My Lady, My Spy (Secrets and Seduction Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

forced to improvise after Lord Percival’s fire. That must have been a challenge.”
    Frederick let out an exasperated sigh. “If you knew all of that, why did you follow me upstairs?”
    “I am sorry about that. I didn’t realize you must have been on an assignment until later. I’d make a terrible spy, wouldn’t I? I never considered that I might one day stumble across you while you were on a mission. I always imagined those sorts of tasks taking place in dark, scurrilous places.”
    Frederick held his palm out, gesturing for her to stop. “I really must speak candidly with my brother. I’d rather not involve you in this any further. It’s safer for you if you don’t know anything. We’ll halt the carriage so he and I can walk for a moment.”
    “Fiddlesticks,” she said, affronted. “I’d never betray you. I never said a word about what happened last year with Lord and Lady Huntley, did I? And I never will. Nor will I repeat anything you say in front of me now. Pretend I’m not here.”
    Frederick remained silent.
    “You already trust her,” Robert said, “otherwise she wouldn’t be in the carriage with us right now. You’d never have permitted it.”
    Josephine felt a rush of gratitude, but she kept her attention focused on Frederick.
    He met Josephine’s gaze. “Trust isn’t the issue,” he said, stroking the back of his left hand against her cloak. That faint, tenuous connection shot a spear of awareness through her chest. “I want to protect you from this part of my life, not drag you into it. But you’re right. I’ve already involved you in this. Too many people saw us leave together.”
    She took a steadying breath, but whether her need for something solid to cling to was driven by his words or his touch, she couldn’t have said. “I can take care of myself,” she insisted. “I’ve been doing so for the past two years.”
    Frederick’s jaw tensed, but after a long pause, he nodded. “Letting you listen won’t put you at any greater risk.”
    Josephine listened as the brothers discussed what had transpired that evening. Listened, but didn’t interrupt. Their objective tonight seemed to have been to acquire a book. A church register, of all things. Apparently the French, the Russians, and the Ottomans wanted it as well. From what she could gather, Frederick and Robert needed to recover it from some unknown woman who had managed to steal it from them before escaping from the embassy.
    What sort of woman was she? She must be a spy. A woman spy. And a skilled one at that. She must be if she could blend in at an embassy ball, fool Robert into letting down his guard, and slip away with the prize. Certainly she was clever, resourceful, and determined. But so was Frederick. So who was the thief working for? Obviously not the British.
    Frederick let out a deep sigh. “If I’m right and the French are behind the theft, I might be able to deduce the identity of the man who orchestrated tonight’s debacle. You mentioned the thief had a key. There aren’t many people who would have been able to acquire one. Nor are there many people with the skills and connections to have choreographed tonight’s events. Your little thief will probably pass along the church register as soon as possible. Once I’ve deduced his identity, I can watch him until she shows herself. As soon as she makes contact, I’ll grab the book.”
    Robert nodded. “It’s a solid plan, as long as you’re certain you know who her contact will be.”
    “That’s the problem. This is my best guess, but since I’m missing key facts, I could be wrong. That’s why I want you to try to locate the woman using your own methods. If we attack the problem from two different directions, we have a better chance of succeeding.”
    Josephine began shaking her head vehemently. “I don’t like this. I know I promised that you wouldn’t know I was here, but I can’t remain silent. You’re injured, you’re tired, and you’ve been