Punish Me With Roses - a Victorian Historical Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

conversation in her mind. Even though she didn't have him figured out yet, she knew he had something to hide. He was acting just as strangely as she was. If he'd done anything like what she had done to cause her nervousness, she had good reason to worry. So she'd turned the tables on him and found out more about him than he knew about her. Yes, definitely good.
    But that was over with. Hopefully she'd never see him again.
    When she arrived in Coverack, she was so exhausted that all she could think of was a warm bed. So it was disheartening to realize how poor her uncle's directions had been. She would have to go about finding him the old-fashioned way.
    She was surprised at how many people were out at that time of night. Of course, that was to her benefit. One of them, hopefully, would be able to help her out. She owed part of her gratefulness to the pleasing weather. It was still cool outside, but it was vastly different in temperature from Blackmoore. She was able to evaluate her surroundings without shivering once.
    It was mostly men present in the ramshackle village, wearing the kind of clothing that signified a living made out of fishing. The smell of that unfortunate foodstuff permeated the air, and whether it was coming from the pedestrians or the bay nearby, she didn't know. With a "now or never" attitude, she stopped one of townspeople.
    "Would you happen to know anyone by the name of John Fyn?"
    The man's face took on a suspicious expression. "Want do ye want with him?"
    She stepped back. "If only you'd tell me where he lives--" He reeked of dead fish and stale tobacco. It was incredible that he took such affront at her question when she was the one who should've been offended.
    He tilted his head to the side and gave it some thought. "Ain't nobody around here with that name," he said and then walked away.
    Well, that was an experience!
    She couldn't be wrong about the town, could she? Maybe it wasn't Coverack her uncle had mentioned, but something that sounded very similar. Then she shook her head, for the benefit of none but herself. No, she'd reread the letter countless times and there wasn't any chance she was in the wrong place. She approached a woman who was older and with a friendlier appearance than the first native.
    "Excuse me, but would it be possible to be directed to John Fyn's place of residence?"
    The woman stopped but didn't respond. She scrutinized Victoria a bit and then asked, "What's your business?"
    She sighed. Were they all such sore sports? "We're friends."
    "Then why don't ye know where he is?"
    "Please, ma'am, I only want to be pointed in the right direction."
    The woman smiled and pointed north. It was the direction from which Victoria had come.
    She simply didn't know how to handle such people!
    She walked farther into the town, hoping that by some miracle she'd find John on her own. The problem was, she didn't even know where the town thinned out and where the residences began. She'd heard that Cornwall was a fierce county and the Lizard Peninsula even more difficult. With the abundance of tiny inlets, wooded valleys, and scattered hamlets, she didn't believe she'd get very far on her own. One false turn and she'd probably end up in the sea.
    She'd almost decided the people weren't only being rude to her, but hiding from her as well when a man walked into view. She didn't recognize him, but noticed his confident gait and rigid posture. And the way he surveyed the town with lengthy looks into every shadow and under every gable implied he owned the place. It she wasn't mistaken, he was a landowner. Surely he would assist her?
    She had decided that she'd approach him on her own, throwing etiquette to the wind, but once he saw her, she realized that it wouldn't be necessary.
    "Are you lost?" he asked with a slight London affectation to his accent.
    "Yes. I'm looking for the house of John Fyn."
    His eyes widened. "Fyn, eh? That's not an easy one to find."
    "But you know where it is?" She leaned