The Professor and the Smuggler by Summer Devon

Author:Summer Devon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure, action, cornwall, pirate, opposites attract, 20th century, gay for you, edwardian era, gay virgin, treasure seekers
Publisher: Summer Devon

Chapter Seventeen

The wind scoured Carne’s face. Clouds rolled in as he brought the Magpie into the harbor and tied her off at the dock.

“I’m glad we missed the bad weather,” Phillip called. “I never would have recuperated if we’d met those waves.” He pointed at the whitecaps.

“You recovered quickly enough,” Carne said.

Phillip gave him a sly grin. “I had the best of distractions.”

Instead of growing embarrassed or wishing to hurry off, Carne returned the smile, almost entirely at ease. Carne hadn’t been out on the water for days and hadn’t known how much he’d missed it. The ocean gave him peace.

Fine, he’d best be honest with himself: the experience in the cove was responsible for that elusive sense of body and soul-deep well-being—and gratitude for being alive here and with Phillip. He’d rarely known a time when he’d understood he was fully in the right place and time. He’d been content in his world, but less certain what happiness meant.

Still, he mustn’t get lost in contemplation of bliss. As they walked through the little village, he had to pay attention, to watch the people he passed for signs of guilt. Someone he knew and perhaps even liked had done that to Phillip’s motorcar. He couldn’t simply assume it was Jacobs or the Mitchells or Gwalather and leave it at that. He should remain vigilant for anyone else acting suspicious.

Yet that strange happiness remained in the background, ready to swamp Carne with joy again.

The wind increased and a drizzle sputtered, threatening to turn into true rain.

“Shall we go to the Stoney Ground now?” he asked Phillip.

“No. I have to go to your cottage first.” He walked with that long stride of his. Carne watched him, wondering if his backside ached. He did grimace.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just realized the rain is going to erase those hoofprints. Ah well.”

“Are you going to tell me who you’re meeting? Or do I have to trail after?”

“Didn’t you say that Bea doesn’t want you to go there?”

“That’s handy, isn’t it?” Carne’s dismay melted when he recalled Phillip had made the arrangement without knowing Bea’s declaration. Carne would go anyway—nothing could stop him from following Phillip. But he wouldn’t count on Bea’s willingness to serve him food.

In the cottage, he made them rough sandwiches of dried meat, cheese, and stale bread that tasted delicious. Food tasted better in Phillip’s presence.

Phillip went into his room—entirely his, now. Carne wondered if it would ever feel as if it belonged to his sisters again.

A few minutes later, he reappeared. He had an oilskin coat and hat in one hand and a leather satchel in the other. He slung the satchel over his shoulder, and they set out.

The rain had died down, though, and they ducked under some dripping trees and made their way back toward the village. Carne pulled off his gray cap and shook the water off.

Phillip broke the silence. “Mitchell the younger.”

“Eh?”

“I’m going to talk to Mitchell.”

Carne resettled his cap and concentrated on the last few days’ activities. “Why? You haven’t met him before.

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