The Spy's Lady: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 2)
Page 15
Ethan peered out the window of the carriage as they rolled along and noticed a rider along the side of the road a few yards ahead. As they drew nearer, he saw it was Mr. Brightley, the solicitor they had met at the Grahams’ party. He told the coachman to pull up.
Ethan jumped out of the coach and approached the man.
“Good morning sir. Do you need any help?”
Mr. Brightley stood up from examining one of his horse’s shoes and made a bow. “Lord Norris, good day to you. What a way to make your acquaintance again. My horse was limping, so I stopped to check on him. I think one of his shoes has come loose. It appears I will have to walk him to the smithy in the village.”
“We could give you a ride in my carriage.”
“Is that not in the opposite direction of where you are going?” Mr. Brightley questioned.
“It’s not far out of the way.”
The solicitor shook his head and glanced at the carriage where Kate peeked her head out. “I do not wish to impose. I am sure the Countess is anxious to be on her way.”
Ethan turned toward the carriage, but he did not see Kate. How did Mr. Brightley know she was in the carriage? Perhaps, she had glanced out momentarily, and he had caught sight of her.
“Very well, sir. Then, I will bid you a good day.”
“Good day, my lord. Give my regards to Lady Leeds.”
Ethan climbed back into the carriage, and they were on their way. Once settled, he noted Kate’s pursed lips and wrinkled brow.
“What’s wrong, darling?”
“It’s that man.” Kate hugged herself and shuddered. “There is something strange about him. I cannot put my finger on it, but he makes me nervous.”
Ethan laughed, “He’s a solicitor. He probably makes you feel like you are being interrogated; it is part of his job. Don’t worry; the man is harmless.”
Kate smiled and gazed out the window. They sat quietly with their thoughts for the rest of the journey home. Ethan considered their next course of action in finding Arthur Penbrooke. Hopefully, Phillip had some luck with finding out details about the man. There wasn’t much left to do until he made a mistake and showed himself.
Arthur’s cleverness impressed Ethan. The fiend was always one step ahead of them. He would make a mistake; at some point, they always did. Arthur’s actions were becoming bolder. This time, he had resorted to murder. The man was getting desperate, and Ethan was growing impatient. They needed a plan to bring the man to the ground and capture him once and for all.
As the couple’s carriage neared the house Ethan noticed a man dismounting his horse but could not make out the rider since his back faced Ethan. Hugh came out of the house and embraced the visitor. The carriage closed the distance, and Ethan recognized the man as Louis de Coligny, another friend from their school days.
What the devil was Louis doing here? He lived in France but assisted with the work they did with Sir Darnley’s network, at times. Perhaps, Sir Darnley had called him in to help. Ethan had been so preoccupied he had nearly forgotten they were in the middle of a wart.
Ethan had not been on assignment to the continent since he had escorted Phillip’s now-wife, Charlotte, home from France. Even that seemed like a lifetime ago.
Once the carriage stopped, Ethan swung the door open. He helped Kate down and escorted her up to the two waiting men. Louis came forward first and shook Ethan’s hand. “It is good to see you, my friend. It has been too long.”
“This is certainly a surprise, Louis. To what do we owe the honor?”
Before he answered, Louis turned his attention to Kate. He bowed and kissed her hand. “My condolences, Countess, on your loss.”
“Thank you, Louis, but I will always be Kate to you.” She beamed at Louis and embraced him.
Ethan knew he should not be jealous of an innocent embrace between friends, but he couldn’t help it. Something about the sight of Kate, with her arm’s wrapped around another man, made him uncomfortable. Ethan cleared his throat. “You haven’t answered my question, old friend. I’m sure you didn’t come all this way from France just to give condolences to Kate.”
Kate and Louis pulled apart. “No, you are right. Perhaps, we could go inside, and I will explain.”
Ethan led the party inside the house and into the front parlor. Although it was only late morning, Ethan needed a drink. There had to be a reason Louis came all the way from France, and he prayed it was not unpleasant news.
After everyone found a seat, Louis began, “I have been working with our allies in France, trying to discover the identity of the group responsible for the shipments of arms and other goods being sent to the Russian front.”
“I heard something about that back in London,” Hugh replied from his seat by the fireplace. “The suspicion is there is a network operating on the docks, somehow stealing the cargo before it lands.”
Louis nodded. “I received a tip, in Calais, about a ship coming in that may be targeted. I left a day early and waited at the docks.”
“What happened?” Ethan asked.
“It was astonishing. The ship made port, right on time. When the inventory was complete, a few crates of guns were noted to be missing. No one knows how they were stolen; it’s a mystery. The dockmaster said he would have it investigated. I spoke to Sir Darnley as well. He will have some men work on this end. I will keep on looking on the French side. There are whispers of a powerful criminal in Paris who may be behind it all. Anyway, I was about to leave when I visited Phillip and Charlotte. Charlotte told me that Phillip had left for Leicester, and that you had called Hugh up here. So, I thought I would take the quick journey here to see if I could be of assistance.”
Ethan declared, “You are welcome to stay, my friend, but if you have urgent matters to attend to, don’t feel that you need to stay.” He wouldn’t turn away any help; he could use every available person. The more eyes that were searching, the quicker they would find Arthur.
“Of course, I’ll stay for Kate.” Louis had the most charming look on his face, and Ethan wanted to knock it off him.
Kate laughed, “You are most welcome to stay, Louis. It would be nice to have another strong, capable man around.”
“What, I’m not enough?” Hugh chimed in, puffing out his chest. Everyone laughed.
The sound was pleasant to hear since it had not been heard often enough in the last few days. Ethan knew the atmosphere around the house was tense, perhaps someone new would help lighten things up. Louis was also an excellent marksman, one of the best Ethan had ever seen. His skills might be useful by the time all was said and done.
“Oh, I almost forgot. On my way here, I stopped at an inn and ran into one of your men. I recognized him from our past dealings.” Louis said. Ethan perked up at hearing this information. “He was coming from Leicester, with a letter from Phillip. Once I explained who I was, he gave me the letter so he could return to Leicester.”
The Frenchman withdrew a letter from his coat pocket and handed it to Kate. She hesitated to open it. Ethan swore he saw her hands shake ever so slightly. Some of the color had gone out of her face. Kate took a deep breath and opened the letter.
Silence filled the air where moments before there had been laughter. All three men waited while Kate read the letter from Phillip. Her eyes grew wide with horror. She shook her head and gasped.
“What is it, darling?” Ethan couldn’t wait much longer.
Without answering, she handed the letter over to Ethan. He scanned the contents and cursed. “Some of the outer buildings have been burned. Thankfully, no one was hurt; but it ruined some of the grain, and someone killed several of the livestock. Plus, it appears the fields have been poisoned. Phillip says some of the tenants have reported dying crops.”
Hugh got up and paced. “How is one man responsible for all this? The estates are hundreds of miles apart from each other.”
Ethan shook his head and sighed. “He’s not alone. I think we can conclusively presume that much, considering
the attacks here, the occupation of the house in the woods, the destruction of the carriage wheel, and the fake dead dog. He would have to be in too many places at one time. There is no way one man could do all that plus travel to Leicester and do all these other deeds.”
“Do you have any people of interest?” Louis asked.
Kate spoke up, “Just Mary’s mystery man from the inn.”
“You’re right,” Ethan agreed. “We have to assume that whoever was seeing Mary, is more than likely her killer and the one giving orders to these other men. Would Arthur be capable of all this?”
Kate shook her head. “He never struck me as the mastermind type. He was quick to anger, and he could be rash. I do not see him having the patience or the brains to plan this out, not over such a wide area as the two estates.”
“Well, we captured two suspects after we were ambushed and attacked in the gardens last night.” Hugh winced at his error.
Ethan whipped around to face Hugh. “What!”
No wonder Hugh had been quiet since their return, he had been hiding that particularly important bit of information.
“What the bloody hell do you mean an ambush? And who’s we? Don’t tell me it involved Emily.”
Hugh put his hands up in supplication. “First off, Emily is safe. She is upstairs in her room.”
“Did something happen to her? Is that why she’s not down here?” If anything happened to Emily, there would be hell to pay.
“I will tell you the entire story, just sit down,” Hugh suggested. “The way you’re looking at me, I fear you will take a swing.”
“Are you scared?” Ethan said through gritted teeth.
Hugh chuckled, “No, but I would hate to best you in front of Kate.”
The light humor quelled some of Ethan’s temper. He sat down on the couch next to Kate and listened to Hugh tell of the previous night’s events.
It was almost too much to believe. It seemed as if there was no safe place for them. Perhaps, it was time to think about moving the women and Robbie to London. It would be more secure. A large country estate had too many nooks and crannies; it would be easy for anyone to sneak in.
As he listened to the story, Ethan realized he wasn’t mad at Hugh, really, he was disappointed in himself for allowing things to go on for as long as they had. Ordinarily, he was skilled at devising a plan of action; he could think a problem through from every angle and execute it with precision. He had met his match in Arthur Penbrooke, and it was a humbling experience.
Hugh’s voice caught Ethan’s attention. “I think it best if my men take Emily, Kate, and Robbie to London.”
“I agree,” Louis said.
“Now, just wait a moment.” Kate rose from her seat. “I am not going anywhere. We will be in danger no matter where we go. London is too big and crowded. It would be easier for someone to sneak around after us. What if somebody took Robbie? In a city like London, we would never find him.”
Ethan took Kate’s hands. “My love, you at least have to think about the option. We could get a secure house, guarded around the clock.”
“And what good would that do?” The ire rose in Kate’s voice as she shook off Ethan’s hands. “All it would do is prolong the inevitable. Robbie and I need our lives back. We are staying here, and if you don’t agree, then we will go back to my parents’ house or Leicester.”
Kate had a stubborn streak, which rarely came out. But when it did, it would take an Act of Parliament to make her change her mind. Ethan had gone up against it in the past. Once Kate dug her heels in, there would be no moving her. It was one of the things he loved about her.
Although Kate’s voice was steady, Ethan noticed she was wringing her hands. She was putting on a brave face. He captured her face between his hands and forced her to meet his gaze. “All right, we will stay here until we apprehend this madman. I will have a guard on Robbie, day and night. If you leave this house, you will be accompanied by someone, preferably one of us.” Ethan looked at his friends and said, “We will fight together to get your life back…our life back.”
Ethan leaned in and placed a kiss on Kate’s lips. Just the slight taste of her was enough to get his blood boiling with desire.
“I still think Emily should leave. She has been through enough,” Hugh stated.
Ethan stepped back from Kate. “Agreed. That’s one less person to worry about.”
“I don’t think it will be that easy,” Kate replied. “You know how she can be when you order her about.”
“I know, but surely she’ll see it’s for her own safety. Perhaps, you could speak to her. She may listen if it comes from you.” Ethan implored.
“You mean, as long as it’s not coming from the two of you?” Kate’s gaze went between Ethan and Hugh. She sighed, “Very well, I will speak to her. I should see how she is doing and check on Robbie.”
Kate left the room. As soon as the door closed, Ethan turned to his friends. “We need to go over everything that has happened so far; no detail is too minute.”
Chapter 21
Kate knocked tentatively on Emily’s door before she tried the knob. The door was unlocked so she entered. Her gaze swept the bedroom until it landed on Emily sitting at her window seat, staring out at the garden. Kate stood silent for a moment, not sure if her presence was noticed.
After what seemed like forever, Emily spoke, “You can come in, Kate.”
Kate let out the breath she had been holding. After hearing the story from Hugh, she was not sure what to expect from her friend. Emily was usually outspoken and boisterous; this was a different side of her. The usual spark in Emily’s eyes had dulled, and she sat slumped in hopelessness; she seemed empty now. Kate’s heart ached for her friend, and she drew closer to her.
“Emmy, are you all right?”
The young woman showed no emotion. “Why, shouldn’t I be?”
“Hugh told us what happened last night. I’m sure it was a trying ordeal, and it would leave anyone upset or even scared.”
“I am not a child, Kate. I’m perfectly fine.” Emily got up and crossed to the other side of the room, but she kept her back turned.
“Well, if that is true, then why are you acting the way Robbie does when he doesn’t get what he wants?” Kate hated to sound harsh, but she knew if she provoked Emily it would get her talking. Hopefully, she would fall for the bait.
Emily pivoted with a heated look in her eyes. “I’m tired of everyone treating me like I’m some delicate thing that cannot take care of myself.”
“I never said you couldn’t.”
“No, but you, and everyone else, think it. Ethan wants me guarded at all times. Hugh won’t even acknowledge my existence as a…” Emily’s words died on her trembling lips, and her eyes watered.
It appeared Hugh had not told them the entire story. More had transpired than just the ordeal in the garden and woods, something more intimate, it seemed. When they were younger, Emily had followed Kate and the boys around, and she had worshipped Hugh. If Ethan even suspected an attraction between Emily and Hugh, he would go mad. But Kate knew what it was like to love a man secretly. She did not want Emily to feel that pain. Perhaps, if her friend had someone to confide in, it might help.
Kate coaxed, “Emily, you can tell me; I’m your oldest friend.”
She took a deep breath. “When we returned last night, I was brought up to my room. Hugh came in later to check on me. We talked for a while, but as he was leaving, I asked him to kiss me.”
Kate sent out a silent prayer. It wasn’t as bad as she had imagined. She feared Emily and Hugh had done something that they could not take back. Kate felt guilty knowing she and Ethan had been together last night while all this had taken place.
“What did Hugh do?”
“Nothing, that’s the problem. Hugh pushed me away because he still sees me as a child or, maybe it was because I don’t measure up to the women with whom he keeps company in London.”
“Did he say that?”
Kate rushed over to hug her friend. “Emmy, if anything, you are much more than all of those women combined.”
“Then why wouldn’t Hugh kiss me? It was a simple enough request, was it not?”
“It is not as simple as it sounds, depending on the person you’re kissing.”
Kate remembered the way Ethan embraced her last night. It was nothing like the kisses she had had in the past, even the one’s Ethan had given her when they were younger. There had been a desire behind his touch last night, something that had been missing all those years ago. She knew the power that a single kiss could hold.
Kate sympathized. Perhaps, she should speak to Hugh and get his side of the story. For now, she would comfort her friend the best that she could.
“Why can’t Hugh see me the way I see him?” Emily wondered.
“I’m sure there’s a reason, but you cannot force yourself on him.”
“I know.”
“Perhaps the best thing would be to put some distance between the two of you.”
Emily pushed out of Kate’s arms. Her eyes narrowed with wariness. “Is that why you came up here? To convince me to leave? You are just like the rest of them. You think I can’t take care of myself, and you want me to go to London with my parents.”
“That is not why I came up here. You know me better than that; I would never try to trick you. I wanted to make sure you were doing well after last night. But now, after what you have said about Hugh, I think it might be better if you left.”
Emily lowered her head. Some of the fight seemed to leave her. “I’m sorry, Kate. I know you would not do or say anything to hurt me. I’m just so confused about everything.”
The friends went back over to the window seat. “I know it can be hard sometimes, especially when it comes to men. But if Hugh is not ready for anything, then you must respect his wishes. Perhaps, in time, things will change. Just look at Ethan and me; it only took us five years,” Kate chuckled.