Kasey Michaels - A Gentleman by Any Other Name

Author:Kasey Michaels [Michaels, Kasey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-11-25T23:50:42+00:00

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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.

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