Once Upon a Spy: A Secrets and Seduction Book

by Sheridan Jeane

  At the front door, Landon handed Robert his hat and gloves. “Will there be anything else, sir?”

  “Please inform the others we have a house guest,” Robert said. “If anyone asks about me, tell them I plan to be home before eleven.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  The front door burst open and Frederick rushed inside.

  Robert gaped at him. It was obvious from his attire that he’d been out all night. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you come in at this hour before.”

  Frederick scowled at him. “What concern is it of yours?” He continued forward, knocking his shoulder against Robert’s as he brushed past.

  A knowing smile curved Robert’s lips. “I’ll wager this has something to do with Josephine.”

  Frederick spun on him. “Have a care, brother. You should know better than to sully Lady Harrington’s name that way. I’m in a hurry right now, or I’d teach you some manners. Where are you going at such an early hour?”

  Robert opened his mouth as he tried to invent a lie, but Frederick interrupted him.

  “It doesn’t matter.” Frederick slashed the air between them with his hand. “I don’t have time to question you. I have a meeting at the Foreign Office, and I’ll be pressed to arrive on time.”

  Robert swept his cane toward his brother’s attire. “Your evening clothes are likely to raise a few eyebrows.”

  Frederick scowled at him. “That’s why I’m here. To change.” He turned on his heel and hurried up the staircase. “I’ll barely make it on time as it is.”

  Robert knew it was unlikely Antonia would awaken this early, but he decided to err on the side of caution. It would be just his luck if she and Frederick bumped into each other and he wasn’t here to intervene.

  He took his time adjusting his hat and donning his gloves. Frederick must have left his bedroom door open. Robert could hear his curses of frustration as he struggled to quickly change his clothes.

  The moment Robert heard his brother’s heavy footsteps rushing down the upstairs hallway, he stepped through the front door. He didn’t want to be caught lingering. That was a sure way to raise Frederick’s suspicions.

  Robert hurried into his carriage. Overnight, he’d devised a plan for Antonia, and now he was impatient to set it in motion.

  She must stay in his house. Try as he might, he could think of no safer alternative.

  As he latched the door of his carriage, Frederick came darting outside. The hackney he’d arrived in was still waiting for him, and he sprinted toward it, oblivious to Robert’s presence.

  Robert leaned against the seat back as he heard Frederick’s carriage rattle away, relieved he’d avoided the confrontation for now.

  He considered his upcoming meeting with Lady Catherine— or rather Lady Huntley now. He grinned as he imagined the stunned amazement his request would elicit. The woman was much too composed. He hadn’t managed to astound her in the past year, despite his many attempts, but with this particular request he might finally manage it.

  It didn’t take long for his coachman, Crupper, to drive to Daniel’s new estate on the outskirts of London. The rounded, graceful lines of the newly renovated entrance were a vast improvement over the building’s former bland exterior.

  As Robert stepped from the carriage, he recalled how just a year ago he and his friend had walked through this estate together. Daniel hadn’t been able to stop talking about his plans for the place. This new facade had been the first major change. A bowed entrance with two-story windows transformed the alabaster-colored building, giving it a fresh, new aspect. Robert particularly enjoyed its beauty at night. When crystal chandeliers were ablaze throughout the house, the building glittered with light.

  As he strolled toward the entrance, he heard shuffling from behind the large boxwood shrubs to his left. He glanced over and locked gazes with a boy. The scamp’s eyes widened and then he ducked down out of sight.

  It was fairly obvious he wanted to remain hidden.

  Had it only been early yesterday morning when he, too, had hidden by his front entrance to surprise Frederick? That bit of kinship tugged at him. The child’s clothes looked warm enough, but filthy, as though he’d been on the streets for a while. Was he a thief? An orphan? Robert tugged at his bottom lip as he considered what to do.

  Driven by a lingering sense of kinship with the boy, Robert stepped back to where Crupper sat perched behind the horses, murmured some instructions, and passed him some coins. As Robert returned to the entrance, Crupper drove away.

  Robert studiously ignored the quaking boxwood as he rang the bell. When Daniel’s butler Patterson opened the door, he didn’t appear surprised to see Robert standing on the front step, despite the early hour.

  “Is Huntley awake?”

  “He’s out riding,” Patterson said, “but Lady Huntley is in the breakfast room.”

  “Splendid. She’s just the person I hoped to see.”

  As Robert entered the breakfast room, he wasn’t surprised when he found not only Catherine, but also Lady Elizabeth seated at the table. The two women were close friends and could often be found together.

  Catherine sat in front of a nearly empty plate, sipping at a cup of tea, and Elizabeth sat before an unused plate to the left. Catherine’s gently rounded belly pressed against the edge of the table, and her hand rested on it in a protective gesture.

  “Robert,” Catherine said, smiling warmly, “what a pleasant surprise. Have you eaten? Please join us. Daniel should be home soon.”

  “Thank you, but I’m not very hungry this morning,” Robert said, taking the chair to her right.

  “We have bacon.”

  That caught Robert’s attention. “Well— perhaps just a bit. And toast.”

  “With raspberry jam,” Catherine said, and glanced at one of the footmen. He gave a polite acknowledgment and left the room, presumably to arrange for Robert’s breakfast.

  “You know me too well. I have a ridiculous weakness for bacon.”

  Catherine smiled indulgently as she stroked her belly in an unconscious gesture. “I’m happy to see you made it home safely after our run-in with those kidnappers.”

  Robert suppressed the flash of surprise that she’d mention the attack, and then glanced at Elizabeth. She smiled back at him knowingly. Of course she knew. Whatever one woman knew, the other one would learn soon thereafter. There were no secrets between them. “Only due to your efforts. Thank you.”

  “It was nothing.”

  He glanced around, remembering the room as being rather dark and unfriendly, but the transformation wrought on the space was nothing less than startling. Now it was cheerful and welcoming. The light from the overhead gas chandelier made the room brighter than it had been a year ago. He looked down at his place setting and noticed the way the light glinted off the blade of the knife. Ah, yes. Catherine’s knife. He’d been wondering about that. “I didn’t know Daniel had taught you to use a knife.”

  Catherine’s entire body tensed at is words. “Should you have?” she asked tartly. “I imagine you’re unaware of a number of things Daniel has taught me.”

  Her spark of annoyance startled him, but then he noticed Elizabeth’s sharp interest. Perhaps Catherine did keep a few secrets. Robert cleared his throat. “Undoubtedly.”

  “A knife?” Elizabeth was animated as she turned to face her friend. “Catherine, is he saying you can wield a knife as a weapon? That’s it, isn’t it? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

  Robert wished he could reel back the words. He’d never intended to divulge a secret.

  “I— I suppose I was a bit embarrassed,” she said, glancing down at her teacup and rubbing her thumb across the handle. “Daniel insisted I needed to learn so I could protect myself. The knife was my engagement gift.” Her cheeks turned a brighter shade of pink. “So many things happened during that time last year, between my wedding and adjusting to married life—”

  “And the kidnapping,” Elizabeth added. “You forgot
to mention the kidnapping.”

  “I didn’t forget. I just don’t like to dwell on it. Speaking of it makes me feel as though someone is walking over my grave.” She gave a small shudder. “When I imagine what might have happened, it terrifies me.”

  “She’s quite good,” Robert added. “With a knife, I mean. I ran into some would-be assailants outside the theater a couple of nights ago, and she and Daniel helped drive them away.”

  Catherine smiled. “And we quite enjoyed it, I assure you. People like that tend to run off when the odds aren’t in their favor.”

  “’Outside the theater,’ you said,” Elizabeth interjected, her gaze resting on Robert in a pondering way. “Was this the same night you came late to our soirée?” She cocked her head to one side and glanced at Catherine. “If I remember correctly, you couldn’t come because you had a box at the theater.”

  “I— uh—” Robert sputtered.

  “Robert— I nearly forgot to ask!” Catherine snatched his wrist with her hand and squeezed it. “Did you manage to convince that actress to return whatever it was you wanted from her?”

  “What actress?” Elizabeth asked. Her eyes narrowed. “Antonia Winter?”

  He glanced from one woman to the other, not sure which question to answer. “No to your question, Catherine. She wouldn’t give it to me.” He glanced at Elizabeth. “And yes to yours. I was indeed looking for Antonia Winter.”

  “Robert joined us in our box,” Catherine explained. “He was quite interested in Miss Winter.”

  “This sounds intriguing,” Elizabeth said, scooting forward to sit on the front edge of her chair. “You followed her from the theater to the soirée? How romantic. Tell me everything.” Her bright-green eyes seemed to glow with excitement. “I love a good story.”

  Tell her a story? Was she toying with him? He couldn’t possibly. He felt the tips of his ears grow warm. Did his ears turn red when he was embarrassed, just like Frederick’s? He opened his mouth and then closed it. Then he opened it again and glanced at Catherine. “Are you aware there is a boy lurking in your boxwoods?”

  “I beg your pardon.” Catherine arched her eyebrows and grained at him. “Is that some new bit of slang? If so, you’ll have to explain it to me.”

  “Not slang,” he said, the warmth spreading across his neck. “I was being literal. As I approached your front door, I happened to see him lurking there.”

  “Lurking?”

  “Undeniably so. He looked rather forlorn. I sent my coachman to buy him a meat pasty.” He still wasn’t sure why he’d done that. “He looked a bit hungry.”

  “The poor thing. I’ll have Patterson bring him in and tend to him.” She glanced at one of the footmen, who nodded briefly and left the room.

  “That’s thoughtful of you, but after coming to know you so well over the past year, I should have expected nothing less. You’re most considerate of those in need.”

  “You’re too kind.”

  “In fact, it’s your generous nature that inspired me to come here today. I need to beg a favor of you.”

  That evoked a look of mild surprise. “Why, Robert,” she said, “I’ve known you for over a year now, and you’ve never asked anything of me. You know I’m happy to be of assistance. What can I do to help?”

  “I need you to act as a chaperone for Antonia Winter while she resides at my home for a time. I believe her life is in danger.”

  And there it was. The look of complete amazement he’d been waiting for.

  Robert grinned in satisfaction. He’d finally managed to shock Lady Huntley.

  It had taken him less than a year to do so.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  “One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.”

  - Lewis Carroll

  “Stop being melodramatic,” Elizabeth said, her voice harsh with what sounded like disappointment. “I’d wager you’re the biggest danger poor Miss Winter is facing. You just admitted you attended her performance at the theater two nights ago and then again at my home only an hour later. You even followed her when she tried to slip away from you. I can’t believe I helped you!”

  “Elizabeth,” Catherine interrupted. “That was unkind. Robert might be dramatic at times, but I’d never accuse him of being melodramatic. You know he’s always been a gentleman. He’d never harm Miss Winter.”

  Elizabeth managed to convey her skepticism with the curve of one eyebrow. “That may be true, but one never knows what lies in a man’s heart.”

  Robert felt his cheeks redden.

  “Robert isn’t some ruffian off the street,” Catherine said. “You’ve know him a long time, and there’s never been a rumor or even a whisper to suggest he’d treat a lady badly.” She reached out and took Elizabeth’s hand. “Don’t let other things cloud your judgment.” She gave her friend a significant look that Robert couldn’t decipher.

  Robert held up his hands in surrender. “Perhaps you should hear what I have to say before you rush to judge me.”

  Elizabeth pressed her lips together as though suppressing a comment. After a moment, she nodded and gestured for him to continue.

  Robert focused on Catherine. “Yesterday, I spotted one of my attempted kidnappers leaving Miss Winter’s residence. I tried to warn her that she wasn’t safe, but she didn’t believe me. I’m afraid I didn’t handle it well. She resented my interference.”

  “Of course she did. Really, Robert,” Catherine said, using the scolding tones of a mother, “you must learn how to be more diplomatic. You have the tendency to sound quite angry when your emotions run high.”

  Robert thought back, recalling what he’d said in the foyer with Antonia. Could Catherine be right? Could he have been too forceful? Too dictatorial? Is that why Antonia had refused to leave?

  From somewhere in the house, Robert heard a door slam shut. He glanced at Catherine, but she seemed just as surprised by the noise as he was. Perhaps Daniel had returned. But the man didn’t usually slam doors. Shouting was more his style.

  The loud noises stopped. After a moment, Robert continued. “Since I was worried for Miss Winter’s safety, I went to the theater last night to escort her home, and thank god I did.” His thoughts brought him up short. What would have happened if he hadn’t decided to err on the side of caution and escort her home? If those men had taken her, no one would have known where she’d gone. A cold fist gripped his heart. “I walked with her to her dressing room after the show. As the cast members filed past, two Russian men managed to isolate us. They were frighteningly efficient.”

  Catherine and Elizabeth exchanged uneasy glances.

  “That must have been terrifying for Miss Winter,” Elizabeth said. “Was she frightened?”

  “She must have been, but she refused to let those men see it.”

  Elizabeth nervously adjusted the collar of her dress, and Robert noted a glint of silver at her throat. A necklace? It was gone in an instant, so he couldn’t be sure. “Did you take her to an inn for the night?” Elizabeth asked. “How can you be certain those men didn’t follow you there?”

  He waved away her question. “I was worried about the same thing, so I brought her to Woolsy House. She’ll be safe there.”

  Catherine’s back stiffened. “And she has no chaperone?”

  Robert met her gaze evenly. “Emily’s lady’s maid is serving as chaperone for the moment, but I’d prefer someone with a bit more credibility. People might assume that a servant’s discretion can be bought, although in my experience I’ve found them to be rather loose-tongued. I need your help. No one would doubt your word as her chaperone.”

  “I hadn’t realized she’d already taken residence in your home. Of course we’ll be there. And if Daniel balks, I’ll remind him he owes you a debt,” Catherine said.

  Robert raised his brows. “He does?”

  Catherine let out a huff of irritation. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about my kidnapping. You took a blow to the
head that day. Did it make you forget everything that transpired?”

  “Don’t you remember?” Elizabeth asked, her voice edged with sarcasm. “The man so strangely obsessed with Catherine? The attack?” Her glower made him wonder if she suspected him of the same sort of obsessiveness toward Antonia. That might explain her attitude.

  “Of course I remember,” he said, rubbing at the spot hidden by his hair. He could trace the thicker line of his scar with his fingertips. “I’d always counted that debt against Alexander Gray rather than your husband,” he said as he rolled the tension from his shoulders, “but it’s one on which I doubt I’ll ever collect. Gray disappeared shortly after that scrape. No one’s seen him in London in nearly a year.”

  Catherine flushed and glanced away as though embarrassed, which seemed strange. After a moment, she met his gaze. “If not for your help, my husband would have walked into a trap. He owes you. We both owe you. I fully intend to remind him of that fact should he balk at helping you.”

  Robert grinned. “I won’t say no to your twisting his arm. Is that how things are between you? You can bend him to your will? He certainly seems happy. And to think he came to London searching for a meek, mild-mannered bride.”

  “What he thought he wanted and what he needed were two entirely different things.” Catherine folded her napkin and placed it on the table next to her teacup. “Bear that in mind if you ever go in search of a bride.” She gave him a curious look. “Or perhaps you’ve already discovered that.”

  Robert frowned at her. “What—”

  He was interrupted by a yell of “No!” emanating from behind the door leading toward the kitchen.

  Catherine’s eyes widened. She glanced at a footman and gestured for him to investigate. He hurried from the room.

  A moment later the gray-haired housekeeper came in through the same door. “I beg your pardon, m’lady.”

  “What’s the cause of all the commotion, Mrs. Henworth?”

  “It’s that boy,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at the closed door. “He up and started yelling and caterwauling. I don’t know what—”