The Secret to a Spy’s Heart: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 4)

by Laura Shipley

  She gave her most alluring smile before bringing the statue around and banging it over the first man’s head. He let out a howl of pain and dropped to the floor, unconscious. Colette whipped around and threw the statue at her other adversary, but he ducked out of the way. The statue hit the floor.

  He lunged toward her, but Colette was quick on her feet and avoided his grasp. The fiend ran into a shelf, causing several items to fall to the ground. Colette pulled up her skirts and grabbed the dagger hidden in her stocking. The blade felt warm and familiar in her hand. She had used it many times in the past to protect herself.

  The man righted himself and faced her. “You will not be getting away so easily.” He ran toward her again. This time as Colette sidestepped, she ran her dagger across her enemy’s side. She hit her mark. The look of rage on the man’s face and the red gash on his abdomen told her as much.

  A noise from the floor caught her attention. The first assailant was regaining consciousness. Colette hurried over and kicked him in the head, causing him to pass out once again. She would not be able to handle two at the same time.

  “You are going to pay for all this,” the capped fellow said. His nostrils flared, and he bared his yellowed teeth.

  This time, when he went after her, the scoundrel anticipated her move and evaded her dagger thrust. He brought his hand up and struck Colette across the face. The force was enough that she dropped her weapon. A burning spread across her cheek where she had been hit, and for an instant, she saw stars floating in her vision.

  Her assailant took advantage of her confused state and grappled her to the desktop. “I told you you’d pay.” He pulled her hair, causing a wave of pain to splinter in her head.

  There had to be something she could do. She would not give up so easily. Colette’s mind raced with options until she found one that might work. With all the force she could summon, she crushed her slipper shoe on top of his foot. It was just enough for the bastard to loosen his grip and let her land an elbow to his midsection.

  Her captor let out a yell and stumbled backward. Colette pushed the man out of her way, but he recovered quickly and wrestled her to the ground. She was pinned underneath him.

  Just at that moment the door burst open, and Louis charged in. He took in the scene, and a second later, he landed a blow to the brute’s face, throwing him off Colette. Louis then charged the fellow and the two men exchanged a series of blows.

  If they continued to a make a ruckus, someone was bound to hear them. This had to end now. Colette looked around and found her discarded dagger. She took aim and sank the blade into her enemy’s shoulder. He screamed in agony. It gave Louis the opening he needed to land a crushing blow to the side of the man’s face. Their attacker fell to the ground in a slump. Colette stood in stunned silence, not sure if he was dead or alive, until she perceived a subtle rise and fall of his chest.

  Louis wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed the top of her head. “I thought you were taking too long so I came to investigate. I’m glad I did.” He saw the other man lying not far away on the floor. “It seems you are able to take care of yourself.”

  Colette shook out of Louis’ hold. She was no sniveling weakling. “I was handling things quite well without your help. I had the fellow right where I wanted him before you barged in.” Her tone was sharp.

  “You had him right where you wanted him?” Louis asked sarcastically.

  “Of course. It was all part of my plan. I was never in any real danger.” She averted her gaze, afraid to let Louis see the fear in her eyes. If Louis had not come, who knows what would have happened to her.

  Louis cupped her face between his hands. Colette flinched. He had touched the tender spot on her cheek where she had been struck. The black look on his face said Louis could kill at that moment. Colette put her hand on his chest.

  “It’s all right. I have survived worse.” Her voice softened. “Right now, we need to leave.”

  “You are right.”

  Without another word Louis poked his head out the door to see if anyone had heard the commotion. He turned back to Colette and nodded his head that all was clear. They made sure their clothes and hair were in place before proceeding back to the ballroom.

  Once among the crowd, they headed toward the doors to leave. They kept a steady pace through the throng of people until they reached the safety of the carriage. Colette dropped her head on Louis’s shoulder. He put an arm around her. There was nothing to say at that moment. It could wait until they returned home.

  Colette had told Louis the truth about being in precarious situations in the past. She had killed a man once to defend herself, and she had been willing to do it again tonight. How had those two brutes known she was in the Duc’s study? Had someone been watching her? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden stop of the carriage. The door flew open, and a man filled the doorway, a gun in his hand.

  “Evening monsieur, madame. It seems we have found ourselves a last-minute treasure on our way home.” He pointed the weapon at Louis. “Out of the carriage.”

  Louis put his hands up in the air. He did not move at first, then his face crumpled up, and he started sobbing. “Oh, please sir, don’t hurt us. I will give you whatever you want, but please don’t hurt us.”

  Colette did not know what to make of the change in Louis, but she stayed silent.

  The thief shook his head. “All right, now stop that blabbering, you imbecile. Just give me what you got.” The man seemed uncomfortable with Louis’s hysterics .

  “Very well, but let me get out first. I think I may be sick.” Louis launched himself out of the carriage.

  Just as Louis’s feet hit the ground, he yelled to the coachman. The next thing Colette heard was the crack of a gunshot. She saw Louis lunge for the criminal with the gun, and then they were out of sight. Colette leaned out the window and saw the gun on the ground. The two men were in a fist fight, each landing blows.

  Another shot rang through the air. Who was firing? It didn’t matter as long as Louis was not hurt. She turned her attention back to Louis. He had gained the advantage over his adversary. The crook was on the ground, holding his abdomen, a red stain forming on his shirt. Louis ran back to the carriage and yelled for the coachman to drive.

  Once inside, Louis leaned back and winced. His hand went to his side and came away with blood. Colette’s face paled. “Good lord, you have been stabbed.”

  “It’s only a flesh wound. I have had worse. You don’t faint at the sight of blood, do you?”

  Colette thrust her chin out. “I have a strong constitution. I have tended to my fair share of wounds.”

  “Good, because you will be fixing mine once we get home. I cannot have a doctor asking about the events leading to this injury.”

  Questions ran through Colette’s head. She had to know. “Who fired the gun?”

  “Rene, the coachman. You think I would have someone in my employ who cannot defend himself? That’s why I needed to get out of the carriage. We have a system of signals. He shot the other two bandits while I dealt with the first.”

  “You are fortunate to have such loyal servants.”

  “Indeed, I am. Rene has been with me for years. I trust the man with my life.”

  She wanted to ask—did Louis trust her? Why should he? Colette had done nothing to earn his trust. For all he knew, she would double-cross him the first chance she got, but she would not. It had occurred to her that if she turned Louis over to Jacques, it could be her opportunity to meet the Fox. But deep down, she knew she would not betray Louis. Especially not after he had saved her life earlier tonight. The handsome spy had already made her care more than she liked to admit. How could she betray a man who had done so much for a stranger?

  When they returned to Louis’s home, Colette called for a fresh shirt, hot water, and bandages. The housekeeper also brought a salve for the wound. Apparently, it was not the first time Louis had been injured. They went to the parlor. Louis took off his sh
irt and groaned when he lifted his right arm. Just below his ribcage was an angry gash. Colette hoped it would not require stitches.

  CHAPTER 13

  It had turned out to be a night full of surprises. After Colette had left him to search Fronsac’s study, Louis had patiently waited for her. When she had not returned after ten minutes, he had gotten nervous. Thank goodness he had gone after her, or their night could have ended quite differently indeed.

  When he had seen the red mark on her face, he had wanted to kill both men. The reasonable side of his brain had told him it was best to leave them alive. The Duc might seek revenge for dead men but might keep quiet if they were only wounded. Then the attempted robbery, and now he had a blasted stab wound—it was enough to test any man’s composure.

  Thankfully, he and Rene had come up with a system for managing such attacks. In his line of work, it paid to be prepared for any situation. Unfortunately, the plan had not included getting stabbed. Louis was grateful the wound was not deep. It would heal in a few days if they could stave off infection. His housekeeper’s salve worked wonders, so he should be fine.

  Colette tied the bandage and sat back on her legs from the kneeling position she had taken to minister to Louis as he lay on the settee. She wiped a hand over her brow. “May I ask you a question?”

  He raised his eyebrow quizzically. “Of course.”

  “Why do you put yourself in the way of danger?”

  “You mean tonight?”

  “I mean in general, why do you, a noble-born man, put yourself in dangerous situations? I have chosen my lot in life, but you, you can make a different choice, one less fraught with danger.”

  “Are you saying you did not want me to come to your aid in the study tonight?”

  Colette crossed her arms. “You know I am grateful that you saved me. I don’t know what would have happened if you had not come.”

  “We will not think about it. You are safe here with me.”

  “Which brings me back to my question. Why are you doing this? Partnering with a known criminal like me, trying to bring down the Fox. There are police and other’s whose job it is to protect us. Why you?”

  “Mayhap I am bored and need something to occupy my time.”

  Colette sighed. “You know exactly what I mean. Please, Louis, be serious for once.” She placed her hands over his.

  So, she wanted to have a serious discussion. It was the least he could do since he had turned her world upside down. Perhaps speaking of the past would help ease the burden. There were not many, few in fact, who knew what had happened to Michelle. The only people who knew the truth were André, Henri, and his friends across the channel. It had been some time since he had seen his English compatriots. It would be nice to have someone to keep his confidence, as Michelle once had.

  Louis steadied his focus on the woman kneeling at his side. He sat up and offered his hand so she could sit beside him. “I believe the Fox may have been involved in my wife’s death.”

  Colette sucked in a quick breath at hearing his words.

  “I cannot prove it, but somehow, I know. It is a feeling that I have, and the only way to know is to find him. I need to know the truth.”

  “So you do this for revenge?”

  “In part, but it did not start out that way. I love my country and wanted to serve in any way I could. The aristocracy is dead, and although I have funds to live a comfortable life, I have always wanted to do more.”

  “So you became a spy for the French government?”

  “I’m not a spy in the truest sense of the word. I merely use my influence and place in society to garner information that may be useful for the war effort. Of course, no one knows I work for the Ministry of Defense. I would say I am more of an informant.”

  Colette was silent for a few moments. “I want revenge on the Fox as well. He had a friend of mine killed. Like you, I want to see him pay. I want to see his face as he takes his last breath.” Her hands formed into fists, and her voice shook.

  They were more alike than Louis had thought. Both had vengeance in their hearts for the fiend who had taken their loved ones away. If they captured the Fox, one thing Louis knew was that he would never see a trial. He would get a confession from the traitor, then kill him. Perhaps then his soul would be at peace, after getting justice for Michelle. But he would not let Colette be a part of it. No matter what she might say, he would not let the stain of death touch her. She would have to be content knowing the man had died, but she would take no part in it.

  “We will find him and bring him to justice,” Louis said, squeezing her hand, “together.” Some of the tension left Colette’s body. “By the by, did you discover anything in Fronsac’s study before you were interrupted?” Louis had almost forgotten to ask.

  “I searched his entire desk. I even checked for any secret compartments, but I could not find anything. Those men came in just as I started to search the bookshelves.”

  “It is odd. Henri gave me that tip just earlier today. Something about it does not feel right.”

  “What?”

  He chewed his bottom lip as he pondered. “I cannot put my finger on it. This is the second time in twenty-four hours that I have been given faulty information.”

  “Do you think it’s the Fox?”

  “I’m not sure. Like I said, Henri gave me this recent information.”

  “Has he ever given you reason to question his loyalty?”

  “No. He has always been reliable. We grew up together. His father was André’s butler until his retirement.” The boys had been inseparable in their younger years. Where one had been, the other had been close to follow. But lately Henri’s actions had cast a shadow of doubt. At the first opportunity, Louis would ask Henri who had given him the information regarding Fronsac.

  “If your instincts tell you he is trustworthy, I would not doubt them.” Colette rose from her seat. “Now, I think you should get some rest. It has been an eventful day. Good night.”

  “Good night, Colette.” Louis watched her leave then poured a drink. He went to his room a short time later.

  Louis settled into bed, but nagging suspicions kept him awake. When he checked the clock, two hours had passed, he cursed. At this rate he would never get to sleep. He put a robe on since he was dressed only in his drawers. Perhaps if he had a snack, it might help him sleep. His took a candle and went to the kitchen.

  Cook always left a few nibbles on the counter, knowing her employer kept irregular hours. As he drew nearer, he heard a noise. It sounded like someone was already in the kitchen. Louis’s senses sharpened. If someone was trying to rob him, they were about to be in for a surprise.

  He came to the last corner before the main kitchen. Someone was definitely walking about in there. Although he had no weapon, Louis had little fear that he would be a match for anyone. Taking the last step, he entered the kitchen and saw a figure in a white nightdress searching the pantry. The mystery intruder spun around. It was Colette.

  She let out a small scream and dropped the bread and jam in her hands. At the same time Louis let out the breath he had been holding. He helped Colette gather the dropped items.

  “You gave me a fright. Don’t you know it’s not polite to scare a woman out of her wits?”

  “Me! Don’t you know better than to scurry around the kitchen in the middle of the night?”

  Colette mumbled something under her breath as she stood up. She grabbed the jam from Louis’s grasp and set it on the table with a loud thud. “I could not sleep. I thought some food might help.”

  “It seems we are of a like mind.”

  “On some things, perhaps.” She found a knife and cut two slices of bread, slathering each generously with butter and jam.

  Louis took the proffered slice and saluted her. “Here’s to sweet dreams.”

  “Or to no dreams at all.”

  “Do you have dreams that haunt you?”

  Before answering, Colette swallowed her bite. “I dream
that I’m running, trying to catch someone, but all I can see is the shape of a figure, just out of my reach. Sometimes I dream about the children, that I’m not there for them. I can see them crying and scared, but I cannot protect them.” Her voice broke at the end. “I fear I will be trapped in this life forever, that I will lose myself and never find the peace that I desire. I don’t want this life anymore, Louis.”

  He went to Colette and cradled her face in his hands. “You are a good person, Colette. Do not think otherwise. What you are doing takes a courage and strength that most men do not possess. I won’t let you go back; I cannot let you go back.”

  Louis didn’t know where the words had come from. Somewhere, deep inside, where all his love and compassion had been walled off since Michelle’s death, a small crack had formed in his heart’s defenses. He held her stare and saw a change in her expression. The fear in her eyes dwindled.

  Merely a breath separated them, as if an invisible string drew them together. Louis yearned to touch her, to taste her lips. Without knowing how she would respond he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. She tasted like raspberries from the jam, so sweet and tart at the same time. It was madness, but he did not care. A second later his lips kissed hers again, this time more fervently.

  Louis pulled her against the length of his body. He wanted her to feel what she did to him, the arousal that grew between his legs. Colette leaned into his embrace and put her arms around his waist. A throaty moan of pleasure rumbled in her throat as she returned Louis’s embrace. The sound of her enjoyment made him hungry for more.

  The tip of his tongue glided across her lips, and she opened for him. Their tongues met and dueled with all the pent-up desire that had been boiling beneath the surface. Louis had guessed she would be passionate. Her fiery independence and resilience spoke of a woman who would love just as vehemently as she protected those in her care. Colette explored his mouth, sweeping her tongue and taking his essence into her. The sweetness of her mouth made his cock strain to be released.