He shoved in one of the leather bound volumes and she heard a click, as if a latch had just come undone. To her astonishment, one of the shelf casings opened to reveal a shadowy figure standing on the other side. Triana knew she wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t just witnessed it with her own eyes, but at least that explained how Gabriel had gotten in and out of the study undetected. Her heart thumped at the very thought it might be him, but after listening to her brother’s brief conversation with the stranger, she realized her hopes had been for naught. Either way, a round of anxious gooseflesh broke out on her arms.
“What do you have for me?” Travell asked impatiently, to which the messenger handed him a sealed missive. He ripped it open and swiftly read the contents, before giving a foul curse, the likes of which she’d never heard him use before. Stunned at what she was seeing, it took Triana a moment to comprehend that her brother was starting to pull on his boots. He was going to leave.
Terror filled her lungs, so she rushed into the room. Her only thought was to stop her brother from doing something foolish. “Where are you going?”
Travell didn’t even pause in his task, although the dark figure waiting for him seemed to stiffen slightly at this sudden intrusion. Without looking up, her brother took a deep breath and said curtly; “I’ll be there in a moment.” Once the other man had vanished, Travell addressed her. “I have reason to believe another agent may have been compromised.”
“Then why are you leaving?” she demanded.
“I’ve been in this game a long time, Tri. I know what to do.”
She clenched her fists in mounting irritation. “That’s not an answer to my question.”
Travell stood and threw a dark cloak around his broad shoulders. “I don’t have time to discuss this right now.”
Triana’s eyes filled with angry tears. “Then make the time!” Silence surrounded them, so she put a hand to her forehead in an attempt to regain her composure. “Please don’t go, Travell.”
He strode over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He looked down at her in that firm, brotherly way of his and stated calmly, “Don’t worry about me. I won’t do anything foolish.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead and ruffled her hair like when they were children, and then he left, pulling the bookcase shut behind him.
Triana stood in shock for a full minute, before frustration took over and she began a relentless stalk across the floor. How dare he expect me to just curl up and go to sleep like a good little girl when he is out risking his life! Surely he could see that it didn’t matter if he’d done this kind of thing before. The difference was now she knew about it.
But what could she do? She had no idea about the underground networking of a ring of spies, where they were going, or how they even maneuvered! Besides, hadn’t she already proven how her skills at intrigue lacked the night she’d followed Gabriel into the Westerville’s garden?
And this time, there was so much more at stake. It was a matter of life and death.
And Travell was right in the midst of it.
As if an invisible arm reached out, Triana abruptly stopped her pacing. This was her brother’s life she was debating, not what dress to wear to afternoon tea! It should be clear as to what she had to do. Whether she failed or not was up to fate, but at least she could say she didn’t just sit idly by while her brother courted death.
Fear gave her feet wings as Triana fairly flew up the stairs to Travell’s bedroom. She hastily rummaged through his wardrobe and soon found what she needed. Thankfully, she didn’t have anything more than her nightdress and robe to contend with, as her fingers fumbled with the buttons of the oversized shirt and trousers she slipped on. It seemed to take an eternity to get her disguise in order, but once she was finished, she stepped back and surveyed her handiwork in the full-length mirror.
Satisfied that she looked enough like a small lad to fool the untrained eye in the dark, Triana added the finishing touch. She shoved her long, dark hair beneath a hat and pulled the brim down low on her forehead. She grabbed a pair of boots and one of her brother’s black cloaks and made her way back down to the study, hoping the overlarge boots flopping around didn’t wake the entire household. Once behind the closed door, Triana began the search for the hidden bookcase lever. She tried several books before she found the correct tome. It was obvious when she touched it, for it felt different from the rest of the leather bound volumes.
With a frown of concentration, she remembered what Travell had done and shoved it in as far as it would go. A click resounded throughout the room.
Victory! The bookcase popped open, and she nearly sagged with relief. Already it seemed as if too much time had passed. She only hoped her luck would hold out and she would be able to find where Travell and the mysterious stranger had gone.
But who knew what lurked beyond this false wall in the utter darkness?
Triana quickly located a candle and holder on Travell’s desk. Praying that the flame didn’t sputter and die, she pulled the bookcase closed behind her, sent up a prayer, and started forward.
The first thing she found was a room, complete with a table and a handful of chairs not far from the back of the bookcase. Obviously this was used to conduct meetings of a clandestine nature. She shook her head in amazement.
In all the years she and her family had lived in this townhouse, she’d had no idea of its existence. How long had it even been here? Had Travell had it built when he became a spy?
Hundreds of questions ran through her mind, but she knew there was plenty of time for answers later. Right now, she had to focus on her objective.
Beyond the meeting room, she found a tunnel, and a rather narrow one at that. It was fashioned out of dirt, although there were wooden beams that reinforced the sides and roof in order to prevent cave-ins. She shuddered, and the sudden image of her becoming trapped made her quicken her steps with a bit more trepidation.
She walked for some time, the passage taking quite a few twists and turns, although it thankfully all led in one direction with no forks to choose from. Finally, she noticed a faint light ahead. She doused the candle, lest it give her presence away to whatever lay beyond this hidden cavern, her heart thumping the entire way.
As she drew closer, she realized it was the exit, although it was half covered by brush, allowing in only a sliver of illumination. Triana paused and listened for any sound that might tell her where she might have ended up, but upon hearing nothing but the chirping answer of a few crickets, she began to push her way through the debris. The sticks and leaves clawed at her clothes, but she managed to make it out virtually unscathed.
It was only after she’d begun to glance around at her surroundings, that a strong hand clamped tightly over her mouth, muffling her instant, terrified scream, before a gruff voice whispered next to her ear, “And just where do you think you’re going?”
***
Gabriel had heard someone coming down the secret passage long before anyone climbed out, the echo of footsteps practically indiscernible — unless someone was specifically listening for them — as he had been.
He’d quickly concealed himself behind a large rock and hunched down to wait for the intruder to appear, for he knew that light tread did not belong to the viscount.
With the squirming figure in his arms, Gabriel wasn’t so sure that he’d caught any major threat. A small wisp of a thing, it was likely nothing more than a curious lad who’d stumbled on to the tunnel by accident and had decided to investigate, although he’d bet the boy would think twice about such an endeavor the next time he had an inclination to poke around.
Not until he was preparing to let the boy go did he catch the familiar scent of roses; the smell assaulting his brain more thoroughly than any weapon. The “boy,” whose face was concealed by an overly large hat, had Gabriel barely withholding a curse, for he had only to wager a single guess as to who was truly beneath the guise.
He prayed he was wrong, although he knew in his gut that he
wasn’t. “Triana.”
Immediately, the figure went stock still in his arms. “Gabriel?”
Bloody hell.
He was torn, glad to see her lovely face again, and wanting to wring that graceful neck for taking such a foolish risk in that ridiculous disguise. She’d obviously been following Travell, but for what end?
While he wanted to growl at her to return home, he had to find out what she knew.
If his own suspicions were correct…
***
He spun her around to face him, those stony, silver eyes taking in her baggy, masculine attire in one fell swoop. “What in God’s name are you doing out here dressed like that?” he snapped.
Normally, Triana would have taken great pleasure in catching the Duke of Chiltern off guard so easily, but she actually had the good grace to appear a bit sheepish as she said defensively, “I was following Travell.”
He stared at her as if she’d completely taken leave of her senses. “And you felt it wise to peruse Hyde Park alone at two in the morning?”
Her eyes shifted past him as realization dawned. “That’s where we are?”
“Triana.” He stated her name firmly in an apparent effort to regain her attention, and her eyes flew back to his. The expression on his face seemed to say it was all he could do to keep from shaking her.
“He’s in trouble,” she quickly explained.
Those glorious eyes of his narrowed to mere slits. “So your idea of helping him was to endanger yourself?”
Her face heated, although she shot back, “Of course that wasn’t my intention! I only wanted to—”
“Let me guess,” he interrupted dryly. “I suppose you were planning on charging to his rescue?” He scoffed. “And without even knowing what you were getting yourself into. Isn’t that right?”
She opened her mouth, but promptly snapped it shut. In truth, she wasn’t sure what she had been prepared to do, only that she had to act.
“Tell me everything.”
She complied, relaying everything that she’d overheard. He listened without interruption until she’d finished, although his frown grew deeper as she recounted the past half hour’s events.
“Damn,” he muttered, as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I had hoped I was just misinformed…” His voice trailed off, and he looked back at Triana with eyes as hard as granite. “Triana, I want you to go back—”
“Absolutely not!” she stated adamantly. She crossed her arms and stubbornly raised her chin a notch to emphasize her point. “I’m not going anywhere until I know my brother is safe.”
“This is not open for discussion—” Gabriel started to argue.
She cut him off with the wave of her hand, ignoring the dangerous expression on his face, one she felt would surely cower any enemy into complying with his demands. However, he would learn she was not so easily abated. “I don’t recall asking your permission,” she countered hotly. “Either I go with you so that I can assure myself Travell is unharmed...” She paused and gave a nonchalant half-shrug. “Or I just wait until you leave and then follow you.”
She could tell that he was waging a war with himself, but she knew he had no choice to agree, for she’d effectively outmaneuvered him. She might have felt rather smug about that fact if he hadn’t pinned her with a glare at that moment.
“Since I don’t have time to argue with you, and I have no doubt that you’re just enough of an infuriating minx to follow through on your threat, rather than trudging off on your own to get into more trouble, I’ll take you with me.” He held up finger. “But I want to make one thing clear. You are to do everything I say. Is that understood?”
Those silver orbs glittered, and Triana felt that familiar, twinge of heat spread throughout her limbs, although she merely nodded.
“Good. Then let’s go.”
After a quick glance about, he grabbed her hand and they exited the park to hail down a passing hackney. He assisted her inside and stepped back to give directions to the driver, then he climbed in and shut the door.
It wasn’t until they began moving through the candle lit, cobblestone streets of London, that Triana cast a surreptitious glance at her companion. Gabriel sat with a grim expression on his face, as if he wanted to be anywhere else than with her right then. She decided to just let him brood because nothing was going to sway her from her purpose.
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t hurt because of it.
She started to glance away, but she happened to catch sight of his hands. She’d never noticed how muscular they were — not to mention how many little white scars covered the veined flesh. These were not the hands of a London dandy by any means. Hands like these could break a man’s nose — or just as easily caress a woman’s naked flesh…
Triana bit her lip, annoyed that she’d brought up something so carnal at a time like this, but after the wicked things he’d done to her with those very hands, she found she couldn’t rid her mind of the erotic memory now that it had taken root.
She allowed her gaze to roam at will. He wasn’t wearing a jacket this evening, nor a cravat or waistcoat, just a simple, black shirt; the sleeves rolled up far enough to give her an enticing view of his lightly tanned, muscular forearms with their dusting of dark hair. The collar was unfastened at his throat; giving her a glimpse of the few, crisp hairs that sprung to life at the base of his neck. How thrilling it would be to remove the rest of those buttons from their confining holes in order to see if that solid chest was as artfully decorated!
Of course, she’d seen a casually dressed man before, for growing up in the country at Rosewood and possessed of an inquisitive nature, she’d sneaked down to the stables more than once to spy on the stable hands when they thought they were alone. She had been fascinated by the play of muscles across their glistening backs and shoulders as they’d tossed hay to the horses; the differences she found in their bodies and her own a remarkable contrast.
Triana shifted in her seat, a trickle of sweat trailing between her breasts as she continued her exploration down the rest of Gabriel’s body — the flat plane of his stomach, a pair of sinewy thighs and firm calves. How would the coarse hairs of his legs feel against her smooth ones? Would they tickle or excite?
And what about that certain part of anatomy that spoke to being a male in every way? She might still be an innocent when it came to such things, but Gabriel fascinated her in every way.
“I warned you before that looking at a man that way could only lead to trouble.”
Triana jumped and her gaze flew to the duke’s face. He was regarding her with a combination of tolerance and something much more dark and… delicious. Her stomach gave a small flip, as she unconsciously licked her lower lip with the tip of her tongue.
That smoldering gaze abruptly dropped to her mouth; his voice undeniably husky as he asked, “Do you enjoy tempting fate, Triana?” He tilted his head, allowing her a glimpse of those flashing eyes. “Or just me?”
Triana felt like her head was spinning as that probing, silver stare rendered her temporarily speechless.
His lips turned upward at her silence, before he took a deep breath and broke the charged tension hanging in the air. “We’re here.”
She had to blink twice before his words fully sank in. Only then did she realize they had stopped. She chided herself for allowing her thoughts to get so far off track, and sternly reminded herself that she was here for her brother, not for a tryst with the duke.
Gabriel got out of the carriage, leaving her to follow. The driver had dropped them off in a deserted alleyway near Nine Elms, by what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. Chiltern took off at a clipped pace.
“Where are we going?” she asked when she’d finally caught up to him.
“To see an old friend. I’ve decided you will be quite useful after all.” Raising a dark brow, he added, “Or have you changed your mind?”
“Of course I haven’t, but I thought we were looking for Travell…”
&
nbsp; “I know where he is.” When Triana’s eyes grew wide, Gabriel paused in his determined stride, obviously deeming it necessary to elaborate a bit further. “He’s at the docks on a ship called the Evening Swan, but in order to gain access to a vessel at this time of night without causing undue suspicion—” He hesitated. “Let’s just say you’re going to have to trust me.”
He paused and reached out to her, rubbing the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “After everything that’s happened between us, can you still trust me, Triana?”
A startling shiver raced up her spine at his touch, and while she wanted to deny it, she unwillingly found herself admitting, “I know I shouldn’t, but God help me, I do.”
The smile he offered in return was brilliant before he turned and began walking again. “I’m glad to hear it. Now I guess my next question would be, how adept are you at acting?”
Chapter Eleven
Triana stared in disbelief as she stood in front of the full-length mirror in the small, upstairs bedroom of a (dare she even think it) brothel; while blushing nearly as scarlet as the silk gown she wore — that was, if one could even dare call it that.
The shimmering, red material hugged every curve of her body, leaving very little to the imagination of what charms lay beneath. And if the bodice were to plunge any lower — well, needless to say, modesty wouldn’t be an issue. But she suspected that was the point.
Not exactly the kind of assistance she’d had in mind.
“He can’t be serious!” she whispered to her scandalous reflection, still astonished that it was truly her image shining back at her. She touched her heavily rouged cheeks and the fake, heart shaped, mole near her mouth. Her long dark hair was devoid of pins, left to hang down her back in a tousled wave, giving the impression that she’d just come from a romp in the sheets with her latest lover.
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