Charles baited his hook and cast it far out into the lake. Once his hook and lure sank below the water, he glanced around for the boats. The one carrying James and Gillian had drifted behind the sweeping protective curtain of an ancient willow tree close to the left side of the lake. The other, the one with Audrey and Jonathan, was drifting along in the middle of the lake. Audrey was reeling in a fish, and Jonathan rushed to help her. Moments later they fell deep into the boat and vanished from view.Charles sighed. "So much for spending time alone without the ladies." He knew a black cloud had to be forming over his head when he idly wondered whether the dandies back inside the house would be preferable company.He was glad that both of his friends were well on their way to winning the hearts of their women, but it didn't help his own situation. The sinking feeling that all of his friends were leaving him as they married was almost too much to bear. He stared at the rippling surface
Audrey arrived at Horatia's chamber and knocked lightly. She had visited Horatia and the baby at least once a day, but she still worried about her and Evander."Come in!" Her sister's voice was muffled by the door. Audrey turned the handle and entered.Horatia stood by the tall sash window overlooking the gardens. She wore a loose blue day gown, and her hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck with a matching ribbon. She turned as Audrey closed the door behind her. Her face was glowing as she smiled at the tiny bundle swaddled in white blankets in her arms."Lucien said you were doing well?" Audrey came closer, holding out her arms.Horatia carefully transferred the child into Audrey's arms. "Yes, thank you."The baby stared up at Audrey with sleepy hazel eyes. His button nose wrinkled as he yawned and stretched, putting one fist above his head before he relaxed. Audrey gently stroked a finger down his cheek and then touched his tiny, delicate, perfect fingers, which he grippe
"Gone? What do you mean she's gone?"Jonathan was fuming. Lucien and Charles both sat in the morning room, Lucien with his copy of the Morning Post and Charles with a novel and a cup of tea. The pair of them looked so blastedly silly and domestic it made Jonathan want to bellow like a bear. Audrey had run off, and neither man seemed to care one whit. What was the matter with them?"She told Horatia a friend wrote to her, someone seeking advice on her trousseau, and Audrey's fashion sense was direly needed." Lucien reached into his waistcoat and pulled out a letter. "She left this for you."Jonathan took the paper, unfolding it to read. It said she'd left for London, but she hadn't given a reason. And he was expected to believe what Lucien was saying? Well, he didn't believe it. Yes, the little sprite loved her clothes, but to run away from a house party, from him, to see to some silly wedding dress? He'd grown so close to her in the last few days. Their shared intimacy was more than
Audrey climbed out of the coach and faced the theater of Covent Garden. She shivered from the slight chill of the nighttime air. Her red satin gown with black lace was a risqué design with a plunging neckline, but it was rather suitable for the play tonight, which she had heard was terribly bawdy. Given the types of people already surrounding her as she approached the theater, a raucous crowd would no doubt be in attendance. Ladies and gentlemen filled the area, some wearing fine clothes, others wearing more scandalous attire."Ready?" Avery Russell took her hand, escorting her upstairs. Her heart fluttered and nerves tugged at her belly, making her feel a little ill. Tonight she would meet a man that Avery had said would be joining them on their secret mission to France. For the hundredth time that evening, she had wished Jonathan were here. She trusted Avery, trusted in herself, but there was no escaping the fright that comes with being tested for the first time."I believe I am."
Jonathan stretched out, feeling at ease for the first time in as long as he could remember. A smile spread across his lips, and it had everything to do with last night. Finally bedding Audrey and telling her they were to be married had been a dream he'd never thought possible. Yet it had happened, and she hadn't said no. Every moment of last night had been a victory a year in the making. He rolled onto his side, but when he reached for Audrey she was gone.What in the blazes?He sat up, brushed his hair out of his eyes, and realized with a sinking feeling that the room was empty. Had she simply stepped out for a moment? Seen to her needs? Yes, that was possible."Audrey?" he called out. Only silence answered him. He glanced around the room; not a piece of clothing was left. Not even a note this time.His little sprite had run out on him. Shame cut through him, and he had trouble swallowing past the pain.Did I do something wrong last night? Did I push her too far and too fast? Wha
Audrey knelt over her chamber pot, retching violently for what felt like the hundredth time since their ship left port. Avery had warned her that the Channel would be choppy, but she hadn't realized just how much it would affect her. She'd glanced toward the cabin window and had seen towering, rolling waves. The ship would sometimes drop as much as twenty feet, and it made her stomach plummet right to her toes.She wiped her mouth and sat back on the floor of her cabin. Cold sweat dewed on her brow, and she winced as her stomach cramped. She felt like such a failure. What kind of spy became seasick? Or became faint at the sight of blood?Not a good one.A knock sounded on her cabin door. She looked toward it, watching the curtains of her bunk sway."Yes?" She tried to stand, but her legs shook so hard she fell back down to the floor."It's Avery. I wanted to see how you were feeling. The waves have eased a bit, and I thought you could use some fresh air."The waves had eased a bi
Jonathan was roused by the sound of a scuffle somewhere nearby. By the time he got up and into the hall, he saw the two men from before cursing and fleeing down the corridor from Audrey's room. Before he could go into her room to check on her, he had to duck back into his ownSheffield was coming.He listened to her tell Sheffield the whole story. She handled it so casually he couldn't help but swell with pride, but he was furious that those two men had tried to harm her and that he hadn't acted in time to stop them. He waited for Sheffield to pass by his cabin, then slipped outside and walked to the steps that led down into the crew quarters.He glanced through the gloom of the dim interior deck, studying the hanging hammocks that filled the area, and then he froze. There at the back, a man was huddled on a stool, clutching a hand to his chest and muttering curses."Bloody little bitch!" he snapped, holding his wrist tenderly. It was clearly broken.Bloody hell, Audrey, you did it.
Daniel had waited long enough. He had purchased a horse and arrived here as discreetly as he could. He entered the barracks of the local gendarmes, assuming one of his many French aliases, Victor Dubois.After they'd reached the inn, he'd destroyed his English papers, the ones that tied him to Audrey as a man called Mr. Edward Brownley. From now on he was Victor, a man with a long-established reputation in the northern coast of France whom he would use to continue with the mission. But first he had to convince these soldiers that there were two English spies right under their noses. While the gendarmes would deal with Avery and Audrey, he would be on his way to Paris.The move was callous, but not without purpose. While the gendarmes were focused on their prize, Daniel was all but assured of reaching the reformists unimpeded. In addition, when word of their capture reached Hugo's diplomatic assets in Paris, they would enact a bureaucratic nightmare within the courts, resulting in as