Hugh again raked his hand through his hair and sighed.
“Itisin connection with Northcott in a certain way, but I didn’t think the two of you were already connected.”
Ellen frowned in confusion but shook her head. “We aren’t connected. I just don’t wish to dally here in Town any longer than necessary, so I am considering all the possibilities. We danced last night, and he was pleasant.”
“So you consider that the only criterion for husband? Surely you must set a higher standard for yourself, Ellen.”
“I do not see how it is any of your concern, Richmond.” She put gentle emphasis on his title in an effort to remind both of them that there was only formality between them now, despite their closeness years ago. “Please, do get to your point. You requested privacy or secrecy or what have you. You shan’t have it much longer if Mother hears of your presence, surely you realize.”
To her surprise, the strong, serious man before her blushed like a youth, and he was suddenly awkward and stumbling.
“You are correct, El. I must get to my point.” Ellen refused to be softened by his use of the diminutive form of her name even though she had always loved to hear it in his deep voice. The passage of time had only improved upon it.
But he appeared far too nervous to act upon his words of getting to his point. Finally, Ellen’s glare loosened and she had to laugh. She had to forgive their youthful selves. Hugh had apologized at the time of the offence. She supposed it was herself she needed to forgive. Especially for the feelings she had secretly and foolishly held in trust for the handsome man standing before her suddenly so indecisive for the first time since she met him. With a shake of her head, Ellen knew she wasn’t yet ready to forgive either of them. But she could relent at least a little. She forced her fists to unclench and took a deep breath in order to release some of the anger she knew had been in her tone earlier.
“Tell me, Hugh. I’m sure it must be important or serious for you to have approached me like this. I shouldn’t have allowed old anger to fester and spew onto you. That part was my fault, not yours, and is why I was suddenly suspicious of your association with Mr. Northcott.” She looked around as though seeing her surroundings for the first time then gestured behind him. “Won’t you have a seat and tell me what brings you by?”
He sat but still appeared dumbstruck so Ellen smiled and gently prodded again.
“If you’re not here to speak of Jeffrey nor Mr. Northcott, have you suddenly recalled that you promised to tell me all about your Grand Tour and your conscience would not allow another moment to go by?” She grinned at her foolish suggestion. “No, it cannot be that or you would recall that my mother would want to be present for such a conversation. I cannot actually even begin to fathom a guess. Shall I ring for tea service while you gather your thoughts?”
Suddenly Hugh was laughing, and he once more looked like the handsome youth she remembered from her idyllic childhood. Ellen felt a little more of her anger dissipate even as a part of her wondered why their youthful selves hadn’t been able to make a match. But it mattered very little now, she persisted in thought, she was going to make a perfectly acceptable match as soon as she could figure out what Hugh wanted from her and sent him on his way.
Chapter Six
“E
llen, you are a delight, whether you are angry or conciliatory, you are always unique. I have missed you and your family quite desperately and hadn’t even realized it.”
Once the words were out of his mouth, Hugh realized they could be considered somewhat insulting, but to his relief the girl laughed. He supposed she was no longer such a girl. She had grown up to be the beautiful young woman he had known she would be on that last, ill-fated visit, just before he took up his first assignment for the Home Office.
Visiting the Courtenay family at Hanley Hall had been his own private little good-bye festival to his old, pre-agent life. He had accidentally given his heart to the sprite before him those years ago. Hugh had never wished for it back. He had always thought he would continue a solitary existence as an agent for the Crown. There had been no room in his life for a wife or for feelings of any sort except for his loyalty to his assignment and the patriotic impulses that he cultivated to maintain that loyalty. But now everything was different.
Except not completely. Until Northcott was able to take up the assignment and get the information Hugh had been so close to getting when his mission had been interrupted by news from home, Hugh wouldn’t actually be fully free. For his own peace of mind and for the safety of their nation, Hugh needed Ellen’s cooperation.
“I need you to swear your secrecy, Ellen,” he began earnestly, watching as the laughter drained from her face. “And while you’re swearing, I need you to swear your fealty to King George.”
The intelligent gaze of his long-ago love never wavered from his face as she searched it for some hidden meaning. “Why would you need me to swear to those things? Surely, having known me since I was a little girl, you should know that loyalty to our King and country are facts of my life. And I have never betrayed a secret. And well you know it from your own experience.” Ellen crossed her arms in a defensive gesture.
Hugh would have blushed if not for the fact that he had been a hardened agent for several years now. But the woman’s words caused him a level of discomfort he never would have expected. Clearly, she was harbouring a grudge against him. And he couldn’t blame her in all actuality. He had betrayed her trust by kissing her and then leaving. He ought to have offered for her immediately despite how young she had been at the time. As she had said, she could have waited for him.
He sputtered a reply. “Yes, of course, you were always such a reliable friend.”
But he had never expected to inherit. What prospects had he had as a younger son? It had been necessary for him to make his own way in the world. He had been quite successful in doing so as an agent. Even if he hadn’t inherited, he would have been in a financial position to make an offer to any young woman. But as an agent, what kind of life would he have really been able to offer her? Visitations a couple times a year? While that might have been acceptable to some, it wasn’t the type of life he would like to establish for his own family. Remaining alone, unwed, had always seemed like the wisest course.
Except now he had inherited and his life as an agent was coming to a close.
Would Ellen consider his suit now? The thought tantalized him much like a mirage he had once seen when he had become too thirsty while travelling in a hot country. He was still not in a position to make an offer for any woman, not until he had well and truly turned over his life as an agent.
The sooner he got this all behind him the better. Now that he had accepted that his life was turning in a direction he had never expected, he wanted to get on with it as soon as possible.
Giving his head a shake, Hugh realized Ellen was still gazing at him expectantly and looking a little puzzled. He was dithering. After his dramatic demands for her promises, he hadn’t followed through with what he needed from her. He shook his head again and sighed.
“Perhaps you are right; we ought to sit down. And I need to hurry up, as you pointed out. If I wish to keep things confidential, it won’t do to tarry.”
He followed his words with action and stepped toward the seats she had indicated, gratified to hear by the rustle of her skirts that she was following his lead and taking a seat as well.
“Spit it out, Hugh. You are being mysterious and odd all at once. Do tell me what is going on and how I can be of assistance.”
