“The possibility of danger,” he snapped, his glittering gaze turning on her once more. “I’m here foronereason only, Lady Isabella,which I believe I’ve mentioned more than once.The momentWistenberry is in my custody,we will part ways andI doubt we shall cross paths ever again.”
With that, he brushed past her and walked out the door.
Isabella’sears stung asthe deafening silencesurroundedher, so she headed for the one place that had offered her any sort of true solitude.
She went upstairs tothe salon inthe mainquarters andstaredout at the sea beyond.
Last night, for one liberatingmoment, she had been reminded of how good life could be,ofhow simple it wasto bewith someone who couldelicitgenuinelaughter.Before her brother had gone off to school, they had shared many such moments in their youth. And, while it had all been superficial, she had been happy with Simon at times.
She’d had fun for a short timewith Mr. Claymoore on the beach, and she’dimaginedhehad felt the same, but after theirrecent exchange,she had to believeshe wasmerelyspinning fantasiesyet again.
She closed her eyes and leaned her headagainst the windowsillwith a deep sigh.
What she wouldn’t give for some of Triana’s sage advicerightnow, or Korina’s sharp wit.Even Rowena’s mirthful laugh and Alyssa’smischievousgazewouldn’t be unwelcome.Her chest ached, for she missed her friends as much as she missed her family.She just wanted the nightmare to be over so she could return to her father’s estate and walk the grounds at dusk, when the world around her wasstill—and she could forget that anything else even existed.
***
Ridgepaused to catch his breath. The day had turned rather warm, and even with his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows, sweat was rolling down his face. With one arm propped on the pitchfork that he’d shoved into the dirt, he lifted his other and wiped his forehead. At least his efforts hadn’t been for naught, for the stables had been completely cleared andmadeready for fresh hay.
While Mr. Hopper normally hired a couple of the stronger village lads to help him with this particular task, Ridge had been more than happy to devote his time and his services. He hoped the hard labor might have helped to keep his mind off Lady Isabella’s stricken expression, but it haunted him even now.
He hadn’t wantedto hurt her even more, but he didn’t have much of a choice if he intended to keep his distance, knowing it was best forbothof them.He’d been a fool for giving in to the impulse to say such a thing in the first place, regardless if it was the God’s truth. The pointbeingthat it wasn’t his job to make her happy, only to keep her safe.
So then,why the hell did he feel so awful?
“Women can be rather hard tofigure out, can they not?”
Ridge straightened and turnedto faceHerb, whowas leaning against a stable posta short distance away. Heshook his head with a chuckle.He’d long come to realize thatMr. Hopperand his wife were rather perceptive and it was difficult tohideanything from them.“Indeed, they can. But after growing uparound several of them,you would think I’d have some sort of inclination as to the intricate workings of the female mind.”
Herbinclinedhis head with a wink. “I’ve been married for forty-two years. I still don’t have a clue what Ethel’s thinking.”
Ridge laughed richly.The moment he’d met Isabella, he found that they were coming a bit easier now. It was another fact he wasn’t too keen to dwell upon.
“Come on.I think wecouldbothuse astiffdrink.If nothing else, I’d say we deserved it after today.”
Ridge followed the older man intothe stables, where hemovedawooden slat on the wall and withdrew abottle of French brandy.Ridge liftedhis eyebrows. “I never pegged you for the smuggling type, Mr. Hopper.”
The man couldn’t quite hide the smile that curved the edges of hisagedmouth. “I suppose we all have our secrets.” After he took a seaton a bundle of hay, he took a bracing drink of the brandy and handed it to Ridge.
After Ridge sat down and imbibed a bit of the fine liquor, his companionwasted notimeonsmall talk, but said, “So whatseems to bebothering you aboutLady Isabella?”
Ridge had towork torelax the sudden tension in his shoulders.“What makes you think she’s the issue?”
Herb took a drink. “Call it male intuition. Besides…”He shrugged. “She’s not too bad to look at.”
Ridge couldn’t very well deny that, but he wasn’t sure he was comfortable with the way this conversation was heading, so he did what any good agentwould. He lied. “Lady Isabella isn’t the problem.”
Mr. Hopper shruggedand handed Ridge the bottle. “Isee.” Ridge hoped that would be the end of it, but he should have known it wouldn’t. “Are you sure about that?I can’t help but noticethat you seem different with her.”
Hefeltdifferent with her as well, but he wasn’t about to offerthatinformation.It was bad enough that Mr. Hopper was able to see through the emotions that Ridge always tried so hard tosuppress.The brandyprobably didn’t help with that.“How so?”
“It’s the way you look at her, like she’s theonly thing that matters in theworld.”
Some of the tightness in Ridge’schest unfurleda bitas he handed the bottle back.At least thiswas easy enough to explain. “That’s because, at the moment, she is. I’m tasked with her safety,and you know I don’t failinmy missions.”
Herbeyed him steadily. “That’s notreallywhat Iwas meaning.”
Ridge scowled, as he tapped a finger against his thigh.He’d told Isabella he wasn’t good with subtlety andthatwas the truth.“Is thereapointtothis inquisition?”
