Twice Tempted by Eileen Dreyer Read Free Book Online

wish I could be there when they meet Lady Bea.”
    “I don’t suppose you’d rather…”
    An eyebrow went north. “Be there instead of you? No thank you. I will happily sustain myself on your stories.”
    Alex looked away into the gentle shadows of the richly paneled room. “Actually, I should get back down to that house party, now that the princess is arriving.”
    Drake’s eyelids all but closed. “No, actually. You shouldn’t.”
    Alex froze, his snifter halfway to his lips, his heart stumbling badly. “Because I can no longer be trusted?”
    Drake tilted his head just so. “Can you not?”
    Alex slammed his glass on the table. “Don’t be an ass. Of course I can. I reported that the Lions contacted me, didn’t I?”
    “You also left your post and let them get to Ferguson.”
    Alex couldn’t remember ever seeing such a flat, opaque expression in his friend’s eyes before. It made him feel sick. “Don’t think you can flog me more than I already have. It was inexcusable, and I take the blame.”
    “And we never found out what it was they wanted to tell you.”
    “No. We didn’t. But you must know I’ll come to you the minute I hear from them again. Nothing is more important. Not my honor. Not my life.”
    Silence stretched, sticky and impermeable, as Alex met Drake’s unrelenting gaze.
    Without ever betraying a reaction, Drake took another sip of his brandy. “Actually, you’ll probably be here for a completely different reason. Your father’s home.”
    Alex swore he stopped breathing. “What?”
    “Sir Joseph has returned from St. Petersburg. Your mother and sister remained.”
    This time Alex couldn’t manage a word. He simply couldn’t imagine any situation that would separate his mother from his stepfather.
    “Is he in trouble?”
    “Not the kind you think.” Alex took a breath. “It’s his heart. He has suffered two attacks and has come home to evaluate his health.”
    Alex was on his feet before he knew it and heading for the door.
    “Not yet,” Drake said calmly. “You need information before haring off.”
    Alex stopped, his hand still on the door, his heart racing. “Then get on with it.”
    “He has not put out the word that he is here or contacted your sisters, so don’t act the town crier. But the Foreign Office felt that you should be notified.”
    “Thank them for me.”
    Drake nodded. “His excuse for returning, if anyone should find out, is that he is bringing dispatches and briefing the prime minister on the Holy Alliance nonsense the tzar is attempting to force down our throats.” Drake shook his head. “Mysticism and politics rarely make a good marriage. But the tzar is insistent.”
    Alex blinked, still distracted. He knew he would need this information for some reason. “Will we join the alliance?”
    “No. But they’re going to have to be watched. So far Prussia and Austria have signed on for the betterment of kings and posterity. Sound familiar?”
    Alex returned to his chair. “You think the Lions are involved?”
    “Wouldn’t you?”
    Alex rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “It would appeal to them, certainly. A return to absolute rule.” He huffed in dry amusement. “I can imagine what father had to say about it.”
    Finally Drake smiled. “Loudly. Which is why I have someone else keeping a close eye on him. Not you,” he amended, obviously seeing Alex’s intent. “You would only draw more attention to him. Which would do nothing to ease the stress on his heart.”
    Alex found himself staring at the brandy left in his snifter. “I am allowed to see him, however.”
    “Of course. Any change would be suspect. While you’re there, I would count it a favor if you’d evaluate the possibility that our clever Lions have a hand in this business with the tzar.”
    Alex nodded and pulled out his watch to check the time. Yes, his father should be home. “I’ll let you know,” he said, standing. “Does my father know about the Lions?”
    “Not