The Scarlet Spy Read Online Free PDF Page B

arrives.”
    Sofia assumed a seat on the sofa and smoothed her silks into place. “Thank you,” she said with a hint of hauteur. “You have no idea how difficult it is to get decent tea in Rome. It is only when I am at my summer
calle
near Venice that my cook can purchase a proper oolong blend from Ceylon.”
    “The accent is perfect,” said Marco. “You have a good ear for Italian,
bella.”
    She grinned. “I’ve been listening to you whisper sweet nothings for long enough. Something was bound to rub off.”
    “A pity it was not my hands doing the caressing.”
    “Behave yourself,” she muttered under her breath.
    “Ah, yes, I almost forgot—I must act like a gentleman. How very …” He mouthed the word
boring,
then winked.
    Sofia bit back a grin. “Not for much longer.”
    Steam swirled though the air as Mrs. Merlin poured hot water over the tea leaves. “Actually, Marco will also be traveling to London. Lord Lynsley is arranging for you to have an English escort to ease your way into Society. But given the complexities of this mission, we decided it would do no harm to have an ally on hand. Besides, his amorous attention will also serve to spark the interest of the other gentlemen.”
    Marco flashed a wicked smile.
    “I trust I don’t have to remind you not to overplay the role,” added the headmistress with a warning wag of her finger.
    “Non, non.
When I put my mind to it, Signora Merlin, I can recall all the rules of proper etiquette.”
    Sofia arched a skeptical brow. “I shudder to think of where you might have picked up such knowledge.”
    He exaggerated a look of reproach. “My family is one of the oldest and most respected names in all of Lombardy.”
    Skeptical, she looked to Mrs. Merlin, only to see the headmistress nod. “I think it is about time we cleared up any misconceptions regarding our assistant fencing master. Marco’s full name is Giovanni Marco Musto della Ghiradelli. Heir to the Conte of Como’s title and fortune.”
    “A bloody
conte?”
Sofia could not contain her shock.
    “Ladies must never swear,
bella,”
he murmured.
    “On second thought, I’ll strangle you with my bare hands.” Shaken by the revelation, Sofia felt somehow betrayed. She had seen Marco as a kindred soul—a rascal with no place in the world, save for what he could carve out for himself with his blade. To learn his august bloodlines ran back for centuries made her feel even more alone.
    “Damn it, you
lied
to me.”
    His look of amusement was gone in a flash. “Never. I may have omitted some parts of my background, but I never told you anything that was not true.”
    “It comes down to the same thing,” she snapped. “You deliberately deceived me.”
    “Deception is one of the basic teachings of the Academy. It must fit as easily as a second skin if we are to serve our purpose.” Mrs. Merlin was observing her through hooded eyes. “Marco’s true identity was something that Lord Lynsley wished to keep a secret. But as he is acquainted with one of our suspects from their school days in Geneva, it was decided that his presence could prove useful in making your mission successful. If you have any problems with that, Sofia, please voice them now.”
    Drawing a deep breath, Sofia willed the heat to cool from her cheeks. “I’ve no problem at all,” she replied. “You are right, of course. It simply took me by surprise that a friend … It won’t happen again.”
    “There is no such thing as friendship in our world,” said Mrs. Merlin. “The only emotion allowed is a dispassionate devotion to duty.”
    “I won’t make that mistake again.”
    For a moment, the only sound in the room was the ticking of the tall case clock. Sofia sat very still, spine rigid, wondering if her slip had just cost her dearly. Perhaps Mrs. Merlin was recalling all the times she had bent the Academy rules to help keep her roommates out of trouble.
    Personal loyalty would no doubt be seen as a weakness, not a