Page 82 of His Wicked Secret
Jonathan smiled and thought of Audrey being a goddess. She would no doubt have agreed.
“You’re the right man, Jon. Trust your heart and you will see.”
They fell into a still silence, the kind that comes after a violent storm, as though he knew that he was now facing the darkest hour of his life. And if he survived, ifshesurvived, nothing else would ever be as terrible as this.
One by one, the remaining members of the League came down and sat upon the floor beside them. Godric, Lucien, Ashton, Avery, and Charles all kept vigil as they waited and prayed and hoped.
Godric sat shoulder to shoulder with his brother and laid a hand on Jonathan’s knee in a brotherly show of support.
“How did this happen?” Cedric asked quietly. All eyes turned to Avery.
“We were betrayed. The man we were supposed to be working with, Daniel Sheffield, was seen leaving the gendarmes before they began to muster.”
“But why?” Jonathan asked.
“I can only assume he was under orders,” said Avery. “I have worked with Sheffield before. The man is a professional, and as far as I know he holds no ill will toward me. I also fear I was not the intended target.”
“Audrey…” Cedric growled. “But why? She was just a child playing at an adult’s game.”
“She was assigned because it was believed she would be good at acquiring information within the French court. Many aristocrats would have opened up to her because of her looks, charm, and fashion. And she is quite cunning at the art of conversation.”
Ashton stroked his chin. “I know you cannot share much of your business with us, Avery, but if Sheffield holds you and Audrey no ill will, then whoever gave him his orders must. Who does Sheffield answer to?”
Avery was silent for a long moment.
“Come now,” said Godric. “This could be a matter of life and death.”
Avery sighed. “Sheffield reports to Sir Hugo Waverly.”
“No,” Charles whispered. Every man turned to him. His face became ashen as he lifted his head, his gaze leaving the floor. “He’s involved with the Foreign Office? That’s not possible.”
“All too possible,” Godric said.
“He’s the man whorunsthe Foreign Office,” Avery said. “There’s a public face, a man people know out in society to deal with matters of diplomacy. But Hugo is in charge of the agents in the field.”
“We knew he was back,” Ashton reminded everyone. “And he’s made his intentions toward us clear.”
“What do you mean, back?” asked Avery.
“One of my sources told me some time ago that Hugo had returned from France,” said Ashton. “Back when Godric and Emily were married.”
“To the best of my knowledge, Hugo hasn’t left England in years,” said Avery. “He’s far too busy to be far from his office for long.”
Godric frowned. “So all that time we thought he was overseas, he was right under our noses in London?”
“Plotting,” said Ashton. “Watching. Waiting. No doubt my source was fed the information of Hugo’s return to act as some kind of declaration. His way of letting us know he was coming for us.”
“All of the signs were there,” said Cedric. “It’s time we end this. There is no other way. Hugo must be stopped once and for all.”
“Good God,” Lucien muttered. “How the devil does one fight a spymaster?”
“The only way we can,” said Ashton. “We must play the game better than he does.” Jonathan could see the chess pieces moving about on Ashton’s mental board. The League of Rogues and Waverly were about to play the most deadly game the world had ever seen. But that was tomorrow’s concern. Once they returned home, they would find a way to stop Waverly. But for Jonathan, right now, Hugo was the most distant thing from his mind.
Be strong for me, my heart.He set the silent thought free upon the air, hoping that Audrey would somehow hear it. If there was anyone in the world who was stubborn enough to stay alive, it was his little sprite.
Please, my love, come back to me.
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