The Spy Who Loved Her: Once Upon an Accident, Book 3

by Melissa Schroeder

  “So now you do this.”

  “It is what my husband trained me for.”

  Anna felt her eyes widen at the statement. “Your husband made you a spy?”

  “My husband was a spy. As was Daniel’s father. But…I believe that is something you need to discuss with Daniel.”

  “So, there isn’t any…”

  “Any?” It took a moment, but Joanna’s expression cleared. “Oh. No. There is nothing going on between Daniel and me, just as I told you last night. There has never been anyone but my husband for me.”

  A small sharp jab of envy bit into Anna’s heart at the wealth of love she heard in the other woman’s voice. She had known those relationships existed. She watched her brother and cousin fall in love, marry for it. But it was not for her. The one man she had always loved had just informed her that he had been paying attention to her because she was in danger. That did not speak of undying love or devotion…at least not to her.

  Joanna chuckled. “Oh, Daniel is in for a very hard time with you, my lady.”

  Anna focused on her for a moment, then looked away. “I said I would not cause you any problems and I mean it. I might not always seem like the brightest one of the bunch, but I am not stupid.”

  The older woman cocked her head to one side as she studied her. “I believe that you are far more intelligent than you let on to be.”

  Anna opened her mouth to refute it.

  “Do not lie to me and insult my intelligence. I am not saying it is a bad thing. But I believe that even Daniel, a man who rarely underestimates anyone, man or woman, might have done so with you.”

  “That isn’t that important.”

  Lady Joanna said nothing, her expression letting Anna know exactly how she felt.

  “Yes. Well.” She ran her hands down the front of her dress. “I guess I need to retire, or something. Or…I don’t know.”

  “Act as you normally do. Do not deviate from your normal routines. Just act like everything is normal.”

  Anna nodded. “I wish it was.”

  “Sometimes not getting what we wished for is a blessing in disguise.”

  Anna had nothing to say to that but nod. As she slipped out the door and walked to her room, her mind bubbled with the ramifications of what had just transpired. Daniel was a spy, and not only that, apparently a very powerful one…trained by his father. She barely noticed the people she passed, mostly house staff. Once she reached her room, she shut the door and leaned back against it.

  A strange sense of calmness slipped over her. It was decidedly odd that at the moment she had no feelings…she was numb. What had she been thinking? Daniel would never be interested in a woman like her. No good men could. She had proven that with Dewhurst.

  She walked to her bed as the memories from three years ago blew to the forefront of her brain. There had been many suitors before him. With her dowry and connections, she was a catch. Oh, she was attractive enough, but she knew those two things sealed the deal, so to speak.

  She threw herself on the bed and rolled over onto her back. She closed her eyes and allowed the events of those last few weeks before her cousin’s abduction flitted through her mind. She had been so stupid, so naive. Was it any wonder that Dewhurst had used her so easily? She had been like a lamb to the slaughter.

  He had known how badly she needed the attention. He had found her weakness and played with her. Daniel’s escapades had been getting out of control, and having a man who seemingly did not need her fortune, had his choice of women, focus his attention on her… She had fallen for it, ready to throw caution to the wind. If Dewhurst had asked her to run off to Gretna Greene, she would have gone. That carefree feeling had dissolved the moment she found out about his duplicity. She had been duped, used, and very nearly lost her good name. It was something she would not do again. She did not know how to react to this latest development. Daniel had always been a friend, someone to look up to. Someone she loved. She had realized last night that she was still in love with him. It was no longer just a girlhood crush.

  What would she do? She did not know. She would never expose him, put him in danger. But other than that…

  With a sigh, she picked herself up and decided to get out. She needed time to think and clean, fresh country air always seemed to help with that. After what had happened to Daniel she knew she would have to stay close to the house, but she needed solitude. As she pulled the bell cord, she prayed that it would help this time.

  Daniel eased his way through the music room as he tried to ignore the bellowing of one of Lord Tate’s girls. Everyone faced forward, seemingly interested in the untalented chit. Bloody hell, the girl could not sing. In fact, there was a good chance she was strangling a cat.

  He skimmed the room for Anna and suppressed a sigh. It seemed that he spent most of his time looking for her these days. She was beginning to become an obsession of his, one that he did not know if he would ever be able to control. She had become his first thought in the morning, his last thought at night, and the woman who refused to let him sleep as she invaded his dreams.

  When he could not find her, he located her mother, sitting next to his. Damn. He had to look inconspicuous moving to the other side of the room, but at least it would appear he was approaching his mother.

  “Daniel.”

  He leaned down to allow his mother to kiss his cheek.

  “Mother. Lady Victoria.”

  Anna’s mother bowed her head.

  “I thought you would be out riding, or doing something manly.” His mother could always make him feel as if he were a lad in leading strings.

  A twinge of guilt stabbed his stomach. He had not told his mother of the earlier altercation. Furthermore, he had ordered both Jo and Jack to secrecy. He pushed the feelings aside, knowing that alerting his mother would only make his investigation impossible.

  “I went out for a ride this morning and was not in the mood for the hunt they had planned this afternoon.” He glanced around the room. “I take it Lady Anna decided not to attend the music this afternoon?”

  Lady Victoria made a face. “No. Anna likes music, but she said she was not in the mood. She took a book outside to read.”

  Alarm shifted through him. “Alone?”

  The tone of his voice caused Lady Victoria to look at him curiously. “Well, I believe she was going to find a nice bench in the garden and read. She tends to spend a lot of time outdoors when we are in the country. She misses the freedom when we are in town. It is actually warm for this time of year.”

  He glanced at his mother and noticed her almost imperceptible nod. She was worried also.

  “Well, ladies, I think I shall take a stroll outside.”

  With little ceremony, he slipped out the French doors and into the garden. When he could not find Anna in the gardens near the house, his worry turned into panic. Then he saw her sitting close to the front lawn, the book she had brought to read sitting beside her on the bench. He could not see her since her back was to him. As he approached, he took the time to drink in the sight of her.

  His need for her had been growing for years. Now he could not seem to control it. Their interactions did little to control his appetite. In truth, he was now ravenous for her. For a man who was used to control, he did not like it. Anything—drink, gambling, women—that made you lose your control was bad for a man. His father had taught him that. It had been one of his earliest lessons.

  But now, with the afternoon sun picking up the gold curls peeking out from under her hat, he did not think of that. All he did think of was pulling that hat off her head and watching as those curls fell about her shoulders.

  He approached silently, thinking she would not hear his approach. But before he could reach her, she glanced over her shoulder at him, as if she knew he was there.

  “I thought you would be out on the hunt.”

  There was no condemnation in her voice, or in her expression. It was then that he realized he had expected it.

 
; “After my morning I thought it best to stay close to the house.”

  She frowned. “Whatever do you mean?”

  Inwardly, he cursed. Lying to Anna was difficult, and he knew at the moment no matter what story he improvised, she would know it. Worse, he didn’t want to lie to her.

  He took the last few steps and sat beside her on the bench. “As I said, someone took a shot at me this morning.”

  “Of course. You told me to stay close to the house.” She turned around and looked over her shoulder at the house. “As you can see, I am very close.”

  “I also did not want to leave you alone.”

  Her brow puckered in a frown. “Why ever not?”

  “I told you that someone is after you.”

  She sighed and looked out over the winter lawn. “Yes, so you and Jo say. I doubt there is much to worry about though. What use would harming me do this Viper person?”

  Because it would destroy me. So spoke his heart, but he could not bring himself to say the words aloud. He did not think she would believe him if he did tell her. At the moment, he knew she thought he had seduced her so that he could stay close to her. She would never believe he had done it because he had to stay close to her. Being in close contact with Anna crumbled any will he had to behave as he should.

  “He has little logic. You have thwarted his plans and I am sure he is irritated. He would think it imperative to pay you back.”

  She nodded, but said nothing. The silence stretched.

  “Anna.” She did not look at him. “Look at me.”

  She did then, her expression calm.

  “I know I do not have the right to ask, but you will keep this all a secret, yes?”

  Something that looked close to disappointment moved over her face before it disappeared. “I gave you my word.”

  Then she turned from him. He wanted to grab her, shake her, get some kind of reaction. But at the moment, if he touched her Daniel wasn’t too sure he could control himself.

  “I want you to be very careful. Being out here by yourself is not a good idea.”

  “There are plenty of people around.”

  He nodded in agreement. “But I would rather you stay in groups.”

  Another sigh. “Of course.”

  “And it would be better if you actually pretend to be in search of a husband.”

  With precise movements, she turned to him then. “Indeed? And how would I go about doing that?”

  “Stop avoiding the activities. Dance at night. Spend time with eligible bachelors.”

  She said nothing in response, her gaze studying him. When she finally answered, he was fighting the urge to fidget like a young boy. “As you wish.”

  She rose, and the sense of losing her washed over him. This was not the Anna he knew. Even in her more reserved moments the last few years, she was not this…composed. She had taken her passion for life and delved into the foundling home. He grabbed at her hand as if he needed a lifeline. She stilled but did not look at him.

  “Anna?”

  “I said I would do as you ask, which means I should return now.”

  He nodded and willed himself to release her hand.

  “Good day, my lord.”

  She said nothing more as she walked toward the house. Her easy grace pulled the attention of several of the men in the area. They watched her, the same lustful longing in their expression that he felt in his gut. But there was something more from him, and he knew it. It scared the bloody hell out of him, but at that moment he did not think there was a way to stop this.

  He had spent the last few years denying he was in love with the one woman he could never had. Now he had to do everything to keep her safe, or die trying.

  Anna sighed as she approached her door later that night. She had done what Daniel had asked. Of course, she would. Even knowing his interest in her was purely for her safety, even though he had broken her heart, she would do as he asked. She was powerless not to. She knew he had asked it for her safety. Knowing that his life was at stake made her compliance critical.

  She slipped through her door, wanting nothing but to dissolve into dreams. It had been a long day, one that she would care not to think about. She had told Gerty to go to bed. The poor woman had been up at the crack of dawn helping Anna, and she had not had the heart to expect Gerty to wait up for her. Of course, now Anna had to try and get out of her dress by herself.

  She closed the door behind her and set her dance card on the dressing table to the right of the door.

  “I see that you were smart enough to return to your room by yourself.” She gasped and turned to find an enraged Daniel bearing down on her. “I do not want to think what would happen if you had not.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Anna’s heart slammed against her chest as she tried to calm herself. She squinted but could only make the outline of Daniel’s body near the window.

  “What in heavens are you thinking? Why are you here?”

  He moved out of the shadows, dressed in the same clothes he had worn downstairs. He had done his best to appear to ignore her, and she had held her end of the bargain also. But it had been harder than ever. Even as she had told herself to ignore him, she would watch him out of the corner of her eye.

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  Every word was punctuated with anger. When she looked up, irritation defined the lines of his face.

  “I have no idea what you are talking about. But I do not appreciate you popping into my room this way.”

  She tried to move around him, but he stalked toward her. She didn’t realize she had retreated back until she felt the wall at her back.

  “You do not appreciate it? Do you know what I do not appreciate, Anna?”

  She could not speak. Fury cascaded off him in waves. Rage burned in his eyes. In her life, she had never seen Daniel so mad. She shook her head.

  “No? Let me enlighten you. Seeing a woman who allowed me certain liberties just last night allowing men to slobber on her all night is enough to make any man irritated.”

  There was a feral look clouding his golden brown eyes. She could not seem to look away. Shadows danced over his face, thrown there by the candle light, making him seem more ominous. Her blood pounded in her veins, her head started to spin.

  “Y-you told me to do it. You said to act like I was looking for a husband.”

  He placed a hand on either side of her head, effectively caging her in. “Yes. A husband. Not a protector.”

  The implication of his words sent the rage he had been displaying sizzling through her, bursting up through the fear she had felt. She placed her hands on her chest and shoved him. The incredulous look on his face would have made her laugh, if she could find any kind of humor. But at the moment, anger and pain surged through her.

  “How dare you? I did exactly as you asked. I played the part.”

  He looked at her. “Indeed? I do not believe I told you to dress like a tart.”

  Mortification sent a wave of heat to her face. She had picked the dress on purpose. It was one Colleen had convinced her to buy. Bright red, cut to reveal just enough of her bosom. She had always felt beautiful in it. But now she felt tawdry.

  “I do not look like a tart. In fact, I am wearing much more material than that widow you were paying attention to.”

  The moment she said the words, she wanted to bite her tongue. He tried to pounce on her mistake.

  “A widow?”

  She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “Lady Waldrip.”

  The anger ebbed from his features. “I did not think you noticed what I was doing. She was just a means to an end.”

  She couldn’t look him in the face. “Believe me, I did not. It was noticed by several people.”

  “Who then had to say something to you?”

  She nodded.

  “I apologize. I thought it best that people thought my attention were elsewhere.”

  “That is not my point. My point is my dress is
no less respectable than hers.”

  The moment she said it, his features tightened again and she realized her mistake. “Yes, let’s talk about this dress. Does your brother know you bought such a dress?”

  She did not like the lethal tone his voice had just taken. She was downright sick of hearing him complain about her choice in dresses. It was not as if she asked for the role she had been thrown into.

  “I answer to no man.”

  Everything about him seemed to still. “What did you just say?”

  Air clogged up in her throat as her heart beat slammed against her chest again. “I said I answer to no man.”

  She could barely hear the words, even though she hoped she had made her point. His nostrils flared, his eyes narrowed. He caged her in with his arms again, but this time, he leaned into her. The heat of his body warmed hers. His scent surrounded her.

  “Are you challenging me, Anna?”

  She opened her mouth but no words came out. There was a darkness about him, something lethal that she had never seen before. She should be scared out of her mind—and she was, to a point. There was another emotion that took over. Desire. Passion. Need.

  “I don’t think it very wise to challenge me. I had a rough night.”

  She swallowed at the way he looked at her, as if he was here to claim her. Even as her mind told her body not to respond, she did just that. Her breasts grew heavy, achy for his touch. Her skin prickled with anticipation.

  “Y-you? I had to deal with fortune hunters all night.”

  He leaned in and nuzzled her neck. His breath feathered over her skin before she felt him nip at her neck. “I had to watch while you danced with them, letting them paw all over you.”

  “I did not.”

  “I do not know when it became such a trial; watching men touch you, act as if they had a chance with you.”

  “You…” She swallowed again, her throat suddenly dry. “I thought I was supposed to do that.”

  He nodded. “But I did not think of how it would feel.”

  He had laid not a hand on her, only the touch of his lips over her sensitive flesh. But she felt trapped…captured…entranced.