Caleb knew that Miss Delacourt had a point. He didn’ttrust her, because, quite frankly, he didn’t know anything about her. She was an anomaly to him. She may be beautiful, but she was also dangerous.
“You are right,” Caleb sighed. “But this is not a good start to our partnership. Perhaps if we got to know each other better.”
“I know everything that I need to know about you,” Miss Delacourt said. “You are a somewhat competent agent, except when you are careless and let Lord Drycott discover your true identity.”
“That was unfortunate, but I assure you that I am a proficient agent.”
“Are you?” Miss Delacourt asked.
Caleb was not about to engage in a debate with Miss Delacourt. He assumed she was the type of woman who would rather fall on her sword than lose an argument.
“Until tomorrow, and don’t try to follow me,” Miss Delacourt said before she walked off, drawing the unwanted attention of every man in the hall.
“Botheration,” Caleb muttered. Why had Kendrick assigned him to work with the most obstinate young woman in all of London?
Caleb waited a moment before he headed out of the tavern. He had meant what he had said before about how working together might yield more results. He no more wanted to work with Miss Delacourt than chew glass. But he was first and foremost a spy. And a spy always finds a way to complete the assignment. Even if that means he was to engage in a battle of wits with Miss Delacourt.
Chapter Two
With the morning sun streaming in through the windows, Simone sat in the library of her townhouse as she read the newssheets. She had to do so in private because her father would never condone her actions.
Her father was no different than most of the gentlemen of theton. They didn’t want a woman to hold an opinion on serious topics, such as politics or religion. But she could have as many opinions as she wanted on ribbons or other frivolous subjects.
She had long suspected that her father was disappointed that she had been born a girl. He didn’t have his heir and his title would be passed to a distant cousin. But Simone didn’t mind being born a girl. It enabled her to hide in plain sight as a spy. No one would dare suspect that a lady would be an agent for the Crown.
For the most part, Simone enjoyed being a spy. She was able to wear a mask of her own making and kept a part of herself hidden from the world. It was a way to protect herself from the harsh realities that she had to face. Alone.
A knock came at the door before a young maid steppedinto the room and announced, “Miss Emilia Sutherland has come to call.”
Simone folded the newssheets and placed them onto a table. “I will be down shortly,” she replied.
The maid departed from the room, just as quickly as she arrived, to do her bidding.
Rising, Simone couldn’t help but wonder why Miss Sutherland had come to call. The last she had seen of her was after she had helped save her from death at the hands of her half-siblings. But that had been nearly a week ago. Now Miss Sutherland was happily engaged to Lord Chatsworth and the banns had been posted.
Simone arrived at the drawing room on the main level and saw Miss Sutherland was holding a large, overflowing basket of goods in her hands.
Miss Sutherland’s eyes lit up when she saw her. “Miss Delacourt,” she greeted. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
“You are always welcome in my home,” Simone said.
Miss Sutherland extended her the basket. “I brought you something. I wanted to do something nice, considering you saved my life.”
Simone accepted the basket and glanced inside to see a random assortment of items. “Thank you.”
“I wasn’t sure what to get you so I compiled items that I particularly enjoy,” Miss Sutherland explained. “There are biscuits, ribbons for your hair, dry sweetmeats, some delicate fabric for needlework, and a book that was written by A Lady. I don’t want to give anything away but it was a splendid book.”
“You are kind, but this was unnecessary. I am just glad that I was there to help.”
Miss Sutherland smiled. “When you first arrived on the path that night, I thought you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I had no idea you were so proficient at throwing daggers.”
“It is a talent that I have perfected over the years,” Simone admitted.
“Do you think I should carry a weapon?” Miss Sutherland asked. “I only ask because Lady Roswell carries a pistol in her reticule and you carry daggers on your person. Are the streets of London so terribly unsafe?”
“They are unsafe,” Simone replied. “But can you shoot a pistol or know how to properly handle a dagger?”
Miss Sutherland shook her head. “No, but I can learn.”
