Flannaghan didn’t mind his employer’s gruffness. Colin would take care of the princess, and that was all that really mattered.
The butler’s cheerful mood was sorely tested the rest of the afternoon. He spent most of his time answering the front door and turning away potential suitors. It was a damn nuisance.
At seven o’clock that evening, Sir Richards arrived on their doorstep. He didn’t request admission. The head of England’s Security Section demanded to be let in.
Flannaghan ushered Sir Richards up the stairs and into Colin’s study. The distinguished-looking gray-haired gentleman waited until the butler had taken his leave before speaking to Colin.
“You’re looking none the worse for wear,” he announced. “I wanted to look in on you to see how you’re doing, of course, and also compliment you on a job well done. The Wellingham business could have gotten sticky. You handled it well.”
Colin leaned back in his chair. “It did get sticky,” he reminded the director.
“Yes, but you handled it with your usual tact.”
Colin caught himself before he snorted with laughter. Handled with tact? How like the director to summarize in gentlemen’s terms the necessary killing of one of England’s enemies.
“Why are you really here, Richards?”
“To compliment you, of course.”
Colin did laugh then. Richards smiled. “I could use a spot of brandy,” he announced with a wave of his hand in the direction of the side bar against the wall. “Will you join me?”
Colin declined the offer. He started to get up to see to the director’s request, but Richards waved him back to his seat. “I can fetch it.”
The director poured himself a drink, then went over to sit in the leather-backed chair facing the desk. “Morgan’s going to be joining us in just a few minutes. I wanted to talk to you first, however. Another little problem has developed and I thought it might be just the task for Morgan to handle. An opportunity, you see, for him to get his feet wet.”
“He’s joining the ranks then?”
“He would like to be of service to his country,” the director told him. “What do you think of him, Colin? Forget diplomacy and give me your gut reaction to the man.”
Colin shrugged. His neck was stiff from leaning over the ledgers for so long and he rolled his shoulders, trying to work the knots out. “I understand he inherited title and land from his father a few years back. He’s the Earl of Oakmount now, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Sir Richards replied. “But you’re only half right. The title and land came from an uncle. Morgan’s father ran tail years ago. The boy was shuffled from one relative to another during the growing years. There was talk of illegitimacy and some think that was the reason the father abandoned the boy. Morgan’s mother died when he was four or five.”
“A difficult childhood,” Colin remarked.
The director agreed. “It made him the man he is today. He learned to be clever early on, you see.”
“You know more about his background than I do,” Colin said. “All I can add is superficial. I’ve seen him at various functions. He’s well liked by the ton.”
The director took a long swallow of the brandy before speaking again. “You still haven’t given me your opinion,” he reminded Colin.
“I’m not hedging,” Colin replied. “I honestly don’t know him well enough to form an opinion. He seems likable enough. Nathan doesn’t particularly like him, though. I do remember him making that remark.”
The director smiled. “Your partner doesn’t like anyone.”
“That’s true, he doesn’t.”
“Did he have specific reasons for disliking Morgan?”
“No. He referred to him as one of the pretty boys. Morgan’s a handsome man, or so I’m told by the women.”
“Nathan doesn’t like him because of his appearance?”
Colin laughed. Sir Richards sounded incredulous. “My partner doesn’t like charmers. He says he never knows what they’re thinking.”
The director filed that information away in the back of his mind. “Morgan has almost as many contacts as you have, and he would be a tremendous asset to the department. Still, I’m determined to take it slow. I still don’t know how he’ll handle himself in a crisis. I’ve invited him here to talk to you, Colin. There’s another delicate matter you might want to consider handling for us. If you decide in favor of taking on the assignment, I’d like Morgan to get involved. He could do well to learn from you.”
“I’m retired, remember?”
The director smiled. “So am I,” he drawled out. “I’ve been trying to hand the reins over for a good four years now. I’m getting too old for this business.”
“You’ll never quit.”
“And neither will you,” Richards predicted. “At least not until your company can survive without your added income. Tell me this, son. Has your partner wondered yet where the additional funds are coming from? I know you didn’t want him to know you’ve started helping the department out again.”
Colin stacked his hands behind his neck. “He isn’t aware,” he explained. “Nathan’s been occupied opening the second office. His wife, Sara, is due to have their first baby any day now. I doubt Nathan has had time to notice.”
“And when he does notice?”
“I’ll tell him the truth.”
“We could use Nathan again,” the director said.
“That’s out of the question. He has a family now.”
Sir Richards reluctantly agreed. He turned the topic back to the task he wanted Colin to accept. “About this assignment,” he began. “It’s no more dangerous than the last, but . . . ah, good evening, Princess Alesandra. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
She stood just outside the entrance. Colin wondered how much she had overheard.
She smiled at the director. “It’s good to see you again, sir,” she replied in a soft whisper. “I hope I haven’t intruded. The door was ajar, but if you’re in the middle of a conference, I’ll come back later.”
Sir Richards hastily stood up and walked over to her. He took hold of her hand and bowed low. “You haven’t intruded,” he assured her. “Come and sit down. I wanted to talk to you before I left.”
He latched on to her elbow and ushered her over to a chair. She sat down and smoothed her skirts while she waited for him to take his seat as well.
“I heard about the unfortunate incident outside the Royal Opera House,” the director remarked with a frown. He sat down, nodded to Colin, and then turned his attention back to her. “Have you recovered from your upset?”
“There wasn’t anything for me to recover from, Sir Richards. My guard was injured. Raymond required eight stitches in all, but they were removed yesterday. He’s feeling much better now. Isn’t that right, Colin?”
She kept her gaze fully directed on Sir Richards when she included Colin in the conversation. He didn’t mind her lack of attention. He was fully occupied trying to hide his amusement. Sir Richards was blushing. Colin couldn’t believe it. The hard-nosed, steel-hearted director of covert operations was blushing like a schoolboy.
Alesandra was mesmerizing the man. Colin wondered if she had any idea of her effect or if it was deliberate. Her smile was innocently sweet, her gaze direct, unwavering, and if she started in batting her eyelashes, then Colin would know the seduction wasn’t quite so innocent after all.
“Have you had an opportunity to look into the other matter we discussed?” she asked. “I realize it was bold of me to ask anything of such an important man, Sir Richards, and I want you to know how grateful I am for your offer to send someone to Gretna Green.”
“I’ve already taken care of that duty,” the director replied. “My man, Simpson, only just returned last evening. You were correct, Princess. There isn’t a record with either Robert Elliott or his rival, David Laing.”
“I knew it,” Alesandra cried out. She clasped her hands together as though in prayer and turned to
frown at Colin. “Didn’t I tell you so?”
Her enthusiasm made him smile. “Tell me what?”
“That Lady Victoria wouldn’t elope. Your director has just confirmed my suspicions.”
“Now, Princess, it’s still a possibility—remote, of course —that she did marry there. Both Elliott and Laing keep accurate records so each can boast the number of weddings performed. It’s a competitive thing, you see. However, they aren’t the only men in Gretna Green who can marry a couple. Some less reputable gents just don’t bother with records. They would fill out the certificate and hand it over to the husband. So you see, my dear, she still could have eloped after all.” “She didn’t.”
Alesandra was emphatic in that belief. Colin shook his head. “She’s stirring up a hornet’s nest, Richards. I’ve told her to leave it alone but she won’t listen to me.”
She frowned at Colin. “I am not stirring anything up.”
“Yes, you are,” Colin replied. “You’re going to cause Victoria’s family additional heartache if you pester them with questions.”
His criticism stung. She bowed her head. “You must have a low opinion of me if you believe I would deliberately set out to hurt anyone.”
“You didn’t have to be so harsh with her, son.”
Colin was exasperated. “I wasn’t being harsh, just honest.”
Sir Richards shook his head. Alesandra smiled at the director. She was pleased he’d taken her side.
“If he would only listen to my reasons for being worried, Sir Richards, he wouldn’t be so quick to call my concern interference.”
The director glared at Colin. “You wouldn’t listen to her reasons? She makes a sound argument, Colin. You shouldn’t judge without knowing all the facts.”
“Thank you, Sir Richards.” Colin snorted.
Alesandra decided to ignore the rude man. “What is our next step in this investigation?” she asked the director.
Sir Richards looked a bit confused. “Investigation? I hadn’t thought of the problem in that light. . . .”
“You said you would help me,” she reminded the director. “You mustn’t become discouraged so quickly.”
Sir Richards looked to Colin for assistance. Colin grinned.
“It isn’t a matter of giving up,” Sir Richards said. “I’m just not certain what it is I’m investigating. It’s a plain fact your friend did run off with someone and I believe Colin’s correct when he suggests you let the matter go.”
“Why is it a plain fact?”
“Victoria left a note,” Sir Richards explained.
She shook her head. “Anyone could have written a note.”
“Yes, but . . .”
“I had so hoped you would help me, Sir Richards,” she interrupted. Her tone of voice sounded forlorn. “You were my last hope. Victoria could be in danger and she only has you and me to help her. If anyone can ferret out the truth, it’s you. You’re so intelligent and clever.”
Sir Richards puffed up like a rooster. Colin had to shake his head. One compliment had turned the man into mush.
“Will you be satisfied if I can find a record of the marriage?”
“You won’t find one.”
“But if I do . . .”
“I’ll let the matter rest.”
Sir Richards nodded. “Very well,” he agreed. “I’ll start with her family. I’ll send a man around tomorrow to talk to the brother. One way or another, I’ll find out what happened.”
Her smile was radiant. “Thank you so much,” she whispered. “I should warn you, though. I sent a note to Victoria’s brother and he refused to grant me another audience. Colin, you see, was rude to him and he obviously hasn’t forgiven him.”
“He won’t refuse me,” Sir Richards announced with a hard nod.
Colin had heard enough of what he considered a ridiculous topic. He didn’t like the idea that the director of England’s Security Section was lowering himself to snoop into another family’s private affairs.
He was about to change the subject when Sir Richards’s next remark caught his attention. “Princess Alesandra, after the cooperation you’ve given, looking into this delicate matter is the very least I can do for you. Rest easy, my dear. I’ll have some answers for you before you leave England.”
Colin leaned forward. “Back up, Richards,” he demanded, his voice hard. “Exactly how has Alesandra cooperated?”
The director looked surprised by the question. “She didn’t explain to you . . .”
“I didn’t believe it was necessary,” Alesandra blurted out. She hastily stood up. “If you’ll excuse me now, I’ll leave you two gentlemen alone to discuss your business.”
“Alesandra, sit down.”
Colin’s tone suggested she not argue with him. She let out a little sigh and did as he ordered. She refused to look at him, however, and kept her gaze directed on her lap. She wanted to run and hide rather than talk about her decision, but that would be cowardly and irresponsible, and Colin deserved to know what had been decided.
Dignity and decorum, she thought to herself. Colin would never know how upset she was, and there was a bit of victory in that, wasn’t there?
“Explain to me why Richards is so pleased with your cooperation.”
“I’ve decided to return to my father’s homeland,” she explained in a bare whisper. “I’m going to marry the general. Your father has given his approval.”
Colin didn’t say anything for a long while. He stared at Alesandra. She stared at her lap.
“All of this was decided while I was sick?”
“Yes.”
“Look at me,” he commanded.
She was close to bursting into tears. She took a deep breath and finally turned to look at him.
Colin knew she was upset. She was twisting her hands together and trying not to cry.
“She wasn’t coerced,” Sir Richards interjected.
“The hell she wasn’t.”
“It was my decision,” she insisted.
Colin shook his head. “Richards, nothing has been decided. Understand? Alesandra is still reacting to the incident last week. Her guard was injured and she feels responsible.”
“I am responsible,” she cried out.
“No,” he countered, his voice emphatic. “You were frightened.”
“Does it matter what my reasons were?”
“Hell, yes, it matters,” he snapped. He turned his attention back to the director. “Alesandra has obviously forgotten her promise to me last week.”
“Colin . . .”
“Be silent.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Be silent? This is my future under discussion, not yours.”
“I’m your guardian,” he countered. “I decide your future. You seem to have forgotten that fact.”
His scowl was as hot as the fire from a dragon’s nostrils. She decided not to argue with him. He wasn’t being at all reasonable, and if he didn’t quit glaring at her she was definitely going to get up and leave the room.
Colin turned his attention back to the director. “Alesandra and I talked about this problem last week,” he explained. “We decided she wouldn’t marry the general. You can tell your associates in finance the deal’s off.”
Colin was so furious he barely noticed the director’s nod of agreement as he continued on. “She isn’t going to marry him. The general sounds like a real sweetheart, doesn’t he? He sent a gang of cutthroats to kidnap his bride for him. A hell of a courtship, wouldn’t you say? How I wish he’d come to England. I’d like to have a few minutes alone with the bastard.”
Alesandra couldn’t understand why Colin was getting so worked up. She had never seen him this angry. She was too astonished to be frightened. She didn’t know what to say or do to calm him.
“He won’t give up, Colin,” she whispered, grimacing over the shiver in her voice. “He’ll send others.”
“That’s my problem, not yours.”
“It is?”
&n
bsp; The fear he glimpsed in her eyes took away some of his anger. He didn’t want her to be afraid of him. He deliberately softened his voice when he answered her. “Yes, it is.”
They stared at each other a long minute. The tenderness in his expression made her want to weep with relief. He wasn’t going to let her leave England.
She had to force herself to turn her gaze away from him so he wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes. She stared at her lap, took a deep breath in an attempt to control her emotions, and then said, “I was trying to be noble. I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt and Sir Richards said there was a chance for better trade agreements . . .”
“My associates believe the general would cooperate,” Sir Richards interjected. “I personally don’t hold with that nonsense. I’m of the same mind as Colin,” he added with a nod. “The general isn’t a man to be trusted. So you see, my dear, you don’t have to be noble.”
“And if Colin gets hurt?” she blurted out.
Both Sir Richards and Colin were astonished by that question. The fear was back in Alesandra’s expression. Colin leaned back in his chair and stared at her. She wasn’t afraid for her own safety; no, she was worried about him. He probably should have been irritated with her. He could take care of himself, and it was a bit insulting to know she was worried about him.
It was damned flattering, too.
Sir Richards raised an eyebrow and looked at Colin, waiting for him to answer her.
“I can take care of myself,” Colin said. “I don’t want you to worry, understand?”
“Yes, Colin.”
Her immediate agreement pleased him. “Leave us now, Alesandra. Richards and I have other matters to discuss.”
She couldn’t get out of the room fast enough. She didn’t even say good-bye to the director. Her conduct was most unladylike, but she didn’t care. She was shaking so violently she could barely get the door closed behind her.
Relief made her knees weak. She sagged against the wall and closed her eyes. A tear slipped down her cheek. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself.
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