Too Hot for a Spy

by Pearl Wolf

  “Well? What is it?”

  “I beg leave to ask your permission to marry your daughter.”

  “Which one? I have five daughters.”

  “Lady Olivia, Your Grace.”

  “Why should I give such permission to the very man who has been training her to become a spy? Are you not aware of the fact that she does not have my blessing in this foolish venture of hers?”

  “The home secretary so informed me, Your Grace. I couldn’t agree with you more. A woman has no place in such a dangerous field. Your daughter will confirm that I have done everything possible to discourage her from this pursuit.”

  His Grace barked a laugh and rang for a servant. “I wonder you want to marry her, for she’s as stubborn a lass as they come. Do sit down, Brooks. We’ll discuss this business over brandy.”

  “Bring us brandy, Dunston. And see to it we’re not disturbed,” the duke said when the butler answered his ring.

  “Yes, Your Grace,” said Dunston. Sebastian noted his disappointment with hidden amusement. The rascal was itching to show him the door.

  “Why haven’t you succeeded in discouraging my daughter?”

  “Fairchild…” Sebastian noted the scowl on the duke’s face and quickly apologized. “Beg pardon, Your Grace. We are accustomed to addressing all of our trainees by their surname.”

  His Grace nodded his acceptance. “Go on, then. Fairchild what?”

  “She had to meet the rigorous standards we set for all our trainees, Your Grace.”

  “Did she do so?”

  “Yes, Your Grace, but…”

  “But?”

  “May I speak frankly, sir?”

  “By all means.”

  At this encouragement, Sebastian, no longer able to hide his frustration, proceeded to pour his heart out to the duke. “Your daughter has caused me no end of trouble in pursuit of her foolish goal. She rides like the wind, she swims like a fish, she shoots an arrow with greater precision than any other man at the academy, she fences better than I do…”

  “Why do you stop, Brooks?”

  Sebastian’s face turned beet red. “I nearly died because she bested me in a duel. The ball at the end of her foil flew off, you see, and when she lunged, the point pierced my shoulder, causing an infection. It really wasn’t her fault since no one else noticed either.”

  “You make my daughter sound a perfect spy. Does she do nothing to displease you? Nothing to give you cause to send her home in disgrace?”

  Sebastian exploded at this. “I would like nothing more than to send her packing and she knows it. Your daughter plagues me day in and day out, Your Grace. Not only does she disobey orders, she questions my authority at every turn.” He used his fingers to tick off all his grievances. “Like all the trainees, Fairchild knew she was forbidden to leave the premises during training, but did she listen? She did not. The worst was when she ran off thinking she had murdered me. I had to send the entire staff of Wil—the spy academy out searching for her. And what did she do when she was found? She brought back a kitten and had the effrontery to name him after me!” He sat back, exhausted by his outburst. To his astonishment, His Grace engaged in a hearty laugh.

  “I fail to see the humor in this, Your Grace.”

  The duke said, “It’s a wonder you want to wed my daughter after everything she’s done to upset you and your program.”

  This brought Sebastian back to his purpose. With a sheepish grin, he said, “The truth is I am in love with your mulish daughter, Your Grace. And the devil of it is that I wish I knew why. She haunts my days and causes me no end of sleepless nights.”

  “Well and good. Well and good, but I cannot give my consent to a man who hasn’t the pluck to stand up to my defiant daughter.”

  “Let me assure you, Your Grace, that I have no intention of allowing any wife of mine to become a spy.”

  The duke’s eyes flew open at this. “Given that my willful daughter refuses to obey your orders, how do you plan to stop her?”

  “When we marry, the first thing we shall do is start a family. I plan to give you an army of grandchildren, sir. Your daughter will be too busy raising our children. She will have little time to think about becoming a spy.” He hesitated, then added, “Even with the knowledge that she may indeed make my life miserable, I confess I cannot live without her, Your Grace. Isn’t that odd?”

  The duke rubbed his chin. “I trust you have ample means to provide for my daughter?”

  “More than ample, Your Grace. I can arrange for my man of business to meet with yours to confirm this.”

  “Then I suppose there’s no cure for your malady except to marry the wench.”

  “Do I take that to mean I have your consent, Your Grace?”

  “You do, with one caveat.”

  “And that is, Your Grace?”

  “I shall not force her to marry you. You will have to win her consent first.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Heatham—Same Night

  “Where is Sir Sebastian Brooks, Dunston? The gentleman who accompanied me here?”

  “He has already had his audience with His Grace. He is waiting for you in the morning room, milady.”

  When she entered, Sebastian came toward her at once. He took her hands and searched her face. “Have you been crying, my love? Your eyes are all red. But for all that you look lovely.”

  Olivia disentangled her hands from his and said, “They are nothing but tears of joy at seeing my family again.” She paused and added. “Why do you call me ‘my love,’ sir, when I’m no such thing?”

  He took both her hands and obliged her to face him. At once, he dropped to one knee.

  “What are you doing, sir? Get up this instant!”

  “Will you keep your promise and marry me, Olivia? I love you beyond reason. Will you restore my sanity and allow me to make you my wife?”

  She pulled her hands from his and folded her arms. “Are you mad? You can’t abide me. You treat me shabbily and you thwart my every wish. You believe yourself to be fair, but that isn’t so. You only think you treat me as you would treat any other trainee. Hah! You really believe that lie, don’t you? A worse fish tale I have never heard!”

  “I do treat you as I would any of the other trainees, my sweet!” His lips quirked as he added, “Though I must admit, I have no desire to bed any of the others.”

  “That’s a bigger whopper. Not your jest, of course. Let me ask you this, sir! If you treat me like the others, why didn’t you fight for my right to be a party to the protection of Prince Joachim? Do you know how humiliated I felt at being left behind like a ‘good little girl’?”

  Sebastian was stung by the accuracy of her words. In a meek voice, he said, “It wasn’t my idea. It was your father who pressured the home secretary…”

  “How brave of you to hide behind my father!” Her words dripped with sarcasm even as her heart shredded into tiny little pieces. They flew away like a shower of shattered stars.

  “You cannot know how sorry I am for it, my darling. I should have defended your right to accompany the group to London. Can you not find it in your heart to forgive me?” Sebastian attempted to kiss her.

  “Don’t. Touch. Me!”

  His hands fell to his side. “My darling. Your father has already given his permission for us to marry.”

  Her eyes blazed. “Has he indeed? How kind of you to request his permission before you thought to receive my consent. I give you permission to marry him, then!”

  To her astonishment, a single tear rolled down Sebastian’s cheek. “It’s you I want to wed, my love. Not your father.”

  “Don’t call me your love, for I am not now, nor will I ever be.” Her words grew a shade softer, for the look on his face was one of sheer misery.

  “I promise to spend the rest of my life making you happy, Olivia. You have my word on that.”

  “Your words are empty, sir.” She paused, breathing hard. “I loved you once, you know. When I thought you we
re dead, I was in such despair, I was ready to enter a nunnery. But when you began to treat me like the lowest of scullery maids, fit only for scrubbing floors, that feeling was lost in the dirty water.”

  He grimaced as though she had struck him. Sebastian felt as though the sun-filled morning room had been filled with ice. “I beg your forgiveness my dearest Olivia. Won’t you consider giving me another chance? I’m determined to change to win your love now that you have shown me the error of my ways.”

  “When I decide to marry, it will be to a man who encourages me in all my aspirations as indeed I shall encourage him in all of his. In short, sir, what I want in a husband is a dear friend as well as a lover. No, Sebastian. I cannot marry a man such as you.”

  “You loved me once.”

  “Oh, I’ll admit to that vice, but like a bad headache, it has passed, let me assure you. Come to think of it, how foolish of me even to have entertained such a brainless idea. You, sir, are a snake. A worthless excuse for a man. What did you and my father find to talk about? No, don’t tell me. Permit me to guess. I know my father well, you see. He would not have given his consent unless you assured him you would join him in his quest to prevent me from becoming a spy, isn’t that so?”

  Sebastian was stunned into silence, yet his eyes gave him away. Clearly, she had hit the mark.

  “You wormed your way into receiving his approval by promising to force me to give my dream up, didn’t you? Didn’t you? You don’t love me, you arrogant, double-dealing, underhanded, treacherous excuse for a man!” She turned toward the door. “I’m ready to return to Wilson Academy. Shall we go?”

  His face turned dark with fury. “Stop ripping me apart, you shrew! I may be all those things you accuse me of, but never of not loving you. What’s more, in spite of every bit of evidence in my head that warns me to stay away from you, I cannot help loving you. You’ve infected my heart like an incurable disease. Only God knows why, you detestable creature.” He backed her into the wall and crushed her into his arms. His lips bore down on hers and didn’t let up in spite of her fierce struggle.

  One hand found her breast. The other pulled her gown up. He forced her legs apart with his knee, for he was hard and he wanted her to feel it. His hand soon found what he was seeking. He teased it with his thumb and he didn’t let go until he felt her rigid body relent and surge toward his.

  Sebastian eased her to the floor none too gently. He unbuttoned his trousers and released his engorged member. His hand guided him into her with ease, for she was wet with desire. He lay still, penetrating only part of him within her, and listened to her hard breathing.

  His voice was hoarse with need. “Open your eyes, my love.”

  She did so, arching her back at the same time, in an attempt to receive more of him, but he wouldn’t allow it.

  “Look into my eyes. What do you see there, dear heart of my heart?”

  “Lust,” she said as she fought for more of him.

  He held back. “What else?”

  “Heat.” She tried to pull him further into her, but he caught her hands and held them still.

  “What else?”

  “Desire,” she groaned. “Isn’t that enough? Stop torturing me and get on with it.”

  His lips brushed hers before searing her with eyes full of pleading. “I’ll give you what you want when you give me what I want. Tell me you feel what I feel. Say you love me. Admit you know that I love you.”

  “Bloody hell. Yes,” she groaned, as if in agony.

  He inched further into her. “What’s that you say?”

  “Yes. I know you love me,” she gasped, lifting herself off the floor.

  He stopped and put his mouth on one breast, her nipple hardening as his tongue played its silent tune. “What else do you know, my darling?”

  “I…I know that I…love you, too!”

  “Yes!” he shouted and drove her into the floor again and again. He did not relent until he felt her spasms, until her shouts reached their peak. It was only then he let go and allowed himself to soar to the heights along with her.

  When he was spent, he rolled on his back and pulled her on top of him. “Do you want to know a secret, my love?” He reached over and tousled her wild hair.

  “I want to know all your secrets.”

  “As a young man, I used to daydream I would find an obedient, compliant woman to be my wife.”

  Olivia laughed. “Then you don’t want me.”

  “Be serious, you odious wretch.” His eyes burned into hers as if to fathom her very soul. “Without realizing the truth of it, I lied to your father this morning to win his approval. Now I wonder how I ever could have entertained such foolishness. How could I possibly know that only a hellcat would suffice for me? How could I possibly realize, even when it hurts most, how much I love the sting of your nettles?”

  “Then I shall be sure to sting you often.” Her brows creased, yet her eyes performed a country dance.

  He brushed his lips across her brow, as if to erase their lines. “Once we’re married, my heart, if we should battle from sunup to sundown, I give you leave to remind me that this is the very thing that I bargained for. I shall savor your stings for the rest of my life, I promise you. Heaven help me for wanting you along with the sheer bliss of battle. What a fool I was for not knowing that this is what it feels like to be alive. This is what it feels like to be in love.” He took her face in his hands and showered kisses over every part of it.

  “Stop for a moment, Sebastian.”

  “What is it?”

  “You must make me one promise, and let me warn you, I shall hold your feet to the fire for the next fifty or so years.”

  “Do you want all of England? It’s yours. The world? The universe? The stars? The…”

  “No. I’ll settle for three things. First, I want to graduate with my class.”

  “Done.”

  “Second, I want to become a spy.”

  “Done. And the third?”

  “Third, promise me you will never betray me again. Not with my father. Not with Sidmouth. Not with anyone.”

  “Done.” Sebastian helped her to her feet and straightened her gown as best he could before setting his own clothing to rights. “Your father has invited us to stay for dinner. We can leave for the academy afterwards.”

  The thought made her ill. How could she face the people she loved most in the world? If she remained for dinner, her family would surely know she had accepted his proposal of marriage. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that announcement just yet. “I would prefer to wait to announce our betrothal after I complete my training.”

  “Oh no you don’t, you little minx. Do you think I’ll give you the chance to worm your way out of this? We must announce it to your family tonight.”

  She shocked him when she said in unaccustomed compliance, “If that is what you wish, dear.”

  “That’s my girl.” When they had adjusted their clothing, Sebastian opened the door for her, and Dunston nearly fell into the room.

  Without missing a beat, the butler announced, “Your family is on the terrace, milady. Dinner shall be served at five, a bit earlier than usual, in order to allow you and your escort ample time to return to your destination.”

  Olivia checked her grin. News of her behavior with the stranger, which in all likelihood must lead to their marriage, would be the spicy topic of discussion below stairs tonight, thanks to the butler’s eavesdropping. “Thank you, Dunston. We’ll join them there at once. No need to announce us.”

  Disappointed at not being allowed to witness the family reunion, Dunston’s long face fell to the floor. “Cook has been preparing all your favorite dishes.”

  “Offer her my thanks, then.” She took Sebastian’s arm and they proceeded to the terrace.

  Their jubilant reception was reinforced by Olivia’s father. “Well, you two? Have we reason to celebrate tonight?”

  Olivia’s red face, giggles and a violent nod gave the answer, which was g
reeted by whoops of joy.

  “I wish you as much happiness as your mother and I have had all these years,” said the duke, his voice cracking. He embraced Sebastian and added, “Welcome to the Fairchild family, son.”

  Olivia was nearly knocked off her feet by her sisters.

  “What good news, Livy,” said Helena.

  “That’s two down everyone. I’m next,” said Georgiana, her eyes alive with mischief.

  “I shall compose a special piece in honor of your betrothal,” whispered Mary in Olivia’s ear.

  “I’d be honored, sweet Mary,” Olivia whispered back, unwilling to embarrass the shy child by hugging her.

  “Why is your gown so wrinkled, Livy?” asked Jane, her mouth betraying evidence of the sweet she had just gulped down.

  “It isn’t polite to ask such rude questions, Jane,” said her mother. She turned to Olivia, her eyes brimming with tears. “I cannot tell you how happy you have made me, Livy.” She hugged her daughter and took her hand. “Come along, dear, and make your mother known to your fiancé.”

  Olivia led her mother to Sebastian, who was surrounded by her sisters, all atwitter like birds in a bush. “Make room for Mother, girls. Sebastian, this is my mother.” She added in a whisper loud enough for everyone to hear, “The real head of our household.”

  No one laughed louder than the duke at the jest, for all that it was true.

  When Dunston announced dinner, the duke led the procession into the dining room, followed by Olivia on Sebastian’s arm.

  “I wish Chris were here for this occasion,” said Helena to Georgiana in a wistful tone as they followed the betrothed couple.

  Mary and Jane followed. Rather than consigning them to the schoolroom with Mrs. Trumball, the special occasion allowed for their presence at dinner.

  “Raise your glasses, children,” said the duke. He turned to Olivia on his left, and to Sebastian on his right. “Your health and your happiness.”

  “Thank you, Father,” said Olivia. “It only wants dear Edward’s presence to complete our celebration.”

  “No, it doesn’t, Livy,” said Edward as he entered the dining room. He pecked his mother on the cheek and added. “Knew something was up when Father sent for me.” He turned to Sebastian, “This my new brother-in-law? Welcome, sir. About time we added more men to our roster. Father and I are tired of being knocked about by all these women.”