Regency Spymasters 01 - Spy Fall Read Online Free PDF Page B

Aldridge’s stately rosewood desk.
    Fragile looking in a flowing white summer dress, she posed with one elbow resting atop a low dresser, laughter tingeing her gray, light-filled eyes. She looked away from the artist, toward the window, which gave her skin a translucent glow and emphasized glimmers of gold in her honey-colored hair. This, then, must be Elinor Dunsmore.
    Pulling her attention away from the dead girl’s portrait, Mari rounded the desk and opened the top drawer. Moving with all haste, she methodically searched each drawer, sorting through papers and other documents looking for the list. She opened the ledgers she’d noticed while meeting Aldridge earlier in the day, and examined rows of neat columns, but noted nothing out of the ordinary.
    Replacing each book precisely where she’d found it, Mari knelt to check the construction of the desk more thoroughly, searching for hidden compartments where important documents could be secreted. The latch clicked in the door, making her heart jump. She dropped to the floor in a silent fluid motion, curling up under the desk just as the door pushed open.
    “There’s no need for you to stay. I know you prefer the diversions of the capital,” Aldridge’s voice said.
    “Anxious to be rid of me, are you?”
    “As you can see, I am quite well. I don’t need looking after.”
    “I find this eagerness to see me gone most curious.” Dunsmore’s voice moved closer to her. “Considering you’re normally quite happy to divert me from the evils of Town.”
    “Once the bridge is passable, you should make plans to depart.” A slight thump near the vicinity of the window suggested that the marquess had seated himself at his chess table. Mari exhaled. At least he wasn’t coming to take his place behind the desk. “I need to put certain affairs in order.”
    Dunsmore’s voice tightened. “You could allow me to help.”
    “No. This is something I must do on my own.” A long exhale weighted Aldridge’s response. “Old business only I can settle.”
    “Meaning you don’t trust me to help relieve you of the burden. Whatever it is.”
    A significant pause. “This is a matter of extreme delicacy that requires a reliable hand.”
    “Which I am naturally ill-equipped to manage.” Dunsmore’s boots moved in muted thuds across the carpet toward the door. “I’ll see you in the morning, sir.”
    “Where are you off to?”
    “I doubt you really want me to answer that.”
    “Stay away from the French girl. She’s a guest in this house, not one of your strumpets.”
    “I agree.” The door pulled open. “One might even say that handling Miss Lamarre is a matter of extreme delicacy. How fortunate it is that seduction is one endeavor at which I am admirably reliable.”
    The door pulled shut, followed by the sound of boot heels clicking away on the parquet floors. Aldridge’s hacking cough filled the silence left in Dunsmore’s wake. Then a chair scraped and the chess table groaned. Aldridge was using it to help himself stand. Heavy steps padded across the room and stopped. She heard the clink of glass, followed by the sound of sloshing liquid. Footsteps sounded again, this time in the direction of the desk. Mari held her breath. The marquess’s tall, black, gleaming boots moved into view, their dark tassels swinging as though waving at her.
    Still holding her breath, Mari made herself as small as possible. No easy task, given her long legs. Everything went still, until Aldridge’s voice broke the silence.
    “I know what you want.”

Chapter Four
    Mari’s heart careened to a stop. She remained silent, waiting for him to say more, but he just stood there, unmoving, facing away from her. Why he didn’t turn around?
    “I’ll do it for you.”
    The words were thick with anguish. Do what for her? And why wouldn’t he turn to face her? Then she realized Aldridge wasn’t speaking to her. He addressed the portrait.
    He was talking to Elinor.
    “I won’t fail you