Half-truths continued coming from Collin’s lips as he kept Michael from understanding how much time he’d been spending in Elizabeth’s company. Worse, he didn’t want him to know; he liked that they had their own secrets. As much as it terrified him to admit, the temptation of Elizabeth was turning into an attachment that wasn’t easily ignored. He didn’t have time for this, nor did he have the inclination to search for a wife.
And Elizabeth wasn’t a dalliance or someone with whom to pass the time. She deserved more, and shockingly, he wanted to be the man she honored with her attentions.
He cast a sidelong glance at Michael. Jealousy burned in his chest at the thought of his friend’s pursuit of her. It was sobering because he’d never had to compete for a woman’s attentions.
Perhaps he’d never met one worth the effort.
Until now.
“Just there.” Collin mustered his attention to focus on the job at hand and paused as he came tothe beginning of the street that would lead them to where an empty wagon waited.
“Doesn’t appear as if anyone’s around, let’s go take a peek,” Michael suggested.
Collin followed.
The wagon was empty, save for a few curled brown pieces of debris. Collin reached down over the side and pinched a piece in his fingers, then smelled.
“Tea,” he whispered to Michael.
Michael agreed. “Indeed.”
“Can I help you?”
Collin took a deep breath, met Michael’s eyes, and then turned, his attention focused on the man with the black eye who had spoken. “Ah, yes, thank you.” Collin thought quickly, trying to come up with a good reason why they were searching the wagon and also trying to figure out a way to ferret out information. “I’m interested—”
“The wagon isn’t for sale,” the man answered, then tightened his eyes as he studied Collin.
Before the other man could recognize him, Collin took action. He lunged forward, shoving the man at the shoulder and using his foot to trip him as he turned him, forcing him to face the brick wall as Collin twisted his right hand behind his back, leaning against him. The man’s head made a thud as he hit the brick. Groaning, he fought against Collin’s hold.
Michael leaned against the brick wall, facing the man. “We’ve been searching for you,” he said with a smile.
“You’ll not get a word—”
Collin lifted the man’s arm higher, earning another groan of pain. “You see, you have something that belongs to me.”
Michael nodded. “You’d better talk.”
“I didn’t take anything. You’ve got the wrong man—”
“My name,” Collin ground out. “And I want to know why.”
The man stopped struggling, as if surprised at Collin’s words. “Name?”
“Did he stutter?” Michael asked coldly.
“Why are you using the name of a peer to smuggle tea?” Collin asked, pulling the man back from the wall, then slamming him into it again. “Why?”
Before the man could answer, the door to the left of them opened, and a man twice as broad and a head taller than Collin stepped out, his eyes taking on a flinty expression when he noticed what was transpiring.
The man in Collin’s grip started chuckling. “Olsen!”
Olsen stepped forward. “What’s going on?” His voice grated, as if issuing a warning.
Michael took a step back, but Collin held tight to the man in his grip.
“Your friend was just informing us why you’re using the name of a peer to smuggle tea. Care to join our little party? There’s room for more,” Collin said with bravado.
Olsen narrowed his eyes. “There’s no tea, and as for the names, that’s not my business, nor is it yours.” He crossed his beefy arms. “Let him go.”
