“What does that mean?” he asked, hoping for more clarification.
She let out a sigh. “You seem like a decent enough person, but I don’t need a nursemaid on this assignment.”
“Is that what you think I am doing?”
“It is what every man does,” Simone replied with a wave of her hand. “They can’t seem to help themselves because they think they know best. And what are women but just weak and simpering, not worthy of their time or notice.”
“I have never thought of you as weak or simpering. In fact, I believe you to be a proficient agent,” Caleb admitted.
“But?”
Caleb leaned forward in his seat. “There is no ‘but.’ I’m beginning to see you for who you truly are.”
Simone eyed him warily. “And who is that?”
“You are hiding behind a mask of your own making,” Caleb replied. “You want to project to the world an image of yourself, but it is yourself who you are lying to.”
She grew rigid in her seat. “I am doing no such thing.”
“You want me to see you as a woman with no weaknesses, but sometimes it is those so-called ‘weaknesses’ that make us strong.” Caleb gave her a knowing look. “I believe that people are the strongest when they come face to face with their greatest weaknesses.”
“You presume too much,” Simone said, her eyes wary.
Caleb straightened in his seat and continued. “I want you to be honest around me, Simone. Trust that I won’t let you down.”
“That is a big ask.”
“I know, but when the time comes, I know you will keep me safe,” Caleb said. “It is who you are.”
Simone grew silent as she shifted her gaze away from him. Perhaps he had gone too far in his bold speech, but he didn’t care. He needed Simone to know that he trusted her. She had saved his life before, and she would do it again. He was sure of that.
Chapter Four
Simone felt a sense of relief as they finally reached The Noble Snapping Turtle. She appreciated what Caleb was attempting to do, but she didn’t want to let him in. She couldn’t. It was much safer to keep him at arm’s length.
Caleb spoke of weaknesses as if they could be strengths but she disagreed. She couldn’t afford mistakes; any error might lead others to doubt her ability to handle the challenges of being a spy. She had to surpass her male counterparts, working harder and being better- an unfair reality she had come to accept.
“We are here,” Caleb announced as the carriage halted in front of a two-level, red-brick building nestled between two larger structures. A modest sign displayed the establishment’s name.
A footman opened the door, assisting Simone onto the dirt-encrusted pavement. Caleb joined her there and asked, “What is our plan?”
She looked at him in surprise. “You are asking me?”
“Who else would I ask?”
“I just assumed you would tell me what our next move was,” Simone replied.
Caleb looked displeased by her remark. “I would be more than happy to take the lead, but something tells me that you have already come up with a plan in your head.”
That much was true. Perhaps Caleb knew her better than she thought. “My plan was rather simple. We will go in and listen to what is being said around us. With any luck, someone will say something that will help aid in our investigation.”
“All right,” came Caleb’s quick reply.
“You are in agreement, then?”
Caleb shrugged. “I think we will need to modify your plan once we get inside, but for now, it is good enough.”
Felicity approached her and asked, “Would you like me to accompany you inside the pub?”
