A Stranger's Touch by Anne Herries

and we shall be watching closely in future.’
    ‘I did not know it was a crime to go fishing, sir.’
    ‘Fishing be damned. That Frenchie was bringing in silk and brandywine and if theycatch the vessel, we’ll have the proof we need. Then we shall be back and we’ll arrest the lot of you.’
    ‘I hope you discover your mistake, sir. My brothers are merely fishermen. Occasionally they take their wares and the catch of others to the markets and they may purchase produce to bring back for others, but they are honest men.’
    ‘You’re as bad as the rest of them,’ the captain said. ‘Take care, Mistress Morgan. I do not think you would like a taste of his Majesty’s prison.’
    Morwenna resisted replying again. She had defended her brothers, as always, but this man was very different from Captain Bird. Instead of admiration there was only scorn in his eyes—the scorn she’d seen earlier in the eyes of Rupert Melford.
    Her pain almost overwhelmed her, but she kept her head high until the soldiers had gone. Sitting down at the table, she discovered that she was shaking.
    ‘‘Tis time Michael changed his arrangements,’ Bess said. ‘If he continues, he will bring ruin on this family.’
    ‘I do not think it is just the smuggling,’ Morwenna said. ‘He is mixed up in somethingworse. I do not know what it may be, but he will not tell me more if I ask.’
    She blinked back her tears. Her life here was almost impossible. She would have to go to her aunt’s house in London.
    ‘You did well, as always,’ Michael said and frowned. ‘If they’ve replaced Captain Bird, they mean business, which means I shall have to be more careful. I intended to change the venue and this makes it imperative.’
    ‘Why do you need to continue with the smuggling?’ Morwenna asked. ‘You have your ship and could use it for honest trading and Jacques might find other employment if he tried.’
    ‘What of you if we go our separate ways?’
    ‘Perhaps I shall go to my mother’s sister.’
    ‘You visited once and came home within a week. What makes you think you would do better this time?’ His gaze hardened. ‘Bird helped delay them last night to give us time to get away. He met me in the village this morning and told me to be careful for a while. He wants to pay his respects to you, Morwenna. He would marry you if you threw him the occasional smile.’
    ‘I would rather take my chances with my aunt.’
    ‘I’ve given him my permission to talk to you. I owe him for helping me in the past,’ her brother said. ‘I’m going away to France and taking Jacques with me. I’ll be gone at least three weeks, perhaps more. You have until then to decide. It isn’t safe for you here any longer, Sister. When I come back I want an answer. We may have to leave this house quickly and I do not want to be worrying about you.’
    ‘What are you doing, Michael? It isn’t just smuggling. It’s serious—dangerous.’
    ‘Mayhap. Whatever, it’s my business. I’ve let you have your own way long enough, but I’ve made up my mind. When I return it’s marriage for you—or you’ll go to your aunt. The choice is yours.’
    Morwenna stared at the door as Michael left. She felt cold all over and yet she had known this was coming soon. The idea of marrying a man she disliked made her feel sick. Besides, Captain Bird wasn’t a fool. He would know he’d been cheated of her virginity and she suspected he had a temper if it was roused.
    Rupert, as Adam, had promised to take her with him, but he despised her now. She recalled his tenderness as he’d held her in his arms andloved her. She’d known such happiness, but it had all been a lie. He cared nothing for her.
    She wanted to go away, somewhere that no one knew her. Yet if she left this house alone she would have to fend for herself. It wouldn’t be easy to find work, but she would have to try.
    Tears were burning behind her eyes, but her pride would not let them fall. She would not admit