The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh by Ella Quinn Read Free Book Online

you heard?”
    â€œYes, miss. Looks like we’ll be seeing some action. Sure wish Mr. Harry was still here.”
    â€œYou’re not the only one. We’ll just have to make him proud.” Anna blinked back her tears. “Here, help me up.”
    She let her horse have its head, but it wasn’t fast enough to outrun her grief.
    By the time they’d snuck back into the stable, Anna had herself under control. She brushed down her horse and watered him before walking to the house.
    Lizzy was waiting for her.
    â€œWhat’s happened, Miss Anna?”
    â€œWe may have a problem.” She told her maid about the gentleman from London.
    Lizzy nodded. “Let’s get you out of those clothes. You wash up. I’ll have a bath for you in the morning.”
    Anna cleaned herself and changed into her night rail.
    â€œGood night, miss,” Lizzy said, folding the male clothing. “You’ll need to take these to the cottage. It’ll be the devil to pay if you’re caught in them in the house.”
    â€œYou’re right. There is no point in running the risk. I’ll do it after breakfast.”
    â€œYes, miss. To bed with you now.”
    â€œGood night, Lizzy.” She got between the covers of her large four-poster bed, whilst Lizzy drew the curtains around two sides, leaving the side toward the windows open.
    Anna’s mind drifted back to her dead brother. Silent tears slid over her cheeks and down her neck. Harry had been gone over two years now. Yet she could still hear him guiding her, giving her advice. She hoped the contact at the Home Office he’d given her was still there. Once she discovered what she needed to know, she’d send a carefully worded message using the code Harry had left with her.
    Her mind turned to Rutherford. She prayed he’d soon discover she was not what he wanted. She could never betray herself or Harry’s trust.

Chapter 3
    November 3rd, 1814, The Priory, Kent
    â€œH ell and damnation. Is that all you were able to discover?” Rutherford paced the floor in his study. He’d been home nearly a week and had discovered precisely nothing about the smugglers. He’d sent Jeb, one of his under-grooms, to learn what he could.
    Jeb shuffled his feet. “Yes, my lord. Like as much, they’re all a bit leery knowin’ I work here at the Priory, you bein’ the magistrate and all.”
    â€œThere has got to be a way to find out who their leader is,” Rutherford growled. “Any idea what they’re supplying and to whom?”
    Jeb scratched his head. “I think it’s mostly brandy, my lord. The innkeeper might know more. But he ain’t goin’ to talk to me.”
    â€œHe’ll speak with me, by God.” Rutherford snapped.
    The groom hung his head. “Yes, my lord.”
    â€œJeb, you did the best you could under the circumstances,” Rutherford said. “Thank you for your effort. See my steward, Mr. Stanley, and tell him he’s to pay you an extra ten shillings.”
    Jeb’s jaw dropped. “Thank you, my lord. I never expected that much.”
    Rutherford sat at his desk. “Don’t mention any of this to anyone.”
    â€œMe mouth’s shut tight, my lord.”
    Rutherford had a different incentive planned for the innkeeper. After Jeb left, Rutherford stared out the windows on to a lawn.
    According to a missive from Jamison, things were starting to heat up. One of France’s known spies had been spotted in a Whitechapel tavern. Rutherford tugged the bell pull and gave the footman a message for the stables to ready his horse and to have Mr. Robertson, his valet, meet Rutherford in his chamber.
    Within twenty minutes, Rutherford was on his way to the small coastal town of Thanport. He rode into the yard of the Fish and Line, the town’s main inn. After dismounting, he threw the reins to one of the ostlers. The old stone building had a sloping