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will be armed. Tory shivered.
    They rode in silence at a slow, steady pace, the muffled hooves of their mounts making little sound. Tory sensed they rode west and she knew by the sound and the smell when they reached the sea. A mile or so farther brought them to a vast marsh. Without hesitation their mounts trotted into the reedy saltwater and were soon up to their hocks.
    When Falcon dismounted, she followed suit, and, as she turned, she was amazed to see scores of dark figures that numbered about eighty. The men searched the marsh for barrels and wooden crates, hoisted them onto their animals’ backs, secured the cargo with ropes, and left as silently as they had arrived.
    Falcon picked up two wooden crates and secured them to Bess, then he slung a brace of small barrels across the pony’s back and signaled Tory with his thumb to mount. Back in the saddle, they fell into line behind the other riders.
    This must be Romney Marsh. This cargo has been dropped off a merchant vessel from a foreign port. Will we take it to Bodiam? They rode for more than an hour. Cold and wet, Tory found the journey tedious. Only the danger made it exciting.
    They skirted a cemetery, which some of the riders entered. She followed Falcon into a stand of trees and realized they were in Ashdown Forest. Soon they were on a path and rode in single file for miles. When they reached the northern edge, the riders dismounted and dropped their cargo amid the cover of the trees. Falcon lifted the barrels from her pony and bent to whisper in Tory’s ear. “Home.”
    Tory gave her pony its head, sensing it would find the shortest way through vast Ashdown Forest to its snug Bodiam stable. When she got to her own chamber, Mr. Burke sent the servants with hot bathwater. By the time she had wrapped herself in a velvet bed robe, Falcon arrived and beckoned her upstairs.
    He poured them each a tot of French brandy and while she took a tentative sniff and then a sip, he stripped off his wet clothes. “You’re doing it the right way. First you inhale the fragrant fumes, then you hold it on your tongue to savor its fine flavor. When you swallow, it will warm the cockles of your heart.”
    He padded naked across the room and stretched out before the fire. “Come and be warm, love.”
    She sat down beside him and took another swallow. “It feels like a bloodred rose is blooming in my breast.”
    â€œThe potent warmth will soon spread through your veins like a river of fire.” He cocked an inquisitive brow. “So, what did you think of your first run, my beauty?”
    â€œI expected it to be great fun, but after the anticipation wore off, I realized it was tedious work. Only the danger made it exciting. My curiosity’s sated and I’m not eager to go again.”
    â€œThat’s the reaction I was hoping for. If I’d told you, you wouldn’t have believed me—you had to experience it for yourself.”
    â€œIt’s a larger operation than I thought and covers a wider area. When the goods are dropped at the far side of Ashdown Forest, they must be picked up by others and delivered to wealthy noble customers, perhaps as far away as Penshurst.”
    Falcon sipped his brandy. “And from Penshurst to London.”
    â€œI don’t understand why you do it. The excitement must have palled long ago.” She thought of the noble names listed in the back of the journal. “Why put yourself in danger to save your wealthy friends from paying import taxes?”
    Falcon laughed. “I don’t do it for them. The villagers of Hawkhurst would starve eking out a living by fishing alone.”
    â€œAh, the names listed in the front of your journal.” Tory rubbed a taut muscle in her back. “What was the name of the ‘phantom ship’ that dropped the contraband in Romney Marsh?”
    â€œThe Seacock, ” he said quietly.
    Tory’s eyes widened. You took the Seacock