His Lady Spy (The Star Elite Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

murderer’s next target. Now though, he had one hell of a problem on his hands.
    Wincing at the dull ache in his backside, Archie sat on the thickest branch and watched Manton disappear into the woods. The Frenchman had just vanished from sight when Archie left his hiding place and took off after Portia. There was no cover, and no way of knowing if Manton had seen him too, but he couldn’t run the risk of Manton’s associates being despatched to silence the woman who was now running as fast as her heels could carry her toward the church, and her innocent, yet equally in danger, sister.
    As he ran after Portia, Archie was torn. The ruthless warrior in him warned him that he should have stayed in the tree to protect his identity. He should leave the woman to face the dangers she had put herself in but the softer, more human side of him refused to allow someone so young, so beautiful, to become a victim of such ruthless killers. Not that he felt any pull toward her. He had no desire to protect her, whatever the cost. He just wasn’t cold-hearted enough to simply watch and see what happened. It went against every instinct he possessed to sit back and allow an innocent life be simply snuffed out for no other reason than she had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
    Despite his logical reasoning, a small voice deep within asked him if he was being entirely honest with himself. The woman’s life was of no concern to him. He had a duty to king and country to remain alive, and ensure his part in the mission is completed to the best of his ability. Failure to do so would mean that the lives of the rest of the men from the Star Elite were put at risk. Yet here he was, chasing across the fields as though the hounds from Hell were nipping at his heels.
    Cursing fluidly, Archie quickly blocked the little voice out, his eyes firmly locked on Portia’s back as she disappeared from sight. There was no way of getting through the thick hedgerow running around the perimeter of the field. Shaking his head in disbelief at his own soft nature, Archie gave chase.
    At the gate, a quick glance over his shoulder confirmed that Manton had broken his own cover and was now headed toward him. Had he sent his associates to head them off? Vaulting over the gate, Archie lengthened his stride, his eyes locked firmly on the slender back of the woman before him. Although she was in a hurry, she moved with a lithe grace that was seemingly effortless, and almost sensual to watch. She wasn’t overly large, and probably came up to his shoulder. The thick mop of jet black curls bounced and bobbed with each step she took, making his fingers twitch with the urge to run a finger through one of the curls to see if it would cling to his finger, and feel as soft as it looked.
    “God , Archie, get a hold of yourself,” Archie whispered, shaking his head and puffing out his cheeks. Continually scanning the hedgerow, he had followed her about half-way down the lane toward the church, when he became aware of the faint thud of footsteps behind him. Portia must have heard the footsteps too because, for one brief moment, she glanced back at Archie, her fear-filled eyes wide with panic. He knew she considered him one of them; the murderers, but could do little to assure her of his innocence.
    His eyes met and held hers. Sensing her rising panic, he tried to keep his gaze calm and reassuring and wished he could call out to her . Instead he remained quiet and clenched his teeth as she turned to face forward, lifted her skirts and started to run.
    He briefly caught the flicker of movement over the hedge, and knew that someone was heading down the lane toward them. There was no way of knowing if they were Manton’s associates, but Archie knew that neither he or Portia had any chance of surviving if they didn’t find some place to hide. Quickly.
    Glancing upward, he wished he could just clamber up the large oak tree further along the road. As a young boy he had spent