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Chapter 222
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The League of Rogues Chapter 223
"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
The League of Rogues Chapter 224
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."
The League of Rogues Chapter 225
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
The League of Rogues Chapter 226
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
The League of Rogues Chapter 227
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.
The League of Rogues Chapter 228
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
The League of Rogues Chapter 229
Audrey hastily threw on the breeches and white shirt, packing her hair tight under her cap. Her hands trembled, but she ignored the fear rolling through her as best she could. There wasn't time to break down, not if she was going to get through this night alive. Then she ran to the fireplace and smudged her fingers with ash and hastily rubbed them on her cheeks.She had learned a number of tricks in the last few months. People did not naturally like to look at dirty people, and if they were looking for the woman who'd arrived at the tavern, dirty would be the last quality they'd use to describe her. Outside she could hear an awful commotion as the soldiers prepared to storm the inn.Jonathan was down there, her Jonathan, doing everything he could to give her time to escape. She still didn't know how he'd found her or how he'd gotten to her just in time. The man had the uncanny ability to show up when she needed him most.Like a man in loveHer heart stilled. He'd finally told her h
The League of Rogues Chapter 230
"English scum!" One of the soldiers smashed the butt of his rifle into Avery's face. "Where's the woman?"Avery grunted and spat blood onto the ground. "She's right over there." He was lying on his side, hands still tied together in front of him.They had started their interrogation on Avery first and were clearly enjoying causing him pain. Some passed a bottle around and joked as it went on."Your joke has grown old, English dog. The man who warned us about you would not have mistaken that man for a woman.""Are you sure? She is rather fetching in that dress."The soldier kicked Avery in the stomach, and Jonathan shouted for them to stop. "You'll kill him. Shouldn't he get a trial first?"The soldiers all turned toward him, laughing. One man, the captain, stepped forward, his cold eyes settling on Jonathan."Perhaps. Perhaps no. But that gives me the idea." His English was about as bad as Jonathan's French. He turned and pulled out a saber and placed the blade's edge underneath
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