Page 96 of His Wife, the Spy
“So you believe he’s stealing it from the queen forfurniture?” Kit cast him a dubious look. “That seems rather shortsighted. Perhaps he’s just blackmailing someone for the coin.”
“No.”
Annabel’s decisive contradiction drew Jasper up short. “Explain.”
“Someone recently told me that Spencer’s schemes are never far from the truth.” She looked from him to Kit, then back. “He told me you two were plotting upheaval in Wales. Which he is doing.”
“He is tying you to the investment,” Kit said.
Jasper snorted a laugh. “He’s not going to use gunpowder to ruin my reputation.”
Kit rolled his eyes. “You haven’t been to Cardiff in a while, Jasper.Unrestis a mild term. Those men are tired of risking their lives to heat all of England for only shillings a day. Another unsafe hole in the ground will lead to a strike. The queen won’t let them hold the country hostage.”
“And Spencer gets to be the hero,” Jasper said. He’d spun his role in Stratford’s scandal in a similar fashion, benefitting from Drake and Jocelyn Fletcher’s desire for anonymity. “He already has Collins and Christian to make the introductions so he can smooth things over. The queen will give him anything he asks.”
“Like the promotion he’s been chasing,” Annabel added. “He also sees your reputation ruined. You’ll be tied to the mine by gossip, and you will lose your influence in Parliament and with the prime minister.”
Kit uttered the curse that Jasper’s mind couldn’t yet form. No wonder Spencer wanted Annabel dead.
“Graydon’s giving him the money, Jasper. It’s the only way he’d have enough to pay for something this large this quickly.” Kit had the look of a pointer on the trail of a fox. “And Graydon owes him his help in securing the Exchequer position.”
Jasper didn’t want to believe that Charles Melton, the Marquess of Graydon, had any role in this scheme. The man had a reputation for horse racing, yes, but it was a long way from gambling debts to treason. And he was never in Spencer’s company.
Not that anyone had seen—or at least noticed. But the Graydon family also had a box at the theatre. It was near Jasper’s.
“Much Ado About Nothingis on stage in two days’ time.” He walked to Annabel and smiled at her curious frown. Her shoulder was firm against his palm, but her collarbones were delicate. It would be too easy to injure her. Or worse. He should send her to Ramsbury until this was over. “Would you like to go to the theatre?”
“I love Shakespeare.” Realization lit her eyes, and she curved her warm, strong hand over his. “Thank you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Annabel had neverunderstood why her mother considered the theatre scandalous. For her, it was a book come to life. Time both stood still and passed too quickly as she’d watched her favorite characters repeat oft-read words in front of intricately painted scenes.
While the canvas backgrounds had always been disappointing, the actors rarely let her down. Tonight was no exception. Watching Beatrice and Benedick’s reluctant romance grow provided a pleasant distraction after the drama from the past week.
Even Jasper seemed to forget himself as the play unfolded beneath their box. His deep laughter rolled over her as the couple bantered their way into love, and he paid rapt attention to Don John’s plot to ruin the happiness of every party.
Hero’s funeral signaled the intermission, and the lights came up in a wave. Jasper turned to her with a smile on his face. “Fitting that we should both enjoy a play about gossip.”
“You never fail to surprise me,” Annabel said. “I wouldn’t have imagined you, willingly, at the theatre.”
He shrugged, though his grin turned wicked. “Perhaps I’m enjoying being out of the house and in something other than my dressing gown.”
It was nice to forget their concerns, if only for a few hours. However, they were likely the only box with an armed guard in the shadows. “And to have something to eat other than soup?”
“God, yes.” Jasper looked longingly at the empty refreshment tray. “I wonder if I could bribe an attendant for another visit.”
Annabel stood. “I should visit Lady Carmichael while we have time, and I believe I saw the Duchess of Rushford.”
“I’ll go with you. Though we should avoid being seen with the duke and duchess.” He winked at her. “After Stratford’s arrest, we draw attention when we’re seen together.”
She nodded, though she shot a glance across the theatre at the Rushfords’ box. As much as she wanted to visit with Thea, they needed to avoid the attention tonight of all nights.
Once in the hallway, and in the crush of people wishing to be seen and heard, Annabel regretted their decision to leave their seats. She went to move to the outside, meaning to protect Jasper, but only succeeded in stepping on his toes.
He draped his arm around her waist. “Relax, dearest. We’re fine.”
The weight of his hand shifted with every step, tightening when he swung his left leg. Annabel looked over her shoulder, fearing an attacker masked as a friend.
