Page 50 of My Gentleman Spy
Chapter Eighteen
“Doyou have any idea what time it is?” asked LordShale.
He was busily tying the sash of his dressing gown as he walked into the ground floor sitting room of the elegant mansion in Duke Street. Will noted the tussled hair and lack of footwear on his cousin's feet and frowned. He had dragged the earl from hisbed.
Will looked at his pocket watch. It was almost midnight. A time when once he and Bartholomew Shale would have been in full swing stalking the streets of Paris conducting covertoperations.
“Gotten old have we Bat?” he replied. Only the earl's closest friends were accorded the privilege of calling him by his old schoolmoniker.
Bat raised an eyebrow. He knew Will well enough to immediately sense something was troubling him. Something of greatimportance.
“And a good evening to you too dear cousin. Can I take it from your demeanor and unshaven appearance that you did not have a pleasant journey home from thecontinent?”
Will snorted. It had been a long and tryingday.
“Let me just say it was an interestingone.”
“Then you had better tell me all about it. Have a seat,” repliedBat.
Lord Shale and his wife Rosemary, had been undercover British agents working alongside Will in Paris. He and Rosemary were the only two people in Will's life who had known Yvette. Bat had been with Yvette the night she died, but a skillful poisoner had rendered him unable to save her. Lord Shale had barely escaped with hislife.
Will then proceeded to tell Bat all but the very intimate moments of his time with Hattie. It was a rare thing for them to keep anything from one another. When Will was finished he sat andwaited.
“And she gave you the slip. You have become soft my lad,” chuckledBat.
Will looked down at his generously filled glass of brandy. He pondered the statement for a moment before meeting Bat's enquiringgaze.
“The edges may have dulled a little I will grant you that, but this mission is far from over. Which is why your home was the first place I chose to go to once I knew Hattie was not dead. If anyone can help me get my head straight about this mess it is you,” repliedWill.
He set his glass down on the table, shaking his head as hedid.
“I still cannot believe I let my judgement be clouded in such an appallingway.”
He was disgusted with himself. The thought had been rolling around in his head all day, but to give it voice stung his stubbornpride.
Bat dismissed Will’s words with awave.
“And you are the first man in the world to allow a woman to get in the way of clearthoughts?”
His gaze moved to the doorway, in which a tall, raven haired beauty stood. Will followed his cousin'sgaze.
“Rosemary.” Will got to hisfeet.
Lady Shale gave him a warm kiss on the cheek before allowing Will to embraceher.
“Will, I’m so glad you are here. Finally, you are home. Adelaide sent word this afternoon that your luggage had arrived, but you had not. From the tone of your mother’s note you had better have a very good reason for not having made it home tonight,” sheexclaimed.
Willgrimaced.
“It wasn't the simple homecoming that I had expected, let me put it that way. I just need a night back in London to get my thoughts together before I face the family,” hereplied.
The clock on the mantelpiece chimed one. The cream silk dressing gown Lady Shale wore providing an added reminder that he was intruding on the earl and countess'sslumber.
“My apologies, I lost track of time. I am keeping you both from yourbed.”
Bat rose from his chair and came to Rosemary’s side. Will saw the sparkle in his cousin's eyes as he looked at his wife. A spark of envy lit in Will's mind as he watched Bat effortlessly slip an arm around herwaist.
“You know anytime you need us, we are here.Always.”
