Lord and Lady Spy Read Online Free PDF Page B

snorted. “You cannot be serious. As though I would traipse about in the middle of the night without a very good reason.”
    Blue took her hand and pressed the card into it. “Whether you come or not is entirely your decision, but be aware that you are not the only one in contention for the position. If you are late or do not make an appearance, you lose.”
    With a nod and a bow, he turned and began to walk away. Sophia watched him for a moment and then called, “Lose what?”
    Without looking back, he raised a hand and waved.
    ***
    “I did not ask you here to call you back into service,” Melbourne said as he opened his office door to admit Adrian. Immediately, the surge of pleasure Adrian had been riding since receiving the summons this afternoon vanished.
    He stepped into the office and scowled. “I see.” He made a show of taking out his pocket watch and studying the face. Nine o’clock in the evening. “I don’t have time for social calls.”
    Ignoring him, Melbourne lifted two brandy snifters from his desk drawer and filled each from a decanter he unearthed as well. He offered one to Adrian. “Brandy?”
    Adrian accepted it, sipped the liquid, and crossed his arms. The older man took a seat and proceeded to savor the amber liquid. Adrian felt a heave of impatience as he watched the other man’s languid, unhurried movements. In contrast, Adrian’s heart beat quickly, and every muscle was taut, but he controlled his expression, controlled his breathing. He might seethe with irritation, but Melbourne would never know.
    “Care to sit down, old chap?”
    “I’ll stand.”
    “Suit yourself.”
    Adrian closed his mouth, exerting considerable effort to refrain from asking the purpose of Melbourne’s urgent summons. He could be as patient as the devil, if need be.
    “You must be wondering why I called you here,” Melbourne said before finishing the last of his brandy.
    Adrian lifted one shoulder slightly. “I’m used to coming when called. It’s one of many things about the group I won’t miss.”
    “And yet, two days ago, you were at loose ends. I was left with the distinct impression you rather wanted to remain part of the group.”
    Hell, yes, he’d wanted to remain part of the group. He needed the Barbican group. Melbourne knew it, but Adrian would eat the snifter before admitting how much he wanted his position back. Let Melbourne think domesticity suited him perfectly. Let Melbourne worry about losing his best agent for a change. “I’ve found other amusements.”
    “I see.” Melbourne poured another two fingers of brandy for himself. He raised the decanter toward Adrian. Much as he wanted another glass, Adrian shook his head and watched Melbourne relish another swallow.
    “Then I suppose you would not be interested in a new venture recently come before me,” Melbourne said. “You are, after all, a free man now.”
    Adrian swallowed and waited five long heartbeats. “What new venture?”
    “Nothing to do with our group,” Melbourne replied with a wave of his half-empty glass. “Not directly, at any rate. This is a private matter, but it requires the involvement of someone in whose loyalty we are absolutely secure.”
    Adrian shifted slightly and clenched his hidden fists to keep from blurting out a barrage of questions. Finally, he settled on, “Who is we?”
    Instead of answering, Melbourne sipped his brandy and searched another drawer, unearthing a small white card, which he held out to Adrian. Printed in neat black script was an address and midnight .
    Adrian’s eyes met his superior’s. “A midnight rendezvous? What is this? A love affair?”
    “Hardly. It is a matter of extreme consequence, but as I said before, you are free from my command. What you do with the information on that card is entirely your decision.”
    “So I’m at perfect liberty to go home and to bed.”
    “If that is what you wish.”
    The two men locked gazes for several seconds.
    “But you