Once an Innocent by Elizabeth Boyce Read Free Book Online Page A

we never spoke of it,” he added. “It was like it never happened.”
    Jordan shrugged. “That’s the nature of my job, I’m afraid. I never meant for you to take a bullet for me.”
    The duke grinned. “I never thought I’d be asked to stir up a peasant insurrection just to keep you, your man, and your Spanish informant safe in that village.” His smile faltered. “I’m sorry I let you down. When I heard you and Ditman had been captured … ”
    Reaching the end of the Row, he pulled Amadeus to a halt. Gazing into the trees, he nodded slowly. “That was a low point, Jordan. I worried I’d let the government down, harmed the war effort — but worse, I failed you.”
    Jordan clapped his friend on the shoulder. “You didn’t fail me, Marsh. You did a good thing, helping those people protect their village. The French would have plundered and raped their way through it, otherwise. Besides, we found our way home, only a little worse for wear.”
    Marshall gave a half-smile. His eyes darted to the scar on Jordan’s cheek. “A miracle in and of itself. The missing young lord escapes his French captors and returns home. You should’ve had a hero’s welcome, but not a word was breathed publicly. That was how I knew I’d been tangled up in something of dire importance.”
    They started their steeds back in the opposite direction. “So,” Marshall continued, “if you need ladies for your party, I assume you have good reason. Perhaps one of dire importance once again.”
    Jordan raised his brows but gave no answer.
    Marshall held his gaze for a long moment, then looked away. “Isabelle and I can’t come, but I might be persuaded to send Aunt Janine and Naomi.”
    Jordan breathed a little sigh of relief. If Ladies Janine and Naomi were to come to the Abbey, he could stop fretting about recruiting women. “That would be fantastic, Marshall. I don’t know how to thank you.”
    He started to inquire after the duke’s brother, whom he assumed would escort the ladies, but Marshall interrupted with a raise of his hand.
    “I haven’t agreed to anything yet. Will Lady Whithorn act as hostess?”
    “I sent Clara an express this morning,” Jordan answered. He smiled as he thought of his stepmother, a lovely woman only ten years his senior. “Nothing feeds her ego like knowing she’s invaluable. I’ve no doubt she’ll meet me at Lintern Abbey with bells on.”
    “Will Lady Kaitlin also come?” Marshall’s question was simple on the surface and delivered in an even tone, but Jordan didn’t miss the tightness around his friend’s mouth.
Shrewd devil
, he thought. Marshall was really asking if Jordan believed the situation safe enough for his own younger half sister’s presence.
    The answer was more complicated than a simple yes or no.
    In truth, Jordan didn’t know
what
he would find when he got home. If his plan worked — and he had every reason to believe it would — then the ladies in attendance would simply enjoy a country house party, never the wiser as to the true purpose of the armed men prowling the estate. Even so, some things were not suitable for children. There were no roles for babes in the staging of political stratagems, and so Jordan had not included Kate in his letter to Clara.
    Saying so might decide Marshall against him, though, and Jordan needed the ladies to attend. “No, Kate won’t come,” he answered. “This is to be a house party in truth, Marshall; there will be entertainments in the evenings. As Kate’s still in the schoolroom, it wouldn’t do to bring her to the Abbey, only to keep her locked away.”
    Marshall frowned. His chin worked side to side as his lips twisted in thought. He fidgeted in the saddle and threw Jordan a scowl. “Can you ensure my sister’s safety?”
    Inside, Jordan squirmed, but he tossed off one of his devil-may-care smiles and chuckled. “I can’t guarantee Lady Naomi won’t meet any mishap whatsoever, my friend. There are stairs she might tumble