The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh by Ella Quinn Page B

pain.
    She brought the lantern closer. “Let me see.” His jaw was swollen as large as a small ball of yarn. “Here, open your mouth.” Anna almost roiled at the smell of decay. “You need to go to the apothecary tomorrow, or you’ll have even more problems. I’ll be fine by myself until you’re better.”
    Moments later, she quietly left on Thunderer. Once she’d cleared the immediate house area, she gave her horse his head. The air was cold and moist. Anna was thankful she’d dressed warmly. With any luck, Kev would have lit the fire in the old cottage Harry had used, and left to her. Otherwise, she’d have to change in the cold. She rode Thunderer into the stable built behind the cottage. “Here are some oats and water,” she said. “I’ll just be a few minutes.”
    The room glowed with the flickering of flames from the fireplace, but the only really warm area was right next to it. She quickly stripped off her habit and changed into breeches, shirt, and jacket, grabbing the warm frieze coat as she went back out to the barn where she switched out her sidesaddle for a regular one.
    The stand of trees was not far, and it took only a few minutes to reach it. From there she could see everything and hear most of it. After tying her horse up in a wooded copse several yards back, she scrambled down the path to the beach.
    Kev strode over to meet her. “Mr. Arnold, sir. We just got the first signal.”
    Anna nodded. “Wait for a few minutes after the second signal. If I see anything, I’ll give a sign.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    She climbed up the rocky path and lay prone on the cliff ’s edge. When the second signal came, she scanned the beach and cliffs. After a few minutes, the smugglers took the boats out. She waited nervously until the vessels came back into sight and were beached.
    Men seemed to mill around without purpose, but in no time at all the barrels were unloaded and secured to the carts. Once the crafts were empty, some of the gang pushed the boats back into the cove to take them to a dock on the outskirts of town. The rest of the smugglers helped move the carts to the wagon waiting at the end of the beach.
    Anna searched the area again, looking for anyone who shouldn’t be there. The idea of the gentleman from London made her anxious. A tingle ran down her shoulders, as if she were being watched. She shook herself and tried to relax. Maybe she was becoming too cautious. But Marshes weren’t cautious; they were invincible. That’s what Harry used to tell her when she’d been afraid of the dark at three and when she was facing her first Season at seventeen. This was the job Harry had left to her. She couldn’t allow the burning on her back—Lord, it was as if someone were pressing down on her shoulders with a hot iron—to distract her. Anna struggled not to glance around.
    The sooner she got the signal from Kev, the better she’d feel. There it was. She jumped to her feet and ran to Thunderer. Using a fallen log, she jumped onto her horse. Mounting in breeches was so much easier than mounting in a skirt. What would Rutherford think if he saw her now? Right now, he was only one of several problems—her father, the London gentleman, and Percy. If he persisted, she’d throw him into the fountain herself.
    Anna cantered to the cottage, changed, rode home, and slipped silently up to her chamber where Lizzy waited.
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    Rutherford had arrived back at the Priory after talking with Sir William and had entered through a side door. He gave thanks none of his sisters or his mother was wandering the corridors and went directly to his study. With everything else going on, he’d neglected his estate work. By the time he needed to change for dinner, he was almost caught up. He glanced one last time at the correspondence and saw a rather grubby piece of paper, folded twice, but not sealed. He opened