As Luck Would Have It Read Online Free PDF Page B

serious expression. “To business,” he insisted. “What do you make of our new friend?”
    Alex decided to let the matter of Whit’s involvement drop, for now. “He’s an ass,” he replied.
    “Certainly, but do you think he’ll prove an accommodating sort of ass?”
    “Loudor gives the appearance of being an overindulgent fop, stupid and conceited enough to brag about his ventures if plied with enough liquor. But if he’s been playing the traitor’s game, then he’s been at it for a while and he hasn’t slipped up yet. Either he has more sense than he lets on, or he’s innocent.”
    “I can’t say it’s easy to reconcile myself to either of those options. Perhaps he’s just been lucky.”
    “Perhaps.”
    “How are you planning to handle Miss Everton?”
    Alex ignored his friend’s accentuated use of the word “handle.”
    “Loudor made it rather clear this evening that he didn’t want to be bothered by his cousin’s suitors, but I imagine I can find a way around that. I suppose I’ll have to pay her some attention. If Loudor proves tight-lipped, she may be of some use to us.”
    “How noble of you,” Whit drawled. “The chit’s a beauty, Alex. Quite stunning, really. If you’d rather, I might be agreeable—”
    “You’ll keep a respectable distance,” Alex snapped. “She’s my concern.”
    In the face of Whit’s knowing smirk, Alex was forced to admit he’d been concerning himself over Miss Everton a great deal that night. “Bloody hell. Just stick to orders, Whit. Keep your eye on Loudor’s friends, Calmaton and Forent. Loudor, too, when you can. And if your mother gets wind of this, it’s on your head.”

Four
    S ophie rose the next morning feeling stiff and sore, but otherwise much her usual self. Once during the night, she had awoken long enough to read the contents of the envelope Mr. Smith had given her. It contained a list of gentlemen she was to “keep her eye trained upon,” as well as the name of the solicitor who would serve as her contact and provide her with any needed funds.
    After memorizing the names, she had burned the papers in the fireplace and gone back to bed. Personal experience had taught her that rest was the best medicine for a blow to the head. Or so Mrs. Summers was in the habit of insisting. Having taken a considerably stout blow, she would now have to spend the remainder of the day resting. Sophie heaved a disappointed sigh. Resting was dull under normal circumstances—on her first full day back in England, it was going to be positively torturous. She wondered if she could manage to sneak outside. She wouldn’t go far, of course, and it’d only be for a bit.
    Mentally planning her escape, she pulled the bell cord and went to the window to wait for a response. It had been too dark last night to see much beyond shadows. In the light of day, Sophie saw that her bedroom afforded a view of a small but well-kept garden complete with a gravel walking path, several benches, and a garish, oversized fountain she guessed to be a new addition.
    A knock at the door signaled the arrival of a plump girlwith a head of brilliant red hair neatly tucked up in a chignon. With her freckles, bright blue eyes, and an endearing smile, the girl looked as though she belonged on a three-legged stool in front of a cow. Not that Sophie had ever seen a dairymaid before, mind you, she was just certain the girl fit the bill.
    “Morning, miss. I hope you’re feeling better, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
    “Of course not, ah…”
    “Penny, miss.”
    Penny. It suited. “Thank you, Penny, I am much recovered. If it’s not too much bother, could I have a bath made ready and some food brought up? I seem to have overslept and missed breakfast.”
    “No bother at all, but you haven’t missed breakfast. It’s only eleven, and breakfast is served at quarter to twelve.”
    “So late?”
    “We keep town hours here, miss.”
    “Oh, right, of course.” She had no idea what