The Lady In Question by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online

handle the purchase. He was given the princely sum of fifty thousand pounds in banknotes for that purpose. The exchange was to take place aboard the packet to France, but neither money nor the papers were recovered after Wilmont’s death. Nor was there any further contact from the parties involved, who in spite of the department’s best efforts remained unidentified. It was assumed they, along with Wilmont, had gone down in the channel and the entire incident was believed at an end. It was not until an unrelated investigation just last week had turned up the information that Wilmont was seen on the docks at Dover with a woman and furthermore never boarded the ill-fated boat. Now attention had turned toward his widow and his house. And the question arose as to whether he was dead at all.
    Men were sent at once to the small village near Grasmere where Lady Wilmont was residing, to ascertain if her husband had visited or perhaps even joined her. Nothing untoward was discovered. Indeed, it appeared Lady Wilmont had spent these last months in solitude broken only by long walks to the village and rare visits from her brothers.
    However, her return to London coincided with a report that the woman seen with Wilmont might also be in London. Sources indicated, as well, that she did not have the notebook and was determined to recover it. Whatever was in that notebook had already cost Wilmont his life and the department had no doubt his wife’s life could be at risk as well. As it was entirely the government’s fault she was in this position, and given she was the niece of a powerful duke, it was decided to employ every resource necessary to protect her. The most discreet way to do that — as well as determine what, if anything, she knew, and possibly trap whoever was seeking the notebook and who, more than likely, was responsible for Wilmont’s death — was to have trusted agents pose as her staff. Without her knowledge, of course. The lady in question was studying Wilmont’s papers when Tony quietly reentered the room. He had to admit she was lovely, and so was her sister. Neither was a great beauty, yet they were indeed well above average. The sister, Cassandra, was said to be the most impulsive and outspoken of the two, but from what Tony had observed thus far, that well might be a mistaken perception. Lady Wilmont had a spark in her eye and a firm set to her chin that indicated she was made of far sterner stuff than anyone had suspected.
    “Now then, Gordon,” she said without looking up, “if you would be so kind as to join me, we can begin.”
    He stepped to the desk and hesitated. Anthony St. Stephens had never in his life been at a loss as to suitable behavior, but at this particular moment he had no idea what to do. Should he stand? Sit? Lean over her shoulder? And wouldn’t that be presumptuous? Not merely for a servant, but for any man?
    He tried to tell himself this ruse was no different than any other he’d perpetrated in the course of his work, but the simple fact of the matter was that it was indeed entirely different. Those he had fooled in the past in the service of national security were criminals or in the traitorous employ of foreign powers, not simply the misguided daughter of one of Britain’s most prestigious families. At once his masquerade seemed not merely dishonorable but somehow morally wrong.
    “Do sit down, Gordon, and stop hovering,” Lady Wilmont said under her breath. “I cannot abide people hovering over me.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He drew a deep breath, pulled up a nearby chair and settled himself on the side of the desk to her right, a respectable distance from her, yet close enough to examine the papers now spread out before her.
    She glanced at him and smiled. “Excellent.” Her gaze returned to the myriad of documents. “I wish to start with these. They appear to detail property holdings of some sort, but I don’t quite understand…”
    It was all far more complicated than he