Page 104 of No One's Bride
Smith’s shoulders shook, but he did not deny the accusation.
Gibbs cleared his throat. “Sometimes a man works long hours, sheds blood, sweat and tears, and gets little reward for his efforts.”
“Such a man might peer into a treasure chest and find fool’s gold tempting,” Christian added. “When facing the daily grind, money is the only means of salvation.”
And the Chance brothers knew that better than most.
Amid the brief silence, a growl rumbled in Smith’s chest. “I’ve sacrificed everything for this country,” he spat, “risked life and limb. Yet now they say there’s no longer a threat to security. They mean to close the office and disband the army who’ve fought to stop the trade of secrets.”
“And so you thought to switch sides. You—”
A sudden thought stopped Sebastian in his tracks. Smith wasn’t working alone. A spy had hired him. Was it someone with the power to frame Ailsa? Someone entrenched in the heart of government? A person capable of seeing an innocent woman hang?
His life flashed before his eyes.
A long and lonely existence.
One of torment and torture. Nothing but pain.
“In times of crisis, a man must fend for himself.” Smith’s irate voice dragged Sebastian from his reverie. Without warning, he reached into his satchel and pulled out a pistol. “Now give me the damn grimoire.”
Sebastian froze.
Smith’s finger shook as it rested on the trigger.
One mistake, and it would all be over.
“Doubtless you get paid upon delivery.”Or bludgeoned to death to ensure his silence, Sebastian thought while trying to settle his rising pulse. “The book is in my study. You’ll find it on the desk.”
It was Michael’s book.
Hopefully, Smith didn’t know the difference.
“Fetch it!” The fool waved the pistol at Christian Chance.
A sudden knock on the front door left Smith jittery. “That will be my men. They know to arrest you for treason. All three of you. Fetch the book, and I shall explain I was mistaken.”
So, his men didn’t know of his duplicity.
“What of Miss MacTavish?” Sebastian didn’t give a damn about himself. “What assurances do I have she will go free?”
One of Smith’s agents had taken to hammering his fist on the door. Rather than reassuring the rogue, it left him trembling.
“I lied about Miss MacTavish. I presume she’s at home. Now get me that book, and I’ll leave you in peace. Don’t make me shoot you.”
Sebastian almost dropped to his knees in relief. Ailsa was safe. He nodded for Christian to obey the villain’s orders, knowing the Chance brothers never did what they were told.
Christian stood and moved slowly towards the door. As he passed, he turned quickly, grabbing Smith around the throat.
A struggle ensued.
Sebastian rushed forward.
But the deafening crack of pistol fire stopped him dead in his tracks.
ChapterTwenty
Mr Daventry hammered on Sebastian’s door with his clenched fist. He didn’t call out for fear of frightening Mr Smith into doing something foolish.
