The Spy's Lady: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 2)

by Laura Shipley

  Suddenly, Robbie ran up and grabbed Kate and Emily’s hands to get them to join him. The ladies laughed and chased the boy around the grounds. When Kate spun around, she saw Ethan watching them from the terrace. His smoldering gaze pierced straight into her heart and stopped her in her tracks. A delicious shudder of yearning raced through her body. He made his way down the steps, straight to Kate’s side, oblivious to the fact that Robbie and Emily played close by. Ethan took Kate’s hand and asked, “Will you walk with me?”

  It was all he had to say. Kate nodded, and Ethan led them down a path away from the house. They walked at a steady pace. Kate was content to let him lead while she enjoyed the touch of his hand on hers. The further they strolled from the house, the louder her heart beat. Where was he taking her?

  Finally, Ethan stopped when they reached the far end of the gardens. “When my men get here, the house will be patrolled at all times. I have been thinking all morning about a plan of attack. We need to find Nathan’s cousin, fast. We will ask around the village to see if anyone has seen anything suspicious. I also wrote a letter to Phillip Crestwood in London to make inquiries to see if there is anything more we need to know about Arthur.”

  So, Ethan only wanted to discuss the plans he had made. In the past, when they had been alone like this, he would have recited poetry or sweet words of affection. Kate knew she should be pleased. All of this was to protect her and Robbie, but she could not help the feeling of disappointment that crept in. For a moment, she had hoped Ethan had brought her to this private spot for more romantic reasons.

  Kate pulled her hand out of Ethan’s grasp and turned away. She could not let him see the hurt in her eyes. It was foolish to think their relationship would be the way it had been in the past. She could not reverse time.

  “Thank you, Ethan. It is more than I expected or deserve especially after everything that has happened between us.”

  Ethan came around to face Kate. He cupped her face between his hands. “How could I not help? It’s you, Kate. No matter what our past, you still matter to me.” He gathered her in his arms. Her breath hitched as he drew her closer. “It’s always been you.”

  Ethan’s lips ravaged hers and she rejoiced. This is what she craved. It had been so long since she had felt anything. She draped her arms around him and ran her fingers through his hair, basking in their rekindled passion.. Kate greedily returned Ethan’s embrace, which grew more fervent the longer they stayed connected.

  He parted his lips and slid his tongue along the seam of Kate’s mouth. She sighed, and his tongue crept inside. It startled Kate at first, but she soon returned the caress. Ethan’s mouth possessed hers, and she conceded. The taste of him in her mouth caused a shock of need to shoot straight between her legs. The long-dormant throb of desire had been sparked, and Kate heeded its call.

  The desperation and hunger in Ethan’s embrace was clear, as if he had been starved from not having her for so long. She prayed that was true. Ethan had been the only man to make her feel alive. Her legs were weak, and her stomach felt like a jumble of butterflies. Even through her clothes, his body heat radiated and warmed her to the core.

  Ethan’s lips blazed a trail down Kate’s neck. He gently nipped the skin, causing her to cry out in pleasure before he soothed the area with his tongue. Kate held him close; she never wanted to let him go. He kissed his way up the other side of her neck, then hungrily captured her lips again.

  The intensity of the moment was almost too much for Kate. She had been alone for so long. Even though she had been married to Nathan, they had never had an emotional connection like this. Nothing could compare to what she felt when she was with Ethan. But this felt different even from their younger days.

  In the past they had shared a few kisses, but they had been chaste and innocent. Now, there was a savageness about Ethan’s embrace, as if he wanted to brand Kate and lay claim to her. It both excited and frightened her. This was not a kiss from a teenage boy; it was the kiss from a man filled with desire and yearning who knew what he wanted.

  Ethan still did not know the actual reasons Kate had left him. She had to tell him soon; he had a right to know. But not now, not while he tasted her. It was selfish, but she wanted to enjoy every second with him, because who knew when it might end.

  Kate thrust her tongue into Ethan’s mouth, and he moaned. She felt his erection against her abdomen. What would it feel like to make love to Ethan, to rake her fingers all over his body, and to feel him inside her? She cried into his mouth as the images flew through her mind.

  Ethan finally broke away, and Kate laid her head on his chest. She felt his heart thump in time with hers. His chest heaved from the exertion of their passion.

  “We will fight this madman together,” Ethan whispered into Kate’s hair.

  Kate held her tears at bay. It seemed everything was not lost between them. She pulled back to meet Ethan’s gaze. He touched the back of his hand to her cheek and kissed her. Kate was about to speak when she heard Robbie’s voice. “Mommy, where are you?”

  The couple chuckled. She checked to make sure she was decent and smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress. Just before she left, Ethan whispered “You look beautiful.”

  She walked toward Robbie’s voice with Ethan following close behind. As she approached the house, Robbie raced up and hugged her legs.

  “Mommy, I was looking everywhere for you. Where were you?”

  “Lord Norris had to speak to me about some grown-up matters. But now we are all done, and we can play.”

  Kate took Robbie’s hand and walked toward the house. Ethan came up beside her and looped her other hand through his arm. The three of them made their way back to the house. For a moment Kate imagined what life could have been like if she had married Ethan. She pictured them walking side by side while their children played. It was a cruel joke to fantasize about such a thing, now, knowing it would never happen.

  Robbie spotted Emily and broke from Kate’s hold. “Look, Auntie, I found them.”

  Kate raised her brow, and Emily explained, “I’m sorry, but Robbie can be persistent. He informed me he had a Mommy and a Nana, but he has never had an Auntie. He wanted to know if I could be his Auntie. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Kate embraced her friend. “You’re right, Robbie can be persuasive. Of course, I do not mind, Emmy. There is no one who deserves the title more.”

  The little boy laughed and played while the women joined in. It was nice to feel normal again. Occasionally, she stole a glance at Ethan, who stood off to the side, taking everything in. To an outsider, he would appear to be casually watching them play. But Kate saw the sharpness in his eyes and the tension in his muscles. He was ready to spring into action to protect them.

  Robbie soon grew bored. “Mommy, what other games can we play?”

  Ethan knelt next to Robbie. “I know something that might interest you.”

  “What?”

  “Come on.” Ethan held out his hand, and Robbie grabbed it without hesitation. Ethan motioned for Kate to follow them, and the trio made their way to the barn. Kate had no clue what Ethan had in mind as he led them to an empty stall. She could make out a faint whining sound, but she did not know what it was. Kate stepped into the stall when Robbie squealed with delight. There, in the stall's corner, laid a dog with her litter of puppies. They looked to be several weeks old. Robbie rushed over to the puppies, who showered him with licks and nips. The little boy giggled with pure joy. Kate smiled at Ethan and mouthed the words, thank you.

  Ethan asked Robbie, “Do you like them?”

  “Whose are they?” Robbie asked.

  “The puppies belong to one of the stable boys, but I heard him say he would like to find homes for some of them. Perhaps, if your mother says it is fine, you could have one.”

  The boy implored, “Please, Mommy, may I have a puppy?”

  Before Kate could answer, Ethan interjected, “Now, Robbie, remember that a puppy is a big responsibility. You must ta
ke excellent care of it, and feed it, and make sure it gets exercise. Do you think you can do that?”

  “Yes, sir. I promise.”

  Robbie looked at Kate for her approval. He had been through a lot in the last few months, and he deserved a reward for being so well-behaved.

  “Yes, my love, you can have one.”

  “Yippee!” Robbie scooped up one of the puppies who proceeded to lick his face. “I want this one. Is it a girl or a boy?”

  Ethan examined the pup. “It’s a boy.”

  “I will name him Pepper because his fur is black.”

  “That is a good name, Robbie. Why don’t we take him inside and see if Cook can find him some food? Then, we can all get acquainted with him.”

  Robbie hurried toward the house yelling at the top of his lungs for everyone to hear that he had a puppy. The young boy’s happiness was contagious. Kate saw two maids laugh and a footman smile as Robbie dashed by him.

  “Thank you, Ethan. You’ve made him so happy.”

  “All little boys should have a dog. It will teach him responsibility. Plus, I wanted to do it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to show you that I’ve changed.”

  Kate studied Ethan. “I know you’ve changed. You have taken on more responsibility with your family’s estate. Plus, you are working for this agency with your friends and putting yourself in harm’s way, all for the greater good. It’s clear that your priorities have changed from all those years ago. You didn’t have to give Robbie a puppy to show me that.”

  “No, but I wanted you to see.”

  “See what?” Kate knew what she wanted the answer to be.

  Ethan gathered Kate in his arms. “I wanted you to see that I can accept Robbie in my life. You and Robbie, together.”

  “Ethan,” Kate said breathlessly. She could not believe what he had just declared.

  Ethan kissed Kate, and this time, he filled the kiss with longing and promise. He brought his hand up to cup her cheek and said, “We’ve lost enough time.”

  Kate leaned into his touch. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s no good for us to apologize for what has happened; it’s in the past. Now, all we can do is look to the future.”

  “What future?”

  “A future together.”

  Kate saw the sincerity in Ethan’s eyes. He wanted her and Robbie in his life.

  “When you and Robbie are safe, we will have a long talk about what lies ahead for us.”

  Kate was speechless. She did not need to hear the words from Ethan to know that he loved her. Without any further words, they entwined their hands and walked toward the house. They found Robbie in the kitchen playing with Pepper.

  “He likes chicken, Mommy,” Robbie said as he watched the puppy eat up the last scraps in a bowl. After the puppy finished, he went over to Robbie and jumped on him, signaling he was ready to play. “May I take Pepper up to my room and play?”

  “Yes, dear,” Kate said as she laid a kiss on the boy’s head. With a squeal of delight, Robbie scooped up the puppy and headed for his room.

  The remainder of the day passed pleasantly for Kate. She and Emily played cards while Robbie rested for the afternoon. Dinner was quiet and enjoyable. Robbie came in just before he went to bed. He gave Emily and Kate a hug and kiss. Then, he went up to Ethan and gave him a hug and thanked him again for the puppy. To Kate’s surprise, Ethan returned Robbie’s embrace. Her gaze met Ethan’s, and she swore she could see the love she felt for him equally reflected in his eyes.

  Chapter 8

  Ethan awoke the next day feeling content. For the first time in years, he did not feel empty inside, and it was all because of Kate. When he had taken her into the gardens yesterday, he had been unsure what he would say or do. He had felt off balance, which was not like him. Since Kate’s return, Ethan’s emotions had ranged from anger to desire. When he had first caught sight of her at Sir Brampton’s, the old animosity and hurt had resurfaced. Now, his ire was focused on the man trying to harm her and Robbie. Their first kiss, after all these years, had reawakened his desire to have Kate, forever this time.

  He meant what he had told Kate in the barn; he wanted a future with her and Robbie. The boy needed a father figure; he would inherit an estate someday and would need guidance. . Ethan realized he was as much to blame as Kate for the way their relationship had ended all those years ago. He had been immature and had taken her for granted. The past was in the past; he needed to look toward their future together. First, he had to take care of the current problem with Nathan’s cousin.

  With any luck, Hugh would arrive at the estate today, then he and Ethan could come up with a plan of action to find the fiend. Ethan had used his father’s country house a few times, in the past, for agency business when his parents had been abroad or in town. As he had told Kate, his men knew the layout of the estate, and they could patrol the lands effectively. Ethan would have his men question the locals about whether they had seen any suspicious men. The tenants around his family’s estate were close-knit, and they would notice anyone out of the ordinary wandering around.

  Ethan had written to Phillip Crestwood to dig up information about Arthur Penbrooke. If the man had any debts or a troubled past, Phillip would discover it. They needed any information they could find in order to catch this man. The more Ethan knew about his adversary, the better chance he could outthink him.

  Ethan would not let any harm come to Kate or Robbie. He dressed and went to breakfast. Emily and Kate were already seated at the table and greeted him as he sat down with his plate. Throughout the meal, he stole glances at Kate. She looked radiant, even in her simple morning dress. It was a light shade of purple and her red hair was pulled back with her curls trailing down her back. Ethan had always admired her hair color; it was her most stunning feature. It reminded him of the evening sky as the last rays of the day reflected a crimson hue before setting below the horizon. He dreamed of combing his hands through those tresses and watching it cascade down her back as he undid her dress.

  Lost in his daydream, Ethan did not notice Kate staring at him. His thoughts must have been clear since a blush crossed her cheeks. Ethan wanted her desperately. The more time he spent around her, the more he hungered for her body. Even now, he felt the strain of his growing arousal. He shifted in his chair and tried to rearrange his erection, but to little avail.

  “What are your plans for today, dear brother?” Emily asked as she sipped her tea.

  “I have to see some of the tenants about repairs needed at the farms. I also wanted to check the pastures on the south side, see how the herds are doing. What about you, ladies?”

  “Kate and I have some errands we want to do in the village. It won’t take long.”

  “I’ll have one of the footmen go with you,” Ethan insisted.

  “We don’t need anyone, Ethan; we’ll be fine. It’s the daytime, what could happen?” Emily said.

  Ethan shook his head at his sister’s naivete. “It does not matter what time of day it is; it isn’t safe to be out alone. If you do not take an escort, then I cannot allow you to leave.”

  “You are being ridiculous, Ethan. You can’t keep us prisoners here,” Emily snapped.

  “I am not keeping you a prisoner; I am keeping both of you safe.”

  Emily was about to say something when Kate put a hand on her arm to silence her. “Ethan is right, Emmy. In Leicester, accidents happened during the day. Please, we can’t take any chances; I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

  “Very well, I’ll do it for you, Kate.”

  Ethan flashed Kate a smile of thanks.

  They finished their meal and stood to leave. The butler entered and announced, “Sir, riders are approaching the house.”

  The ladies froze, but Ethan sprung out of his chair. Hopefully, it was Hugh. Ethan opened the door and saw a dozen riders approaching the house. At the lead was Hugh Fitzsimmons. The group descended the steps to wait fo
r their arrival.

  Ethan had been on many missions with his friend, both in England and abroad. They were committed to keeping England safe. Now, the threat was to someone Ethan cared about, and he would use every means at his disposal.

  Hugh dismounted first, came up to Ethan, and shook his hand. Hugh was a Captain in Her Majesty’s Army. At times, his military duties kept him away from working for Sir Darnley, but Ethan had caught Hugh while he was still in London.

  Hugh grinned. “Well, Ethan, you certainly make a man curious. I got an urgent message to come with as many men as I could muster. What’s so important?”

  At that moment, Kate appeared in Hugh’s line of sight. Hugh fought to hide his surprise. He went up to her and placed a kiss on her cheek.

  “Kate, what a pleasant surprise. I’m sorry to hear about your husband, my condolences.”

  “Thank you, Hugh. It’s good to see you.”

  Ethan could tell Hugh was full of questions, so he motioned them all inside to the library. Once Hugh had settled, Ethan told him about Kate’s dilemma. He told his friend about the occurrences Kate experienced in Leicester and her history with Arthur. Ethan also told Hugh about the incident the other night with the carriage getting attacked.

  “I agree with Ethan. The house needs to be monitored at all times. Have there been any incidents here?”

  “No, and I want to keep it that way. In the meantime, we need to find out where this fellow is hiding. First thing tomorrow, I want search parties out combing the area. Today I want the men to get reacquainted with the layout of the house. We need the grounds and surrounding buildings all searched.”

  “Agreed. I’ll let the men know their assignments.”

  After Hugh left, Ethan turned his attention back to Kate. She had been silent the entire time, letting Ethan fill Hugh in on the details. She looked weary. He went over to the sofa where she sat.