not know whether he’d simply made it up because that’s what rogues did, lied smoothly to everyone. She wasn’t even certain why she’d saved him, but the thought of her uncle taking another life turned her stomach.
Smuggling was one thing.
Murder was quite another.
Everyone who lived in or about Clovelly augmented their living by smuggling. It was the way of things here, as common as breathing. Depriving the Crown of import tariffs which were excessive and unfair was not considered a crime in these parts. Well, the government agents considered it so, but a well placed bribe here and there had them rethinking their duty to the Crown and looking the other way.
She grabbed a blanket and tossed it over her shoulder, then hurried back to the guest chamber where she’d put Mr. Croft. “Here’s your blanket,” she said, trying not to stare at his splendidly formed body.
He truly was a fine looking man, lean and muscled. His brown hair was a little too long and yet, it suited him. She liked the way the ends curled around the nape of his neck. His dark green eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s. Obviously, this was a man who missed little. “Let me tuck it around you and then I’ll run down for the broth.”
He caught her hand as soon as she’d finished her task. “Thank you, Just Genalynn.”
“Your jest is wearing thin.” She frowned at him, trying not to respond to the thrill of his touch as he wrapped her hand in his.
“Very well then, Genalynn. Why are you sheltering me?”
His gaze was smoldering, the hot look in his eyes setting her body...no, she was not going to turn fiery over this man. “This is what I do. I often take in flea-bitten strays.”
“Flea-bitten?” He chuckled. “That’s set me down a peg. But I am not discouraged. You realize I won’t give up until I find out who you are.”
She sat a moment on the bed beside him. “It is a wasted effort. I am no one of consequence. Truly. And kindly release my hand. I do not need you to cozy up to me when you’ll be gone within a fortnight and I shall never see you again. So let’s not become friends. And certainly not lovers. Do me the kindness of not trying to seduce me. You aren’t that handsome and I’m not some brainless fribble aching for a thrill.”
“Ouch.”
“If you have questions for me, simply ask them. I’ll decide what to tell you and what I won’t.”
“Your accent is cultured. You hold yourself like a lady. Would I be amiss to call you Lady Genalynn?”
“I am a lady, for what it’s worth out here.” She rose and started for the door. “I’ll fetch your broth.”
At her direction, Throck had put some on to simmer while she’d attended to Mr. Croft’s injuries and he’d gone back to the cave to restore the boulder to its place. Throck was now seated in the kitchen, patiently waiting for her. “He’s awake and hungry. I’ll bring a bowl up to him now.”
“Shall I come with you?” Throck asked. He was more than a mere servant, having become her best friend and protector after she’d saved his life five years earlier.
Good heavens, is this what her life had become? Her manor turning into a shelter for lost souls. “No, don’t come with me. But I will ask you to watch over him later tonight. Why don’t you get some rest now? Thank you for helping me bring him here.”
He merely nodded.
“I don’t know what to do, Throck. This Mr. Croft is an agent for the Crown. No doubt he’s here to investigate Uncle Randall. How can I turn against my own uncle? Yet, how can I allow him to betray England? He’s no longer smuggling perfume or lace or other harmless luxuries. He’s shipping guns to the Irish and who knows what else they’ve paid him to do? I think he killed the last agent who came here to investigate.”
The big beast of a man nodded again.
Genalynn sighed. “Well, I’ll give it some more thought. Uncle Randall is Viscount Winthrop since my father’s death. He’s powerful in this region. His detractors have a way of disappearing. I suppose I ought to just leave it to the Crown to deal with him.”
“You shouldn’t have saved that man. It puts you at risk if your uncle ever finds out.”
“I couldn’t live with myself if I sat back and did nothing. I had to try,