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

by Melissa Schroeder

  He stopped and looked at her. “How did you know?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Your mother told me years ago. We do not have time to go through all that now. Oh, there is Adelaide.”

  His mother walked sedately toward them, a serene look on her face, but he saw a glimpse of worry in her eyes.

  “I have not found her. Any luck?”

  Both of them shook their heads. Just then he caught a glimpse of Jack in the hallway arguing with one of the staff. He strode over and dismissed the servant.

  “What did you find?”

  Before he could answer, his cousin walked up behind him. His hair was a mess, his clothes not much better.

  “I wanted to let you know what I found out. Jack here beat me to the door though.” He tossed a nasty look at the old retainer. “Lord Ashburn wasn’t the spy. He apparently was out of the country at the time of your father’s death.”

  “But the money, the accounts…”

  “All handled by his man of business, who also works for Lord Horace Elwood.”

  The gravity of his words shook Daniel to his core. The man who had been his father’s best friend, who had stepped in and helped Daniel as he’d tried to take over the reins of an earldom. The same man who showed disdain for Anna on more than one occasion. Cold seeped into his blood.

  “He’s a family friend.”

  “Yes. And apparently he became a family friend for a reason.”

  “And he just left with Lady Anna.”

  His head whipped around at a breathless Jack. “What the bloody hell are you talking about?”

  “I didn’t know this latest bit of news, and I saw the two of them leave in his carriage.”

  “Dammit.” He ran down the hall and out the front door, ignoring the footmen. Simon was running next to him, Jack pulling behind them.

  “Daniel!” his mother yelled. “What has happened?”

  He looked up at the woman he loved, the woman who had been the one person he could always count on, and realized that the news would break her heart. To know that a family friend, her husband’s best friend, was his killer would surely cause her undue pain. But he had no time now to explain, to soothe. Knowing the Viper as he did, Daniel knew Anna was being held to trap him. .If he didn’t act fast, the Viper would discard her without a thought.

  “Don’t worry. I know where she is. Tell Victoria I will bring her back safely.”

  After telling the driver where to go, he jumped into his cousin’s carriage and joined both his cousin and Jack.

  “Do you know where to go?” Simon asked.

  His memory went back to the conversation that he had not picked up on, the details that he should have heard had he not been so wrapped in his pursuit of Anna. The one place she would hurt the most if it was destroyed.

  “Oh, yes, I do know where to go.”

  “He will not come after me, you know.” Anna tried to sound brave, but being tied up to a chair, staring at a man who kept mumbling to himself had her worried. She knew his plan was to draw Daniel here, but she knew he wasn’t completely sane at the moment.

  “Of course he will. You are the only thing that would get him to react. That or his family.”

  She tried not to show her reaction on her face. She knew no matter what, Daniel would pursue this, and as clever as he was, he would realize the one place Elwood would take her to was her orphanage.

  “You were the one in the alley, the night Carlotta came to the orphanage.”

  He smiled. It was all teeth and no warmth. “People rarely pay attention to a little old man.”

  When Anna had realized the moment he planned to take her to the orphanage, she had fought him. Only the threat of killing anyone who tried to help her kept her quiet. She tossed another look of apology at Mrs. Markham, although she could not see it. He had hit the elderly woman over the head with the butt of his gun and she had been out since then. Anna needed to convince the man that she was not someone Daniel would risk his life for.

  “I am just a family friend.”

  He cackled and she winced. His horrible laugh echoed through the vacant halls. She was worried one of the boys would come to the office in search of Mrs. Markham.

  One eyebrow rose as his eyes focused on her. “Indeed? Is that why he spent the night in your room at the house party? Or maybe that is why you spent so long secluded in a locked library?”

  She sniffed and tried to look indignant. “I have no idea what you are talking about. Even if it were true, he would not be dense enough to fall for such a stupid plan.”

  “I have to disagree with you, Anna,” Daniel said from the entrance. “There is no way I could leave you at the mercy of this bastard.”

  She watched in horror as Lord Elwood turned the gun in the direction of Daniel.

  “I knew you would come. You have proved harder to kill than your father.”

  Daniel never responded to that, but she saw the twitch in the corner of his eye. Facing his father’s killer was bad enough, but knowing that this man, the one he had always looked up to, had killed him was a little much for anyone to bear.

  “Why?”

  “Why what, dear boy.” His pleasant tone had her blood turning to ice.

  “Why did you kill him? Why are you a traitor?”

  Elwood shrugged. “You do not know what it is like.”

  “Explain.”

  He did not seem to like Daniel’s tone of voice. Elwood apparently did not like to be ordered about by anyone, especially a younger man.

  “Your father was the golden boy. You know that, don’t you? He had all the money, all the friends. I thought myself so lucky when he took me under his wing at Eton. But then he made a mistake when we met Adelaide.”

  “My mother. What does my mother have to do with it?”

  “She was all I ever wanted, ever needed. I had thought your father never meant to marry. I could not since I did not have my inheritance. Even after my father died, I had no money. Then your father stole her. She was dazzled by his money, by his position. She ignored me, tossed me aside.”

  His voice rose with every word. Daniel was trying his best to control his temper, his need to kill the man before him, but she knew he was doing his best not to cause either of them injury. As they continued to talk, she slowly rose from the chair.

  “You never had a chance with her.”

  Elwood’s face mottled with rage. “No. But then I had other things to worry about. My father could not control his urges, sank us into debt. I was one step away from debtor’s prison when I was offered an opportunity of a lifetime.”

  “To kill my father.”

  A frown moved over his face. “No. I did not know of your father’s stupidity until later. Much later. And you know the best of it? He told me.”

  His gleeful laugh sent a chill slipping over Anna’s flesh and down her spine. There was an edge of insanity seeping into his voice, into his expression. She had seen a woman like this one time in White Chapel and she had been warned by locals to stay away.

  “I wanted to laugh in his damned face when he revealed what he did, that he regretted you would have to take up the job. He wanted you not to become a spy, did you know that?”

  There was a flash of pain in Daniel’s eyes, one she was sure Elwood saw, one that he probably rejoiced in. If she could ever get out of here, she would make the man pay for that.

  “No, I see he never talked to you about it. He wanted you to have a normal life. And while trying to come up with a way to disentangle his family from the spy network, he told me, asked my advice. And I knew then, knew I would have him. I would raise myself up to my superiors, and I would get rid of my nemesis.”

  “And through the years, the times you have come to our assistance, the time you spent with my mother, with me, walking my sister down the aisle…they were all as a traitor, spying on us?”

  He shook his head. “No. That was genuine, but try as I might, your mother would never let go of that memory. Never allow her
self to love again. Even from death, Edward is haunting me.”

  “And me? You knew for years I was a spy?”

  “No. I really believed that you had decided not to do it, that your mother had made sure that you did not get involved. But imagine my surprise when I found out that you not only stayed in the game, but took over his position.”

  Anna edged toward the door unnoticed. Lord Elwood was ignoring her now, his gun centered on Daniel. If she could get out into the hallway, she could run for help. She knew her way around White Chapel even in the dead of night.

  Hope sprang in her heart until Daniel flicked her a warning glance. It was enough to gain Lord Elwood’s attention.

  “Where do you think you are going, Lady Anna? I cannot allow you to leave. Not when I have such plans for you.”

  “You will not touch her,” Daniel growled the command, his hands fisted at his sides.

  The older man laughed. “As if you have any means to stop me.”

  Daniel stepped forward, his stance threatening.

  There was a sound at the door and the gun wavered in that direction. The door burst in at the same time that Daniel lunged. The gun went off, but Anna could not see what was happening. A man tackled her to the ground. She kicked and screamed, trying to buck him off of her.

  There was another shot, then silence, except for her struggles. “Anna, it is Simon, Daniel’s cousin.”

  She calmed then and looked up and saw the young man. He released her and she looked over to find Lord Elwood lying on the ground, blood pooling around him. Relief moved through her as she shoved Daniel’s cousin away and rose to run to him. He was rising to his feet when she jumped him. He grunted when she hit him, but his arms closed around her.

  “Oh, Danny, I am so happy you are okay. I was so worried.”

  She felt his mouth brush her temple and she pulled away. Tears blurred her vision as the night’s events began to come to a realization.

  It was then she saw the blood on his shoulder and the ashen color of his face. Her heart nearly stopped as terror screamed through her entire body.

  “Jack! He’s been shot.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  A sharp pain lanced through his shoulder as he was jostled about on the way to the carriage.

  “Please be careful with him.”

  He knew without a doubt that Jack and Simon were trying not to laugh. He wasn’t that badly hurt. It was just a flesh wound. But Anna had refused to allow him to walk. Once he was settled on the seat, Anna shoved Jack aside and joined him. She leaned forward, her gaze on his wound as she tended it. The scent of her, the warmth of her body, surrounded him, left him feeling a bit lightheaded.

  “What were you thinking showing up there like that?” she asked.

  “Trying to save your life. Which I point out, that I did.”

  “Humpf.”

  Apparently satisfied with what she saw, she sat beside him as Jack and Simon joined them.

  “You know, you could thank me.”

  She said nothing. Anger vibrated off her in waves. He knew she was angry with him, mad that he had shown up at all. But dammit, what did she expect him to do? Allow a madman to kill her?

  “Anna?”

  “Thank you.”

  “That is all?” He could not keep the amusement out of his voice.

  “What do you want, a lock of my hair?” Her voice quivered, telling him that she was not as calm as she seemed.

  “Your hand in marriage will do.” He could hear his words slur, his mind beginning to grow numb.

  “Anna?” he asked, his head now growing fuzzy.

  She cast him a wary glance and alarm spread over her features. “Okay, yes, I will marry you.”

  He grabbed her hand. “By special license. I do not want to wait.”

  She patted his hand. “I said I would, Daniel.”

  “I will hold you to it.”

  “I am sure you will. Not that you will remember.”

  He thought he heard Jack chuckle as he clutched Anna’s small hand in his. His world faded into nothingness except for one thought—Anna would be his for a lifetime.

  Two days later, Anna walked into his study, a smile lightening her face. She had been in and out of their house during that time, directing everyone—even his mother—to his care. He had been careful not to mention his proposal and her acceptance until he had everything in order. He knew she was convinced he had forgotten the whole incident, but he had not. He was going to hold her to her promise.

  “Good morning, Daniel.”

  He would never get used to hearing his name on her lips. The way her pleasant voice rolled over the syllables, but he particularly liked it when she called him Danny.

  “Good morning, Anna.”

  “Your mother said you had something to say to me?”

  He motioned with his hand. “Come here.”

  Wariness crept into her expression and she glanced toward the door.

  “Oh, I am not sure—”

  “Higgens?”

  His formidable butler stepped into the doorway.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Shut the door.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  Once it was closed, he motioned with his hand again. She hesitated long enough to irritate him. The woman just would not give him an inch.

  “Anna.” He could not, would not stop the growl that vibrated in his voice.

  She obeyed then and stepped around the desk. Without any warning, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap. She gasped and then laughed when he took a quick, hard kiss.

  “I like the sound of that. You have not laughed much the last few days.”

  She looked at him, the shadows of the memories from that night darkening her expression. “I am so sorry you were shot. I know that if it had not been for me, you would not have been hurt.”

  He shook his head and knew that guilt was one of the reasons she had been a bit down. “I am the master spy, Anna. I should have suspected the man. He did come into his money quite suddenly, but no one really paid attention to him.”

  She cupped his cheek. “That is why he made a very good spy.”

  He nodded. “And one of the reasons I am giving it up.”

  Her eyes widened. “But you said it was a family business.”

  “My cousin is happy enough handling it for now. I have other more important things to accomplish now.”

  She cleared her throat. “Indeed?”

  He nodded, trying not to smile. The woman was as transparent as water to him. He knew she loved him, knew that if she had a chance, she would have jumped in front of that gun the other night. Even as the thought made his blood run cold, he rejoiced in her actions. It proved she loved him even if she had never said the words.

  “What would that be?”

  “Planning our wedding.”

  Silence greeted him as she frowned.

  “You do remember saying you would marry me, do you not?”

  She patted his hand. “Daniel, seriously, I said it just to appease you.”

  “You still said yes. I have two witnesses.”

  She tried to get up from his lap, but he held onto her firmly.

  “This is ridiculous!” She raised her arms up, almost hitting him in the face with her hand. “You do not really want to marry me and I will remind you, I did have one requirement.”

  “Let me see,” he said, leaning back in his chair as if pondering the question. “What was it? Oh, yes, love. But I do love you, Anna.”

  “Do not make fun of me, Daniel. It would break my heart.” The pain that tinged her voice almost broke his heart. He would do everything in his power that she never doubt his love ever again.

  “But I do love you.”

  She sniffed as tears filled her eyes. “You think you do, or you feel obligated to say it because you took my virginity.”

  “No, I truly love you.”

  “You do not.” Now she crossed her arms over her chest. He was d
amned with difficult women in his life. His sisters, his mother, Jo and now the woman he loved, the one who he would walk over hot coals for, the one who claimed he did not love her.

  “Why do you think I do not love you?”

  She sighed. “When I came to town, you were horrible to me.”

  He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He should have known his behavior over the years would come back to haunt him.

  “Do you want to know why I acted that way?”

  She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then fixed her gaze on her hands in her lap and nodded.

  “You had always been My Lady Poppet. I remember Sebastian telling me you were coming to town, that you would be coming out. In my mind, I did not see you as a woman. I expected the girl I knew to appear. Instead, you were there.”

  “I do not understand.”

  She was still looking at her hands. He slipped his fingers beneath her chin. Unshed tears simmered in her eyes.

  “I had thought never to marry. When you came to town, I regretted that decision. I wanted you from the moment of your coming out ball.” Her eyes widened. “Worse, you were my best friend’s little sister. Lusting after you was crossing a line. You were not a widow to be dallied with, and I did not want to put you in harm’s way. After seeing what my father’s death did to my mother, I did not want to put you through that. I acted the way I did because I wanted you more than I wanted my next breath. It physically hurt to see you with other men.”

  He reached forward and pulled out a piece of paper.

  “I am not sure if you believe me, but I think this proves anything you need to know.”

  She stared at the piece of paper. “A receipt? For…Danny, this is a lot of money for the orphanage.”

  He smiled. “I wanted to buy you the most beautiful ring, but you are not an ordinary woman. I am sure that many women would love an engagement ring from me. Seeing how we will not be engaged for long, I did not see the reason. Besides, I assumed this would prove my point much faster than a silly ring.”

  She looked up from the paper, tears spilling down her face. “Oh, Danny.”