“I am aware of what Miss Dumas has been through, Dr. Finlay,” he said flatly. “I have done, and will continue to do, my best to prevent it.”
The young doctor didn’t answer for a moment, and Jonathan felt as though he were being sized up. As though the doctor wasn’t sure if he was trustworthy or not.
He felt a flash of irritation.
This country doctor had no idea who he was dealing with.
Nobody would do more than he to protect Gabrielle.
After a moment, however, Finlay nodded as though he had come to a decision.
He stepped closer to Jonathan and glanced between him and Andrew.
“If I may speak plainly?” he asked.
Andrew, who had remained silent during the exchange, merely raised a brow.
Jonathan answered. “Of course.”
“I can see how concerned you all are for Miss Dumas’ health. I share the concern. These things that have happened — separately they would be unfortunate accidents, accidental. But together, I cannot help but feel that there is something underhanded a foot. Something very dangerous for Miss Dumas.”
Jonathan and Andrew shared a brief look, unsure as to how much they should divulge to this man who was a stranger, yet who had kept Gabrielle alive.
“We need to leave,” Jonathan finally told him. “Immediately. At least, I do. It would be better for Miss Dumas if she could come with me. Safer,” he clarified. “Do you think it possible?”
But Jonathan knew before he’d even finished asking what the doctor’s answer would be.
“I am afraid that the lady will be unfit to travel for quite some time, Mr. Spencer. Days at the very least, and even then it would be an arduous journey for her.”
“I understand,” Jonathan said grimly. “Thank you once again for your time, Dr. Finlay.”
The doctor bowed to Jonathan, and Andrew and turned to take his leave.
Before he left, however, he turned at the door.
“I do hope—” he hesitated and cleared his throat “—that is, I do believe that it would be better for Miss Dumas to be away from this place.”
Jonathan nodded to the man and waited until he’d left the room before he turned back to Andrew.
“It is strange, isn’t it? That nobody stands out. There’s nobody new here. No strangers hanging around the village. Nobody staying at the inns for any length of time.”
“Yes, very strange,” Andrew agreed as he poured them both a finger of brandy and passed a tumbler to Jonathan. “And more than a little concerning.”
Jonathan accepted the glass and downed the contents before speaking again.
“You know this means I cannot delay any longer. I must go. And now, it will have to be alone. Someone is going to a lot of trouble to get to Gabrielle. And using a lot of cunning and a lot of manpower. I need to get to the Home Office so I can investigate properly.
Andrew sighed and muttered a soft oath.
“Yes, I know,” he admitted. “But I’m not bloody happy about it.”
“Neither am I, Drew.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
IT HAD BEEN days, and Gabrielle was trying very hard not to lose her head or shoot something.
But the task grew more arduous by the hour.
She was, mercifully, no longer confined to her bed. But Piers still insisted on treating her like a delicate piece of china that might shatter at any moment, no doubt on Jonathan’s instructions, and Evelyn and Andrew had barely left her side.
When they did leave her alone, it was only to dress, bathe, or sleep, and even then, Jonathan had arranged for Daisy to sleep on a trundle bed in her bedchamber since he was no longer in the house to camp outside her door.
Funny enough, the round-the-clock watching hadn’t bothered her when it was Jonathan doing it. Now that he was gone, gone with no word from him, it was starting to grate on her.
And then, of course, there was the flood of guilt for being so ungrateful when these people were dedicating themselves to her safety.
“Gabby.”
Gabrielle turned at the sound of Evelyn’s voice.
“I was going to take a walk in the gardens with William. Would you like to join me?”
Gabby smiled at the black-haired, green-eyed baby in Evelyn’s arms, who had certainly gotten his looks from his father.
“Thank you, Evelyn,” she said, maintaining her brittle smile, “but I think I will continue to read here for a while.”
She hadn’t been reading. She’d been sitting in the window seat of the library, leaning her head on the cool glass and staring unseeingly at the verdant grass of the lawn outside.
She’d been remembering Jonathan’s goodbye. His pleading tone while he begged her to understand. Her stubborn refusal to be reasonable about his plans to leave.
The searing and seductive kiss that had gone on and on until he’d felt her surrender.
His promise to return as soon as possible.
“Continue to read?” Evelyn asked with a raised brow. “Forgive me, my dear, but isn’t that the same book you’ve had for the past few days? Considering how often you’ve claimed to read, I’m surprised you still seem to be at the start of it.”
Gabby looked down at the forgotten book in her lap and realised that it was still on the first couple of pages as it had been for the last day or so.
She heaved a sigh then grinned ruefully at Evelyn. “It hasn’t quite captured my attention,” she confessed.
Evelyn came and sat down beside her, stroking William’s dark curls as he nestled against her chest.
Gabrielle tried to supress the pang of longing as she watched mother and babe, so content with each other.
From the moment she had started working as a spy, she had adored the thrill and excitement of the world she lived in, even the dangers she faced. Now, whether it was because of all the attempts on her life, which were rather exhausting, or because her heart had healed and swelled with love again, she could think of nothing she would like more than to live a quiet life with Jonathan and any children they were lucky enough to have.
“You know,” Evelyn said gently, “when I first found out about my uncle and what he had done, I felt so helpless. I was angry and afraid, but there was very little I could do about it. It was so frustrating.”
Gabrielle stayed silent. She had been told briefly what had happened to Evelyn, how her uncle had killed her father and stolen her money, but Evelyn had never spoken much of it.
“I remember how infuriating I found Andrew at that time,” she continued with a smile. “He was absolutely controlling. Completely domineering. Took over everything, or at least tried to.”
Gabby nodded sympathetically. It was exactly what Jonathan was doing now.
“I found that I could not stay angry for long, however.”
“You couldn’t?” she asked.
Evelyn smiled.
“No, I couldn’t. For one thing, he helped, and I really did need help. And, for another, I confess that it felt rather nice, the feeling of being cared about and looked after.”
Evelyn shifted William a little, settling him more comfortably. He had dozed off now and was happily sucking on a chubby little thumb. Gabby’s heart melted once again.
“Oh, I clung desperately to my independence, and I know it drove him halfway to Bedlam, but there was a part of me that felt relieved not to have to shoulder the burden alone. And a large part that felt wonderful that this man would care enough about me to risk his own life for mine.”
Gabby smiled at this woman who had become such a good friend.
“He loves you so much, Evelyn. He would do nothing else.”
“I know.” Evelyn smiled happily. “And nor would Jonathan.”
At the mention of Jonathan’s name, Gabrielle’s stomach did its usual jig. She missed him so much it was beginning to feel like a physical ache.
“Do you not think it unusual that he hasn’t sent word yet?”
Evelyn frowned at the qu
estion. “I hadn’t really thought about it. I suppose we should have expected something now, if only to say he had arrived safely and what his plans were.”
Gabby’s nerves stretched even farther than they had already.
It had been at the back of her mind that Jonathan would have sent something by now. But actually speaking it aloud made it seem even more unusual and vastly more concerning.
“Andrew hasn’t heard from him?” she questioned.
“Not that I am aware of. Besides, I think if he were to contact anyone, it would be you.”
The ladies sat in contemplative silence for a moment, each lost in her own thoughts.
Finally, Gabby could no longer bear it.
“Should we find Piers and Andrew and find out what they think?” she asked worriedly.
Evelyn’s matching expression did nothing to calm her nerves.
“Yes, perhaps that would be best,” she agreed.
Gabby’s heart thumped painfully in her chest as they dashed off to find Andrew.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong.
“DO NOT CALL me hysterical, Andrew,” Evelyn bit out, her eyes flashing fire.
“I’m not calling you hysterical, darling,” he responded soothingly. “I said we shouldn’t become hysterical. I am sure there is no reason to panic.”
They had found Piers and Andrew in the former’s study.
Andrew had one hand on Evelyn’s shoulder, the other holding the still-sleeping baby against his broad chest.
Evelyn, in contrast, had both hands on her hips as she glared up at her husband, pulling her shoulder away so his hand dropped to his side.
Gabrielle hadn’t spoken yet, nor had Piers, who was watching the conversation from behind his desk.
Andrew turned to Gabby, and she immediately recognised the serious look in his eyes.
He wasn’t as dismissive of their concerns as his words implied. And that set her hair on end more than anything else would have.
He was minimizing the worry, probably not wanting to upset Evelyn.
“Gabrielle.” He spoke in clipped tones, all business. “Do you think we have reason to be concerned?”
Gabby knew that he was asking her to set aside her emotions and her personal feelings and look at this as they would any other assignment.
But the fact was Jonathan would have arrived in Town several days ago and sent news immediately. Yet he hadn’t.
“I do,” she answered firmly, trying not to let her voice tremble.
Andrew sighed then gritted his jaw. He’d obviously come to some sort of decision.
“I cannot leave you here unattended. And you are not yet well enough to come to Town,” he said.
“I am perfectly capable of travelling,” she argued vehemently.
“I promised Jonathan—”
“I don’t care what you promised Jonathan,” she retorted.
William stirred in Andrew’s arms as their voices became louder.
Evelyn immediately reached for the baby then turned to face Gabrielle. “I’m going to put William in the nursery, and then we will figure all of this out.”
With a final stern look at Andrew that had him reaching for his cravat, she swept from the room.
As soon as she was gone, Piers spoke. “Gabrielle, my dear, you are not well enough to make such an arduous journey.”
Gabby couldn’t help but feel betrayed by Piers’ words. Shouldn’t he be on her side? “We have no way of knowing whether Jonathan is safe or not,” she answered.
“Then let Andrew go and find out.”
“I’m not leaving her here,” Andrew said. “I promised him.”
Gabby bit her lip to stop herself from swearing like a sailor.
It was like arguing with Jonathan all over again, except when she argued with Jonathan, she swung between wanting to hit him and kiss him.
“Gabrielle will be perfectly safe with me,” Piers answered calmly. “Just as she had been before Jonathan arrived. And,” he continued now, frowning slightly, “come to think of it, there haven’t been any incidents since Jonathan left.”
As his words registered, Gabby felt her whole body freeze over.
She looked at Andrew in horror.
His mind had obviously gone in the same direction as hers.
Jonathan hadn’t tried to hurt her, but someone was trying to make it look as though he had.
“Andrew,” she managed to choke out.
“I know,” he said grimly. “I will leave immediately.”
Piers stood from behind the desk. “What is it?” he asked in concern.
“Whoever is doing this has been very careful with the timings of the attempts on Gabrielle’s life. They didn’t start until Jonathan arrived, and they stopped as soon as he left.”
“Someone is setting him up,” Piers said grimly.
The three occupants were locked in their thoughts for a moment before Evelyn swept back into the room and broke the silence.
“What is it?” she asked, obviously picking up on the atmosphere.
“Jonathan might be in trouble,” Andrew admitted. “I need to go. Now.”
“Of course,” she answered immediately. “You must go. I shall remain here with Gabrielle.”
Andrew frowned, evidently not happy with the idea of leaving his wife and child here without him.
“I will take care of Gabrielle,” Piers assured him. “There is no need for Lady Evelyn and William to stay behind.”
Evelyn stiffened visibly. “I do not think Jonathan would want us to leave Gabrielle, Mr. Casings,” she said stiffly.
“She has been here alone for some months now, my lady, and has been perfectly happy,” he retorted.
Gabby watched their exchange in confusion.
The underlying tension between the two was becoming more and more obvious.
She knew that Evelyn had skirted around the issue of Piers, but it was plain that she did not like the man and, oddly, did not want to leave Gabrielle with him.
“You will be much quicker if you go alone,” she said now to Andrew, ignoring Piers’ words. “William, Mrs. Bryan, and I can follow behind.”
It seemed a reasonable compromise.
Andrew seemed to think it over for a moment before nodding decisively.
“Fine. I’ll go and ready my horse.”
He swept from the room, and Evelyn turned back to Gabby to grip her hand reassuringly. “I am sure all is well, dear,” she said.
But Gabby was sure that it wasn’t, and it made her sick with worry.
“We shall be quite all right, you and I,” said Piers, wrapping a comforting arm round Gabby’s shoulder.
“I must go and inform Mrs. Bryan about her travels,” Evelyn said before she too left the room.
“Come, my dear, let’s get you some tea. You are pale as a ghost.”
Gabby sat obediently while her mind raced with thoughts, none of them pleasant.
If something had happened to Jonathan because of her, she would never forgive herself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
HOW COULD IT have come to this?
Jonathan was furious, exhausted, and worried out of his mind.
The room he was being kept in was dark, dank, and freezing cold, buried as it was under the building.
How could he have been so bloody stupid? How gullible? How blind to what was going on?
He had let his emotions rule his head, and now, because of that, Gabrielle was in mortal danger, and he was stuck here, unable to do a thing about it.
Jonathan banged uselessly once again on the thick wooden door, peering out of the small window covered in iron bars. He might as well have been tossed into Newgate like a lowly criminal.
And, if he wasn’t mistaken, that was exactly what his fate would be, with a noose awaiting him, if he didn’t get out of here soon.
He needed to push away his fear for Gabrielle and concentrate. It was the only thing that would save him now. E
very time he thought over the events of the past few days, a black rage descended. But he needed to cool his anger and focus his energies on getting out of this place and getting to Gabrielle before it was too late.
There wasn’t even a measly stool to sit on in order for him to do this, since he’d hurled it against the door when he’d first been locked up here, and the flimsy wood had smashed into pieces.
He had been utterly betrayed. They had all been betrayed.
He knew it now, but had no idea why.
What could have possessed a man to turn his back on all he had worked for, on all he had ever believed in, to plot the murder of one innocent young woman?
Jonathan’s stomach roiled as he thought about her in the clutches of such evil.
Thank God, Andrew would be there to protect her.
Now Jonathan had to concentrate on getting to her.
The last few days had been akin to a never-ending nightmare.
When Jonathan had arrived at the Home Office, he’d gone straight to Mr. Winchester, the most senior agent in the country at that moment. Handing over Piers’ missive, he gave a brief account of what had transpired in Paris, and recently at Piers’ estate. Then he’d waited impatiently while Winchester broke the seal on the letter and read it.
He should have known from the subtle change in the man’s face that something was wrong. But he’d been too caught up in the idea of getting straight to work, of finally putting a plan into action and being able to do something.
Winchester had sat back in his chair then leaned forward, his hand slipping beneath large desk he sat behind. When he had lifted his hand again, he had a pistol trained on Jonathan.
Jonathan had barely had time to register the weapon before Winchester was barking for agents to enter his office.
He hadn’t had time to draw his own weapon. He hadn’t even had time to wonder what the hell was going on, before three agents — men he’d worked with, men he’d toasted fallen friends with — surrounded him, one pulling his arms behind his back, the others aiming their own pistols at him.
There had been a moment of silence, stunned from Jonathan, dangerous from the other occupants of the small office.
And then it had hit him. He suddenly knew, with dreaded certainty who was behind this and how naïve he’d been.
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