The Spy’s Lady
Book 2 of Romancing Intrigue
By: Laura Shipley
Copyright © 2020 Laura Shipley
ISBN: 978-0-9997798-3-5
All right reserved
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
Cover design by Lisa Messegee, “The Write Designer”
First printing edition 2020
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Chapter 1
England, 1854
The crunch of bone reverberated in Ethan Norris’s ears as he rammed his fist into his opponent’s nose. The stranger would not look pretty in the morning. Ethan and his friend, Hugh Fitzsimmons, had been investigating suspected traitors to the Crown when they had found themselves in a seedy part of London. They had been watching the suspects’ house, and believed it was empty. Upon entering, the duo had been surprised to discover three men, who appeared just as stunned to see them.
At that point, all hell had broken loose with fists flying and weapons brandished. Luckily, Ethan and Hugh were in peak physical shape while the brutes they faced were older, fatter, and slower. The fight ended quickly, but not before Ethan had received a few fresh bruises.
“Bloody hell,” Ethan cursed to himself. Now, he would have to explain his bruised jaw to his mother. She would worry and wonder what he had done to earn those marks.
No doubt, Ethan’s appearance would raise questions. His honey-colored locks were in greater disarray than usual. While the current fashion favored men with short hair, Ethan preferred to keep his slightly longer. A glance down showed his once crisp shirt now held wrinkles and drops of blood dotted the fabric. He would have to make sure his valet did not see his shirt, or trousers, for that matter. There was a jagged cut in the left pant leg which would not be repairable. Even with all the scrapes and bruises, Ethan’s emerald eyes twinkled. There was nothing like a good fight to get his adrenaline pumping.
Ethan’s parents believed he engaged in the occasional brawl over cards or women like other men of the nobility. Little did they know, Ethan and his friends were part of a secret agency within the War Department. They helped sniff out foreign and domestic traitors and enemies of England. They were currently in the middle of a conflict on the Crimean Peninsula. Even though the war was on foreign ground, there were enemies everywhere who were ready to sell out their country for money and power.
Ethan and Hugh stood over the men they had overpowered and made sure they did not stir from their slumber too soon. Hugh scanned the compact room and said, “I hope there are no more surprises. How did these men escape our notice? The scouts we relieved did not mention that any people were in the house.”
Ethan turned to answer but was stopped short by a searing pain. Damn knife wound. He clutched the side of his chest and hissed, “It does not matter now. We have to search this place before anyone else decides to pop in.”
They searched the house for incriminating documents but found nothing. As they finished, one of the criminals moaned and stirred. Ethan glanced at Hugh and nodded. They pulled the man onto a chair and tied him up before he fully recovered. When the man came to his senses, Ethan questioned him.
“Where are the documents?”
The prisoner shook his head and said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Do not play me for a fool. You are working with a group of thieves, and you have stolen important government information. Now tell me where it is.” Ethan demanded.
“I don’t know…“ The man’s head whipped to the side from the impact of Ethan’s fist.
Ethan leaned over the now-bleeding bastard. “I will not ask you again. Where are the documents? If you do not tell me, my friend here gets to land the next blow.”
The restrained man peered at Hugh. An almost demonic grin crossed Hugh’s face. Fear coursed through the prisoner, and he blubbered, “The far-right corner, under the floorboards.”
Ethan retrieved the papers, and the two friends left the house, shrouded in the protection of darkness. They made their way on foot for two blocks before retrieving their horses from a nearby stable. They mounted and rode off to meet their superior.
The London streets were silent. The only sound was the echo of the horse’s hooves on the street. It was early in the morning and most people were still in their beds. Due to the secretive nature of their work Ethan and Hugh were accustomed to keeping strange hours. No one questioned their whereabouts since they frequented the gaming halls and brothels to support their late-night travels. To society, it was perfectly acceptable for men of their noble status to be out carousing until all hours of the night. They had the ideal cover story.
The friends rode down a dark lane and steered their horses into the back alley of a sizeable brick house. A groom took their horses, and they entered the building. Once inside they walked into a spacious study where an older gentleman read over a pile of papers. He paused when the door opened.
“Ah, you both look a little worse for wear,” he chuckled. “I trust you did not have too much trouble?”
“Nothing we couldn’t handle, sir.” Hugh puffed out his chest and cocked his eyebrow. “You should see the other blokes.”
Ethan stepped forward. “Here are the papers, sir.”
He handed the papers over to Sir Darnley, the head of their secret organization of spies. Sir Darnley had made it his life’s mission to keep England safe. Over the years, he had recruited talented men and formed a network that took on the more delicate and dangerous missions for the Crown. Although the War Department knew of the organization’s existence, officially they denied any knowledge of Sir Darnley’s merry band of men.
The older man reclined in his seat across the desk from Ethan and Hugh. Although Sir Darnley was well into his fifties, he had the physique of someone half his age.
“Well, the papers appear to be authentic,” Sir Darnley said. “Well done. With this information, we can confiscate the ships that have been smuggling guns to our enemies. I know Her Majesty appreciates your help, as usual.” He placed the papers in his desk drawer. “Hugh, I believe you are on leave until your next set of orders come in. Correct?”
“Yes, sir, and I plan to use my time wisely.”
Ethan knew that would include plenty of time at the races, gambling halls and any other mischief the Army captain could find. Ethan smiled. Hugh was one of his oldest friends, next to Phillip Crestwood. The three had been on many missions since joining Sir Darnley’s troop of spies. He would not trade this work for anything. It had helped him get through a rough time in his life and given him purpose when melancholy might have otherwise drug him down. An image of Kate invaded his mind, but he shook it off
as quickly as it appeared. Ethan and his friends all had personal demons they wished to forget, and their work helped them to do so. Sir Darnley’s booming voice brought him out of his private thoughts.
“Ethan, my boy, will you be staying in town?”
“No, I leave for my family’s estate up north. My father and mother will be traveling for a month or more, and I am to oversee things in their absence. My sister is already there.”
Sir Darnley nodded. “Very well then, consider this case closed. I will contact you if I need anything further. Enjoy your stay in the country, Ethan. And Hugh, try not to get into too much trouble.” The older man laughed as the friends waved their farewells.
As they left, Hugh placed his hand on Ethan’s arm to stop him for a moment. “Why don’t you come out with me tonight? It will be like the old days. You can have an enjoyable night before removing yourself to the boredom of the country.”
The old days, Ethan thought, were long ago. It had been almost five years since he had caroused with his friends until dawn. During that time in his life, he had no sense of duty or loyalty to anyone or anything, including Kate. Ethan had believed she would wait for him to grow up, but it had been too late. The carelessness of youth had caused him to lose the one woman he ever loved. That type of life was behind him now.
“No, I’m going home to rest. I am getting too old for these long nights. Plus, if I’m lucky, I can avoid my parents until they leave for their trip. I hate seeing the disappointment in my father’s eyes every time he sees me like this.” Ethan despised the lies and secrets, but the fewer people who knew what he did, the better. It was safer for them and for England. Far better for his father to believe Ethan engaged in drunken brawls then to know his only son risked his life on a continuous basis, even if it was for Queen and country.
Hugh suggested, “Then tell him the truth, he’ll understand.”
Ethan shook his head, “You know the more people we tell, the greater the risk to them and us. It’s bad enough that Emily knows.”
“Well, it was either tell her or bleed out from that damn gunshot wound,” Hugh said. “Besides, Emily is trustworthy; she’s your sister, for God’s sake.”
Ethan’s younger sister had found out about their escapades a year ago when she had accidentally been a pawn in a conspiracy game. She had been tending to a sick man in the village near their family’s country estate. The invalid had asked her to forward correspondence to his supposed family about his health. The letter actually described a plot to destroy one of the munition buildings supplying arms for the war, and Emily had been caught in the middle. During the capture of the suspect Ethan had been shot. Thankfully, Emily was a skilled healer and had patched up his wound. After that they had no choice but to tell her, since Emily would have hounded them until they had told her the truth.
“No, I will let it go for now. I want to get an early start in the morning, so I can be at the house by tomorrow night.”
Hugh nodded. “All right, old man. If you need me, you know where to find me. If you are still in the country, I will send word if I get orders for the continent.”
The friends tried their best to keep each other informed of their whereabouts when they were separated, in case anyone required assistance with missions. Hugh was still officially a Captain in Her Majesty’s Army, so he spent some of his time in that capacity as well as working for Sir Darnley.
Chapter 2
The ride home did not take long, much to Ethan’s relief. His chest throbbed from the blows he had sustained during the fight. All he wished to do was to lie down with a glass of brandy and fall asleep. It would take the better part of the next day to travel to his family’s country estate. He preferred to stay in the city to be close to his work, but his father had asked this favor, and he would carry it out. It wasn’t that he disliked the country, but it stirred up too many memories of a girl with strawberry red hair and eyes the color of the sky on a clear summer’s day. He downed the brandy in one swallow, hoping to drown out her memory When at last the fog of fatigue shrouded his eyes, Ethan climbed into bed.
The following morning, Ethan set out on his journey. By late afternoon, the carriage reached its destination. He sighed at the sight of the manor house, looming in the distance. It had been a long ride, and he was ready to get out and stretch his cramped legs. The estate was nestled in the North Hampton countryside. The grounds leading up to the house were well-manicured with neatly trimmed hedges on both sides. The flowers were blooming, a rainbow of colors and a perfume of aromas. Off to the east, Ethan could barely make out the cattle grazing in the pastures. For the next month or more, he would live the quiet, idyllic life of a country nobleman. Already, he missed the noise and chaos of the city. He longed for the sights and smells that mingled together to create the town he loved.
As Ethan neared the house, he swore he could see the shadows of the past: children running around the front lawn playing croquet, rebellious strands of red hair peeking out from under the bonnet of one of the girls. Ethan’s heart constricted. He could not let the memories come back in full force. All these years, he had done his best to forget and let go of the heartache and betrayal in his heart. But when he had attended Phillip’s recent wedding, the old pain had threatened to resurface. Ethan reminded himself he was here to fulfill the tasks laid out for him by his father, and nothing more.
The carriage pulled up to the house, and he smiled at the sight of his sister, Emily, hurrying to greet him. Her blond hair was a shade darker than his, but they shared the same green eyes. She was the most important person in the world to him. Six years his junior, she had followed him around incessantly when they were children. Ethan had watched Emily blossom into a beautiful, independent young lady, who, at twenty years of age, had no aspirations for marriage. It was one reason he loved her so much; they were kindred spirits. They both desired to make their own path in life. The carriage stopped, and Ethan rushed to embrace her.
Emily clutched him and said, “It is good to see you, brother. It has been so boring here with no one around.”
They linked arms and entered the house. “Surely, you have been to see your friends or gone to the village?”
Emily moaned, “Yes, but it is rather dull at times. It is always the same gossip, card games, and picnics. Now, with you here, it will be exciting.”
Laughing at her enthusiasm, Ethan replied, “I’m sorry to disappoint, dearest, but I left the excitement in London.”
Emily pouted in jest, and Ethan smiled. He knew his sister craved adventure. She should have been born a man. They entered the house and walked into the sitting room.
“Dinner will be ready shortly. Do you want to change beforehand?”
“No, I’m starving.” Ethan seated himself on the chair by the fire, and Emily handed him a glass of brandy. He saluted her in thanks before taking a sip. “Now, tell me what’s been going on. Is there anything I should know about?”
“Nothing much, really. The village will have a fair in a month, so everyone is excited about that. Mr. Fairfax had a flare of his gout, and Mrs. Richards had another baby. That makes six total now. Lord and Lady Jeffries have just returned from abroad. Nothing earth-shattering. How about you? Any daring adventures with the lads in your quest to save England?”
Ethan put down his glass and smirked, “You know very well I cannot tell you anything, even if I wanted to. Are you still helping Dr. Wallace?”
“Yes, I helped deliver Mrs. Richard’s baby, and I assisted with a few bruises and falls, here and there. Nothing too terrible.”
“At least you are keeping yourself busy.”
Emily agreed. “Anything to keep me away from those dull parties. I know mother would say it’s not the proper way for a lady to act, but I do so love helping.”
“I know, and I fully support you wanting to make more of your life. You have a true gift.”
Indeed, Emily had a calling for aiding the sick and wounded. As a child, she had tended to any injure
d wild animal she came upon. As an adult, her proclivity for healing had transferred to humans. Dr. Wallace, the village doctor, had taught her some medical skills, but Emily had also sought the advice of the town midwife and others. She handled the minor issues with the tenants who lived farther away from the village. It was the one thing that kept her occupied during her time in the country.
The evening passed pleasantly. Ethan and Emily played cards, then he listened while she played the piano.
“By the way, Sir Brampton and his sister are having a dinner party tomorrow night. I told them you would be in attendance, as well as myself, if you arrived from London on time.”
“I thought you did not like these dinner parties?” Ethan said with a sarcastic tone.
Emily bristled. “Well at least I will have you to share in my misery.”
“Then I am all yours, dear sister.” He chuckled.
An hour later the siblings retired to their rooms for the night.
The following morning, Emily told Ethan that she had plans to see a friend for lunch, but she promised to return in time to change for the Brampton’s party. Ethan intended to visit the tenants to determine if any repairs were needed on their properties. The previous night, Emily had informed him that a storm had passed through a few days prior, and there had been damage to some of the farms. Ethan grew up knowing all the tenants, so caring for their properties did not feel like a chore. He sprang onto his horse and made for the first house.
Chapter 3
Lady Katherine (Kate) Montgomery, Countess of Leeds, paced the floor of her parents’ morning room. She was restless as she waited for her good friend, Emily Norris, to arrive. Kate and her son, Robbie, had arrived at her childhood home a week ago, but she still could not relax. Recent, disturbing events had caused her to flee her late husband’s house and travel over one hundred miles to the safety of her family’s estate. She hated to admit it, but fear had followed her. Kate could not shake her uneasiness. Although she was home, she could not afford to become complacent.
The Spy's Lady: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 2) Page 1
