A Christmas Code (The Code Breakers Series Book 2) by Jacki Delecki Read Free Book Online

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    “Lady Gwyneth? I’ve known her since she was a little girl. It’s hard to imagine her as a grown woman.”
    What a bouncer. He wasn’t having any difficulty with his “imagination.” Every night he visualized exactly how and where Gwyneth had grown into luscious womanhood.
    Lady Charolois’ lips pursed in amusement. “I think Lord Henley is quite besotted.”
    Ash stiffened when he saw Henley put his arms around Gwyneth’s waist and lift her over a fallen log. Her sunny laughter sprinkled the air.
    He didn’t want to discuss Gwyneth and Lord Henley. He was walking with the lady in hopes of detecting any clues that she might be connected to the plot against the prince, if there even was a plot. “Are you acquainted with Lord Henley?”
    “I’ve met the gentleman on occasion. The usual social rounds of the ton.”
    Ash’s senses heightened as Lady Charolois’ French inflection grew heavier and her hand tightened on his arm.
    Ash didn’t know what to think. If he weren’t suspicious of her French connections, he’d have assumed that she was a woman scorned. “I’ve heard he’s very close to making Lady Gwyneth an offer of marriage.” God, he hated the spy game at this moment.
    “I’ve heard the same thing,” she said in a quiet voice.
    Her eyes appeared to have tears, but he couldn’t be sure if this was in response to the cold wind or genuine emotion. His years as a spy had taught him how calculating women could use their supposed frailty to their advantage.
    He pretended not to notice Lady Charolois’ distress. “Oh, look, they’ve found the holly. Shall we join them?”
    Ash escorted the lady to the group standing in front of a giant holly tree.
    Gwyneth’s eyes were rounded in wonder, as if she had never seen such a spectacle. She gushed with emotion. “Now, it feels like Christmas.”
    He found himself, like everyone, drawn into Gwyneth’s pure exuberance. Her eyes were untouched by the seediness of the world, and he wanted to keep her goodness protected.
    He must have betrayed his feelings toward Gwyneth since Henley gave him a look that no male could misconstrue. With his body leaning toward Ash and his jaw jutted forward, Henley telegraphed his territorial rights over Gwyneth.
    Every muscle in Ash’s body tensed in response. He had never backed down from a fight and he would greatly enjoy planting a facer on Henley’s glass jaw.
    Gwyneth turned toward him. “Lord Ashworth, can you help gather the pine cones? The pine trees are ahead. The scent of pine is essential to a Christmas celebration, don’t you agree, Lord Henley?” She released Henley’s arm and walked toward Lady Charolois. “Would you like to join us, Lady Charolois?”
    Gwyneth, the imp, had ruined the fight. She hadn’t missed the male posturing. A hoyden herself, and growing up with two brothers, she recognized a brawl about to happen.
    Gwyneth linked arms with Lady Charolois. “You must tell me more about your Christmas traditions in France. Do you have Christmas pudding?”
    Henley eyed Ash warily.
    “Shall we join the ladies?” Ash realized he had acted like an ass, allowing his feelings for Gwyneth to interfere with the mission. “I’ve always loved traipsing through the woods gathering pine cones.” Ash added with sarcasm.
    Henley laughed. “My sentiments exactly.”
    Both ladies turned at the gentleman’s laughter. Gwyneth had the nerve to wink at him when Henley looked away.
    Gwyneth circled the enormous pine tree, gathering pine cones in her skirt. Ash followed, leaving Henley to assist Lady Charolois. He took her bounty and made an enormous pile for the footmen to haul back to Edworth manor. The footmen would follow later with a wagon to collect the fruits of their labor, the piles of evergreens and holly.
    Satisfied with her pile, Gwyneth glowed in satisfaction. “Shall we go deeper into the woods to look for the elusive mistletoe?” Ash liked the way her voice lilted with excitement. She