The Pirate's Desire by Jennette Green

slid shut. Breaking free of her frozen horror, Lucinda bolted down the short hall, and then out the hole by the bookcase. She whipped a glance over her shoulder. No Riel. Shaking, she shoved the bookcase back, and it clicked into place just as her guardian’s large frame filled the doorway.
    “Lucinda,” he said again, but with no more pleasure. His black brows looked ominous.
    Trembling, she gripped the bookcase behind her. How should she play this? Pretend it never happened? That he’d seen a ghost who looked like her within the wall?
    “Riel.”
    Flustered, she realized she’d called him by his first name. Attempting to adopt a modicum of dignity, she pulled out the hanky she’d tucked inside her sleeve. Glancing at her father’s coffin, she dabbed her eyes. “Have you come to pay respects to Father?” She didn’t have to fake the tremor in her voice.
    Riel stepped into the room. “You have cobwebs in your hair, Lady Lucinda.” His soft voice sounded dangerous.
    “Oh!” Her fingers fluttered to her hair.
    “Perhaps you will allow me.” He stalked closer, and she shrank back.
    “No. I…I will thank you to keep your distance, Mr. Montclair.”
    “You are frightened. Perhaps because you heard words that weren’t meant for your ears?”
    Lucinda lifted her chin and swallowed, fighting for courage. “Have you things to hide, Mr. Montclair?”
    “I have private business to conduct. Business that is none of your concern.”
    “But you are very much my concern. I must understand what sort of a man you are, if you’re to take over Ravensbrook.” Her mind worked quickly, trying to decide which bits of information to provoke from Montclair first.
    “You can trust me.”
    “Oh? Because you say so? I am not a feather-brained ninny. Tell me what your business was about.” Her insides felt shaky, like a poorly set pudding, but outwardly, she struggled to project a visage of cool calm.
    Here was her chance to discover the full truth about Riel Montclair. …If he would tell her. And once she found out, how could she best use that knowledge to evict him from her home? Lucinda wished she had more time to plot her strategies.
    A long moment ticked by. “Tell me what you heard.”
    “I heard it all,” she said rashly. “I know the Royal Navy wants you to return to your ship. If you don’t, they’ll seize it and likely throw you in the brig.” Of course, she’d embellished the last part, but she was fishing for information now. It was part of her hastily improvised plan of attack.
    His fingers twitched at his sides. Because he wanted to throttle her? Or because she’d backed him into a corner and now he’d have to fight—or bluff—his way out?
    “The Navy wants me to run a mission.”
    “Why?”
    He paced closer, but she refused to cringe back. “It’s top secret. I cannot give you details.”
    “Pooh,” she said. “You want me to trust you. Then you must trust me first.”
    “I cannot say more.”
    Lucinda changed tactics. “Why, then, would the Navy be suspicious of you?”
    Shadows darkened his eyes. “The Brits have no reason to distrust me. I have helped them for the past two years.”
    “Truly?” One brow arched. “I thought you owned a merchant ship. How could a merchant ship be of use to the English Navy?”
    “Again, I would rather not say. It could be dangerous for you.”
    “Dangerous for me? ” Surprise quickly devolved into suspicion. He was trying to scare her and throw her off the scent. Temper sparked. “I am not a fool. You have a dark secret, Mr. Montclair. I know it. And when I discover what it is, I’ll personally invite Admiral Smythe here so he can cart you off to the Tower of London!”
    Unknown emotions flickered across his face. To her surprise, he chuckled. “You have quite the imagination, Lucy.”
    Lucinda wanted to stamp her foot. She had learned exactly nothing about his nefarious doings! She snapped, “Who was that man, and why was he here?”
    Laugh