Where Love Has Gone Read Online Free PDF Page A

two men whom our godfather Royce has sent, I will discover
what that something is. And if anyone has deliberately hurt Aglise,
Royce and I, together, will see that person punished.”
    She was magnificent, an avenging angel
willing to face down the devil himself for her sister’s sake.
Desmond wondered how it would feel to have someone care so deeply
about him. He shook his head, knowing it was impossible, telling
himself he didn’t care, for he loved the business of spying, of
ferretting out the very details that so many people tried to keep
secret, details the king needed to know.
    A spy’s career was brief, almost always
ending in a very painful death: hanged, drawn, and quartered.
Desmond had known as much from the beginning, and had long ago made
his peace with the work he did. And yet...how wonderful to be so
loved, to have hope of a home and family and a happy future…
    “You are speaking foolishness,” Lord Bertrand
chided her. “Silly, girlish foolishness. Aglise has left Jersey. It
is the only reasonable explanation.”
    “You are quite possibly correct,” Cadwallon
said to him. “That being the case, you won’t mind if Desmond and I
retrace the paths you and your men took while you were seeking the
girl. We are sworn to obey Royce’s command to search the entire
island and to ask questions until we discover where Aglise is.”
    “It will be a waste of your time,” Lord
Bertrand declared, frowning.
    “That is entirely likely, my lord,” Cadwallon
agreed. “However, as I said, we are acting under Royce’s orders, so
we have little choice in the matter.”
    “Then, do as you like,” Lord Bertrand said.
“Just don’t interfere with my people as they carry out their
routine duties.”
    “We wouldn’t dream of interfering in any
way,” Cadwallon promised with a bright smile. “Now, my lord, I must
confess, I am hungry beyond bearing and thoroughly tantalized by
those delightful smells.”
    “Indeed,” said Lady Benedicta, “we are poor
hosts to keep you standing here.” She laid a hand on Cadwallon’s
arm and allowed him to escort her to the table.
    Desmond bowed to Elaine and offered his arm
to her. He was eager to question her, to learn whatever she knew,
or suspected, about her sister’s disappearance, and he wondered if
she would confirm his newfound suspicions. He understood that she
wasn’t likely to reveal anything important while Lord Bertrand and
Lady Benedicta were near, since both of them had made clear their
disapproval of the way Elaine had used her own initiative to call
upon the best help available in locating her sister. He was going
to have to find a way to question Elaine in private. He was
pleased, and not at all surprised when Elaine herself provided the
means he sought.
     
    Elaine picked at her food. Knowing what the
dovecot was like, she didn’t care much for hot, roasted squab. In
any case, she hadn’t been able to eat more than a mouthful or two
of food at any one time since the day when Aglise disappeared. Now
that Royce had sent his men to conduct their own search for her
sister, she dared to hope they would find her. Alive , please
God.
    From what she had seen of Royce’s emissaries,
she approved of them. She didn’t believe for a minute that the
huge, broad shouldered Cadwallon was as lazy and slow-witted as he
appeared to be at first glance. Royce would never employ a stupid
agent; therefore, Cadwallon’s slowness was a ruse.
    As for Desmond, Elaine did not delude herself
that his slightly smaller size was a sign of weakness. The
shoulders beneath his plain blue wool tunic were those of a
well-trained swordsman and she had noticed the intent way he
watched Lord Bertrand and Lady Benedicta. She was sure Desmond was
clever and shrewd. She did find the emptiness behind his cool gaze
to be both peculiar and disturbing.
    Elaine guessed that when dealing with such a
man, she was going to have to be very careful. She doubted if
Desmond would be hindered by