Chapter 4
“What exactly are your plans, Kilsyth?” Pickmore eyed Henry after Mrs. Peade had taken Eve to her chamber.
“To make a lady out of Miss Doyle.” The more he thought about the changes he could make and the challenges she presented, the more anxious Henry was to begin.
“To what purpose?”
“Perhaps none, perhaps for the challenge, or perhaps to spy.”
“Spy?”
“Think on it. Once I’m finished with Miss Doyle, nobody will ever guess that she was raised on a stud farm in Cork, Ireland. Instead she’ll be a much-sought-after debutant, even without lady attached to her name. Afterall, she does bring ten thousand pounds.”
Pickmore narrowed his eyes.
“Gentlemen will flock to her side and her manner of speech will be no less than that of a princess. Once she’s out of those filthy rags and into the latest fashions, Miss Doyle will captivate them all.”
“You mean to make her your spy amongst the ton?”
Was he not speaking English? Why was Pickmore having such a difficult time understanding the plan? “Of course, and why not?”
“It’s not been requested,” Pickmore reminded him.
“Well, one mustn’t ignore opportunities when they arrive.” Henry paused to look around the library. “Where is the coffee, or even tea?”
“We were pulled from our beds, remember?”
“Oh, right.” Henry marched across the room and yanked on the bell pull.
“You can’t just pluck someone up off the streets and decided to make them a spy.”
“I didn’t pick her up off the streets, she came to me.”
“Not by her own volition.”
“Yes, well, she’s mine now.” Henry took a seat behind the desk, anxious to begin making plans for his latest student.
“I must object, Kilsyth,” Pickmore paced before the settee. “What do we know of her?”
“What do we need to know?” He shrugged and leaned back in the leather chair. “She has no family, to speak of at least, and she isn’t of use to anyone but me.”
“It isn’t our place to choose those who will work for the crown, but that of our superiors,” Pickmore reminded him.
“Yes, well I’ve trained enough to recognize a good candidate when I see one.” Henry wagged a finger at Pickmore, “And an excellent opportunity for you as well.”
“Me?” Pickmore took a step back.
“Aren’t you to assist me in the training now? Where my emphasis is dialect and culture, yours is history and cyphering.” At least that had been the plan when Pickmore was returned to England. The two of them were to work together teaching any new recruit. As far as Henry was concerned, they’d just met their newest student.
“Lord Hopkins will not be pleased,” Pickmore warned.
Ah, yes, their immediate supervisor, but Henry wasn’t concerned. The marquess had always trusted Henry’s judgement in the past and would trust him in this as well. “Hopkins is at his home in Cornwall and I’d wager that by the time Miss Doyle is competent, he’ll be glad we showed the initiative.”
Skepticism darkened Pickmore’s already deep brown eyes. “Are you so certain?”
“Of course.” Henry hadn’t ever been more certain of anything in his life. “By the time we are finished, Hopkins will find her quite valuable indeed.” Warming to his plan, Henry rose from his seat. “In three months, or maybe even half that time, if she’s a good study and half as intelligent as I suspect she is, the Home Office will have a spy amongst theton.”
“I’m not so certain.” Doubt laced Pickmore’s tone.
