The Beauty and the Spy by Gayle Callen Read Free Book Online Page B

that. He understood Will’s reluctance to return to a life he’d left behind, but Nick explained that he needed Will to get himself invited to a house party that the duke was holding. If Julia hoped to marry the man, she could hardly afford to miss the event. Will only had to watch her, and inform Nick about her movements.
    But Nick was surprised by what worried Will the most: Jane’s welfare. Had he fallen in love so quickly? He hardly remembered Will ever making time for women, in all the years he’d known him. Nick was unmoved by this new side of his friend. England’s safety had been weakened, and he would be damned if he didn’t stop it from happening again. Will’s eventual agreement made them both relax, and Nick told him about the location of Langley Manor.
    Nick had one last thing to reveal, and he knew this would be the hardest. “I have Jane’s sister with me.”
    â€œ Charlotte? ”
    That got a good reaction, from Will’s stunned expression.
    â€œI didn’t mean to bring Charlotte with me—frankly, she won’t tell me why she was at Lord Arbury’s party—”
    â€œYou were there?” Will said, looking guilty.“It’s my fault she was there. I didn’t want her traveling with Jane and me, so I had Arbury send her an invitation. Of course she couldn’t refuse.”
    â€œYou had to send her to Arbury’s ?” Lord Arbury was a man well known to the Political Department. He’d done them favors, and had favors done for him in return. He’d spent much of his youth in India, and now used his experience in the hallowed halls of Parliament. Arbury had rather enjoyed the idea of Nick holding a clandestine meeting during his ball.
    â€œWho else did I know so highly placed?” Will continued. “Hell, Queen Victoria was going to be there. Charlotte was beside herself with anticipation for her first ball since coming out of mourning.”
    Everything Nick thought he knew about Charlotte disappeared in an instant. “Mourning? For who?”
    â€œHer husband. Didn’t you know?”
    â€œShe’s not exactly speaking to me.” His mind raced with the implications, with how this news helped ease some of his problems.
    â€œWhy not?”
    He wished he didn’t have to tell Will quite everything.
    â€œBecause I’ve gagged her.”
    Will’s mouth fell open. “Why the hell would you need to gag a gently bred woman—the colonel’s daughter?”
    â€œBecause she thinks I’m a traitor,” he replied, unable to stop his laughter—and his relief.
    Charlotte’s husband had died over a year ago.
    Nick explained the kidnapping to Will, then insisted he could not tell Jane any of this. His friend reluctantly agreed.
    When Will stood up to leave, Nick followed him, saying, “Maybe I’ll just hand Charlotte over to you. After all, her sister would be anxious to comfort her.” Even as he said it, he knew he could never go through with it.
    â€œI think not,” Will said. “When Charlotte finally understands the importance of your mission, send her back to London. I’m sure she won’t want to miss the end of the Season.”
    But she didn’t seem like a woman who cared about such things. She was more alive, more vibrant than those boring ladies of the ton . If he’d kidnapped one of them, he’d have a hysterical woman on his hands, instead of the challenging, wily Charlotte.
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    Charlotte laughed at the joke Mr. Cox had just finished telling, more relaxed and at ease than she’d felt in two long days. But then she heard the sound of Nick’s footfalls before he even opened the door. How she knew, she wasn’t certain, but a prickle of awareness raised the hair on her neck. She stared blankly at the cards in her hand, where just a moment before she had sworn she would beat Mr. Cox this round.
    After being unlocked, the