“Actually, I was looking for Mary.”
Through the darkness, she could see Gabe’s back tense.
“Well, you’ve found me.” Mary said, her voice hoarse.
A flare of light lit the room as Gabe ignited the coals in the hearth.
“Mary?” Colin turned his gaze fully on Mary and released a gasp of dismay as he surged to his feet. “Sweet, merciful Lord in Heaven! Mary! What happened to you? Are you well?”
“I am well enough, Greene.”
Gabe went about lighting candles around them, lending a glow to the room. As the sitting room got brighter, Colin’s features grew increasingly horrorstruck.
“Who did this to you?” he said, aghast. “We must alert Hydra at once!”
She shrugged her uninjured shoulder. “The man’s been taken care of, and Hydra knows that I was on assignment. I am afraid that cannot sit to discuss it at the moment, for I must change and ready myself for the rendezvous—”
“Ye willnaecome with me, Mary,” Gabe interjected. “It is too dangerous, and yer already injured.”
She wheeled on him. “You are injured too, Gabriel! I was there, I saw what she did to you! Is it any wonder you’ve gone purple and green?” She huffed a frustrated breath. Why would he not listen to her? “Stevens has taken care of Boxton,” she continued, “that could pose a problem for the rendezvous. I must dress and prepare myself for any eventuality. We are wasting valuable time disputing the matter! The assignment is incomplete, and both of us are at risk. Imustfollow through.”
He gazed at her in silence for several moments, the muscle in his jaw jumping. “Dress yerself,” he finally grunted.
She flashed him a big smile and swept to her wardrobe to withdraw her nighttime sneak-work frock. With one last grin at Gabe and Greene, she dashed behind the privacy screen.
