The line seemed to move at a snail’s pace, but eventually they made their way to the front where the duke greeted the host and hostess with the utmost decorum.After introductions were made to his “cousin,” Astara offered a light curtsy.“It is an honor to be welcomed.”
The lady smiled stiffly and Astara wondered if she’d done something amiss.However, when Hampton led her to the side while they waited to be announced to the room in general, he whispered, “You did remarkable.She always looks as though she’d just bit into a ripe persimmon.”
Astara did her best to hold back a laugh, but no doubt her eyes twinkled with her merriment.
“The Duke of Hampton and Lady Astrid Ancell.”
Astara was surprised if anyone might have heard the majordomo’s announcement over the nearly deafening roar of chatter mixed with the musical entertainment, but a slight hush seemed to have descended around them.Certainly, there were a bevy of fluttering fans as they walked toward the array of couples spinning across the marble floor.
She didn’t have a care for the gossips at the moment, her attention fixed on the lavish decorations and countless gowns and jewels that shimmered in the light from the hundreds of flickering candles in the overhead chandeliers.It was surreal to be someplace like this as a guest, rather than one of the servants scrambling about trying to appease such a large gathering.“How many people are here?”
“I would say around five hundred.But it is generally so.”
For Astara, it seemed much more than that.It was as if the entire fashionable set of London had graced the interior of this ballroom.
“How are we to ever gain any information in such an atmosphere?”
As they moved further into the periphery of the room, she was jostled, giving credence to her concerns.
“This is where we all need to rely on your intuition.It was one of the qualities that my superior appreciated about you.Now is your chance to prove yourself if you want to keep further interest beyond tonight.”
ChapterFive
Knox wasn’t sure if throwing down such a thorough gauntlet would shut her down or wake her up.When her green eyes flashed with determination, he was glad to see it was the latter.
“Very well.”She lifted her chin and her lips pursed mutinously.“Good evening, Your Grace.I hope your efforts prove just as fruitful as mine undoubtedly shall.”
He had to chuckle, because not only had she called his bluff, she’d offered a challenge of her own.Luckily for Knox, he already had a plan in place when it came to adding additional information for the Lion’s Watch.
He withdrew the pocket watch from his vest and glanced at the hour.He still had some time before he was due to meet with his contact, so it would behoove him to move about the room and see what sort of snippets of conversation he might be able to intercept as well.
A flash of blue caused his attention to focus on the lady being escorted onto the ballroom floor.As the musicians were tuning their instruments, he realized that they were preparing a waltz.He muttered a curse under his breath.What the devil was Astara’s game?If she made a misstep this early in the game, country cousin to a duke or not, she could easily be shunned by some of the ladies in polite society for her lack of social graces.
He clenched his fists and had to hold himself back to keep from dragging the foolhardy woman back to the edge of the room where he could give her a thorough tongue lashing.Immediately, the image of her sprawled out naked on his bed in an intriguing position flashed through his head, but he quickly pushed it aside.It would not do for him to harbor such lascivious thoughts of the lady when he was in danger of unraveling everything she might have otherwise laid a good foundation for.
He sighed.Perhaps it was for the best.Too much time spent in Miss Smith’s company was certainly drawing his attention away from more important matters that might work to turn the tide of the war.
Knox was about to turn away, intent on marking her off as a lost cause, when he happened to notice who she was standing up with.I’ll be damned.He’d gone over a list of instructions on comportment with Miss Smith earlier that evening, as well as mentioning a couple names that were noted as people of interest when it came to possible French spies.He hadn’t realized that she would work so quickly to snag one of them.Viscount Midvale was a man who had done a lot of business with France before the war and, to Knox’s knowledge, had not ceased any operations during the four years since the conflict began in earnest.
As the music began and the viscount began to twirl his partner expertly across the floor, Knox was further stunned to see that Miss Smith did not make a single misstep.She moved with all the elegance and grace of a practiced debutante who had endured years of instruction with a tutor.He realized he was not well versed in what sort of things were taught at orphanages, but he did not think the waltz was part of the necessary curriculum.In truth, there were many who believed the dance to be quite vulgar because of the close proximity between the couples.It certainly did not afford much personal space as one of the more popular country dances.
“Your cousin is quite talented, Your Grace.”
Knox turned to face the speaker and muttered a curse beneath his breath.He had not realized he was late for his meeting with the Marquess of Blackton until the gentleman sidled up next to him.He was equally matched in height to Knox with similar dark coloring, but he preferred a neatly trimmed beard and sideburns, whereas Knox was clean shaven.Another notable difference was that the marquess had been with the Lion’s Watch nearly since its conception.He was a proud patriot who was just as determined as the rest of the loyalists to England and the Crown to defeat those detestable frogs.
“Blackton.Forgive my inattention this evening.”
“All is well since I know the reason for your reluctance to leave.I would be as well,” the marquess said with a tilt of his brow.“Lady Astrid is quite perfect.”
“Indeed.”Knox glanced once again at Astara before he forced himself to turn away completely.“Shall we retire to someplace a bit more private?”
Blackton inclined his head and together they left the crowded confines of the ballroom for a room much quieter to discuss intrigue.It looked as though it was their host’s private study, but considering Blackton was well respected and good friends with most men in the upper echelon, very few doors were closed to them, even hallowed ones.
“Care for something to drink?”he asked.“Harold has some rather nice stock on hand.”
“Port,” Knox murmured.He didn’t want something too strong that might dull his common sense when it came to Miss Smith.He needed to have all of his wits at the ready for any eventuality where she was concerned.
The requested drink was brought over and they sat down across from the mantel.A couple of cigars and they would appear as two gentlemen who were doing nothing more involved than a discussion of politics.While their meeting would likely drift to that area for a time, it would be brief and toward the end of important topics at hand.
