“Her reasons have naught to do with loyalty to Montfort.”
It was only the truth. It became clear to Percy that Isabel was as much his enemy as Montfort. The woman was on a mission to save her family. Nothing and no one was going to stand in her way. Alongside the anger and frustration sheered the pang of loss, another emotion he had no right to.
For his sanity, Percy needed to redirect this conversation away from Isabel. He needed to think like a spy, not like a heart-sick lover. “Hortense, dig deeper into who Montfort’s conspirators at Whitehall are. We can bring them all down.”
Hortense shook her head. “I don’t care about those men. You and I know Montfort is the head of the snake. If we don’t cut it off now, with one decisive blow, he will slither through unscathed.”
“Have you considered what Nick would do?”
“Nick?” Hortense scoffed. “You’ll get nowhere by throwing Nick at me. He’s a family man now. Completely out of the game. But between you and me? He would pursue this.Here.Now. We have the opportunity to deliver to Montfort everything he has coming to him.”
Percy nodded. She was right. Absolutely, unequivocally right. “Are you returning to London?”
She shook her head. “I’m staying just up the road at the Queen’s Arms.” She held his gaze, not yet finished. “I’ve been hired on at Gardencourt Manor as extra help for the village breakfast tomorrow.”
“So quickly? I would think the housekeeper would have required references.”
“Oh, I have an excellent set of references from our dear friend Lord Nicholas Asquith. He sends his regards.”
Of course. Hortense was thorough.
“I have a feeling about tomorrow, so be ready, Bretagne. You’re going to need me.” She turned to leave and stopped, asking over her shoulder. “And the Savior of St. Giles? Where does he stand in all this?”
“Haven’t you heard? The Savior of St. Giles is retiring.”
Hortense gave a curt nod and disappeared into the night. Not three seconds later, a rustling sounded in a dark clump of shrubbery some ten feet away. Percy’s head whipped around, and he scanned the gray night for the source. This wasn’t the indifferent shuffling of animal, but the measured movement of human. “Who’s there?”
Out from the hedge clambered none other than Lucy.
Shock traced through him at the sight of his daughter and the curious expression on her face. Of course, she always wore that expression, so it could be nothing. But he knew in his gut that wasn’t the case in this instance.
What had she heard?
Eyes narrowed, she approached, her step slow and deliberate. No denying his daughter had a distinct feel for the dramatic. “TheSavior of St. Giles?”
Chapter 23
Knowledge shining in her eyes, Lucy stared at Percy as if this was the first time she’d ever laid eyes on him. “Youare the Savior of St. Giles?”
He could pretend he’d been discussing gossip with Hortense. But Lucy would see straight through the lie and trust him even less than she did already. It wasn’t an option. “Yes.”
“Who was that woman you were speaking with?” Her head canted quizzically to the side. “One of your freed harlots?”
Percy shook his head. “Someone from a former life.”
Lucy’s eyebrows, which had drawn together, released. “So the whispers I’ve heard about you are true.”
“What whispers?”
“That you are a spy.”
He wouldn’t deny it. Only the truth would do for his daughter. She was old enough and intelligent enough to handle it. “I am no longer a spy.”
“Youwerea spy. And, now, you’re the Savior of St. Giles.” She moved closer. It wasn’t lost on Percy that this was the most conversation they’d ever exchanged. “When are younotpretending to be someone else?”
“I’m your father. That’s genuine and—” He hesitated. She was going to scoff him out of England when he spoke the next part. “And important.”
“Important?To whom?”
