Antonia’s posture suddenly relaxed. He hadn’t been aware of how stiffly she’d been holding herself until she stopped. “Thank you,” she said.
“I also sent a letter to Miss Galloway.” He handed her the reply. “She and your sisters will visit you here later this afternoon. I hope you find that acceptable.”
“Miss Galloway is coming here?” Antonia’s eyes widened, and she let the glove fall loose at her waist. Thank god that small torment was at an end. She continued to stare at him.
He couldn’t read her expression. Was she annoyed with him? “This seemed like the perfect solution. I thought you’d be pleased.”
“Pleased?” She paused. “You simply surprised me. When did you arrange everything?”
“This morning. You mentioned Miss Galloway’s place of employment, so I wrote to her at Miss Hermitage’s Collegiate School for Girls this morning. I also contacted Miss Hermitage and was able to arrange for a brief visit. Miss Hermitage was quite understanding once she learned of the situation.” The cash donation he’d made to Miss Hermitage’s school had also helped. Money had a way of smoothing away all sorts of obstacles. “She and your sisters should arrive this afternoon.”
At his words, the internal battle Antonia seemed to be waging tipped in his favor. If her broad grin hadn’t been enough to tell him of her pleasure, the way she began bouncing on her toes did. She rushed through Emily’s doorway and grabbed his hands.
A jolt of desire swept through him at the feel of her bare skin. She squeezed his hands more firmly, but then abruptly released them.
“You’re being much too kind to me,” she said sternly as she stiffened her spine. “This can’t continue.”
He smiled at her jest, but she didn’t respond with a smile of her own. Perhaps it wasn’t a jest after all. “Why?”
“We live in different worlds, and I could never find a place in yours. Not one that would satisfy me. I’m no longer considered a lady, and I refuse to become some man’s mistress. I’m afraid if I let myself fall in love with you, I’ll lose who I am. A part of me will die.”
Love? His throat tightened. It was too soon for talk of love, he knew, but somehow it seemed right. “Isn’t that what love is? Giving up a part of yourself to become something more? Something new?” He reached out and took her hands in his again.
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve lost so much over the past year. I’m not prepared to give up any more of myself. Not right now.” Her eyes glittered with unshed tears.
“Then let’s not talk of it.” He squeezed her fingers. “Let’s focus on our immediate goals. Once we’ve achieved them, we can…”
“Talk of the future?” she murmured, staring down at their intertwined hands.
“Yes. It can wait.” For now.
“Maybe I’ll recover my birthright.”
His heart beat faster than it should. Her hands were loose now, no longer clinging tightly to his. They were warm and soft. He ran his thumb across the backs of her knuckles and then pressed her hands together while bringing them closer to his chest.
“I’m certain you will,” he murmured. She smelled of flowers and dirt, and a bit of dried leaf was caught in her hair near her left ear. He reached up to brush it away. “I have more good news. I may have found a judge who—”
“Well, isn’t this a pretty scene?” Frederick interrupted.
Robert dropped Antonia’s hands and spun around to see Frederick staring at him. At first glance, Frederick appeared to be relaxed, but Robert could see tension in his body.
Thank god Frederick hadn’t stumbled across them just a moment earlier. What would he have said if he’d overheard their discussion of love? The idea that his brother had nearly witnessed that vulnerable moment was intolerable.
But perhaps even worse was the knowledge that he’d inadvertently sparked his brother’s curiosity. That was precisely what he’d hoped to avoid.
“Frederick.” Robert tried to regain some control of the situation as he stepped toward his brother. Perhaps he could still allay his suspicions. “It’s good to see you. I hope your meeting went well.” He tilted his head to Antonia. She was already the focus of his brother’s inquisitive gaze. “This is our guest, Miss Antonia Winter. Miss Winter, I’d like you to meet my brother, Mr. Woolsy.”
She gave a small curtsy.
“She’ll be staying with us for a few days, along with Lord and Lady Huntley. Lady Huntley has kindly consented to serve as chaperone.”
“Miss Winter? Now, where have I heard that name before?” Frederick’s eyes narrowed as he glanced from Robert to Antonia and back again.
Robert froze. How could he have forgotten? Ambassador Revnik had mentioned Antonia’s name.
“Ah, yes. Now I remember,” Frederick said. “You’re the actress I’ve heard so much about.”
“Am I? I hope it was nothing bad.”
“Not at all. I heard you gave a stunning performance in Anne Blake last night. You plan to stay here for a few days?”
Robert held his breath for a fraction of a second, but then reminded himself to breathe. Frederick would notice his tension and know he was hiding something.
But he underestimated his brother’s cunning. Rather than behaving as though he was suspicious, Frederick suddenly unleashed his most devastating smile upon Antonia. Robert almost groaned with frustration at witnessing it. He’d frequently watched Frederick use that very same charm to convince someone that he or she was the most intriguing person in all of England. It usually had the recipient melting under the warmth of his attention.
“This is a surprise,” Frederick said in a soft, enthralling tone. “A most pleasant one.”
Robert didn’t like Antonia’s answering smile, but at least she wasn’t simpering. That was better than most women managed once Frederick targeted them with his charm.
“Do we have you to thank for that stunning floral arrangement in the foyer?” Frederick asked. That was part of his skill. He noticed things. He knew precisely how to elicit the response he desired, no matter the circumstances.
The only person immune to his manipulation was Robert.
“It was a simple matter since I had such a wide variety of flowers to choose from,” Antonia said, glancing back into Emily’s bedroom at the arrangement of pink roses. She smiled with satisfaction at her creation as she turned her gaze back to Frederick. “Your gardeners are quite talented to be able to coax such beautiful blooms during the winter.”
“They’re devoted to the task,” Robert said in a tone that was much terser than he’d intended. He pressed his lips together, irritated with himself for revealing his tension to Frederick.
Frederick raised his eyebrows in victory, and Robert could have sworn his brother smirked. The man could catch the faintest whiff of deceit, just like a bloodhound searching for a fox’s trail.
Robert cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should retire to the morning room. I only just arrived home, and I still need to speak to Landon to ensure rooms will be ready for our guests.”
Frederick stepped forward, cutting between Robert and Antonia, and offered her his arm. “Take your time. I’ll keep Miss Winter occupied while you sort out the details.”
Robert glared at his brother, but Frederick only grinned more deeply. The man was insufferable. It was obvious that he wanted to separate them so he could question her.
Blast.
Antonia looked at Robert, furrowing her brows slightly as though trying to understand the undercurrents swirling between the two men.
Frederick watched them closely. Robert wished he could explain his complicated relationship with his brother. Lord. He wished he could explain it to himself. All he could do was give her a reassuring nod, like some idiot.
“I’ll join you in the morning room in a few minutes.”
Frederick held out his arm to Antonia. “I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but your hair is a most unusual shade. It reminds me of a sunset on an overcast day.” He glan
ced at Robert and smirked.
Frederick knew. He knew she was the thief, but he was biding his time.
Antonia cocked an eyebrow at Robert before gingerly accepting Frederick’s arm. Robert felt a surge of pleasure when he realized she’d seen through his brother’s artifice. Frederick had underestimated her, and now she’d be on guard.
Robert turned his back on the pair so Frederick wouldn’t see his satisfaction. He couldn’t resist glancing over his shoulder for one last glimpse of Antonia. She paused at the top of the staircase to look back at him. Her slight smirk as she flicked her eyes toward Frederick told Robert he had no need to worry.
Antonia could manage his brother.
Frederick may have finally met his match in her.
The thought gave him pause. He’d need to be careful once he joined them in the morning room. These two would be playing a game of wits. Navigating a safe course through a conversational maze with them would be more difficult than picking one of those new locks James Sargent seemed to be continually inventing.
In the dark.
Wearing gloves.
Perhaps he simply wouldn’t speak. That would probably be for the best.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
What is there more kindly than the feeling between host and guest?
- Aeschylus
Frederick was pleasant enough, but Antonia knew he was playing an elaborate game of cat and mouse with her. Whatever was happening, he seemed content to draw it out, and for now, that included chatting with her until Robert joined them.
“...and then Lord Percival knocked over the oil lamp and set the entire table on fire,” Frederick said.
“That’s how you burned your hand?” Antonia asked, glancing at his bandaged hand.
Frederick nodded. “The oil drenched both gloves. I’m not sure if they protected my hands or made the burns worse. My right hand suffered the most damage.”
Warmth crept up the back of Antonia’s neck and she glanced toward the door of the drawing room. Robert entered, keeping his gaze pinned on her. He warmed her to her toes, and it took a healthy measure of steely resolve to turn her attention back to Frederick.
“I got off lightly,” Frederick continued, seeming unaware that he’d lost her attention for an instant. “Poor Lord Tamworth’s entire arm was set on fire.”
“Lord Percival is a drunken sot,” Robert interjected, drawing his brother’s gaze. “His antics will be the death of someone someday.”
Frederick frowned. “You have the right of it. They very nearly were for Tamworth. He hasn’t left his sickbed.”
Robert crossed the room, heading toward the empty chair to her right. “A room is being prepared for Lord and Lady Huntley as we speak,” he said as he sidestepped between her and Frederick.
For a moment, Robert blocked his brother’s view of them both, and the warmth in Robert’s eyes sent a thrill through her that she struggled to conceal. She glanced down at the garnet-colored sofa while she composed her features, taking care not to fidget or show any other sign of stress.
She watched Robert lower himself into the chair facing the door. “When do you expect them to arrive?” she asked.
“I don’t have a definite time. Certainly within the hour. Perhaps within minutes.”
Frederick scowled at Robert. “That isn’t long. You’ll need to hurry to fill me in regarding Miss Winter’s presence in our household. She is the thief we’ve been searching for, isn’t she?”
Antonia stopped breathing. She blinked in surprise. What would Robert say?
“Of course.”
Antonia froze. That was it? That was Robert’s plan to protect her identity?
Robert glanced her way and shrugged. “There’s no use saying anything else. He already knows.”
She gaped at him, her gaze bouncing back and forth between the two men.
Robert rubbed his hands together. “The room’s a bit chilly,” he said as he rose to his feet and moved toward the fireplace. He crouched down and used a poker from the stand on the hearth to prod the dying embers until they flickered to life. Then he grabbed some fuel from a nearby bin and added it to the flames.
Antonia relaxed in the continuing silence. He seemed so casual. Perhaps informing Frederick of her identity wasn’t as dangerous as Robert had led her to believe.
“I went to the theater last night to speak with Miss Winter,” Robert finally said, keeping his back to them. “My timing proved fortuitous. Two men from the Russian embassy slipped backstage and attempted to kidnap her.”
When Frederick glanced at her for confirmation, she did her best to look appropriately worried. It wasn’t difficult.
Frederick’s brow furrowed. “That’s a sudden change on Revnik’s part. I thought she was too important.”
“Too important?” Antonia asked. What on earth could he mean?
Frederick’s eyes narrowed. “Didn’t Robert tell you?” he asked. He glared at the back of Robert’s head. “Can you please face me?” He let out an irritated sigh. “Why do you insist on tending the fire? It’s annoying.”
“I find it calming. You should try it sometime.”
“Perhaps once my burns have healed. By all means, continue,” Frederick snapped. “I’d hate for you not to be calm. Did you tell Miss Winter about our meeting with the ambassador?”
Robert rose to his feet, and Antonia noticed that he’d managed to coax some flames to life. “Not in detail,” he said. “Last night’s events proved distracting. The theater manager fired her because of the attack. Such a charitable man. I couldn’t let Miss Winter return home while those men were searching for her, so I brought her here to keep her safe.”
Antonia glanced from one brother to the other and finally stared at Frederick. “You mentioned something about the ambassador. You said he was looking for me. Did he tell you anything else?”
Frederick’s gaze was cold and direct. “He told us that one of his footmen reported seeing Miss Winter at the ball wearing a silver dress. The woman who stole the church register from my brother happened to be wearing a silver dress as well, so I made the simple deduction that you are the mysterious woman who stole the book from my brother. You can imagine my surprise to find you here in our home as his guest.”
“I-I—” What should she say? And why had Robert brought her here? Would Frederick have her arrested for treason? She glanced at the door, wondering if Frederick’s burns would slow him if she decided to run.
Probably not.
“Can you explain why Ambassador Revnik believes you are ‘too important’ to question directly? Although, considering that he tried to have you kidnapped last night, perhaps he now thinks differently.”
“’Too important’?” Antonia said. What on earth could Frederick be talking about? “That’s ridiculous.”
“Those were his words.”
Antonia glanced at Robert for confirmation. He nodded. “Revnik tried to cover up his mistake, but I think he was being genuine when he claimed you were too important to question.”
“But that makes no sense. I’m nobody. Less than nobody.”
Frederick’s cool gaze assessed her. “You honestly believe that. Interesting.”
“But it’s true.”
“Clearly, Revnik or one of his superiors doesn’t agree with you,” Frederick said.
“Perhaps it has something to do with your grandfather,” Robert suggested hesitantly, sounding as though he doubted his own words.
“Who might that be?”
“The artist Vladamir Nevsky.”
“But he’s dead, isn’t he?” Frederick glanced at her for confirmation, and she nodded. “Then it’s unlikely that he’s a factor. No one worries about offending a dead man. Any other important family members?”
She gave a wry smile. “My only surviving family members are my two younger sisters and an uncle who has disowned us. I can assure you, we wield no influence. None at all.”
Movement at the doorway caught her attention.
“Antonia. There you are,” Emily said as she swept into the drawing room. She made her way directly across the room and sat next to Antonia on the sofa. “I found your lovely roses on my nightstand.” She took both of Antonia’s hands in her own. “That was so kind of you. They’re beautiful.”
Antonia gave a warm squeeze to the younger woman’s hands. “I’m glad you like them.”
Emily’s brows furrowed as she took in her surroundings. “What are the three of you doing in here? You rarely use this room.”
“Lord and Lady Huntley will be arriving shortly, and we’re waiting here to greet them,” Robert said. “They’ll stay with us for a few days.”
A broad smile broke across Emily’s face. “But that’s marvelous.”
“Miss Winter is looking for new accommodations, and Lady Huntley has agreed to act as chaperone in the meantime. She and her husband will remain our guests while Miss Winter searches to finds something appropriate,” Robert said.
“Oh, I do hope it takes a while.” Emily’s eyes grew even wider, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” she said, turning to Antonia. “It’s simply that I hope you can stay for at least a few days. It’s wonderful to have some female companionship.”
“I understand completely. I miss my sisters every day we’re apart. Life isn’t nearly as entertaining without them around.”
Antonia glanced out the window. Her sofa was perpendicular to the tall windows that overlooked the street. Chocolate-brown velvet curtains with a garnet fringe stretched from the high ceiling to the floor, reminding her of the chocolate-covered cherries Mother had sometimes brought home as a treat. The curtains were drawn wide and allowed the weak midday sunlight into the room.
Once Upon a Spy: A Secrets and Seduction Book Page 24