Page 16 of The Taming of a Wicked Rogue

His gaze met hers and she swore he echoed similar thoughts.

Stepping up swiftly, she grimaced at the feel of her wet skirts clinging to her legs. “We had better make haste or we shall catch our death of cold.”

“At least the day is relatively warm.” He nodded toward the moat. “And we need to decide how the devil we are getting back across?”

She made a face. “Um. Swim again, I suppose. Just voluntarily this time.”

He lifted his gaze to the skies. “I should have stayed at home.”

“Yes, you should have done,” she snapped, recalling him flirting with that pretty young lady. For a moment, she had forgotten it all. Who he was, who she was. Whotheywere.

“Well, where do you suggest we start?” He indicated to the house.

“There were a few hidden rooms. I am hoping he hid his belongings in one of those and it went undiscovered.”

He grimaced. “We may not be able to search.”

Leo frowned, and she followed his gaze. An old lady hobbled along the side of the moat, gesturing angrily at them. “Intruders!”

He stepped in front of her, though why he thought she needed protection from the stooped old lady, she did not know.

“Do you know her?” Rebecca murmured.

He shook his head. “I haven’t been here since you left.”

She peered at them through wire-framed glasses. “Get away from there. There’s nothing to be taken, you know. Thieves have already taken everything of value.” She waved her walking stick at them for good measure.

“We are not thieves,” Leo assured her. “In fact, this young lady used to live here.”

Rebecca’s heart dropped to her freezing toes. Did he not know what was at stake here? Did he not understand her need for secrecy at all?

The woman peered around Leo, and Rebecca ducked farther behind him but too late apparently.

“You are a relative of that awful Fortescue?” She spat at the grass. “He still owes my husband money. Went to his grave without paying us one jot.”

Rebecca eased out from behind Leo. “I am deeply sorry for that. If you but let me know how much it is you are owed, I will ensure the debt is paid.”

“Rebecca…” Leo warned.

“If this lady is owed money, I would see that debt settled.”

“She could be lying,” he muttered.

“I doubt it,” she said on a sigh. “My father owed money to about every business here.”

“Your father?” the woman squawked. “He was your father?” She shook her head and wagged a finger at her. “You should stay away from this woman,” she warned. “If she has her father’s blood in her, no doubt she will take you for all you are worth.” She glanced them over. “It seems you are both already set on living most scandalously.”

“Please,” Rebecca lifted both hands, “I shall see your debts paid. Just do not tell anyone I am here. I promise I have no ill intentions.”

The woman set down her walking stick and leaned heavily on it for a few moments. She swung her gaze between them then nodded curtly. “See the debt is paid and I shall be silent.” She gestured with her stick toward a small, white cottage some way up the hillside. “My husband and I live at the farmstead.”

Rebecca nodded vigorously and watched the woman amble off toward the cottage.

“She moves fast for an old lady,” Leo commented.

“And she loathes me and my family.” She closed her eyes briefly. If she believed she had been mistaken in her assumptions for even a moment, she had been proved wrong.

Chapter Seven

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