06.The Penniless Peer (The Eternal Collection) by Cartland Barbara

Author:Cartland, Barbara [Cartland, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781782130277
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.Ebooks ltd
Published: 2012-05-23T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Six

‘It is like being in a dream,’ Fenella thought to herself.

The boat was moving smoothly through the water and the only sounds were the creak of the rowlocks and the men’s heavy breathing as they bent their backs to the oars.

She could hardly believe it possible that in such a short time Periquine could have arranged everything and they were actually at sea.

Of course it was she who had found the right person for him to contact! Even when she gave him the name she had felt a little tremor of fear in case she was helping him into danger.

But she had known there was no denying his intention to make money by smuggling.

From the moment she had seen his eyes light up at the dining-room table and heard the eagerness in his voice when he asked Augustus to give him more particulars of his friend’s smuggling activities, there had been no chance of his turning back.

The idea must have been uppermost in Lord Corbury’s mind all through the evening.

As soon as the party from the Hall had departed and Hetty had said her last soft farewell, looking up into his eyes with an expression which no man could resist, the words had seemed to burst from his lips.

“Smuggling! Did you hear what Augustus said, Fenella ? That is how we must make some money!”

“It is very dangerous,” Fenella said warningly.

“Everything we have done so far is dangerous, but they have still not caught us!” Lord Corbury retorted. “I re member now when I was in London hearing that the traffic of contraband across the Channel since the war ended has never been heavier.”

“Exactly,” Fenella agreed, “and that was why in January this year, when you were abroad, they appointed a Controller-General of the Preventive Boat Service. His name is Captain Hatchard and he was in the Royal Navy.”

“If other people succeed, there is no reason why we should fail,” Lord Corbury asserted.

“I heard Papa say that they reckon there are twenty thousand people smuggling contraband goods every year,” Fenella replied. “At the same time the Courts and Assizes are filled with those who have been caught and there are more prisoners being transported to Australia than ever before.”

“What is the matter with you?” Lord Corbury demanded angrily. “You are always trying to put a damper on me these days!”

“I am not, Periquine, I am not really,” Fenella answered. “It is just that I am afraid for — you.”

She knew as she spoke that it was her love for him that made her fearful. She could not bear to think that he might be in serious trouble with the authorities, or hauled before the Courts for a misdemeanour which could have serious consequences.

“Well, with your help or without your help,” Lord Corbury said roughly, “I am going to try my hand at bringing home a cargo. It cannot be so difficult if so many blockheads get away with it!”

Fenella did not answer and after a moment he said,

“And that

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