Every part of her ached. Julianna straightened and pressed a hand to her lower back to try to ease the pain there. Her fingers felt raw and she had several small burns on her hands that made gripping the mop painful.

“Are you sure you can manage?” Louisa asked, breezing into the kitchen to retrieve a handful of mugs.

Julianna plastered on a smile and nodded. Louisa had been kind enough to ignore the burnt breakfasts and how terrible she had been at pouring ale and serving the patrons in a timely manner, the last thing she would do is complain about being asked to mop.

“I am fine.”

Louisa tilted her head and eyed her. “You’re not used to this work, are you?”

Julianna opened her mouth, then closed it, unsure what to say.

Louisa lifted her spare hand. “You do not need to spill any secrets to me. We women must stick together. But just know that if you need anyone to talk to, I am here.”

Julianna smiled. “Thank you, I appreciate it. And I appreciate you taking me in.”

The innkeeper shrugged. “Thank Drake, it was his suggestion.” She paused in the doorway. “Speak of the devil. He’s taken quite an interest in you.”

Julianna debated hurrying away to hide but it was too late. Drake had entered the kitchen as Louisa hastened out of the door to continue serving. Julianna kept her gaze on the mop, dunking it into the water and smearing it in great puddles over the floor.

She barely glanced at him. “It is a wonder Louisa allows you back here all the time.”

Drake grinned. “What can I say? She likes me.”

He had to be saying that to aggravate her. What little she had learned of Louisa, she had no time for lovers or men like Drake, who went from woman to woman if all she had been told was correct. Not that she needed to be told that. It had been obvious the moment she had laid eyes on him with those women of the night sprawled all over him.

His blue gaze trailed over her and down to the floor. She dropped her gaze away and dunked the mop back into the bucket.

“I think you have drowned the floor enough,” he teased.

Ignoring him pointedly, she hefted the mop back out and scrubbed by him, letting the strands of rope slop over the toes of his boots.

He jumped back. “Careful, Princess.”

“If you do not wish to get wet, I think you should leave.”

“I wanted to see how your first day went.”

“It went just fine. Excellent even.”

“Tell that to the floor.” He went to take the mop from her, but she darted out of the way. It had been humiliating enough that he’d had to help her with the morning meals, she was not going to let him mop too.

“I suppose you are an expert in mopping.”

“Yes, I think I am.”

She paused and leaned against the handle of it. “You know how to mop?”

“I do indeed.”

Frowning at him, she scanned his appearance. His clothes were not cheap—his jacket tailored to fit him perfectly, his waistcoat trimmed with embroidery. Yet the way his sandy hair brushed his collar and the stubble that lingered on his chin said he was no nobleman. He’d said he’d been in the war, so he could be a second son, but his accent was slightly too rough for that. She had to admit, he had her intrigued.

“What exactly do you do, Mr. Drake, if you know how to mop?”

“I am simply a man of many talents.”

Julianna propped the mop against the wall and folded her arms. He thought himself so roguish, she just wanted to wipe that smile from his face.

“I do not think you are as mysterious as you think you are. You are probably a...a lawyer.” She nodded. “Yes, you help criminals go free or aid rich men in hiding their wealth.”

His lips curved. “Incorrect.”

“Very well, not a lawyer.” She eyed him. “You are a card sharp. You steal money from unwitting men. It is why you spend so much time here.”

“Did you see a pack of cards in my hands last night? Besides, I am terrible at cards.”

“He admits he has flaws. A miracle.” She sucked in a breath. “You are an accountant. A dry, boring accountant who cannot stand his job, so he spends his time in the inn, pretending to be something he is not.”

Drake took a step toward her, his boots making a splashing across the floor. “Wrong again.”

The arrogance of his expression made her clench her fists. Blast, all she wanted to do was get the better of him. She pressed a finger to her lips.

“I know! You’re a highwayman. You prey on the rich at night and that is why you were here so late last night.”

A brow lifted. “Really?”

Julianna huffed. “Fine, not a highwayman.”

He moved closer again. Though she was not a short woman, he dwarfed her. His shoulders were wide, and his arms filled his jacket amply. Whatever he did, it kept him in fine shape. Too fine. No wonder he’d had women crawling over him last night. He was far too handsome for his own good.

“Ah, I know it. This roguish act is just that—an act. You are really a customs man, trying to break a smuggling ring.”

His eyes twinkled. “Not even warm.”

No, but she was. Warm all over. From her fingers that had been cold only moments ago from the wet mop to her toes. She felt it pool in her cheeks at the proximity of him. He was too close, too handsome. His blue eyes had flecks of gold around the edges and some of his stubble was white just around his lips. Her fingers flexed with the need to touch said stubble.

“I give up then,” she declared, the words too ragged for her liking. “I do not know why you need to be so secretive.”

“I did not think you were the sort of woman to surrender so easily.” He moved until there was almost no space between them.

“I am not surrendering!” Julianna stepped back, and her bottom bumped into the table. He stalked her steps.

“Retreating then.”

She straightened her posture and met his gaze square on. “Never.”

Drake moved to close the gap. His body pressed into hers. Hard thighs flattened against her. Eyes wide, she held her breath when he brought a finger to her chin and lifted it so she could not escape the depth of his eyes. They seemed to dig into her chest and make her heart race.

Her dry mouth refused to let her form words and her frozen body would not move.

“Why are you so angry with me, Princess? I was your rescuer, was I not?”

Her mind had become an empty plain of nothingness, as barren as the wilds of Northumberland. Her knees trembled, and her tongue felt too thick. Why was she angry with him? Why was she determined to find fault with him? She could not recall anymore.

He leaned in, letting his breath touch her lips. He was going to kiss her. A flurry of panic exploded through her and she ducked away, pushing his body back forcefully with both palms.

Now she remembered why. He was a charmer and a rogue—willing to kiss a woman he hardly knew.

As she darted past, her footing gave way on the sodden floor. It happened all too quickly. The world tilted away, and she landed with a splash in the bucket. Water soaked her skirt and trickled down her legs.

Drake’s eyes were wide and his mouth ajar for a mere moment before he burst into laughter, clutching at his sides. Julianna scowled at him and fought to stand. The wet floor and the hold the bucket had on her bottom made it almost impossible. Heat burned her face.

He wiped a tear from his eye and held out a hand. “Allow me.”

She slapped the hand away and managed to haul herself up by grabbing the nearby table edge.

“I suppose you think that’s funny.” Her chin trembled. She pushed a strand of hair from her face, too aware of how her skirts stuck to her legs, making her feel uncomfortable and foolish.

“You would laugh if it was the other way around, you must admit.” He pressed his lips together.

“Get out.” she ordered, thrusting a finger to the doorway. “Get out! I never want to see you again.”

Whirling before he could respond, she marched upstairs and changed into another gown with trembling hands. Thankfully, Louisa had been kind enough to let her have time to fetch her meagre belongings from the other inn. She did not have much, but she had enough to keep her warm and clothed. Leaving home in such a hurry had left her with little time to pack.

She tugged out a gown and stripped the soaked one off, flinging it over the back of a chair. Thrusting her arms into the sleeves, she fought to do it up in the dingy mirror hanging from one wall. Normally she had someone do this for her. Ladies maids had come and gone thanks to her father’s picky and horrible behavior, so she had never become attached to one of them, but she did miss the help.

Who did that man think he was? Why did Drake think he could come into her life and laugh at her and...and try to kiss her? She eyed her reflection and attempted to smooth her hair back from her face.

Drake already knew so much of her. Well, perhaps he did not know she had a ranking. That she was indeed as well-bred as he’d assumed and that her brother would one day inherit a penniless viscountcy. But he knew more of her than she did him and that mysteriousness that he insisted on surrounding himself with aggravated her. It left her on the weaker footing and she did not much like that.

There was only one way to counter a man like Drake, and that was with knowledge.

Julianna snatched up her pelisse and buttoned it up before staring at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair had never looked so wild, even after travelling across half of the country. She shook her head at herself. What was she doing? Why did that man aggravate her so?

She hurried downstairs and stepped into the taproom. Louisa stood behind the bar.

“Is Drake still here?”

Louisa eyed her appearance with a lifted brow but did not comment on it. “He left just a moment ago. With his tail between his legs by the looks of it.”

Julianna released an unladylike snort. “I doubt that.” She finished buttoning her jacket. “Do you mind if I just pop out for a moment? I think I left something at the inn. I have finished cleaning the kitchen.”

“Of course not, you have worked hard today. Though, you might want to be careful, Julianna. It’s not safe out there at this time of night. Unless of course you run into a protector...one who goes by the name of Drake perhaps?”

“I—” Julianna did not know how to defeat the knowing look in Louisa’s eyes, so she did not even try to defend herself. “I must go.”

A blast of frigid air struck her face as she stepped out into the night. She was a fool, no doubt. The man did not even warrant following but she could not help herself. He was too secretive, too smug. She was beginning to doubt he even knew her brother and was simply toying with her. She would not tolerate his teasing any longer. She had to find out the truth.