“Thank you, my lord.”Although Ridge would have accepted nothing less than his superior’s full cooperation. After everything Isabella had gone through, the return of her dowry would help her to carve out a new life for herself—one that didn’t include heartache or misery. Or him.
“Where is the English spy now?” Montgomery asked.
Ridge swallowed the regret he felt and withdrew a letter he’d procured from his prisoner. He handed it to Logan.“He’s being held in Gravelines at the Smuggler’s City.His name is Pierce Rutherford.”
“A cross written letter with invisible ink. How ingenious,” Montgomery murmured, and then glared at Ridge. “Rather unceremonious of you to decode it without me.”
Ridge ignored him, turning his focus on the earlinstead. “Rutherfordwas one of our best.” Liverpool’s mouth turned down grimly. “Curdiff recruited him for the Crown a number of years ago. He was as fearless as the Duke of Chiltern. Unfortunately, he’d gone quiet for the past several weeks, once Lady Worthington’s smuggling operation was brought toa halt, so we feared the worst.” He sighed heavily. “Now that the EIC has made an agreement with the Crown, at least that’s one less thing we have to contend with.All we have to donow is ensure that Rutherfordisbrought back to English shores, preferably alive.”
“I’d be honored to be of service,” Ridge said. “Just tell me what I need to do.”
“In the event something like this should happen, I have a purse that we are willing to trade to secure our agent’s release, although we should like to have both items returned.” He smiled meaningfully. “And whileI’mrelieved to have such dedicatedloyaltyin you, Claymoore,rest assured Iwouldn’t feel comfortable throwingyou into enemy territory alone.” He nodded toward Logan. “I’m sendingMontgomeryalong as well.”
The agent turned to himwith a wide grin. “Lucky you.”
It was all Ridge could do not to groan. The man could be insufferable, but there was honestly no one else that he would trust with his life. Unless it was Lady Isabella, but he intended to see that she was far away from this particular fight. “I havebutone request.”
Liverpool lifted a brow. “And that is?”
“To ensure that Lady Isabella returns to her family in London.”
“Naturally,” the earlagreed,nodding. “I shall see to it myself. Not only is she my goddaughter, but her father, Lord Ashfield, is also a close personal friend of mine. He would expect nothing less than her secure return. I will also see that the prisoner is handed over to the local magistrate this afternoon and transported back to London to await trialandthat he is also granted a bit of clemency for his cooperation.As for both of yougentlemen,thecutterwill beready to take you across the channel at midnight.A skiff will be waiting for you on the shore.” He lifted a brow. “I hope that you have both brushed up on your French accents.”
“Oui, Monsieur,” Logan returned flawlessly.“Je suisprét pour le travail á faire/á accomplir.”
“I amalso prepared for the task at hand,” Ridge noted dryly. “And yet, as usual, I don’t have to brag about my abilities while you like nothing better than to exploit your own worth.”
“What can I say?” Logan shrugged, his ice-blue eyes dancing with mirth. “I’m a proud man with many talents.”
Ridge scoffedbutrefused to deign to lower himself with a reply. Then again, most of his focus was on Isabella—and the fact he would soon be leaving her.
Perhaps for good.
***
Isabella spent most of the day in deep contemplation, walking among the bastions of the castle and among the fragrant gardens. She sat for a time and stared at the charred remains of the outbuilding, thinking how differently it all might have gone, should she not have raised the alarm in time and Ridge hadn’t actedas calmly as he had. Of course, this also made her think of her own circumstances, and where she might be now if Simon had been present last evening. No doubt she’d be on a ship bound for France at this very moment. She shuddered just imagining it, and yet, she had come close to that very thing.
Notuntil the sun started to sink into dusk, did she head back to her chambers to begin preparing for supper.
Claudiadrewa bath for her, butit wasn’t untilIsabella was in her undergarmentsthather maidheldup the dress she’d adorned with the gold ribbon. It was one of her favorites, a deep blue satin, but with the trim, it became even more special.
After Claudia had put the finishing touches on Isabella’s elegant coiffure, sheascendedthe stairs with a cool, outward composure. But then, this was a performance she had enacted many times as the poised, spinster daughter of the Marquess ofAshfield.She’d grown upamong theton, so the social niceties came to her almost naturally.
The moment she appeared in the doorway of the salon, she saw Robert Jenkinson, the Earl of Liverpool. She recalled him from various London gatherings, even if they hadn’t spoken often, but he was just as she remembered with light hair that was starting to thin quite notably, and warm brown eyes. Hewas sipping a brandy, in true gentleman fashion, attired in his evening finery and giving credence to the fact he visited only the finest tailors in London.
There were two other men in the room, but Isabella didn’t have time tolock eyes withRidgebefore her hostnoticed her presenceand rose to his feet with a friendly greeting. “Ah,there you are Lady Wistenberry.” He bowed over her hand while she forced herself not to cringe at his use of her title. “Pray,forgive my inattentiveness until now.”
She forced a smile.“Lord Liverpool.Of course, I understand the reason for your delay.How lovelyit isto see you again. I trust you are in good health?”
“Indeed, I am,” he replied courteously.“Although I fear my dear wife, Louisa, couldn’tmake the journey due to her current illness. She is easily prone to headaches,and often seeks the advice of our personal physician.” Hisexpression helda touch of sadness, but he recovered, recalling the task at hand. “Then again,I suppose we arehere for political purposes, thoseinvolving your husband and his questionable loyalties to the Crown.It’s not necessarily something I should wish for Louisa to partake of at any cost.”
Isabella couldalmostfeelRidge’s intent stare on herand she yearned to acknowledge him, but she forced her attention to remain on the earl. “I daresay I’ve been quite distraught over the matter,” she murmured, assuming that was the appropriate response of atimidfemale.
“Quite understandable,” Liverpool returned firmly. “Treason isa serious offense, punishable by death.”
Shepictured Ridge hanging from a noose andstiffened, unable to prevent a tinysound of alarmfrom rising in her throat.
The earllaid a gentle hand on her shoulder and added, “Not to worry, my lady. I will personally stand beside you to weather the scandal. As you know, I have very persuasive friends in London, and you are my goddaughter.”
