The Way to a Spy’s Heart: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 1)

by Laura Shipley

  Phillip sighed, “Miss Bradley, may I call you Charlotte since we will be spending the next several days together?” He continued without waiting for her consent, “Charlotte, I assure you, the only thing I am thinking about at this moment is sleep. I will not put you in a compromising situation. At least no more than what we are already in. Now, I am going to sleep. You may choose to share this bed with me, or you may find another spot within this room.”

  Phillip closed his eyes, ending the discussion. Charlotte paced the room for a while, then sat in the chair by the fire to remove her boots and stockings. The boots landed with a loud thud on the floor. It seemed she was taking her frustration out on a pair of innocent boots. The audacity of the man. He hadn’t shown a drop of decency by offering her the bed. It appeared he was not the gentleman she had hoped he would be. His lack of manners astounded Charlotte. The man obviously needed polite society. He was too rough around the edges, not at all what she was used to.

  Charlotte focused her attention on her dress. As much as she tried, she couldn’t undo the fastenings on the back. She would have to sleep fully clothed. There was nothing else to do. It might be for the best to have an extra layer of protection in case Phillip did not keep his word. She glanced at his slumbering figure and decided to share the bed since the couch was too small, even for her. Phillip lay on top of the covers, so she lifted the sheet on her side and slid in.

  She lay unmoving, afraid the slightest movement might disturb her bed partner. If her mother could see her, she would fly into a state of hysteria and take to her bed for a week. Funny, lying in bed with Phillip felt comforting. It soothed her to know she wasn’t alone. Perhaps sharing the room had been a good suggestion, although Charlotte would never admit it to him. If she had slept alone, no doubt every noise and creak would have kept her awake all night. With Phillip beside her, she relaxed and drifted to sleep.

  During the night, Charlotte heard a noise. She was half asleep, so it took a moment to realize the noise was coming from Phillip. He was on his back. A sheen of sweat covered his face, and he mumbled something she couldn’t quite understand. Suddenly, Phillip’s face scrunched up as if he was in pain. A small cry escaped his lips.

  Charlotte contemplated waking Phillip, but she didn’t want to embarrass him. He must be having a nightmare. She wanted to help him, so she laid a hand on his forehead, softly spoke his name, and stroked his hair as she would a small child.

  Gradually, Phillip’s face relaxed, and he quieted down. He still mumbled a few times, but he didn’t seem as fearful. Five minutes later, he settled back into his slumber. Charlotte let out the breath she had been holding. She wondered what would cause a man like Phillip to tremble so. It was none of her business, and she wouldn’t pry. All she needed to know was that he would honor his promise to protect her and take her to France.

  The creaking of the bed awoke Charlotte in the morning and signaled that Phillip had risen. His back was to her, so he didn’t see her sneak a glimpse as he sat up and stretched. Even under his shirt, his muscles were taut as he extended his arms over his head to work out the aches from sleep. The material strained against his wide back, showing his exceptional physique. Charlotte had an overwhelming urge to reach out and touch him. She imagined what it would feel like to rub her hands over his warm skin and to feel the ridges of his muscles dance across her fingertips.

  Phillip’s stare brought Charlotte out of her daydream. She averted her eyes, afraid he would pluck out the images she had of him. She tried her best not to blush and prayed it was too dark in the early dawn for him to see.

  “Good morning,” Phillip stated.

  Charlotte returned his salutation.

  Phillip continued, “I will speak with the coachman about heading out as soon as possible.”

  “Thank you.”

  He buttoned his shirt, replaced his necktie, and put on his jacket. After putting on his boots he walked toward the door. Before he opened it, he said, “Phillip.”

  Charlotte stared in confusion.

  “Please, call me Phillip. Since we are pretending to be married, you should call me by my given name. It would seem odd for a wife to call her husband by his surname.”

  “Thank you, Phillip. I suppose you should call me Charlotte.”

  He gave a quick nod and left the room. The moment he left, Charlotte went to the basin and washed her face in the cold water. She fixed her hair the best she could and rubbed out the wrinkles which had formed in her dress during the night. Within ten minutes she had her bag packed and was waiting in the main room of the inn. Phillip joined her, and they ate breakfast before heading on to the next leg of their journey.

  The next two days were uneventful. Each day, they traveled until midday, then stopped to have a light meal and change horses. Then, they would continue until nightfall. Charlotte grew restless of sitting in the coach day after day. Phillip did not speak much, which made the time feel longer.

  Normally, Charlotte was a sociable woman. She enjoyed engaging in conversations about a variety of subjects, but it appeared they had come to an unspoken agreement of silence during the ride. Although she vowed to know as little as possible about her escort, a small amount of conversation might break the monotony of the trip, she mused. She sighed and gazed out the window.

  “Is there something you would like to say?” Phillip asked.

  Charlotte considered the question. “I don’t know. We have been traveling in relative silence for the last two days. Isn’t there anything you want to talk about?”

  “Not really. I have a job to do, and I’m seeing it through.”

  “So, that’s all this is to you, a job?” At that moment, Charlotte felt like an object rather than a person.

  “Did you think this would be some pretty walk in the park, Charlotte? I’m sorry if you wanted something more exciting, but this will be the extent of our activities. We will sit in this coach until we reach France.”

  Charlotte sat back against the seat and crossed her arms. The subtle sarcasm in Phillip’s voice was not lost on her. He must think she sounded like a bored, naughty child in need of entertainment. She wanted to pass the time, and she was also interested in the man who swore to protect her. He was unlike the self-indulgent, frivolous young men Charlotte had met in the past, and it intrigued her.

  Phillip was one of the most handsome men she had ever met. The difference between the outside and the inside of Phillip was striking. On the surface, he appeared to be a well-groomed, well-mannered gentleman with a well-cut suit, perfectly tailored to show him in a flattering light. On the inside, Charlotte shivered, darkness lurked; she glimpsed it at nighttime.

  Each night Phillip moaned in his sleep, never waking. Although Charlotte wanted to ask what haunted his dreams, she hesitated. She knew all too well how the past could follow you, no matter how far you tried to run.

  Charlotte sat up and broke her silence. “Now, here is a question for you, Phillip. How does the son of a lord become an agent for Her Majesty and get stuck with a job escorting me?”

  **********

  Phillip glanced over his paper and chuckled. “So, you wish to engage in conversation? Very well. I work for the English government because I feel it is my duty. I did not initially choose to do this type of work, but it fell into my lap. I am good at what I do and consider it an honor to put my talents at the disposable of Her Majesty.”

  Charlotte burst out laughing.

  Phillip scowled, “What the hell is so funny? You asked me a question, and I answered.”

  Still laughing, she answered, “My apologies, Phillip. It sounds like a flat and rehearsed speech out of a brochure. Is that how you tell it to all the ladies at home? My, how they must swoon to hear you speak so.”

  Phillip fumed. The girl was insufferable. This was why he didn’t want to talk. Talking led to questions, and he was not in the habit of revealing himself to people. Certainly not to some girl he met three days ago. He had answered Charlotte’s question to a
ppease her curiosity and end her desire for communication, but all he had accomplished was being made a target of her mockery.

  “I have answered your question, Charlotte. Now, it is my turn.” That was enough to silence her. If she wanted to be nosy, then two could play at this game. Phillip leaned forward, his hands on his thighs. “What is a young woman doing in Austria with her mother and sister in the middle of a war? You must realize it is not the wisest decision, given the circumstances.”

  Charlotte chuckled, “You’ve never met my mother. She can be persuasive when she wants to be. My father hired an armed escort for our journey; it was the only way he would agree to let us go. For your information, I was also against the trip, but I went along to be the voice of reason if my mother concocted any other ridiculous ideas.”

  “So, your mother had a sudden desire to go to Austria?” Phillip had heard of scatter-brained ideas but traveling across half a continent on a whim was new.

  “My mother is Russian. She has relatives in Austria and Russia, and she wanted to visit them. I think she’s afraid she may not see them again, depending on the outcome of the war.”

  “How did your father come to marry your mother?” The woman and her family intrigued Phillip, and with Charlotte easily answering his questions, they fell into a natural rhythm.

  “My father is a merchant trader. He traveled extensively in his younger days. My mother was visiting England when they first met. There must have been an attraction, but my mother went back home to Russia. Later, when my father visited Russia on business, he sought her out. Before he left, they were married, end of story.”

  “You think it’s romantic, don’t you? I can see it on your face. Is that the real reason for your trip, to find a romance of your own?”

  Charlotte wasn’t married, and it was not unusual for families to marry relatives. Perhaps something had occurred in England, maybe a scandal, that prevented her from finding a match close to home. Phillip wondered if her need to travel to the continent was because she was hiding a secret. Suddenly, he wanted to know more about the woman across from him, who was not all she appeared to be. Of course, he wasn’t one to judge. He, of all people, knew how difficult it could be to run away from one’s memories.

  Phillip saw he had struck a nerve with his last remark. Charlotte’s smile slipped from her lips. “I do not need romance, sir. It is a silly notion, and there is no place for it in my life.”

  Phillip pressed on. “What was his name?” Charlotte’s gaze narrowed, and she sat back in her seat, effectively cutting off further conversation. He had guessed right; no woman hates the notion of love without having been hurt by it in the past. He couldn’t imagine any man not wanting Charlotte. He studied her frame. She wasn’t slender, nor was she plump but the perfect balance of curves in just the right places. He saw no faults to turn a man against her. Of course, appearances were only skin deep, and Charlotte may have a hidden flaw. He knew, firsthand, there could be deception hiding beneath the surface of a pretty face.

  “It is in the past, sir, and does not concern you. But speaking of romance, what of yourself? Shouldn’t you be looking to attach yourself to a lady? Perhaps that is the real reason you do this job, to run away from your obligations.”

  Phillip added perceptive to Charlotte’s list of attributes, although he didn’t care for it. She was smarter than she let on. In his business, women with intelligence like hers could be a problem. He would have to be careful around her, given he didn’t know her well enough to trust her.

  The conversation ended after the last exchange, and Phillip and Charlotte sat lost in their musings. They came to the next inn and settled into their routine for the evening. Phillip had noticed that Charlotte always slept in her clothes. Maybe she still feared he would make advances toward her. He didn’t care; it was nothing to him. The less he noticed or cared about her, the better.

  Chapter 4

  Charlotte awoke the next morning to find the spot next to her was empty. She scanned the room and saw Phillip already dressed and finishing his necktie. She had had a restless night; her dreams were filled with troubling memories. Phillip had correctly guessed there had been a man in her past. The main reason she had agreed to accompany her mother and sister on their journey was to get away from the reminders of him and the humiliation of her foolishness.

  Talking to Phillip yesterday had brought back some of the hurt and anger. Before their conversation, Charlotte thought she was over the pain of the past, but apparently not. She sighed and rose from the bed. Phillip made no sign that he noticed her. She took her brush from the bag and began grooming her hair. What she wouldn’t give for a long, hot back. It wouldn’t be possible since Phillip would have to leave her alone and she would not let him stay while she bathed.

  She continued to brush her hair as Phillip walked over and said, “I’m going downstairs to check on the coach and breakfast. I will meet you down there when you are ready.”

  Charlotte nodded in acknowledgment. After she finished with her toilet, she joined Phillip in the main dining area. They made small talk while they ate since it would look suspicious for a newly married couple to eat in silence. They were preparing to leave when horses’ hooves sounded in the courtyard. Charlotte froze and locked eyes with Phillip. He shook his head, motioning her to stay where she was. Without a sound he inched closer to the door leading outside and listened.

  From where she sat, Charlotte heard male voices, but was too far away to hear their conversation. For a moment, she feared the door would burst open, and a unit of Russian soldiers would arrest them. Instead Phillip returned and laid a hand on her shoulder; it didn’t ease the tension coiling in her muscles.

  “All right, we need to go. From what I can see, it’s a small group of men, dressed in plain clothes. Be careful. Do not make eye contact with them, no matter what you do, and do not engage them in conversation. Just hold my arm and smile. Act like you are madly in love with me.”

  Charlotte couldn’t speak. Her chest felt tight, and her mouth had gone dry. Phillip drew her hand through his arm and led her to the door. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, which helped it to shake less. Before he opened the door, he gave her a quick wink. It was to relax her, and she appreciated it.

  Phillip allowed her to exit first. The morning light caught her eyes, forcing her to pause for a moment to get her bearings. In the yard, she saw six men with their horses. They appeared to be innocent enough as they whispered to one another. Phillip gave her a gentle tug toward the waiting carriage.

  On their way to the carriage, Charlotte passed close enough to the men to overhear their hushed conversation. The color drained from her face. They spoke Russian! She wondered if they were spies like Phillip. Perhaps they were in disguise; they did not wear uniforms or anything else to give away their identities. She didn’t know what to do, but she knew she needed to tell Phillip.

  As Phillip helped Charlotte into the coach, she spun around and whispered, “Those men are speaking Russian.” Phillip's eyes widened for a moment, his nose flared, and he tightened his hands into fists. He was ready for a fight. She put her hand on his arm to stop him from doing something foolish. She had to think of a diversion.

  Speaking loud enough for the men to hear her, Charlotte said, “Phillip, darling, I think I left my broach behind. Could you please retrieve it for me?”

  Phillip looked puzzled. The Russians paused for a moment to watch the couple. Charlotte flashed her best smile at Phillip, and he did as she asked. The group resumed their conversation, not realizing that Charlotte was listening to and understanding every word.

  Phillip returned to the carriage, and Charlotte exclaimed through the window, “Thank you, darling.”

  Before Charlotte realized what was happening, Phillip leaped up to the window and kissed her; it was not a chaste kiss, but a rather lingering kiss. Before she could think, Phillip opened the door and climbed into the carriage. Then, they were off.

  **********
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br />   Phillip pondered what had possessed him to kiss Charlotte. When he came out of the inn, he pretended to hold something in his hand. When he neared her and saw her bright, beaming face leaning out of the carriage, he did the first thing that came to his mind; he kissed her. Although it was brief, it was enough to ignite a spark of desire. She tasted like sweet wine mixed with innocence. She didn’t return the kiss; he had withdrawn too soon. It made a man wonder. He knew he couldn’t go down that path, not with Charlotte or anyone else, because it would only lead to pain.

  They started on their way. The first hour passed in silence. Phillip couldn’t read Charlotte’s expression; her face was a blank slate. Was she thinking about the kiss? Had it affected her as much as it had him? She had alluded to experience with the opposite sex, but he didn’t know what that experience entailed. All of a sudden he wanted to know how many men had tasted those lips.

  Such questions were dangerous. If he focused on the true purpose of their mission, it might take his mind off the kiss. He decided to question her about the conversation she had overheard. “Did you hear anything while I was inside the inn? Were they searching for us?”

  Charlotte’s head sprung up at hearing his voice. Her attention had been on her hands, daintily crossed in her lap.

  “They were poking fun at one of their comrades who had fallen off his horse during the night. One of them mentioned something about their orders, but they didn’t elaborate.”

  “We have to pray they are not looking for us. If they are, hopefully, they are only looking for a man. Your fair sex may benefit us.”