Page 61 of My Gentleman Spy
He took a vacant seat a few seats over from the couple Hattie had been so intently scrutinizing before her hastydeparture.
As he brought his temper under control, he cursed himself for not having been in command of his senses during the time on the boat. Fool that he was, he had allowed himself to be seduced byHattie.
Before she had given him the slip, he had begun to plan a life with her. Long before that last afternoon he knew he was falling in love. Surprised at first, he had then grown to accept that she was hisfate.
It burned deep to know that he had been nothing more than a plaything for her. To be tossed aside when he no longer served any usefulpurpose.
As his uncle began the Sunday evensong reading, Will glanced across at the couple in the same row. The woman was holding a young infant in her arms. Every so often the man looked down at the baby and smiled. Will felt the joy he saw in the man’sface.
Will’s initial plan had been to follow Hattie out the door, confront her on the steps of the cathedral and make her tell him the whole truth of who shewas.
But he decided he would play the long game. Hattie had not seen him. He still had the element of surprise in his favor. With Lord Shale’s man of business now investigating the family of Felix Wright, it would not be long before Hattie’s whereabouts wereuncovered.
In the meantime, he could go about the business of filling in some more of the gaps in her life story, starting with the young gentleman seated across the way from him at St.Paul’s.
As soon as the service ended, Will got to his feet and made his way over to the young couple. His uncle would be expecting Will to join him for that glass of post evensong wine but it would be some time before the bishop changed out of his ceremonial robes. Time which Will could put to gooduse.
“Good evening,” saidWill.
The man rose from his chair and gave Will a friendly nod inreply.
“That’s a fine young babe you have there. May I offer my congratulations to you and your ladywife.”
He held out hishand.
“William Saunders at yourservice.”
“Edgar Wright. And this is my wifeMiranda.”
By the time he caught up with his uncle a short time later, Will had several cards up his sleeve with which to play. In his hand he held one real and rather important one. The bishop’s wine went down verywell.
