Chapter 1

Kinsale, Ireland

The two horses leapt over the hedge simultaneously, the paler of the two pulling ahead as they galloped along the cliff’s edge. To their right, the River Brandon was calmer, barely a ripple as it glistened under the mid-July sun. David often liked to take this route, strolling along to smell the rich salt in the air. This was one of his favorite places. But when his brother was flying on ahead, intent on making their late morning ride a race, it was hard to stop and admire the view. Peter loved a race.

Then again, so did David.

Peter reached the point where the cliff edge had a steady drop down into a cove. A little private area that was barely used by anyone other than themselves when they were children. He adjusted his hat and gave David a triumphant grin.

“I’ve won!” he declared. “Again! For someone who spends every day in the saddle, you’re rather slow, David.”

David rolled his eyes as he smiled, trotting up to join his brother. “I got distracted with the view.”

“Ha! You’re not willing to admit that I beat you fair and square.”

“And last time I checked, you weren’t always this combative when someone graciously accepted a loss.”

David’s twin smirked and turned his white horse towards the mainland. “When you live a life at sea, you find out things don’t go by the same rules as on land. Speaking of which,” he made a face at the ocean behind them, “I want to get away from here. I don’t want to smell that stench.”

David laughed. “You work on a ship!”

“Doesn’t mean I have to enjoy my job when I have shore leave. Come on!”

Peter set his horse off at a quick canter. David urged his horse after him, not willing to be left behind. He and Peter only had a few days before Peter went back to sea again, this time sailing to the Caribbean, transporting people heading to live on the many islands out there. David didn’t want to waste time squabbling. Then again, Peter liked a good argument.

It was good to have his brother back. Kinsale wasn’t the same without him, especially with their father in such a subdued state. Peter had been at sea when their mother died after a long illness. David and his brother Geoffrey had to watch as their mother, who had been the peacemaker, the one who tempered the boys’ fiery behaviour with her calm approach, withered away in her bed. She passed away in their father’s arms, and Ian Harrison hadn’t recovered from it.

David was still struggling from his mother’s death himself, but it was nothing compared to Viscount Harrison. Ian was a shadow of his former self. They had been married for twenty years, and their marriage had been strong, solid. Now Ian was on his own, and he didn’t seem to know how to cope. Geoffrey was the most worried about their father, and he was close to tears whenever his attempts to cheer Ian up failed.

David felt like he was stuck in the middle. Now, at least Peter had come back. With a few days for a bit of fun and distraction, it was like they were children again.

“What’s going on?”

“Hmm?” David hadn’t realized he had slowed down. Now Peter was slowing his pace to fall in beside David, giving his brother a curious look.

“You went off in your own world there. What’s wrong?”

“I was thinking that we need to do something about Pa.”

“Like what?”

“Stop him moping.” David winced. “I know that sounds callous, but Ma’s been dead for two years now and yet Pa is still mourning her. I don’t think I’ve seen him crack a smile in months. Geoffrey’s noticed as well.”

Peter snorted.

“Geoffrey always was a soft one. He is always about feelings.”

“He’s only sixteen.”

“And that doesn’t bode well for him as a man. Women might find him sympathetic to their feelings attractive, but it’s not going to get Geoffrey anywhere, is it?”

“Leave off on Geoff. This is about Pa.” David shook his head. “I think he’s slipping away from us. The strong man who was once in charge of this family is not there anymore.”

“Of course he’s there. He’s just preoccupied.” Peter sighed. “Look, David, you needn’t worry so much. I’m sure Pa will be fine. He’s stronger than you think. And two years is the appropriate time to mourn a spouse, you know that.”

“I know that, but…” David sighed. “I just don’t like seeing him so sad.”

The three Harrison sons had inherited Ian’s fiery temper. They were all similar, in that respect. As they grew up, the three boys learned to deal with it in different ways. Peter had struggled the most, which was why Ian had suggested signing him up as a midshipman when he was twelve. Peter had protested, but life at sea had tempered him. He wasn’t as fierce as before, but the light in his eyes had never gone away. If anything, it had grown.

As Ian grew older, he became more somber. David wasn’t sure what to make of the new gentleman sitting at the head of the table. Hopefully, they could get the old Ian Harrison back.

“Well, we’ve got a dinner party to go to tonight.” Peter suggested. “I’m sure we can find a way to cheer him up there.”

David found himself laughing. “At the O’Reilly estate? Are you sure about that?”

“Maybe you’re right. That’s more likely to make him even worse.”

David couldn’t argue with that. The O’Reilly family were their neighbors, and they were absolute bores. But, Ian never turned an invitation down because he was a gracious man. He wasn’t about to be rude to their neighbors, even if Ian rolled his eyes whenever he got a letter from them. There had been talks about arranging a match between David and their eldest daughter Lady Eveline, but that had been quickly scrapped. David was glad about that. Lady Eveline was just as boring as her parents.

“Look, how about we take him out riding next time we go?” David said. “He’s coming with us, no arguments; along the clifftops, just as he used to when he was teaching us to ride. He always love a race.”

“I know.” Peter grinned. “And I always win.”

“Only because Pa lets you. He’s always going to be the best horseman.”

“I’m going to overtake him very quickly. I know it.” Peter nodded out ahead of them. “Just as I know I’m going to be making introductions with that girl.”

“Huh?”

David hadn’t noticed that they were now on the outskirts of Kinsale, in an area called Compass Quay. It was where most of the fishermen lived as it was easier access to the boats to get out and collect their wage in the Atlantic Ocean. Even further inland, the smell of fish was enormous and it was making David’s eyes water. People were going on about their business, barely giving them a glance.

Irish people were more dismissive of their nobility than the English, seeing them as another member of the community, but with finer clothes. David liked being on a more level footing with his workers. Everyone was human, and he found work was so much easier to get done when he wasn’t lording it over them. Peter was not of the same mind, turning his nose up at the villagers whenever they came near.

Whoever thought a sailor would be such a snob?

David followed Peter’s line of sight and saw a girl at the well, turning the handle. What he saw made him stare. She was close to their age, maybe a little younger, with light brown hair loosely tied back, but with most of it falling over her shoulders. She was tall and curvy in all the right places. She wore a simple cloth dress in pale brown with the sleeves rolled up as she turning the handle on the winch.

She was beautiful. Even with sweat beading her forehead under the hot sun and wearing servant’s clothes, she was beautiful. David couldn’t take his eyes off her. He could see why Peter had picked her out, but then he remembered where they were.

“Are you mad?” he hissed. “She’s one of the villagers, Peter!”

“And? Nothing wrong in a bit of fun.”

Peter was smirking, his eyes still on the girl. David groaned. His brother liked women. Even at nineteen, he had started making flirtatious comments at several of the ladies in Irish Society, even the older ladies. Being at sea seemed to have given him some confidence when it came to talking to the opposite sex, something Peter hadn’t possessed when he was younger. Or maybe he was that desperate for female company after being at sea with dozens of men for months on end.

David was aiming for the latter.

“I don’t think seducing a village girl would be classed as fun,” David pointed out. “I bet you she’s not even old enough.”

“Then let’s go and ask her.” Peter kicked his horse into motion, setting off on a quick walk. “Come on, you can see how it’s done.”

David hurried after him. “Can’t you keep your mind out of the gutter for more than a few minutes?” he hissed.

“You go to sea for months on end and you’ll see how hard it is to cope without a woman.”

“You were sent to sea to keep you out of trouble.”

“Well, it’s clearly not worked.” Peter laughed. Then he turned away, his smiling fading as he sat up in his saddle. “Whoa, look at that.”

The girl had unhooked the bucket, full of water, and was now dragging it off the lip of the well. She had also been approached by three young men. They had surrounded her, effectively pinning her against the wall. One of the lads was saying something to the girl, his hand touching her face even as she shied away.

David felt a knot hardening in his stomach. Then he shook himself. What was wrong with him? Why was he getting so worked up over another man touching her?

He had been in Peter’s company too long.

Then he stared as the girl promptly dropped the heavy bucket onto the lad’s foot, the bucket tipping over and water cascading over the already soggy ground. The first lad howled and staggered away, hopping on one foot as he grabbed onto his toes. The girl then picked up the now-empty bucket and swung it, hitting the second lad in the face. She was grabbed by the third lad, but David saw her jerk her knee up, catching him between his legs. The lad groaned and stiffened up before falling over.

Peter burst into laughter. David couldn’t help but smile. The girl had guts.

“Well, I think we both know what her reaction would have been if you did that to her.”

“She wouldn’t. I’m not that brazen.”

“Excuse me?”

Peter flushed and shifted in his saddle. “All right, maybe I am. But, I can move faster.”

“I highly doubt it.” David laughed.

Then he saw the scene before them had changed. The three young men had disappeared momentarily while they had been talking, and the girl had gone back to drawing water from the well. Mud was clinging to the hem of her skirts, and she was struggling, but didn’t back down as she lowered the bucket. While she was working, her back was to the rest of the square, and she didn’t see the three lads come back out with a few more young men. All of them were focused on her, and they began to spread out as they approached her.

David kicked his horse into gear. “Come on.”

“What?”

“You’re going on about how gentlemanly you are,” David shouted over his shoulder as he galloped away, “prove it.”

The girl was now aware of the trouble she was in. She pressed herself against the well, her body tensed ready for fight. David urged his horse to move faster. In any other circumstances, he would have intervened, but he wouldn’t have felt the same way as this. He had never felt the panic in his chest. He must have been dropped on his head at some point. That could be the only reason for reacting like this.

He reached the girl first, leaning well out of the saddle and grabbing her around the waist. The girl screamed as he lifted her off her feet, and she tried to fight back, but David clung on even as she scratched at his neck. He took them to the far side of the square and pulled his horse to a stop, letting go of the girl as she slid out of his grasp. Then David dismounted.

Back by the well, Peter had arrived. He had jumped off his horse and was sauntering towards the gang, swinging his cane.

“Would you like to try that again with me?” he declared. He pointed the head of his cane at the lad who had touched the girl. “You first, sir?”

The men were beginning to back away. David turned to the girl, who was watching the scene in stunned disbelief. Up close like this, she was even more beautiful. Soft skin turned a golden brown under the sun, and the most stunning blue eyes David had ever seen. He found himself staring, unable to look away.

“Excuse me?” The girl was looking at him strangely. Then David realized he had been staring at her with his mouth open.

He cleared his throat. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” The girl flushed and brushed her hands on her skirts. “It’s nothing I couldn’t handle.”

“I’m sure you couldn’t handle half a dozen men or more on your own.”

“Are you mocking me because I’m a woman?”

“I would never do that.” Combative. David was surprised to find that he liked that. “But there is a point when you need to admit you need some help. And be gracious when accepting it.”

The girl snorted. “Is that how you were raised? To charge in swords waving around?”

“No sword out for me.” David nodded at Peter, who was still having a stand-off with some of the young men. A few of them had already retreated. “My brother is a bit more wayward than I am and we don’t treat women the way they were treating you.”

They stared at each other. David couldn’t help but stare. Those eyes were captivating. He just couldn’t look away. And she stared back unblinkingly. Finally, she backed down first, licking her lips before looking away.

“Thank you,” she mumbled.

“I beg your pardon?” David bit back a smile. “What did you say?”

“You heard me. Don’t make me repeat it.”

Even as she snapped at him, David saw the ghost of a smile. He felt something punch him in the gut. Whoa. If that was how he reacted after a small smile, he couldn’t imagine how his response would be to a full one.

Footsteps had David spinning around. Peter was strutting towards them, twirling his cane and whistling. He gave David a smug look.

“They’ve gone now,” he declared. “They shouldn’t be bothering you anytime, miss.”

The girl sighed. Was she a little flushed in the face? She wouldn’t look directly at David, her hands fidgeting.

“I’m sure they’ll be back later,” she said. “They have a habit of bothering me. Especially when Father’s working and not around to keep an eye on me.”

“Where does he work?” David asked.

“The Harrison estate. He’s one of the groundskeepers.”

David and Peter exchanged glances. That David hadn’t been expecting, and Peter looked equally surprised. Normally, those who worked on their father’s estate lived a little closer, mostly for convenience. They wouldn’t be living in Compass Quay. Peter turned his charming smile to the girl.

“I’m sure if we told Pa about this, he might be able to sort something out. Maybe move you closer to our home.”

“Your father?” Her eyes were getting large, her mouth falling open.

David had a sudden urge to kiss her. He needed to take a step back.

Peter laughed. He didn’t seem to have noticed his brother’s discomfort.“I think we forgot to introduce ourselves.” He took off his hat and bowed. “Lieutenant Peter Harrison, at your service. And this is my twin brother, the Honorable Mr. David Harrison.”

David cleared his throat. Now he was feeling inadequate next to his brother. At least Peter had a title. “Just simple Mister, I’m afraid,” he added.

But she was looking at him. It wasn’t Peter she was staring at, but at him. Then she gave him a sweet smile that David felt deep in his gut and held out a hand.

“Miss Arabella Powell.”

David took the hand, and bowed over it. He kissed her knuckles and glanced up as she gasped. He saw her startled expression, but also how her eyes had darkened. God, she was beautiful.

David cleared his throat and straightened up. He couldn’t stay bowed over her hand forever.

“Would you like us to escort you home, Miss Powell?”

“No, I…” Arabella licked her lips. David was captivated by the movement. “I can manage.”

“Would you like help gathering more water?”

“I said I can manage.” Flushing, Arabella lowered her head and hurried past them, brushing against David’s arm. “Good day, sirs.”

Both brothers watched her hurry back to the well and begin to turn the handle again. Peter made an approving sound in his throat.

“My, she’s beautiful.”

“She certainly is.” David murmured.

“Back off, David.” Peter slapped his cane across David’s chest. “She’s mine. I saw her first.”

“I was simply making an observation, Peter. I wasn’t making this into a competition.”

“But I am.” Peter’s eyes narrowed at him. “Keep away from Arabella Powell. She belongs to me.”

David raised his hands and stepped back. “Steady! You’ve got her. I’m not interested.”

But, even as he said it, David realized that was a lie. He was interested. There had been something in the air between them, and it was intense. David would normally take a step back if Peter had made a claim on a woman, but not this time.

This time, David knew Arabella was his.

Chapter 2

London, England

Nine Years Later

David fished out a gold coin from his purse and pressed it into the steward’s hand as he walked past.

“Thank you, Frank. I’ll see you again soon.”

“Good evening, Mister Harrison.”

David collected his cloak and hat from the footman by the door and put them on. He was worn out, and all he had done was sit by the fire and read all evening. Everyone left David alone, knowing that he could get engrossed in a book for hours. It wasn’t until Frank the steward told him what time it was that David remembered he had to go back to his father’s London home and get an early night. It was going to be a long journey down to Cornwall so, David could catch the boat that travelled straight to Kinsale.

He had to get back to Kinsale and check on the land. Hopefully, it was as prosperous as it had been the previous month. The weather was perfect for a solid season and David was looking forward to seeing the books showing profits. They needed it. The profits he would be using for himself. And then, the slate would be wiped clean.

David hated being in debt to anyone, but there had been no way around it. He had built up the reputation of being reliable, of being able to take care of his workers. His father had entrusted the farming land to David’s care a few years before, and David had promised to make it flourish. And it had until recent months. Even with things picking up, it was going to take a while to return to how it had been. David didn’t want to go back to his father and say he had let things get out of hand by not paying close attention to the accounts. Even visiting his son’s extended family in England, Ian Harrison knew everything. He kept his ear to the ground. If he knew what David had done to make sure things kept on track, he was going to be furious. Peter had already seen that side of their father, and David didn’t want to have it directed at him.

It was pitch black as David went outside. He could barely see anything beyond the railings lining the park across the street. The air was significantly colder, and David could see his breath in front of his face. Considering this was the middle of October, that was odd. David was used to it being warmer well into November. Even with the air coming off the Atlantic Ocean, Kinsale managed to stay warmer for far longer.

Then again, this was England. In England, anything could happen, including terrible weather.

Turning up the collar on his cloak, David stepped onto the cobbles and headed in the direction of his father’s house. Whenever he was in town, Ian always let David make use of the lodgings he had bought a few years back shortly after his wife died. David and Geoffrey had used it on frequent visits to London. It was now to be gifted to Geoffrey and his new wife once they came back from honeymoon in the north of Ireland.

For now, David was making the most of it.

“Harrison.”

David stopped and turned. He hadn’t realized there was someone in the shadows. Even as he squinted into the dark, David could barely make the outline of the person lurking there. Until the man stepped out, giving David a smirk. David groaned. Not now. He wasn’t in the mood.

“What do you want, Simpson?”

“Is that all I’m going to get from you?” Stephen Simpson spread his hands. “No polite greeting? No asking after my health?”

“Seeing as you’re as healthy as a horse, I think asking after it would be rather pointless.”

Simpson chuckled. “Point taken.”

David’s skin crawled whenever the man was around. He liked fine clothes, and he swanned around as if he owned half of London. Barely coming up to David’s chin, Stephen Simpson was a middle-aged man with a slightly portly figure, dark hair cut close to his head to disguise the obvious receding hairline, and a slight dusting of a beard across his square jaw. There wasn’t anything remarkable about him, apart from the fact he looked out of place wearing clothes almost as expensive as David’s garments.

But, David had figured out pretty quickly that appearances were deceptive. This man was not one you would ask after his health. He was something else. David tapped his cane on the cobbles.

“What are you doing here? This isn’t your part of town.”

Simpson snickered. “Come on, Harrison, you don’t need to ask. You know why I’m here.”

“And I told you the last time you approached me, you’ll get paid when you get paid. I gave you a specific date.”

He hadn’t missed the date, had he? David was sure he had said at the end of October. He had at least two weeks left. Didn’t he?

“Maybe you did, but the interest goes up from the day you took out a loan with me.” Simpson folded his arms. “And it’s the interest that I’m concerned about.”

“You never said anything about interest.”

“I thought you knew from your brother how I operated. As soon as the loan is taken out, interest immediately starts to build.”

David didn’t know that. He had heard about Simpson when he heard Peter ranting about owing Simpson money for one of his own debts. It was a stupid move to go to the same man who had a book solely for Peter’s debts, but David didn’t know who else to go to. He wasn’t about to ask any of his friends if they knew someone who could let him borrow some money short-term; it would always end up going back to Ian. David didn’t want to feel like a failure when he had that conversation with his father.

“That’s illegal, surely?”

“Any more illegal than you coming to me begging for help?” Simpson shot back.

He had a point. David swallowed. He knew he wasn’t going to like this. “How much is the loan now?”

“Twelve hundred pounds.”

“What?” David thought he had misheard, but Simpson’s smirk said he certainly hadn’t. “That…that’s extortion!”

“A big word for a farmer,” Simpson sneered.

That was ridiculous. He couldn’t do that, surely? David’s arithmetic wasn’t that good when trying to do it on the spot, but he knew the interest on that was not even on the scale. Even if he was late on the payment and the interest was five percent, it wouldn’t have gotten so high. Not unless he didn’t pay the amount loaned for a couple of years.

“You’ll get the money I borrowed from you at the arranged date, Simpson,” David growled. “Not before. And certainly with no interest, seeing as I’m not late.”

He turned away, hoping that this would be the end of the conversation, but then Simpson grabbed his arm.

“I believe you’re going to have to rethink what you’ve just said, Mr. Harrison,” he said quietly. “Remember what happens when money isn’t paid in full or not at all? I’m sure your brother has told you about all the…antics that he’s had involving the two of us. Seeing as sailors are at sea all the time, you’d think he would be a bit more…prompt in paying up.”

David did know. Even when he was being shot at by the French and Spanish on the Atlantic Ocean, Peter Harrison still managed to find time to get into fights in back alleys. David didn’t want to count how many times Peter had come back beaten up.

He shook Simpson off. “You do realize that beating me up is going to have my father coming after you.” He added, “He won’t tolerate your behaviour.”

Simpson chuckled. It wasn’t a very nice sound.

“Threatening me with your father, are you? You were concerned about him knowing you had nothing in your account when you came to me. You didn’t want him to find out that you had been a little careless with the allowance he had given you specifically for the estate.” His eyes seemed to glow in the dark. “Do you really want him to know there’s nothing left?”

He did have a point. Ian would be furious. But he wouldn’t turn his back on David, would he? David squared his shoulders.“He’ll stand by me,” he declared.

“Will he?” Simpson purred. “Or will he disown you for good once he finds out what you needed the money for?”

“Don’t make it sound salacious. You know what I needed the money for.” David shook his hand off and stepped back. “Go away, Simpson. No interest, load paid in full on the last day of October. And don’t even think about sending people after me.”

“I don’t need to.” Simpson dusted down his waistcoat. “I do that myself.”

David looked him over. He was easily a head taller than Simpson, and bigger. What could Simpson have up his sleeve that could overpower him? David had grown up having scuffles with both of his brothers. Dealing with this little slimy bastard would be easy.

He twirled his cane, tapping the head into his hand. Then he snapped the cane out. The heavy end of the cane caught Simpson in the face, knocking him back a few paces. Simpson cried out and clutched at his nose. David lowered his cane and braced his feet, ready for a fight.

“Try it, Simpson,” he challenged. “Just try it.”

Simpson lowered his hands and stared at them. Blood covered his fingers, and David could see more blood on his face. The man looked up at David with stunned outrage. He snarled and started towards David.

“David?”

Simpson jerked back like he had been shot. David looked around to see Peter hurrying out of the club. He hadn’t realized his brother had been inside. Peter jogged over to David’s side.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” David gave Simpson a pointed look. “Mr Simpson was just leaving.”

Simpson bared his yellowed teeth, hissing at him. “I’ll make you pay for that, Harrison,” he growled. “You’ll regret laying a finger on me.”

“Try it.” David advanced on him. “I dare you.”

Simpson faltered and started to back away as David stalked towards him. Then, he hurried away, mumbling something that sounded like obscenities as he crossed the street. David let out a heavy sigh. He then realized his hands were shaking.

“David?”

David looked up. Peter was watching him curiously. It had been a while since his brother had witnessed David lash out. David licked his lips and swallowed. “I’m all right. Just get me out of here.”

Peter nodded grimly. “Happy to oblige.”

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