approached about bringing in spies. It took me over a week to find anyone who would agree to give me any information at all.”
“One week?” Anna said, alarmed. “That's not long at all. I thought I was better protected than that.”
One week was much too long as far as he was concerned. “The Priory owns the inn. Consequently, I threatened the innkeeper.”
“What did he tell you?”
She shook out something that sounded like a skirt. He sucked in a breath. “Nothing. I started receiving notes telling me where to stand to watch the deliveries. I've been waiting for a meeting with you, apparently.” He paused. “Which has been deuced difficult.”
She heaved a sigh of relief. “That is rather the point. In a way, this solves my problem of the threat against my men. Though, I still feel the need to put an end to our London gentleman. He must have a government appointment of some sort to be able to make the threats he did.”
“I suspect he works for either the Foreign or Home Office. Anna, this could get dangerous.”
“You may turn around now,” she said. “I understand the risk. What do you suggest I do when he comes back tomorrow?”
When he turned, his gaze dropped to her unbound breasts. “How would your men respond to an invitation to help the Home Office catch some spies?”
“I think they'd see it as a lark of the first order. Tomorrow night, I'll let him think he's frightened me and make the arrangements with him.” She grinned wickedly. “Then I'll hold a meeting with the gang and explain that the Home Office needs our help. They'll want to be paid.”
Jamison wasn't going to like that. “They won't do it for love of country?”
“They're not wealthy,” she said, vexed. “Better if I can arrange for them to be remunerated by both the spy and the Home Office.”
Suddenly, it struck him she knew exactly what she was doing. Nevertheless, he had to talk her out of remaining on this mission. He'd find someone else to take over the smugglers.
Rutherford chuckled. “You drive a hard bargain, Miss Marsh.”
Anna walked toward him, her skirts swaying. “Did you think I wouldn't know how?”
He wrapped his arms around her. “No, I'm learning never to underestimate you.”
Her jacket was still undone, and she was wearing stays. He prayed she wouldn't object to his touching her again. Anna moaned in delight when he moved his hands to cup her breasts. It was criminal for her to bind them. He tightened his hold and kissed her deeply. “That's so much better.”
Reluctantly, he buttoned her jacket. “We'd better go. I'll escort you home.”
“Oh, there's no need really,” Anna replied airily.
“Yes, there is.” He kissed her again. “One never knows when Percy will take to riding around the countryside in the middle of the night. He's just the sort of loose fish who would do such a thing.”
Anna went off into a peel of laughter. “Very well, my lord, you may escort me home.”
She waited while he banked the fire, then they walked around to the stable, and he switched her saddle. Rutherford kissed her lightly before he helped her on to Thunderer.
Anna smiled. “You know, I really can mount myself.”
BOOK: The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh
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