First Sinners by Kate Pearce Page B

He stroked his thumb over her mouth. “So did you.”
    “How do you know that? I might be in league with whoever it was.”
    “As might I.” He held her gaze. “Don’t you think it’s time to admit we might be on the same side?”
    “I don’t have to admit anything to you.”
    “That’s true, but then I won’t feel obliged to indulge your curiosity either.”
    Beneath his teasing words was a hint of command that she couldn’t fail to notice. She sighed.
    “I, too, saw someone going down to the cellar.”
    “I think we’ve already established that. What did you expect to find down here?”
    “I wasn’t sure.” She hesitated. “I wondered if someone was looking for something.”
    “Something to do with that argument you heard this morning?”
    “Perhaps.”
    He stepped away from her and spent a moment lighting a new candle. “Shall we go and see what they were doing?”
    “You don’t know either?”
    “As I said, I arrived about two minutes before you did.” He took her hand. “Come on, it should be safe now.”
    “As if I care about such things.”
    He glanced down at her. “That is a discussion for another time. If I had my way, I’d put you over my knee and spank you for being so reckless.”
    “ Spank me?” She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he wouldn’t let go.
    “Yes, with your own hairbrush on your bare buttocks.”
    “Oh.” She considered that erotic image for far too long before rallying. “What I do is not your concern, my lord.”
    “Unfortunately it seems that it is. Everywhere I turn, there you are.” He led her through the large, cavernous cellar until they reached the other side.
    “Then perhaps you shouldn’t roam so freely in your host’s house! Oh my goodness, what a mess.” She studied the mass of broken crates and moved boxes. “Whatever was he looking for?”
    The earl stepped closer and held up the candle. “This, I imagine.”
    Faith squinted at the stones. “Is it another door?”
    “Shall we see?”
    He stepped over the disturbed boxes and studied the floor-to-ceiling crack.
    “I wonder if this goes down to the beach? Perhaps our intrepid bungler didn’t know how to open it,” the earl murmured. “It would be a perfect way to bring smuggled goods up to the house without being detected by the authorities.”
    “Smuggled goods?” Faith tried to sound surprised. “Are you a representative of the Excise men, sir?”
    “No.” He continued to study the wall.
    “Then why do you care how this family brings smuggled goods in from the Continent?”
    “Everyone should care. It isn’t only brandy that is brought in, my dear.”
    “I suppose you’re talking about seditious ideas, and the threat of revolution. Is that what you are trying to protect, my lord? Your aristocratic friends and your station?”
    He swung around to look at her. “Do you want a revolution in this country, Miss Pelly? You wish to see bloodshed, destruction, and the tearing apart of our civilization by an ignorant mob?”
    “Of course not, but I think you’re overreacting, and I still don’t understand exactly what you’re interested in.”
    “Surely that is my concern?”
    She glared at him. “You’re a fine one to speak of being honest. You aren’t willing to tell me a thing!”
    “Believe me, I would if I could.” He redirected his gaze back to the door. “It doesn’t look as if this exit has been used for a while. I wonder why? Perhaps our man is new to this business.”
    “One would hope so,” Faith murmured. From the conversation she’d overheard she had to suspect that because of the continuing storm, things hadn’t gone as planned. Maybe the door hadn’t needed to be used for a long time.
    “Why do you say that?” He caught her chin in his hand. “Do you know who it is?”
    “No.” She dared him to ask another question. “And even if I did, do you think I’d tell you?”
    He kissed her hard on the mouth. “Even though I still want to spank you,