Page 165 of A Perilous Passion

Giving him a warning look, she glided past him and stood in front of his desk.

From his position by the door, Goves asked, “Shall I stay, sir?”

“Yes, please. A witness is always valuable.”

That made Charlotte take a step back. He turned his attention to Jessop and asked, “Have you come to reclaim your lost love?”

The young man scowled and started to speak, but Charlotte laid a restraining hand on his arm. “We’ve come on a delicate matter,” she said. “I’m hoping that, as a man of the world and a former soldier, you can advise us. In fact, it’s a matter of life or death, or I wouldn’t have troubled you.”

Was she planning to elope again, perhaps? Rafe folded his arms across his chest and waited, not trusting his voice.

“You see, Justin has deserted. Oh, please don’t look so stern! He’s no coward, I promise,” she said in a rush. “If I’d had his direction, naturally I would have stopped him, but he just turned up, and there was nothing I could do.”

A piece of the puzzle clicked into place. “That letter you were hiding the other day—”

“Was from Justin, yes. But he didn’t say he actually planned to desert. Had I known, I’d have—”

He waved her into silence. His thoughts—and his feelings—were in utter chaos. The letter over which he’d lost so much sleep was not from some dangerous smuggling crony of her father’s.

Thank God.

But this… This was almost worse. Even if she was proven completely innocent of any wrongdoing, she was now back with the man she loved, and slipping further than ever out of Rafe’s reach.

To hide the despair that washed over him, he busied himself opening a desk drawer and laid the pistol within. He gave Jessop a look to let him know the gun could be deftly retrieved and deployed before the pup had time to blink.

Before he could even think about blinking.

Rafe steeled himself to look at Charlotte. “Why would I assist a deserter? A traitor to his duty?” he asked.

“I’m not asking you to help, necessarily. Just advise,” she said, her glowing hazel eyes giving him a look of earnest entreaty.

Minx. She was trying to manipulate him, knowing he felt guilty about his prying.

She was succeeding.

“Justin needs to disappear for a while,” she went on. “Or even be thought dead, until the army tires of chasing him. He could go abroad. The colonies, perhaps. I thought you might have contacts who could help.”

He frowned. The idea of helping a deserter was preposterous, no matter how good the boy’s reasons. And reuniting with a sweetheart was a selfish, thoughtless reason.

“Exactly how much does this fellow know of my business?” he demanded.

“Nothing, of course. I merely said you were a well-connected military man, more than capable of dealing with a crisis—and that I trust you with my life.”

Surprise flashed through him. Along with a large dose of guilt because he couldn’t say the same of her.

Not yet.

He must tread carefully—he couldn’t afford to let his guard down. Not for any reason.

He said, “I’m flattered by your confidence in me. But I doubt I’m well connected enough to have the charge of desertion overlooked. It’s a serious offense.”

Jessop was gazing at the desk in front of him, evidently too proud to beg. Suddenly, he bent forward and peered closely at the map.

Rafe clamped his jaw. Why hadn’t he hidden it before letting them in?

“What is the purpose of this map?” Jessop demanded.

“Nothing,” Rafe said evenly. “I was just showing Mr. Goves some of the local places of interest. We’re new to the area.” He reached to roll up the map.