Removing herself to the study, she wondered whether to sit or stand, and finally chose to remain fully upright so she could face him properly.
“Where have you been?” she asked, attempting a conversational tone when he came to join her.
Not the right question, judging from his critical expression. “Don’t act likeI’mthe one sneaking around behindyourback.”
“That’s not what I was—”
“Stop it, will you?” A frustrated growl. “As I’ve said, I know you’ve been working against me. The worst part is, I would have refused to believe it was possible – would have told everyone they were wrong about you – but then you met with that errand boy.”
“His name is Isak.”
“I don’t give a rat’s bloody arse what his name is,” Adrian shouted, eyes blazing, teeth bared. Several seconds of silence followed, and then he drew a deep breath, appeared to collect himself. His expression softened to something far worse than anger – something that looked an awful lot like indifference. “Measures have been taken to safeguard against you, so go ahead and do as you please. I’ve more important matters to attend to right now than an undependable wife.”
The words were like finely barbed daggers launched at her heart. He reached for the door handle, prepared to leave. She straightened her spine, raised her chin, and told him bluntly, “Kendrick wants you gone. I’m sure you probably know he called on me yesterday while you were out.”
He froze, his head dipping – chin meeting chest. Silence settled between them before he finally turned, slowly and with purpose, his gaze piercing as he raised it toward her.
“Why does he want me gone?”
“Because he thinks you’re guilty of crimes that would see you hang, and all he needs is to prove it.”
“And what? You agreed to help him? Is that it?” He was glaring at her with such malice she actually feared she might turn to stone.
“I never agreed to anything.” Only truth. No more lies. “Soldiers don’t get to do that, you see. They follow orders without asking questions.”
He clenched his jaw, the ferocity in his eyes - thebetrayal he saw in her - unrelenting. “Are you trying to pass the blame?”
“No. I played my part and as such, I have to take responsibility for what has happened. Between us, especially. For you see…a soldier is only useful as long as they trust their commanding officer. That changed for me at some point, which is why I made that announcement about our being engaged. The true reason at least. Because I saw a brighter future with you than I did with Harlowe.”
“Why should I believe you?” He prowled toward her, an unrelenting force of unyielding power. “What reason do I have to trust you? To suppose you didn’t do it so you could get closer?”
Shoulders back and head held high, she strode straight into the fire. “Because I’m about to hand you every detail about the mission that’s meant to destroy you.”
Gleaming eyes held her in their thrall. A fragile thread spanned the distance between them, catching and holding, winding tighter with every heartbeat. The sound of their breathing was all she could hear as she stood there, suspended in time while waiting for him to respond.
The clock on the mantlepiece ticked, and it felt like a lifetime filled the last second. Her fingers twitched with restless energy – anticipation – a flare of hope when he finally shifted, not retreating but firming his stance.
“No more games.” He gestured toward the chairbeside her. “Sit.”
She fought the instinct compelling her to rebel against the command and lowered herself to the proffered spot. He remained where he was for a moment, cautiously watching her every move before he finally straightened, rounded his desk, and took a seat.
“You will tell me everything, or so help me I’ll have you confined to a place where you no longer pose a threat. Is that clear?”
“Yes.” There was no doubt in her mind that he meant it. What he didn’t know was that she’d have told him anyway, without the threat. This was, after all, their only chance at saving their marriage.
Complete and utter transparency.
So she started at the beginning and told him of her life before Harlowe, what it had been like later at Clearview, the project she’d been recruited for and how proud she’d been to excel at it. She spoke of the orders she had received from Kendrick, how he and Harlowe had overseen her mission to find out damning details they hoped would lead to Adrian’s execution.
“I don’t quite follow Harlowe’s involvement,” Adrian said, his expression guarded. “Why would he have been tasked with your training?”
Samantha met his gaze squarely. “Because he’s one of the best agents ever employed by this country.”
Dismay slackened Adrian’s features for a brief second. “What?”
“He’s a former spy. He gathered information on Napoleon’s armies during the first and secondcoalitions. Work that eventually led to France’s defeat.” She wove her fingers together and flexed them slightly. “The Nightingale Project was his idea. He requested the funding and turned it into a reality.”
Adrian stared at her in stupefied shock. The file that had been assembled on Harlowe was wrong. It had misled him completely. More surprising was the realization that his father, who’d put the whole thing together, had been duped. It was as inconceivable as Samantha’s impressive training.
