One Night With a Spy Read Online Free PDF

exterior. That impression was substantiated by a small scar that cut through one eyebrow.
    His green gaze caught her short, causing her to pause in her unenthusiastic greetings. His eyes were a riveting emerald that seemed to turn darker when his gaze rested on hers. When they briefly turned away, she was able to take notice of his broad shoulders and generally superior manly physique.
    A ringing like that of the village fire bell sounded within her.
Danger
.
    She was attracted to him, whoever he was. How alarming—and absolutely perilous. Then Elliot, who held the distinction of being the only one to ever make her laugh, stepped between, cutting the stranger from her sight.
    Who was he? He was different, she could tell instantly. There was something about the way he stood there, unwilling to compete with men who were clearly his inferiors, completely confident that
she
would go to
him
.
    That unconscious bit of arrogance broke her trance. She increased the brightness of the smile she bestowed on dear Elliot. "How glad I am that you could visit again today," she said clearly, not looking at the newcomer by force of will.
    She was desperate to find out who he was and somewhat less desperate but still interested to find out what had happened to the rest of the mob. Had Furman gone so far as to actually poison the ale this time?
    "I'm afraid the faint of heart have returned to their usual hunting grounds," Elliot whispered into her ear as he took her hand to lead her to "her" chair—well, she couldn't very well allow them to fight out who sat with her on the sofa!—and he winked at her with his face turned away from the others. "Now all I must do is kill off the others and you'll be mine, all mine!"
    The corners of Julia's mouth twitched. Elliot spotted her response, although she covered it with an imperious nod. His eyes lit triumphantly.
    She ought not to encourage him, but at least his company was not as tiresome as that of the more earnest Mr. Eames. "Can you make it look like an accident?" she replied, her voice no more than a breath.
    He squeezed her hand briefly. "A veritable act of God."
    "Here now," huffed Mr. Eames from behind Elliot. "Her ladyship is in no humor for your senseless jests, Elliot!"
    "Perhaps her ladyship is in no humor to be told what sort of humor she's in."
    The stranger's voice was deep and powerful, reminding Julia of the rumbling growl of a predator.
    Mr. Eames huffed once more, which seemed to be his primary form of communication. Julia noticed Elliot eyeing the new gentleman with watchful amusement. The fellow gazed calmly back at him, clearly waiting for Elliot, or someone, to remember their manners and present him to her.
    Elliot dragged the moment out a bit more, clearly amused. Then he shrugged and turned back to Julia with a smile. "That looming brute over there is Marcus Blythe-Goodman. He rides a fine horse and tends not to talk overmuch about himself. A highly suspicious character. I suggest you bar him from your house immediately."
    "But then I should have to bar you all, for I know nothing more about you than I do about him." She stood and held out her hand. "Mr. Blythe-Goodman."
    "If that's even his name," Mr. Eames muttered.
    Mr. Blythe-Goodman approached her and bent over her hand. Blimey, he was tall.
    Julia immediately heard Aldus in her mind. "Don't say 'blimey,' Julia. Say 'goodness!' or 'heavens!'."
    The reminder of Aldus pierced her sharply. She must have paled, for Mr. Eames
cried out. "Lady Barrowby, are you ill?"
    Bloody hell. Not more notes! She shook her head quickly. "No, do not concern yourself! I am quite well! It is only that I—" There was no reason to hide it. "I was only thinking of his lordship."
    All the gentlemen murmured sympathetic things, but Julia caught a flash of something else in Mr. Blythe-Goodman's expression. It was gone before she could define it, but it made her uncomfortable.
    Marcus gazed at the woman coolly, then released her hand and stepped