Phillip glanced around the room, avoiding her gaze. Given this surprise, he required a moment to collect himself. In order to make the rendezvous time, Phillip had ridden most of the night. His mind felt sluggish from the lack of sleep and now he had to deal with this new development.
He took one last, deep breath, then considered the young lady before him. Her features were attractive if he cared to admit it to himself. Her hair, midnight black, peered from beneath her bonnet and lay in stark contrast to her ivory skin. She was obviously a lady of quality, seeing as the sun had left no tell-tale signs on her skin. Phillip noted her eyes; they were a bright blue, like the sky on a clear day. She wore a charcoal traveling dress and matching cloak, which did little to hide her shapely curves. On his quick perusal of the room, he saw only a small traveling bag. At least, the girl had the good sense to pack lightly.
He steeled himself for the conversation ahead and bowed. “Forgive my manners. My name is Phillip Crestwood. Begging your pardon, but I thought I would be meeting a gentleman. You will have to excuse my surprise.”
Charlotte bristled, “My cousin, Nikoli Petrov, is the gentleman you were expecting. He collected the information you require, but was shot when his deception was discovered. Nikoli made it over the border and into Austria. I was visiting with family there when he asked me to come in his stead.”
“Is he alive?”
Charlotte nodded her head. “He is expected to survive. Obviously, he was in no condition to travel, so he relayed the information to me.”
“You must be commended, miss; it was brave of you to come this far on your own.”
“Thank you, but it was necessary.”
The lady answered his questions but gave no more than what was needed. Phillip wondered if her cousin had told her to be wary. More than likely, if the cousin were an informant, he would be cautious of everyone. He would certainly have passed that pearl of wisdom on to her as well. Phillip realized he still did not know the young lady’s name.
“Begging your pardon, once again, but I do not believe I have the pleasure of knowing the lady I am addressing.”
She hesitated before answering, “Charlotte Bradley, at your service Mr. Crestwood.”
Phillip bowed. Now, he needed to convince her to relay the plans to him. Then, he could return to France with all haste. Surely a young woman, alone, would desire to return to her family forthwith. If she refused, he would acquaint her with the perils of travel on the road. God willing, her female sensibilities would make her think twice before making the journey.
Phillip put on his best smile, “As I said before, Miss Bradley, you are to be commended for making the journey here on your own. If you hand the papers over to me, I can ensure you will not endure further hardships. I will be on my way, and you will have fulfilled your obligation to your cousin.”
Charlotte paced the room and wandered over to the window. Phillip provided her with the perfect opportunity to give him Nikoli’s information and leave. He wasn’t sure what she had to consider. It was an easy task; give him the papers then return to her family. Tired of waiting, Phillip loudly cleared his throat
Charlotte pivoted to meet his gaze. “I’m afraid the information was not written down. My cousin made me memorize it to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. You understand, sir, in your line of work, that discretion is of the utmost importance. Therefore, I cannot accept your offer. Instead, I insist you take me to France, which you agreed upon with my cousin. Once there, I will convey the information to the proper authority.”
Heat rose in Phillip’s face, and his pulse thrummed at his neck. If this upstart presumed to dictate how he would conduct the assignment, she was mistaken. She left him little choice but to convince her otherwise.
Phillip inwardly fumed and fought to sound placating. “I do not think it wise, Miss Bradley. You do not comprehend all the possible dangers on the road. We are at war, and even though we may be in a neutral country, there are hidden dangers all around. It is not safe for a young lady to travel in such circumstances. As a gentleman, I could not allow it.”
Charlotte took a few determined steps toward Phillip, her stare unwavering. “While I appreciate your warning, Mr. Crestwood, I intend to follow my cousin’s instructions. Besides, what guarantee do I have, once you leave, that you will take the information to its intended destination?”
He had to admit, the girl was loyal and clever, but he doubted she truly understood what awaited them on their journey.
Phillip crossed his arms and glared at Charlotte. “You are correct. You do not know what I will do once I depart, but I can warn you of what might happen if you travel with me. There are thieves, murderers, and every type of nefarious person you can think of on the roads. You cannot trust anyone; you do not know who is working for whom. You can never let your guard down; you must always be vigilant. If you are captured, you have no idea what awaits a young lady, such as yourself.”
Charlotte, wide-eyed, clutched her throat. He had succeeded in relaying his warning. A small part of him felt like a heel for shocking her, but the lady was headstrong and needed to be aware of the gravity of the situation. It would not be a pleasurable ride across the continent, and he didn’t know what dangers they may face on the road.
Charlotte recovered her mask of indifference before answering, “I am sorry, Mr. Crestwood, but I must insist on accompanying you. I thank you for the warning, but I am stronger than you think.”
Phillip shook his head in disbelief, “Very well, Miss Bradley, but know this; you will follow my instructions without question. If we are to remain safe, I need to know you will do everything I say.”
“Agreed.”
Phillip muttered to himself, “Perfect; now, I will be saddled with a woman for the entire journey.” Now he had to devise a new plan to get them to France safely. They couldn’t ride on horseback over the countryside. He would need to hire a carriage, which would slow their progress. A silent curse slipped past his lips. It was imperative to return to headquarters as soon as possible. Every hour wasted meant more lives lost. Women were nothing but trouble, this one especially.
Next, he needed a convincing story to explain why they were traveling together. It was unseemly for a single woman to travel unaccompanied with a man. What this called for was a plausible ruse to explain their connection. An idea jumped into his mind, and Phillip couldn’t help but grin.
“Very well, Miss Bradley. In order to travel together without drawing suspicion, I think it best if we travel under the guise of a newly married couple.” Charlotte’s shocked expression made him pause a moment. “Hear me out before you disapprove of my plan. First, I am not pleased with the prospect of traveling with a woman by carriage, which will slow us down. Secondly, if we do not travel as assumed husband and wife, people will think of other, less respectable, reasons for us to be together.”
Charlotte suggested, “Perhaps as brother and sister instead?”
Phillip shook his head. “It won’t work. We need to share a room.” Charlotte’s face reddened, and her eyes met the ground. “While we are traveling, you are under my protection. I cannot guard you while you are in a separate room. I also have no guarantee that you won’t try to run off, or worse yet, someone might try to do you harm. You are my responsibility for the duration of our journey. You will have to trust me, Miss Bradley.”
Phillip guarded himself against a verbal comeuppance as Charlotte squared her jaw and replied, “Very well, Mr. Crestwood, you have made valid points, but allow me to clarify a few things, if I may. First, I am no one’s responsibility. My brother showed me how to defend myself, including how to shoot a gun. Second, if I am that much of a burden, I can make the trip on my own. I do not want to inconvenience you more than you already seem to be. I know you were not expecting a female, but you will need to make do.”
Phillip’s patience wore thin, and he needed to put the woman in her place. If she believed she could do better without him or make it ou
t of the ordeal alive, then she was mistaken. If nothing else, Phillip took his orders and duties seriously and would not jeopardize the mission for anyone. He marched up to Charlotte and locked his steely eyes with hers.
“Now you listen to me, Miss Bradley. I have one job and one job only, to make sure the intelligence you received finds its way to the commander of the British forces. I don’t care what I must do, whether it’s pretend I’m married to some upstart girl or drag you halfway across the continent on horseback. Make no mistake. I will get you there. During this journey, you will do what I say when I say it since your life could very well depend on it. Do I make myself clear, Miss Bradley?” He backed up a few steps and waited for her reply. Phillip almost felt guilty for being so brutally honest and abrupt, but she hadn’t listened to reason so far, and it seemed extreme measures were necessary. Without a doubt, Miss Bradley was the most obstinate woman he had ever met.
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed, and she lifted her chin. Phillip noticed the slight flare of her nostrils as she closed the gap between them. “I understand you quite clearly, Mr. Crestwood. But know this, I also have a duty to my cousin. If, for one moment, I believe you are deceiving me or leading me astray, I will do what I think is in my best interest to get to France, with or without you.”
“Then, you will be dead since that is what will befall you if you leave my side.”
The mention of death knocked some of the wind out of her sails. Charlotte took a deep breath. “How can I trust you? How can I know for sure you have done something like this before? You are nothing like I expected.”
The statement intrigued Phillip. “What did you expect?”
“I thought there would be several soldiers and someone…” she glanced into his eyes, “older.”
His eyebrow peaked in annoyance. “So, you are offended because of my age? I assure you, madam, I am old enough, thank you. Older than you, I’m sure. If you must know, I have been doing this work for several years, some missions far more dangerous than this.”
She sighed in exasperation, “I did not mean to offend you, sir. I am merely stating what my expectations were.”
“Well, Miss Bradley, perhaps during our time together, I will be able to meet your expectations or even exceed them.”
Phillip must be daft, speaking to her in such a manner. He caught the light blush cross her cheeks at his remark. She was a young lady, innocent in the ways of the world and of men. He had to admit; she was a beauty by anyone’s standards. Phillip had to guard himself. He had been fooled in the past by a pretty face and a charming personality. All it had left him with was pain and suffering. Never again would a woman have control over his heart. This was a job, nothing more. He would get Miss Bradley to France, after which, they would part ways.
Phillip could tell she was uncomfortable with the way the conversation had turned. He took a few steps back to give her some space. Phillip was not a complete wretch and regretted the harsh words he had spoken earlier. Perhaps it would help to reassure her.
“Miss Bradley, please believe me when I say that contrary to what you might think, my sole responsibility is to get you safely to France. I will do everything in my power to deliver you there without harm. I have no alternative plans while we travel. For your information, I am five and twenty, if that puts your mind at ease. I have no interest in you except as an informant for our cause. Now, if you would excuse me, I will make preparations for the journey. We will start as soon as we can. Does anyone know you are here?”
“Not unless someone found Nikoli. I believe the plan was to move him once he was well enough. My mother and sister do not know where I am, only that I left and promised to meet them at home.” She appeared distressed, admitting to the deception. A brave woman, indeed, to have agreed to such a scheme. If Phillip ever met this cousin, he would give him a piece of his mind.
Phillip left to speak with the innkeeper regarding the hiring of a carriage to see them to France. They were currently on the edge of the Austrian border and would travel through Bavaria before entering France. It would take days. Hopefully, the weather would be in their favor. Once they passed into France, his friend Louis would meet them at his house in Alsace. There would be enumerable dangers along the way. Phillip prayed a brigade of Russian soldiers wasn’t one of them.
Chapter 3
They departed by early afternoon to get a few hours of travel in before lodging for the night. The first leg of the trip was quiet, and Phillip kept to himself. The less he knew about his companion, the better. Charlotte kept her gaze locked on the window, watching the scenery pass by. After an hour or so, Phillip saw her head drop in exhaustion. A lady of her status most likely slept in late, attended tea and card parties, then rested before the evening festivities. For now, he let her rest. There was no telling how the trip would progress, and the sleep would do her good.
Phillip rested his head on the seat. He wondered if he could ever rejoin polite society, or would he always feel like an interloper. As heir to his father’s title, he would assume his full responsibilities someday, but he detested the constant charade of the nobility. He loathed the parties, the outings, and the obligations. All he desired was a quiet life. Phillip knew that once he took his father’s title, the missions would end, but he still wanted to serve his country in some capacity.
Since being in Sir Darnley’s agency, Phillip felt, for the first time in his life, as if he was doing something worthwhile. School had filled his younger years. Later, he and his friends had become a wild bunch. There hadn’t been a club in town that did not know them or a party they could not attend. Reflecting on those years, Phillip saw only wasted time, time which could have been spent doing something noble, something with a purpose.
Over the last few years, he had made up for lost time. He took assignments as frequently as possible without causing too much suspicion at home. He had found his passion in life, and other than his three dearest friends, there was no one he was more loyal to than queen and country.
They arrived at the first inn later in the evening and signed in as Lord and Lady Crestwood. Charlotte entered the room first and placed her bag on the floor beside the bed. She removed her jacket as she perused the room. “It seems comfortable enough; fit for a lord. “That was clever.”
“What?”
“Saying you are a lord. Gives it that extra air of propriety.”
“It’s not a lie; my father is Lord Crestwood.”
“Oh, I am sorry, I assumed you were a…” Charlotte bowed her head, trying to hide her embarrassment.
“A what? A commoner? Believe it or not, some of the gentry desire more than to sit around all day getting fat while they gamble away their money.” He couldn’t help the sharp tone in his voice.
“I already apologized. It is unusual to see a titled gentleman doing this work. You are correct. Most gentlemen would rather sit in their homes, talking politics, with their port in one hand and a cigar in the other.”
“Yes, that sounds about right. They talk about a war they do not understand and horrors they can’t imagine. The men with the loudest opinions about the war effort do nothing about it themselves. They are all hot-headed, lazy gents who leave the hard work to the common folk. Well, that is not me.” Charlotte remained silent.
As he spoke, Phillip removed his jacket and necktie and threw them onto the table. “Now, I am the one who must apologize. I have been home a time or two since the war started, and all I hear is criticism about the tactics used and the placement of troops. I tire of people giving their opinions on topics, which they know nothing of.”
Charlotte sat on a chair by the fireplace. “Then tell me, Lord Crestwood, what are the facts.” Phillip saw genuine interest in her expression.
“Very well. I am in the service of Her Majesty’s Secret Branch of Intelligence. I travel, as needed, doing what is necessary to protect England and her interests from those who would do her harm. I am good at what I do, and I will let nothing stand in the way of f
inishing the mission.”
**********
Charlotte saw the fire of truth and patriotism reflected in Phillip’s eyes. It reassured her that he would do everything possible to keep her safe. A knock sounded on the door, indicating their dinner had arrived. A maid brought it in and placed it on the small table by the fire. They settled on the chairs and ate in silence. Charlotte wondered about Phillip. She still couldn’t fathom why a man with a title would risk his life when he could be comfortable back in England. It went against everything she assumed about the noble class. Something must drive him, but she would more than likely never know. What did it matter? In a few days, they would part ways, and this encounter would be a soon forgotten memory.
At last, they finished their meal, and Charlotte’s thoughts turned to the matter of the sleeping arrangements. She had spent the carriage ride dreading the possibilities. The room had only one bed and a small couch, but the couch looked too small for Phillip. Perhaps she could ask him to sleep on the floor. Out of the corner of her eye, Charlotte watched Phillip remove his boots and undo the first few buttons on his shirt. Her cheeks flushed red, and she quickly turned her back, afraid he would disrobe in front of her. She had never witnessed a man in this state of undress.
Phillip moved across the room. The bed creaked as he sat down, and she stole a peek. Phillip lay on the bed with his hands under his head; he appeared quite content.
“What do you think you are doing?” A hint of dread crept into the question as she spoke.
“I was preparing to go to sleep. We need to get an early start in the morning.”
“And where am I to sleep?”
Phillip shrugged his shoulders. “There is plenty of room on the bed.”
The heat of embarrassment spread up her neck. “Are you, an English gentleman, suggesting that I share a bed with you?” The idea both horrified and intrigued her. She wondered if he would try to make advances toward her. Charlotte knew men were driven by their baser instincts, especially when it came to the fairer sex. She had first-hand knowledge of those instincts in the past. Thankfully, the situation hadn’t gotten too far. She had learned her lesson the hard way, and she would not make the same mistake twice.
The Way to a Spy’s Heart: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 1) Page 2