A Gentleman by any Other Name by Kasey Michaels

Author:Kasey Michaels [Michaels, Kasey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Chance reined in Jacmel a good ten feet away from Julia and dismounted, tied the reins to

the wrist-thick branch of a small, scrubby tree. "Thank God you turned inland, woman," he

said, taking hold of her upper arms. "Court and I were riding back after escorting the

lieutenant and his men halfway to Dymchurch when I saw you. Nobody walks along the

beach in this direction unless they know the way."

Julia was shaking now, realizing she may have had a lucky escape. "So there are

quicksands?"

Chance let go of her arms and stabbed his fingers through his hair. This woman was going to

drive him straight out of his mind. "Why did I even bother thinking I might have to rescue you?

How do I keep forgetting that you grew up learning about Romney Marsh?"

Julia considered the notion he'd been concerned for her, possibly even frightened. Either that

or having her disappear would cause more trouble than anyone wanted, especially now that

Lieutenant Diamond had seen her. She much preferred her first thought but couldn't dismiss

the second.

So she pushed—just a little.

"For a dangerous area as this is, it's surprising that there would be such a well-worn path,

isn't it? But as you say, for those who know the sands, it isn't treacherous at all. Only for

those who don't. I'm sure someone has warned Lieutenant Diamond away, told him of the

danger to his men if they were to patrol here."

Lord save him from intelligent, prying women! Chance grabbed her by the elbow and drew

her along with him toward the horse. "We'll walk back," he said tightly. "Just let me untie

Jacmel. Did you enjoy your walk?"

"Most of it, yes. Jacmel," Julia said, also suddenly eager to change the subject. She realized

that she was always eager to change the subject, mostly because she had said something

she should not have said. "What does the name mean?"

"Jacmel is the name of a town I knew in the islands," Chance said dismissively, for although

he would much rather not listen to more of Julia's stabbing remarks about the smugglers, he

was likewise reluctant to discuss the islands. "Here," he said, digging into his pocket, one

hand holding Jacmel's reins. "The moment didn't seem right earlier, on the terrace. But you

should have this."

Julia automatically put out her hand, then goggled at the ring he'd laid in her palm. It was

heavily engraved gold, with a huge green stone surrounded by tiny pearls. The sun winked

off the stone, dazzling her, and she stumbled into speech. "I…1 can't take this. I don't want to

take this. Where did you get this?"

He'd known she'd ask that last question. Most women wouldn't have, of course, but Julia

Carruthers had her own definition of how she should behave. "It isn't polite to ask such

questions, Julia," he said, because, oddly, he wanted to hear her reaction to his small

reprimand.

"Probably not," Julia said in what he was learning was her matter-of-fact bluntness, still

staring at the ring. "Here, take it back."

Very nearly the straightforward answer he'd expected, almost to the word, as he had been

thinking she'd say absolutely not. Still, her meaning was clear.

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