Page 11 of My Gentleman Spy
She was an enticing conundrum. Well-bred by the sound of her accent and manner of behavior, but with an undertone of the common touch. The way she had addressed the villagers and even the hotel staff stamped her as someone who did not look down upon those of a lower socialclass.
As for her fiancé, Will wondered exactly what sort of a man would lure a girl away from her family and drag her half way across the world to Africa. That aspect of her story still did not ring true to his mind. Therein lay the heart of thelie.
Just who had she been with on board theBlade ofOrion?
He licked his lips, surprised at how dry his mouth had suddenly become. His heartbeat increased as the familiar rush of the game began to course through hisveins.
The thrill of the chase had been part of why he had volunteered as an undercover operative for the British government. He knew that his motives had not been entirely patriotic or noble. The lust for danger ran strong in his family’sblood.
Right from childhood delving into the deepest, most secret places of others minds had been his special skill. Slowly extracting the truth was a long game of which he was themaster.
By the time he was done with her, he would know all her secrets. He would take his time. After he had gained her confidence and trust, she would willingly tell him everything he wished to know. She would revealall.
He absentmindedly rubbed his fingers across the stubble on his chin. He did not quite fit the image of the well-bred London gentleman, something he would need to address if he was to gain hertrust.
Recalling that moment outside in the marketplace, when he had held her in his arms and kissed her senseless, Will's wish list began to takeform.
Names and places were one thing; they could be so easily checked and verified. It was what lived within her soul he desired to know. Kissing her had been more than just a diversionary tactic. He had thoroughly enjoyedit.
And from her groans of delight, so hadshe.
He wanted to know all he could about her. A woman possessed of the courage to leap over the side of a ship into a dangerous and unknown future, was a woman he needed tounderstand.
Control, don't youmean?
The sudden thought pulled him up short. He had tried to stop Yvette from putting herself in danger more times than he could recall. Resourceful and stubborn, she had extracted herself from peril countlesstimes.
All, except the lasttime.
He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. He had promised himself he would only think of Yvette twice a day as he tried to rebuild his life. Once on rising and once when he went to bed. He had held her memory tight within hismind.
Yet today he had thought of another woman. Lustful thoughts which had led him to kiss her without holding anything of himselfback.
Forgiveme.
They had both known the danger. A pact made early on in their marriage still held. If anything was to befall the other, the survivor was not permitted to spend the rest of their life wallowing in grief. It was only this binding promise which had kept Will from the edge of insanity during the dark days following Yvette'sdeath.
He could imagine the conversation he would have had with his wife regarding his new charge. Yvette would be intrigued by this young woman and already have made several lists of pertinentquestions.
Why had she jumped from theship?
“I don't believe the story about a sudden trip to Africa. Her tale has more holes than the Paris catacombs,” hemuttered.
If she is telling the truth, then why should she feel compelled to give you a falsename?
He opened his eyes and sat upright, a sly, knowing grin threatened at the corner of hismouth.
Getting to the matter of Sarah's real identity was the key to the entire mystery. Solve that piece of the puzzle and the rest of the pieces would soon tumble intoplace.
A shiny coin slipped into the hand of her maid at an opportune moment was in order. At some point her mistress would make a slip and unwittingly reveal more than she realized. A lady's maid looking to supplement her income would be the perfectagent.
A short time later Hattie, descended the stairs. Will rose from his chair with a sense of satisfaction. His money with the dressmaker and hotel staff had been wellspent.
Gone was the drowned rat with straggly hair and ruined clothes, in her place was perfection. An emerald gown with white lace trimming the bodice and skirt clung to her well- proportioned body. The hint of cleavage which the gown afforded was a refreshing change from the stiff, high necked grey creation she had been wearing when he had fished her out of theharbor.
He had been at a loss for words to describe her attire when first he stood beside her at the dock. Dull had been the first one which sprang to mind. Dowdy had been thesecond.
Her new attire revealed her to be younger and prettier than he had at first thoughther.
