Too Hot for a Spy

by Pearl Wolf

  “Don’t let me see your tears, my angel. I want a sweeter parting tucked into my memory. One that will go a much longer way to ease my loneliness.”

  “Take me with you, then. That would be even sweeter.”

  “You know I can’t. I promised your father…”

  “Devil take my father!” Helena said with unaccustomed bitterness. She began to sob in earnest.

  Chris held her close and let her weep, but his heart was torn. At last he said, “A fine farewell this is, my love! Should you fall to pieces at every parting, we shall soon grow to detest one another. You for my leaving and me for your weeping.” He took out his cloth and wiped her tears away. “Leave off, do!”

  She pushed his hand away and rose to pace in front of him.

  Where was his gentle Helena? he wondered. He couldn’t fail to note the rage in her eyes. “Don’t let us part this way, my love. We haven’t much time left to us.”

  She stopped pacing in front of him and pulled him to his feet. “Take me to your bed.”

  “What?”

  “Take me to your bed and make love to me. Now.”

  “Helena! You are being unreasonable.”

  “Am I? I think not. I will at least have the memory of your passion to keep me warm until you return.”

  Chris tried to hug her, but she held him off. “I mean it, Chris.” She folded her arms and tapped her foot. “Well?”

  “Don’t you think I want to make love to you, dear heart? Bloody hell! The thought of you in my bed keeps me awake till all hours.”

  “Then throw caution to the winds and do it. We’re betrothed, for heaven’s sake! What harm if we both want this?”

  “I won’t father a bastard! That’s where the harm lies!”

  “Perhaps,” she challenged, “you don’t love me enough.”

  Exasperated as her words hit their mark, he grabbed her and crushed her to him, bruising her mouth with his. “Love you enough? Love you enough, you little tease? You must be barmy.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her without mercy toward the terrace doors. “Dignity be damned. You’ve torn mine to shreds, you wretch.”

  “Chris, stop! You’re hurting me!”

  He paused at the door, but did not let go of her hand. “I thought you were a willing partner in our illicit pleasure. Or have you changed your mind?”

  “I’ve never seen this…this side of you. This wild side.”

  His smile was bestial. “Indeed! Do you see what lengths you have driven me to, my bewitching Greek goddess?” He lifted her in his arms and mounted the stairs to his chamber.

  “Put me down this instant.”

  “I won’t.”

  “I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Too late.” He turned the knob with one hand, entered the room and kicked the door shut with his boot.

  “I cannot believe you have a mind to…to rape me.”

  “Can’t you? Just you wait and see to what lengths you have driven me.” He dumped her on his bed and began to tear off his neckcloth.

  She turned her face away to hide the gleam of triumph in her eyes, then feigned a sob, the grin well hidden from her beloved. In a trembling voice, she said, “You are beyond redemption, you brute.” Helena covered her eyes with the back of one hand.

  “Do with me what you will, you monster.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Graduation Day—Saturday, The Twenty-eighth of September

  The ceremony was held on the ground floor auditorium of the home office, now bursting with proud relatives. The first graduating class sat upon the dais on the left side of the speaker’s podium while the instructors sat on the right, directly behind the spymaster, sat the home secretary Viscount Henry Sidmouth, and a gentleman whose chest was bedecked with ribbons, marking him as a diplomat from a foreign country.

  The audience hushed when the spymaster rose to the podium. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am Sir Sebastian Brooks, spymaster. You are all here today to witness the first graduating class to complete England’s new intelligence training program. These dedicated students—five brave men and one heroic woman—have acquitted themselves in outstanding fashion and, I have no doubt, will make a major contribution to the safe keeping of our country. To present the awards, I give you Viscount Sidmouth, England’s home secretary.”

  Polite applause followed Sidmouth to the podium. For dramatic effect, he stopped to survey his audience, for he was an accomplished speaker and knew how to electrify his listeners.

  “History is being made here today, ladies and gentlemen. Not only do we honor five courageous young men who have dedicated their lives to the service of their country, but we also honor one brave young woman, the only one to graduate in the first graduating class.” He nodded to Olivia and waited for the applause to end. “I have the pleasure to present certificates of completion to our graduates this morning.” He nodded to the spymaster.

  Sebastian began by calling each trainee to the podium. One by one they stepped up to receive a certificate and a handshake from the spymaster as well as from the home secretary. At the end of this brief service, Sidmouth held up his hand for quiet.

  “We have another guest this morning,” he said. “Count Ivor Wengor, special attaché to Prince Joachim of Zarkovia. The count has returned to England to present three medals of honor. The first is to Sir Sebastian Brooks for foiling the plot to assassinate His Majesty, Prince Joachim.” Applause continued while Count Wengor placed the gold medal attached to a ribbon around Sebastian’s neck.

  “Unfortunately, in the course of doing his duty, the spymaster was captured by four assassins bent on destroying good relations between England and Zarkovia. Two of the spymaster’s trainees rescued him and disarmed the villains. They are Mr. Rufus Riggs and Lady Olivia Fairchild. Will you step forward, please?”

  When the two received their medals, Count Wengor bent to kiss Olivia’s hand for which he received enthusiastic applause. But Sidmouth was not finished. He waved the palms of his hands up and down until everyone was seated once again, Count Wengor still standing by his side.

  “Prince Joachim of Zarkovia wishes to bestow yet another gift upon these three brave protectors of the Prince of Zar kovia.”

  The diplomat retrieved three long scrolls of parchment tied with red ribbon from an aide, who then withdrew. As Sidmouth called each one’s name, Count Wengor bowed and handed them a scroll.

  “Zarkovia has granted you honorary citizenship for life. We must applaud not only these three new dual citizens, but also all the other graduates.” When the applause died down, Sidmouth added, “Our ceremony has come to an end. Please join us for a celebratory feast in the garden.”

  Each family gathered around their graduate and congratulated them as they partook of a lavish buffet. The twins, who came from a large family, basked in the boisterous affection of country folk, making them the loudest contingent.

  The Duke of Heatham hugged his daughter to him. “Well, Livy. In spite of the fact that you disobeyed me, let me be the first to admit that I am exceedingly proud of you. Not only did your dream come true, but you have proved to be a heroine. Well done.”

  Olivia hugged him. “Thank you, Father. Your hard-won approval means a lot to me.”

  “What’s next for you, my dear?” asked her mother.

  “On Monday, all of the graduates are to meet here in the home office for our assignments. I’ll know then what’s in store for me.”

  Her mother beamed. “Then we have our girl to ourselves for the entire weekend, don’t we?”

  Olivia’s eyes filled with tears. “May we go home now? I want that above all things.”

  “Tears, child? And on the day of your triumph?” her father asked, puzzlement wrinkling his brow.

  “They’re tears of happiness, Father. I’ve come home at last.”

  “Ah, here is your suitor. Well done, Brooks, for both the ceremony and for your heroic deed.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace.” Sebastian turned to Oli
via and took her hands in his. “Congratulations to you as well, my love.”

  “Thank you, sir.” She changed the subject. “This is my brother Edward, sir. He is down from Oxford for my graduation. I don’t believe you two have met.”

  “Yes we have, my dear. He was at Heatham the night we announced our betrothal.”

  Edward bounced forward and offered his hand. “Of course we have. Again, I wish you both happiness.”

  “Since I have no family of my own, I look forward to having you as a brother. Do you hunt?”

  Jane sidled over next to Sebastian. “My brother doesn’t care for hunting, sir, but you should see him handle a curricle! No one can beat him in a race.”

  “That so?” Sebastian chucked her under her chin. “And how are you today, my young beauty?”

  “I’m not a beauty, sir,” she answered blushing from ear to ear. Yet the look on her face said otherwise.

  Sebastian laughed. “If I say you are beautiful, young lady, you must accept my word, for I fancy myself an expert in such matters.”

  Olivia stiffened, but she did not allow her feelings to surface as the family gathered round her and continued their banter. It was her father who asked the anticipated question. The one she most dreaded.

  The duke took both Sebastian’s hand and his daughter’s hand in each one of his and said, “Well, you two. Graduation, although a grand affair, is over with. It’s time for an even grander one. When shall we celebrate your betrothal?”

  “We haven’t had the time to discuss it, Your Grace.”

  “Join us for dinner tomorrow, then, when we shall fix the date.”

  Sebastian raised an eyebrow to Olivia, but her eyes refused to meet his. “If my betrothed permits?”

  She smiled and bowed to him, but her resentment caused her stomach to lurch. He thinks the kiss he ordered me to give him makes up for all the misery he never fails to put in my way. What an act he’s putting on for my family. They can’t hear the false notes he sings, but I can and it sickens me. I won’t tolerate his two-faced ways for the rest of my life. What scheme is he up to now? No matter. I know what I must do. Only one way out of this farce for me.

  Olivia passed her hand over her brow and said to him, “Will you excuse me till tomorrow, sir? I want to go home now, for I have a headache. Will you offer my apologies to my colleagues and to all the instructors?”

  “Of course, my dear.”

  The duchess, alarmed by the threat of illness to her daughter, at once turned to her son. “Order our carriages, Edward.”

  “Yes, Mother.” Olivia’s brother sped out of the garden just as Viscount Sidmouth came upon the family.

  “Congratulations, Fairchild.” He tweaked her chin, oblivious to the pain in her eyes. When he turned to her father, he said, “Well, Duke? I hope, old friend, you have forgiven me for disobeying you and training your daughter to be a spy. I always knew I was right to accept her into the program in spite of your misgivings. And see how she has proved me correct. Indeed, she has exceeded my expecta—”

  At this, Olivia burst into tears and ran out of the garden, astonishing all the guests into silence. Her sister Helena was hard on her heels, followed by Georgiana and Mary. But Jane, unwilling to miss a word that might tweak her love of intrigue, remained with her mother.

  “You must excuse us all, sir,” interrupted the duchess. “My daughter is so overwrought by the day’s events, she suffers a headache. We’re going to take her home now.”

  “By all means, ma’am,” Sidmouth answered. His eyes narrowed as he watched the family turn away to follow their parents out.

  “That’s odd, Brooks. What ails your trainee? She looked fine to me. Do you know what to make of it?”

  Sebastian’s brows met in a frown. “I’ve no doubt it’s as she says, sir. She suffers a headache.”

  The home secretary viewed her departure in terms of what it would mean to him. “Women are often prone to tears and to headaches, I suppose. I wonder. Would these feminine emotions interfere with her work for us?”

  “I don’t believe so, sir. She has already proven herself to be a consummate professional. More than once.”

  “Then I charge you to see to it that her emotions are kept in proper check. Can’t have a weeper in our midst, can we?”

  “No, sir.”

  “I’m off, then. You may stay as long as you like and celebrate with your people, but I have an appointment with the Regent. I am to present the Zarkovian envoy to His Majesty.”

  Sebastian’s eyes followed his superior and Count Wengor until they were out of sight, but still he did not move. Without revealing his unease, his thoughts were focused on Olivia and her mystifying behavior. Today ought to have been one of the happiest days of her life. Why hadn’t she taken pleasure in her graduation? Why hadn’t she taken pleasure when she won the special award for her bravery in saving his life? And most important, why hadn’t she been overjoyed with her father’s hard-won approval of her quest to be a spy?

  She had not even allowed her eyes to meet his, though he had tried for the connection—usually a subtle exchange of understanding between lovers. She ran from him as if he were the devil himself. Did his love for her not count for anything? His heart was heavy with the burden of her bewildering emotions. He wondered whether he would ever learn to understand her. What possessed her to burst into tears?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Fairchild House—Sunday, The Twenty-ninth of September

  Olivia sat in the window seat overlooking the garden, an unopened book in her lap, though it was well past three in the afternoon. After chapel and the usual family repast, she’d begged off and had gone up to her chamber to rest. When the door to her chamber was opened by her sister Helena, she turned.

  “Livy? He’s here. Dunston’s put him in the morning room. He wants to see you.”

  No need to ask her sister who “he” was. Olivia had expected Sebastian to call, especially after his dramatic performance at graduation yesterday. She wondered what he thought he could accomplish after their last blistering bout of words. Perhaps he was waiting for her to cry off. Was he not man enough to make the announcement? Well, so be it. She would perform that office. She wasn’t ashamed to admit to her family that she’d made a mistake. The truth was that she and the spymaster would not suit. She’d been through worse trials than this these past twelve weeks. At least, there hadn’t been a betrothal ball. No invitations had been posted yet, which made things simpler. Less painful.

  Less painful? Then why did she feel herself to be twisted in knots? Why did she feel so listless inside? Why could she not sleep at night? Why did food and drink taste like bitter herbs and wine gone sour?

  “What are you doing, Helena?”

  “Since you have no abigail to help you dress, I’m choosing an appropriate gown for you to wear when you see Sebastian.”

  “Can’t you just tell him to go away? Tell him I don’t want to see him.”

  “No, dearest. If you mean to cry off, you’ll have to do it yourself.” Helena put the gown on the bed and fell to her knees before her sister. She took both her hands. “Look me in the eye, Livy. Can you honestly tell me you don’t love him?”

  Olivia fought back tears. “I love him so much, I feel as if every angry hornet in the nest has stung me. But I can’t tie myself to a man who betrays me time and time again. I can’t spend the rest of my life in regret at having married such a traitor. You of all people well know I’ve managed to reach my goal in spite of his opposition. If I’m to marry, I want a helpmate to love, don’t you see? Someone who encourages my dreams because of his love for me. That man downstairs? All he wants from me is to be ready to greet him at the door and fly away to his bed.”

  Helena giggled. “Livy! You’re making me blush!”

  “Am I? You’re such a cool one, Helena. Do you wish me to believe that you and Chris haven’t…you know.”

  Helena rose and squeezed into the window seat next to her sister. In
a mock serious tone, she said, “You have no idea how hard I had to work to force Chris into bed with me. Harder still was to persuade him it was his idea. But it was all for nothing, my girl. Do you know what that scoundrel did? At the last minute he changed his mind, declaring he had no intention of ‘dishonoring’ the woman he loved. Can you believe it?”

  The sisters went off into a peal of laughter that brought tears to their eyes.

  “What is all this? I had not expected to find my two oldest daughters turned into schoolroom gigglers. Especially when there’s an impatient suitor waiting to see one of you,” said the duchess as she entered the chamber. Her lively eyes belied her stern tone of voice. In truth, she was delighted to see Olivia laughing again. With a mother’s intuition, she’d known her daughter was in pain without quite knowing the reason why or how to ease it.

  “Let us help you dress, Livy. Your young man has been waiting almost an hour.”

  “All right, Mother. But it won’t hurt him to wait, believe me. He’s far too used to being obeyed at the drop of a hat. A habit I doubt he would be able to rid himself of.”

  Her mother laughed. “A bit of advice, dear. When he changes a habit you consider odious, be sure to make him think it was his own idea.”

  Her mood was lightened by her mother and her sister’s absurd banter while they helped her dress. She was able to greet Sebastian with a lighter heart, if not a friendlier manner. She swept into the morning room and offered her hand. “How are you, Sebastian?”

  His eyes lit up at the warmth in her voice. He took her hand and bent to kiss it, but she pulled it away when Dunston shut the door behind him. “No need to pretend any longer. Dunston is out of earshot.” She walked to the terrace doors, threw them open and beckoned to him. “Care to join me for a stroll in the garden? We shall have more privacy there.”

  He recognized the danger in her voice, yet he felt helpless to fight it. “As you wish, my dear.” He offered his arm, relieved that she took it and they proceeded down the path toward the arbor.