This was where she was not willing to divulge all of her secrets.“I have my reasons.”
“And do they align with king and country?”
“They can,” she countered.“But I intend to use it for personal purposes as well.The Lion’s Watch has unlimited resources.”
“Indeed.”He lifted a hand and ran the edge of his thumb along his lower lip.She did not know if he intended for her focus to be riveted on his mouth or not, but that was where her eyes landed.What would it be like to kiss him?
Gracious!What an absurd thought and one that should have never taken form in the first place.She was a woman who wanted to be taken seriously, and for someone with her background and limited future prospects, respect was difficult to come by.Many people of her acquaintance thought she was either a ne’er-do-well urchin, as this man had initially assumed, or that she was willing to lift her legs in a dank alleyway for anyone with a bit of coin.
As the carriage turned a corner of the crowded thoroughfare, Astara dared to glance out the window.
“They gave up some time ago.”
She shot her glance back to him.“If you knew that, why did you not say anything?”
He angled his head and shot her a cheeky grin.“Perhaps I was enjoying your company too much.”
She snorted.“I doubt that is true.Especially considering I am holding you at gunpoint.”
“I hate to disappoint you, but this is not the first time I’ve had a loaded gun pointed in my direction.”He reached out and snatched the derringer out of her grasp and pulled the trigger before she could probably gasp in shock and outrage.He handed it back to her.“And yours was harmless.”
She stared at the worthless item in her grasp before shoving it angrily in her pocket.“If you knew that, why did you allow the charade to continue?”
He shrugged.“You interest me.”
Astara blinked.“I interest you?”When he inclined his head, she laughed.“That is rich coming from someone who will surely forget this encounter by the end of the hour.”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course,” she said without hesitation.She hit the top of the carriage and it rolled to a slow stop.“Men of your ilk could care less about common women such as myself.”She opened the door and jumped down to the ground then whirled and offered a mock curtsy.“Good day, sir.I do think you for your kind hospitality.”
ChapterTwo
Knox Ancell, the Duke of Hampton, watched the woman’s retreat until she was lost in the crowd, then he hit the side of the coach to let his driver know he was ready to continue on his journey.Although the idea of spending the rest of the morning in the middle of a smoke-filled, alcohol-induced daze at his club did not hold as much interest as it had when he’d climbed into his carriage, intent on putting an otherwise sour day out of his mind.
He'd had a discussion with Lord Montrose that had put him in rather dour spirits, and he’d worn a perpetual frown on his face until an enchanting creature in a plain, brown woolen dress had intruded upon his dark solitude.
Her hair was pulled back into a simple knot at the base of her neck.But it was the notable curves and the expressive green eyes that struck him the hardest.When she flashed that brazen smile at him he’d been equal parts annoyed by the intrusion and… impressed.It wasn’t often he was faced with such bold ladies hopping into his carriage.Generally, they blushed to the roots of their hair or fluttered their lashes in a ploy at winning his heart and gaining the title of duchess.It did not take much to discern that this woman cared nothing for such trivial things.She was set on a mission that he admired, albeit with reluctance.She was entirely too comely to involve herself in any sort of dangerous intrigue.
England was in the heat of war with Napoleon and there was nothing grand or honorable about losing one’s life or being captured by the enemy and branded a spy where a quick death was a luxury.
It was one of the reasons he’d been arguing with Montrose.That man was against everything that the Lion’s Watch stood for, believing that the Home Office should be tasked with anything to do with crossing enemy lines, rather than a group of “miscreants,” designed by a “bored aristocrat,” who only started the organization because he’d been “shirking his duty” by adopting the role of duke upon the deaths of his father and older brother.
Knox was personally acquainted with the Duke of Lionston and had been furious at the disrespect in the Montrose’s tone.The very last thing Lionston could be called was a shirker of anything.Struggling for calm, Knox had gathered his belongings and stomped out of the residence after a few choice words tossed at Montrose, none of which were complimentary.Knox resented the bloated toad’s view on the Lion’s Watch, which had gathered much useful intelligence for the Crown.They were highly skilled men, who were not afraid to take risks.While he would not say there were no women who assisted in the cause, he did not like the idea of his carriage companion joining those ranks.She was just confident enough to get herself in serious trouble.
Thus, instead of heading for his club, he decided to speak to someone he knew would be able to listen to reason.
He tapped on the roof and instructed his driver to turn toward a section of London that was a far cry from Mayfair.When the coach stopped and he stepped to the ground, Knox looked at the dilapidated old warehouse.It did not look as though it had witnessed much activity over the years.There were some who might say it was a waste of good space that could be put to other uses.Only a handful of loyalists were privy to the truth of this unassuming building.
His driver didn’t bat an eyelash as Knox instructed him to wait.Then again, he was paid handsomely for his time.All of Knox’s servants knew better than to question anything he did that might appear odd on most occasions.While his solitude was preferable, it was not unusual for Knox to visit other associates at all hours of the night.Nor to find his way to a seedy part of the city.
He rapped on the door, and after the password was exchanged, the latch was thrown and he was allowed entry.“Good to see you again, Your Grace.”
Knox inclined his head and walked through the altered interior.One would never guess that there was an elite organization housing their headquarters in this location.Society did not know to whom the warehouse belonged, as it had been a secret exchange, but Knox was aware of everything.He had been initiated into the ranks of the Lion’s Watch some months ago and was a respected agent among his fellow members.But everyone who was selected as part of the society was considered for their merit and skill level.Knox had never shied away from anything, never backed down from a fight, and was capable of using his title and influence to gainentréeto many doors that would have been closed to others.He took pride that he was able to assist the Crown in fighting the French, who wanted to take over the entire world with Napoleon at the helm.
Not in this lifetime.
But he was not here about the situation on the continent at the moment.He had to be assured that the woman who had jumped into his carriage earlier that day would not be considered as a recruit.There were several possible women recruits around the city; enough that she did not need to be counted among them.
