My Lady, My Spy (Secrets and Seduction Book 4) (24 page)

Her barrister should be arriving later today. A Mr. Devin Montlake from Maidenhead. Yet one more house guest. Woolsy House was becoming quite the bohemian gathering spot. An actress, a barrister, a marquess, and a marchioness. Who would appear next?

Perhaps a countess.

He glanced at the clock on the mantel in the drawing room. Josephine had said she’d come by today with more supplies for his poultice. With luck, the diversion he and Daniel had planned wouldn’t take too long. He should be back in plenty of time to see her.

Of course, with so many people in the house now, it was unlikely he’d have a moment alone with her. Even so, perhaps she’d come while the others were out.

He could hope.

Frederick was ready to put the plan into motion. He strode back into the foyer just as Daniel, the Marquess of Huntley, trotted down the main staircase, his broad grin in evidence.

Daniel and his wife would act as chaperones while Miss Winter remained in residence. The couple was approaching the situation as a pleasant diversion. An exciting adventure. He wasn’t surprised by their attitudes. Not from such a bold and audacious pair.

Frederick nodded at Daniel. “Are you ready?”

“And looking forward to it.” The man bounced once on his toes and then shot Frederick a broad grin. He’d changed in the past year. He was much happier and more relaxed these days. Marriage must agree with him.

Frederick ducked into the adjoining drawing room to peer out the window. He avoided touching the chocolate-brown curtains— he didn’t want the men outside to notice them move and realize he was watching them as well. “They’re still there,” Frederick said as he returned to the foyer. “Five of them.”

“With luck, they’ll divide themselves evenly between us.” Daniel shrugged into a heavy coat.

“Five doesn’t divide evenly. Aren’t you supposed to be good with numbers?”

Daniel stared at him flatly. “You know I’m only helping because you’re Robert’s brother, right?”

Frederick grinned as he put on his coat as well, but before he could reply, Robert and Miss Winter— or rather, Antonia— entered the foyer. “We’re ready,” Robert said.

“So are we.” Frederick turned and gave Daniel a nod. “Once we’re on our horses, you go left, I’ll go right.” He and Daniel would provide a diversion so Robert and Antonia could sneak away from the Russians and convince a judge to hear her case immediately.

Frederick scooped up the decoy package— a paper-wrapped box approximately the same size and shape as the church register.

Daniel gave a tense nod. “Meet you back here in thirty minutes?”

“Or however long it takes to shake the Russians,” Frederick corrected. “Certainly no longer than an hour.” He hoped. He didn’t want to miss Josephine’s visit. “Ready?”

Daniel grinned. “Always.”

Frederick flung open the door. The two of them burst through it and bolted down the steps toward their waiting horses. As Frederick reached the pavement, he moved the small box from one hand to the other and intentionally dropped it as he tried to slip it inside his coat pocket. He scrambled to pick it up and surreptitiously watched as the five men shifted forward, becoming intensely interested in his performance.

Daniel seemed to vault into his saddle, but with Frederick’s burned hand, he needed assistance from the groom.

Daniel paused, waiting for him. They needed to feign urgency, and Frederick realized Daniel’s hesitation might look suspicious.

“Go!” he shouted. “Don’t wait for me.”

Daniel spun his horse around and sped down the street to the left. His sudden departure caught the watchers by surprise, but one immediately gave chase, tearing down the road after Daniel.

A couple of seconds later, Frederick grabbed the reins in his left hand and raced in the opposite direction, but that brief delay cost him. The remaining four men gave chase, and every one of them followed
him
.

At least no one remained behind to watch the house. They’d managed to draw away all five watchers, which meant Robert and Antonia would be able to slip away unseen.

Frederick’s main goal was to draw his pursuers far away from Woolsy House, so he made sure he was an easy target to follow. He didn’t want any of them to double back and catch Robert and Antonia.

He took a direct route toward Buckingham Palace. If the Russians believed he was delivering the church register to the Queen, it would keep them on his trail, if only to look for a way to steal it from him.

Carriages filled the streets, and Frederick maneuvered his horse between them while keeping his pursuers at a safe distance. After about ten minutes, he veered onto a side street and then turned down a row of mews.

The stables along the lane bustled with more activity than he’d expected. A carriage propped up on three wheels partially blocked his path. The coachman rolled a replacement wheel across the road, and Frederick sped past him.

“Careful there. Slow down,” the coachman called out.

Frederick glanced back and spotted two of his pursuers entering the narrow road, but he couldn’t find the other two. Had they lost his trail and split up, or were they trying to box him in?

Perhaps he was finally having a bit of luck and he’d lost them. He could do with having luck work in his favor for a change. He was past due. That left only these two to deal with.

Frederick knew the neighborhood. As he passed Lord Saxon’s home, he veered between two outbuildings and headed toward the main house, following a narrow path leading back to the main street.

When Frederick glanced back and didn’t see any of his pursuers, he allowed himself to relax, just a little. At the next road he turned again. He swore aloud when he immediately spotted the first two men he’d thought he’d lost.

He tugged the reins, and his horse veered down a side street, hoping to avoid their notice, but it didn’t work. He glanced back as the pair rounded the corner after him.

He’d made the blunder of heading in the direction of Westminster Palace again. Since that was where he’d initially been leading them, they’d been able to pick up his trail. He’d need to strike off in a completely different direction if he wanted to lose them.

Frederick dashed down another narrow road lined with well-kept stables. This particular road was quieter, and he was able to duck inside an open stable door.

A horse nickered a greeting, and Frederick’s mount huffed in response. His horse was breathing hard, and Frederick let him move closer to a water trough and take a drink.

After a moment, Frederick guided his mount away from the trough. “You can have more soon,” he murmured, “and an extra measure of oats too.”

He waited a few minutes and then ventured back outside and peered down the mews. The stables still seemed quiet, and he saw no sign of his pursuers. He’d lost them.

§

Landon, Frederick’s butler, opened the door and ushered Josephine inside the house.

Josephine came to an abrupt halt when she saw Robert and an attractive young woman were already standing in the foyer. They buttoned their coats as they prepared to leave.

“What a pleasant surprise,” Robert said, looking genuinely delighted to see her. “I’m sorry I can’t stay, but Miss Winter and I have an engagement.”

“Well, fiddlesticks. I’d hoped to visit with you, too.” She tamped down her disappointment. It would seem she’d be seeing Frederick alone after all. She hesitated as she looked at Robert’s companion a bit more carefully. The young woman looked strikingly familiar.

“Lady Harrington, I’d like to introduce you to Antonia Winter.”

As the young woman made a graceful curtsy, Josephine realized why she’d thought she looked familiar. Miss Winter was an actress. A smile spread across Josephine’s face. “You’re performing the lead role in
Anne Blake
, aren’t you? I haven’t seen it yet, but everyone says you’re quite talented.” But Josephine had the sense there was something more. She’d seen Miss Winter somewhere else recently.

“Thank you, my lady. You’re very kind to say so.”

She glanced from Robert to Miss Winter. Something here seemed odd. She could tell she was interrupting them. She turned her attention back to Robert. “How is Frederick today— or more specifically, how is his hand?”

“He’s doing his best to ignore the pain. I believe he’s out of supplies for the poultice.”

“That’s why I’m here.” She lifted the small basket she carried. “I brought more leaves.”

“He’ll be relieved.” He pulled out a pocket watch and glanced at it. “He left to run a quick errand, but he should return shortly. I hope you’ll forgive us, but we have a pressing matter to deal with.”

“By all means.”

Robert turned to Landon. “Can you please show Lady Harrington to the drawing room and ask Frederick to join her there as soon as he returns?”

As Josephine followed Landon, she glanced back to see Robert usher Miss Winter through the door and noticed he placed his hand low on her back in a proprietary way. Josephine smiled in satisfaction. She’d been right. It would appear there was something between the pair. She’d suspected as much, although Robert had never been one to chase after performers.

It was an interesting development, but not surprising. Miss Winter’s combination of beauty and talent must draw men to her. But something about the young woman— some memory— seemed to niggle at her. Had she seen her somewhere recently?

Josephine settled onto the sofa in the drawing room. About ten minutes later, she heard someone arrive. Frederick? No. That wasn’t his voice. It was someone else. A moment later, the door flew open and the Marquess of Huntley strode into the room as if he owned it.

“Josephine!” he said, his voice booming in the quiet room. “Landon told me you’d stopped by. What a pleasant surprise. Frederick is out, but I expect him to be back shortly. He must have been delayed.”

She tensed. The marquess always seemed a bit larger than life. If his reputation was to be believed, Daniel had a Midas touch when it came to matters of business. Of course, members of the loftier class publicly criticized him for sullying himself with such endeavors, but privately they were rather jealous of the man. It placed him in an odd position in society. For the most part, the overall opinion of Lord Huntley was that although he deigned to involve himself in business, he was somewhat redeemed by having the good taste to be ridiculously successful at it.

“Good afternoon, Daniel.” She nodded toward her basket, feeling she needed to offer an excuse for her presence. “I brought more supplies for Frederick’s poultice.”

“Ah! He’ll be pleased, even if he doesn’t tell you so. He was looking a bit ragged.” Daniel crossed the room, tossing his hat and cloak carelessly on one of the chairs as he approached. “It’s obvious he’s pushing himself despite the pain. I’ve known Frederick since he was a boy. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more hardworking and dedicated man.”

Josephine felt pride begin to swell at his words, but she squelched it. The response had been an automatic one— and one she needed to eradicate. She managed a tight smile. “Surely he doesn’t work any harder than you do.”

Daniel gave a disparaging shrug. “It would seem marriage has tempered my drive.” Then he held up his hand. “Don’t misunderstand me. That’s a good thing. It’s better to have balance. Too much of anything is bad for a man.”

“And for a woman too?” She raised a single eyebrow.

“Of course.”

“It must be difficult for Frederick to find balance— given the sort of work he does.”

Daniel narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.

“Don’t worry. I already know he does work of a more— shall we say— sensitive nature?”

Some of Daniel’s tension eased. “Sensitive. Yes, that would describe it well.”

“Do you think he needs to find balance as well?” Hope fluttered in her heart, and she couldn’t bear to swat it away.

“Perhaps, perhaps not. Frederick is different. I’ve never seen him give up on anything. Take the other night when he was burned at the ball. He convinced Robert to help him complete his mission. And even afterwards when he left to tend to his hand, he still stayed up half the night following a suspect through London.”

She gave a gasp. “He did?” Blast the man. He’d pushed her out the door with the promise he’d go to sleep, but he hadn’t.

He’d lied to her.

She hated being deceived, yes, but this particular lie— it pierced her much deeper than his others had. She’d revealed to him that she knew he was a spy, she’d proven to him that she could be relied upon, and yet he’d still lied to her.

When she’d first arrived, she’d doubted her ability to sever her relationship with Frederick. Now, resolve stiffened her spine.

She was done with him.

Daniel grinned, oblivious to her pain. “He’s a determined one.”

“Determined to get his own way, no matter what the cost.” She didn’t manage to keep the tartness from her voice.

Daniel’s dark eyebrows drew together as he furrowed his brow. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, not at all.” She glanced at the clock on the mantel. “I just realized the time. Please pass on my regrets to Frederick and let him know I”— she cleared her throat as it suddenly became difficult to talk— “let him know I can’t wait for him any longer.”