Free A Stranger's Touch by Anne Herries Page A

until it did happen.
    ‘You little witch,’ Adam murmured nuzzling against her neck. ‘I’m wanting you again already, but I think you may be too sore, because it was your first time. I won’t take you again, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves. There is a lot more to teach you about loving yet, my love.’
    Morwenna smiled and reached up to bring his head down to hers, showing him what she had already learned.
    ‘Teach me everything,’ she invited. ‘I want to please you as you please me.’
    ‘My sweet, hot, Cornish wench,’ he said and stroked the length of her back. ‘It shall be my pleasure.’
    ‘Where have you been in this weather?’ Bess demanded as Morwenna entered the kitchen. ‘I’ve had all the work to do—and Jacques is back. He wanted to know where you were.’
    ‘I was caught in the rain and decided to shelter in the lightkeeper’s cottage,’ Morwenna said.‘I’ll finish the supper now, Bess. I’m sorry if you’ve had too much to do.’
    ‘Well, you’d done most of the preparation,’ Bess muttered. ‘I was worried, that’s all. Thought you might have done something silly.’
    ‘Now what should I do?’ Morwenna asked, her heart beating madly. Could Bess see a difference in her? Would she know that she’d been in the arms of her lover?
    Hugging the excitement and happiness to her as she set about preparing the supper, Morwenna felt a prick of guilt despite her pleasure. It would be hard for Bess when she left with her lover, but her brothers would either have to employ another servant or one of them must marry and bring his wife here.
    ‘Where have you been?’
    Hearing Jacques’s voice, she turned to look at her younger brother. ‘I went for a walk on the cliffs. The storm was sudden and I sheltered in the cottage.’
    ‘You shouldn’t have done that, Morwenna. Michael won’t like you using it. Stay away from there—do you hear me?’
    ‘Why?’ Her breath caught as she saw his angry look. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were using it.’
    ‘I’m not, but I know Michael does—and he would be furious if he knew you had been there. It is supposed to be a secret. If you say anything, you could cause trouble for us all.’ Jacques glanced at Bess. ‘Neither of you should mention that place—especially to the militiamen.’
    ‘I wouldn’t betray you,’ Morwenna said, but couldn’t look at him. In a way she had betrayed him by taking her lover there.
    ‘You know nothing. Let’s keep it that way.’ Jacques softened his tone. ‘Captain Bird was asking for you, Morwenna. He told me he asked you to wed him but you turned him down. He was hinting that he knew something about Michael—something I don’t. Be careful what you say to him, he might turn nasty.’
    ‘I’m always careful,’ Morwenna said, her head coming up with a snap. ‘I wouldn’t marry that slimy toad if he were the last man to ask me. He didn’t so much ask me to marry him as try to seduce me. He disgusts me. He’s sly.’
    ‘Yes, he is. He isn’t what I should like for you, dear heart, but I doubt you’ll get any better offers here. It may be best for you to stay with Mother’s family. If things go wrong, it won’t be safe for any of us here.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Morwenna’s heart raced. ‘Are you in trouble, Jacques?’
    ‘No, but there are things—’ He broke off and shook his head. ‘It’s best you don’t know. I think Michael is mixed up in something desperate. At first the smuggling was just a way of making money, but I think it led to other things and now. I’ll not tell you so do not ask, but if you won’t have Captain Bird you should consider going to our aunt’s.’
    ‘Well, perhaps I shall,’ she said. ‘Please do not worry about me. Are you involved in Michael’s schemes?’
    ‘To an extent. He does not tell me everything, but I’ve guessed at least a part of what he’s up to—and it could mean real trouble for us all. You would be safer