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

by Laura Shipley

  The scarred man recovered and came at him again, but Hugh dodged the thrust and caught the man’s arm to stop him. A knee to the abdomen stopped the attack long enough for Hugh to grab the bandit’s wrist and twist until the man cried out and dropped the knife.

  Hugh released him, then walked over to the blade and kicked it away; there was no need for it. He could finish the man off if he wanted to, but he would refrain since he needed answers.

  “Now, you will answer some questions for me unless you want another lesson in pain.” Hugh stood over the prone figure.

  The battered man remained silent Instead of answering, he stood up, glowered at Hugh, then laughed. It was a strange, maniacal laugh. The fellow must be insane, which would make it difficult to get information out of him. Hugh had no rope to bind the man, so he would have to guard his captive until reinforcements arrived. He also had to find Emily and make sure she was all right. The prisoner would have to go with him.

  Hugh stepped toward the fellow who proceeded to pull out a small revolver, aiming it at his chest. There was nothing Hugh could do; he was a sitting duck.

  The villain chuckled, “Now, let’s see who gets the lesson in pain.” His finger curled around the trigger.

  Just as Hugh was poised to jump to the side, the bang of a gun startled him. He flinched, waiting for the pain from the bullet, but nothing happened. A look of bewilderment appeared on the scarred man’s face. Then, Hugh saw a red stain spread over the scoundrel’s chest.

  Hugh whipped around and saw Emily standing a few feet behind him. Smoke billowed from the gun in her trembling hands. She kept the gun aimed at the man now lying dead on the ground. Hugh rushed over and grabbed the weapon from Emily. He folded her in his arms and turned her away from the scene.

  Where were his men, damn it? It did not matter, he had to get Emily home. Hugh scooped her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. Then, he carried her down the road to the horses, helped her into the saddle, and climbed up behind her.

  As Hugh headed back, his men caught up with him. He explained what had happened and asked two of them to bring the body back. The remaining group rode back with him.

  When they returned, the guards who had stayed behind filled him in on what had occurred during his absence.

  “Captain, we were able to take one of the intruders alive, but he is wounded. There are two others who are dead.”

  “Thank you, Jim,” Hugh said. “Where did you take the prisoner?”

  “We put him in the old root cellar,” Jim replied.

  “Good. Make sure the grounds are scoured for anyone else. We cannot be certain how many were part of the attack. Put guards on the prisoner at all times.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  With any luck, they would get some answers that would shed more light on the entire matter, but that would have to wait until the morning. For now, Hugh’s priority was Emily and making sure she was comfortable.

  Hugh carried Emily into the house. The housekeeper and a maid showed him to Emily’s room. Once inside, he left her in the capable hands of the servants. He would check on her later. After leaving, Hugh went to the study and poured himself a large brandy, downed it in one gulp, and hastily refilled it. He carried the drink over to a chair by the fire.

  The events of the evening had been unexpected in more ways than one. Someone with superior skills had orchestrated the attacks on them and taken Hugh by surprise. Plus, they got close to the house, a notion that gnawed at his nerves. Hugh believed himself to be an exemplary soldier and strategist. The Army had promoted him to captain based on these merits. This was the first time someone had outsmarted him, and it irked him.

  Ethan and Kate were due to return tomorrow. They would have to question Kate further about Arthur. All that aside, Hugh could no longer deny he had feelings for Emily. He could never act on those feelings. No, he would push them down so deep that they would never resurface.

  For years, Hugh had tamped down any romantic thoughts of Emily. He had known her for years and watched her blossom. He told himself he should see her only as a friend, but his heart, and other parts of his body, had a different notion.

  It had been pleasant spending the evening with Emily. When they had played with Robbie earlier in the evening, for a brief instant, Hugh had wondered what it might be like to have a family of his own. He envisioned himself with Emily, his beautiful wife, and their son, all playing and laughing together; it would be a content life. But Emily was so headstrong. She was determined to live how she wanted, and she would curse anyone who stood in her way. Hugh recalled how Emily looked when she was angry; her cheeks would blush, her nostrils would flare, and her lush, kissable lips would pout.

  Hugh could not think about that now. He swallowed another gulp of his brandy. The heat landed in his gut and warmed his body, but it failed to dampen the lust in his groin.

  Damn the woman! Emily had been trouble from the start. Now, she had the hair-brained idea of becoming a nurse for the war. She did not understand the harsh terrors of warfare. She had gotten a small glimpse of it tonight, but it would be a thousand times worse on the front.

  In battle, Emily’s life would be in constant danger. Even though the military kept the field hospitals away from the actual fighting, there was always a risk. Hugh could not allow her to do something so foolish, not even for so worthy a cause. It was Hugh’s job to sacrifice his life. He had nothing else. His eldest brother had the responsibilities of the Dukedom, his second brother had his religious calling, and Hugh had the army.

  He would continue to do what he did best; he would give all for Queen and Country. The life and reputation he had worked so hard to cultivate over the years needed to remain intact. His secrets were his armor; without them, he would crumble.

  The problems came when he was around Emily. He could let his guard down with her and be himself. If he was not careful, he might fall in love with the golden-haired beauty, and that could never happen.

  Enough time had hopefully passed for Emily to get settled in her room, so Hugh decided to check on her. He strolled to her room and knocked on the door. When he got no response, he cautiously peered inside. Emily sat upright on the bed with her legs drawn up to her chest. She wore a white nightgown, and her wheat-colored hair cascaded down her back. Hugh spotted dried tears on her face.

  Tentatively, Hugh entered and sat beside Emily. She did not shy away from his body but instead leaned into it. He could not stop himself and circled his arms around her soft body, pulling her close. She felt cold; the thin material of her nightgown was not enough to keep her warm. Hugh silently cursed the maid who should have done more to make sure Emily was comfortable before leaving. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around his torso. There was nothing intimate about the embrace; it was as if she simply needed human contact. Hugh said nothing for a few moments; he just savored the feel of her.

  He could never allow himself to be this close to Emily again, so he wanted to remember every minute. He kissed the top of her head. The lilac and vanilla perfume she used to scent her hair tickled his nose. Hugh had to discuss the events of the night. It would be better if Emily came to grips with what occurred sooner rather than later. “I’m sorry,” Hugh whispered into her hair.

  “For what?”

  “For everything that happened tonight: for getting attacked, for that man taking you, and for you having to do what you did. I am sorry for all of it. I never want to see you hurt or in danger, Emmy.”

  Emily pulled back to face him. He hoped she saw the sincerity in his eyes. “It wasn’t your fault,” she whispered.

  “I should have been more cautious, more on guard. I should have suspected something could happen. Whoever this is, he is growing bolder, which makes him more dangerous.”

  Emily brought her hand up and caressed his cheek. “I do not blame you, Hugh.”

  Worried his anger would show, Hugh turned his face away. He was not upset with her; he was mad at himself and the dead man who had force
d this on Emily.

  “I should have been more cautious. Now you’ve had to take a life because of my failure.”

  “Don’t do that, Hugh.”

  “Do what?”

  “Do not take all of the blame when it is not yours. Those men attacked us in the garden. But you, you were the one to save me. You did what you needed to do, and so did I.”

  Hugh shook his head. “But you should not have had to kill a man.”

  “What, was I supposed to let him shoot you?” A hint of a smile crossed her mouth. “I don’t regret what I did because I saved you. You would do the same for me.”

  Yes, Hugh would do the same, every time. Emily tightened her arms around him. The scene was becoming too intimate. He needed to steer them back to other things. “How did you get a gun?”

  “When I was on the horse, I could feel it digging into me. When I jumped, I grabbed for it. Unfortunately, he had another one.”

  Hugh sighed, “I’m glad you were clever enough to think so fast in that situation. I should thank you for handling yourself so well during the entire escapade. You did everything I told you to do, both in the gardens and out on the road. I didn’t know if you would jump from the horse when I yelled at you.”

  Emily laid her head back down on Hugh’s broad chest. “I almost didn’t, but I knew you would not have told me to do something that wasn’t safe.”

  “You have a lot of faith in me,” Hugh uttered.

  “I do.” Emily sat up next to him. “I know you would never hurt me.”

  Hugh suspected the words held a double meaning. At that moment, with Emily’s hands burning through his shirt like hot irons, he knew she was right. He would never hurt her. Gazing into her verdant eyes, he knew he had to leave the room before he did something he would later regret.

  Hugh joked, “Of course, I would never hurt you, Ethan would kill me. I couldn’t let anything happen to his little sister.” Hugh got off the bed. When he turned back, he saw her lower her eyes.

  A moment later, Emily returned his stare. “That’s all I am to you? Ethan’s little sister?”

  “Well, you are eight years younger than I am. You and Ethan are like family to me. I protect my friends and family. As you said, I would never hurt you.”

  Hugh prayed she understood his hidden meaning. Over the last year or more, he had an inkling that Emily might be attracted to him. All the more reason for her to get married and forget about him.

  Emily rose from the bed and faced him. She had to tilt her head to look him in the eye. “I am not a child anymore, Hugh, I’m a woman. You, Ethan, and my parents need to stop treating me like a child. I’m twenty; old enough to make my own decisions.”

  “You may think you know what’s best, but you should rely on the wisdom of others to guide you.” Hugh scolded.

  The tension grew thick. Hugh found it difficult to breathe with Emily so close. His cock stirred to life, and he did his best to cool his lust. She was the one woman who was off-limits. He tried to step away from her, but Emily looped her arms around his neck.

  “Kiss me, Hugh. I want to know what all those other women feel when you hold them in your arms and kiss them.”

  Hugh grabbed her hands and pulled them away from him. It required all his willpower to not do as she requested. “Emmy, you don’t know what you are saying. You are upset and confused about tonight. You need to get some rest.”

  Emily snatched her hands out of Hugh’s grasp and stepped away. A loud sigh escaped her lips. “I know what I’m asking. You flirt and sleep with all those women in London, and yet you refuse me a simple kiss. I don’t see how that is so difficult.”

  “Because you are different, Emmy. You are not like those other women at all. You are the one thing in my life that is pure and good, and I intend to see you stay that way.”

  Tears welled up in Emily’s eyes. She gulped in a deep breath of air and sighed loudly in disappointment. He closed the distance between them. “I’m not the gallant soldier you think I am.”

  “I know you’re not perfect, none of us are.”

  “I’m not just talking about my reputation in town; there are other secrets. Things I can’t tell you for your protection.”

  “I understand. Don’t you think I know what it means to lie to family and friends? Look at Ethan, he does it every day, and I do not question him, just like I have never questioned you. As I said, you would never hurt me.”

  He pulled her into his arms. Hugh’s emotions were too numerous to count, but at the forefront, was his desire and awe for the woman he held. Emily would never know the power she held over him. For now, Hugh knew the best thing to do was leave and let Emily rest for the night. He loosened his hold on her and backed away.

  Emily demanded, “I still want a kiss.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not? From what I hear, you give your affections freely enough at the brothels.”

  The sharp bite of her tongue stabbed deep into his heart. “Because you are not like them, Emmy. You’re nothing like them.”

  Emily’s shoulders sank, and she lowered her head. “I know I’m not as pretty or as glamorous as they are, but I’m still a woman.”

  Hugh smiled and caressed her cheek with his finger. “Yes, you are, and right now, I’m having a hard time seeing you as anything other than a woman. So, I will leave you for the night.”

  “Why? Why won’t you kiss me, Hugh?”

  His hand was on the latch as he answered, “Because I do not want to hurt you.” With those final words, he left.

  Hugh marched down to his bedroom and slammed the door shut. He ran a hand through his hair and knocked his head against the door in frustration. His intention had been to comfort Emily and make sure she had recovered from their ordeal. Instead, he had almost made the biggest mistake of his life, kissing her. This entire evening had turned into one misfortune after another. Lord knows what Ethan will say when he hears about this in the morning. He knew Emily wouldn’t tell Ethan about what had transpired between them just now; that would be their private moment.

  Hugh pushed himself away from the door and shed his clothes for bed. If nothing else, he would speak to Ethan about sending his sister back to London to her parents. Hugh would not risk her being in danger any longer. Emily had said she believed he would never hurt her. Well, the best way to see to that was to get her away from all threats, including him.

  Chapter 17

  Kate remained in her room after interviewing the maid, Elise. She had not been able to rest; too many things raced through her mind. At the appointed hour, Kate washed and readied herself for dinner.

  The meal that evening was subdued. Conversation consisted of mundane subjects. She did not feel comfortable talking about delicate matters in front of the servants. The fewer prying ears, the better. Besides, she did not know who to trust.

  Later, they moved to the parlor for dessert. Ethan set up a table and chairs near the fire so they could play cards. Kate served the cake and tea while Ethan dealt the cards. She sat down after giving Ethan his plate.

  After a few hands, Kate relaxed. She thought it odd that something as ordinary as playing cards could ease her worries. For a blissful moment, Kate imagined what it would be like to have a life with Ethan. Quiet evenings playing cards or performing for him on the piano. Robbie would be in his bed, and they would have the night to themselves. What a beautiful dream.

  Kate sighed, and Ethan peered at her from behind his cards.

  “My apologies. I was just thinking of something. I did not mean to disturb your concentration.”

  Ethan chuckled, “What concentration? You have beat me at every hand. You always were the best at cards. No one could tell what you were thinking with your straight face.”

  The words hit home. It was the way she had been living for the last five years. No one could tell how she felt or what she thought. She had kept a straight face so no one could call her bluff. A heavy burden laid upon Kate’s chest. She put down her
cards and got up. She needed to walk around, but the tense feeling only worsened. It was time, Ethan needed to know the truth while they had a moment of privacy. It was now or never. Kate walked over to the fireplace, her back to Ethan. He was silent; he must have sensed something was bothering her.

  “You are right, Ethan.” Kate pivoted and saw the confusion on his face. “I used to be good at keeping a straight face. Although, not lately, I fear. For the last five years, I have been the epitome of a nobleman’s wife. I attended the parties, the concerts, and all the social engagements that someone of my status was expected to attend. I did it all with a smile plastered to my face, so no one would know the secrets locked deep in my heart. But lately, it has been harder to keep up the charade. Now, being near you again, I find my heart is heavy with guilt.”

  “Guilt over what?”

  “Over what?” Kate cried out and waved her hand in the air. “Over everything; over the last five years. I lied to you, Ethan. I lied to everyone, but no one can know the truth, except for you.”

  Ethan rose from his seat. “Why tell me? Why now? What has changed?”

  Kate’s eyes burned, and her lips trembled. “I want to tell you because you deserve to know. Not just because of what is going on, but because I still love you, and I believe you still have feelings for me. Although, that may change once you hear what I have to say.”

  Ethan moved to go to her but then decided against it. “I will listen to whatever you have to say, Kate, but I doubt it will change my feelings.”

  The words calmed some of the churning in her stomach, but Kate still took a moment to calm herself before speaking.

  “It began back when I was in school. I had a friend, Molly Whitehall. She was the daughter of an impoverished lord. The only reason she had gotten into the school was because her maternal grandparents had paid. We were good friends. I believe you met her a few times when I had her home on holiday.”