Page 64 of A Season for Smugglers (Deception and Discipline 3)

“Would anyone like to go for a ride this fine morning?” Robert asked as they all finished their meals, though his gaze remained fixed on Evie. Wearing a dark forest green that brought out her eyes, she smiled back demurely at him, playing the coquette to perfection.

“Oh, I would love that.” Evie giggled, leaning forward on her chin and batting her long eyelashes at Robert.

Captain Browne grumbled something under his breath, gripping his fork so tightly, Lily was beginning to worry he might try to use it as a weapon.

Evie turned to look at Lily. “Do you think you will need me this morning?”

“I am sure we can manage without you if you would like to go riding,” Lily said, ignoring the seething captain two seats down from her. Whatever Evie was up to, she had an agenda in mind, and Lily would not stop her.

“Then I will go change into my riding gown.” Getting to her feet, Evie brushed off her skirts and gave Robert a saucy look.

“Wonderful. Shall we meet in the foyer in, say, half an hour?” Robert smiled genially as Captain Brown growled under his breath. Far from being deterred by Captain Browne’s clear disapproval, Robert seemed to revel in it.

“Perfect.” Evie did not wink at him—although Lily half-expected her to—but there was an extra swish in her step as she sashayed out the door. Just before she reached the threshold, she glanced back over her shoulder—not at Robert but at Lily—perfectly angled so Robert could not see her expression, which had changed completely.

Lily did not need Evie to say a word to know she wanted her friends to follow her and meet in her room. Smiling serenely, Lily waited a few minutes of awkward silence while Mary and Josie murmured back and forth to each other, Captain Browne glared at Robert, and Robert focused on finishing the last of his kedgeree, before clearing her throat.

“My goodness, there is so much to do today. I should really get started. Josie, Mary, would you mind if I drafted your assistance?” Lily kept her tone light, high. Neither Robert nor Captain Browne seemed to notice the difference, but Josie and Mary’s heads jerked toward her in surprise since they had previously offered their assistance. Lily tilted her head toward the door Evie had left through only minutes ago. Mary’s gaze cleared immediately while Josie took a moment longer, then a look of understanding fell over her expression.

“Yes, of course,” Mary said, getting to her feet as Josie jumped to hers. “Whatever we can do.”

Captain Browne blinked as if suddenly noticing they were there—and abandoning him. Robert looked a bit alarmed as he realized he was about to be left alone in the dining room with the captain.

“Ah, well.” Robert got to his feet as well. “I should wait in the foyer for Miss Stuart, I expect, and send a footman to the stables to prepare some horses for us—unless there is anything I can do to assist you as well?” The offer was made out of obligation, not actual desire to help, which almost made Lily want to accept just to tweak his nose, but there were more important things going on.

Whatever Evie was up to with him, she would not appreciate Lily spiking her guns.

“No, thank you.” Lily smiled at him, waving at Josie and Mary as Captain Browne watched them suspiciously, a frown forming on his handsome face. “I am sure we ladies can handle it.”

ChapterTwenty-Nine

Lily

“What are you doing with Robert?” Lily blurted out as soon as she reached Evie’s room, Josie and Mary hot on her heels.

“You mean other than driving Captain Browne absolutely wild with jealousy?” Josie asked dryly, moving past Lily to flop into the armchair beside Evie’s window.

Shaking her head, Mary went to help Evie, who was struggling a little with the fawn-colored riding habit she was putting on.

“He is hardly jealous, only overbearing,” Evie said irritably, twisting and fiddling with the fall of her skirt. Josie and Lily exchanged a look, Josie’s eyebrows arching high on her forehead.

Neither of them missed that Evie had chosen to answer Josie’s question instead of Lily’s. Lily would have expected her to ignore Josie entirely, but something about the query must have gotten under her skin.

How very interesting.

Unfortunately, they did not have time to dwell on the mystery of Evie and Captain Browne, though it was clear there was far more going on than Evie had seen fit to disclose. She might claim it was all in the past, but evidently, the past had come knocking.

“I do not think Mr. Jones will know anything, but heisyour husband’s cousin. While it is unlikely Nathan’s brother confided anything in Mr. Jones, he did not tell your husband, it is a possibility,” Evie continued, straightening up while Mary did the buttons on her right sleeve, the ones harder for Evie to do on her own. “Besides which, it is always possible the late earl’s death came at the hands of someone who wanted to move the title along.”

Lily was not surprised that Evie had thought of that as well.

“You think Mr. Jones killed his cousin, and you want to go riding with him?” Mary asked, looking at Evie as though she was mad.

“Honestly, no, I do not think he did, but I think a possibility, yet the men left him here to his own devices.” Evie shrugged. “I decided to grab the opportunity afforded to me.”

“Captain Browne clearly riled up by the attention you were paying Mr. Jones is just icing on your cake,” Josie teased, her broad smile undimmed by the dark look Evie shot her.

A knock at the door made everyone jump. Being the closest, Lily quickly turned to open it and was surprised to find Mrs. Moore on the other side. The housekeeper brightened at the sight of her, bobbing a quick curtsy.

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