Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (92 page)

She was not yet ready

to share the truth-that would limit her options before she knew what they were. Best to play it neutral. "There is much to be done today. The fields won't wait. Let's be about our business as if this were an ordinary day."

General relief swept the group and workers soon deserted the kitchen for their various jobs.

Elena was

with Anna, who had turned her

attention back to the daily task of baking bread.

"He's not

andro," Elena said quietly,

tying on an apron and grabbing a chunk of unbaked dough to knead.

Anna

"He could be. You need him

to be."

"He used an English word with me last night everyone left and when he spoke to me this morning, he had an English accent," Elena said, surprisingly deflated by this obvious flaw in the plan.

Anna gave a negligent

has

been gone for nearly a year. Who's to say he hasn't spent that year in Britain or among Englishmen? It's not uncommon for our sailors to pick up strange ways in different ports. It's happened before."

24

's

Elena punched the dough. "What you're suggesting is impersonation. It's

It's illegal

to say nothing of immoral."

"Those are such big words for an uneducated woman like me or for any of us living here in this tiny village by the sea, Senora. I don't see how a little mistake could be something as evil as a crime."

Elena snorted. Anna might not lay claim to traditional education but she was quite smart in the ways of people. Elena knew precisely what the woman was suggesting. If they were caught in their deception to pass the stranger off as Alejandro, how could anyone prove the act had been pre-meditated? And really, who would care enough to question it in the first place when so many wanted to believe it? They were a small village on the coast of

They lived a

remote and isolated life. The nearest town of significant size, Santiago de Compostela, was three days away.

But Elena knew one person who would definitely be suspicious. "Senor Alicante would question it. It's too convenient that my husband would

in the nick of time," she said.

Anna shoved the bread into the massive brick oven. "If he's the only one smelling a rat, he won't get very far." She turned back to Elena.

Scott

one wants to see Senor Alicante get his hands on this property or on

But there's nothing to

stop him except the return of your husband.

You've got four weeks

and you're out of time.

Now this man who could pass for Alejandro appears. Seems like a miracle to me. All you have to do is put it to him in just the right way."

Elena's hands stopped their kneading. ""That won't

be difficult. He doesn't remember She said the last in hushed tones-the temptation of Anna's suggestion already niggling at her, eating away at the ethical barriers that said she should not even consider the outrageous plan.

"Ah." Anna's eyes gleamed.

seems as if

the angels have intervened on your behalf, Senora.

One does not get a clearer sign than that."

Elena drew a deep breath.

if his

memory

saved his life," Anna said easily.

owes you. Besides, even if his memory does I can't imagine he'd mind too much. I got an

of that cockstand he was sporting beneath the sheets this morning. You can seduce him if you have

Anna winked.

don't

who he is. What if he's

someone important and someone comes looking for him?" Other thoughts ran unspoken through her head. What if he had a wife somewhere else?

's Seduction

Children? How many sins would she be committing if she seduced him into her plot?

What if he turned out to be a criminal?

"You will have to decide soon, Senora,"

Anna humphed, bustling to another task. "Word will reach the village soon enough and Don Alicante has ears everywhere."

Elena nodded silently and began preparing a tray of broth, tea and bread.

think about it."

But she knew Anna was right. She had very little time to think. Word would leak out-it always did in a small village where any variation in the day was looked upon with excitement and speculation.