Chapter 23
James
James stood in the foyer, tapping his riding gloves against his leg and checking the stairs again.
He wanted to see Kate, to be near her. Footsteps sounded in the corridor, and hope stirred, only to fade when Lady Hawthorne appeared to bid them farewell.
Westmarch had taken his leave the day before and would meet them in London.
“James, I am disappointed you must leave so soon,” Lady Hawthorne said as she approached, her smile wistful. “But I am so pleased that you and Kate paid me a visit. I hope you both found what you were looking for.”
“You were a gracious hostess as always, Lady Hawthorne, especially with our unexpected arrival,” he replied, trying—but failing—to keep his focus on her instead of the stairs behind her.
Her attention shifted briefly to the stairs, then back to him, amusement glinting in her eyes. “It has indeed been a pleasant visit, and I think you would agree that some things are worth changing plans for.”
He was rewarded for his diligence when Kate appeared at the top of the stairs, luminous in a soft blue gown that complemented her figure.
For a second, he could only watch her descend.
When their eyes met, the adoration in her gaze nearly undid him.
It had scarcely been an hour since he last saw her, yet it felt intolerably long.
“Kate,” Lady Hawthorne said, a surprised tone in her voice, “whyever did you change out of your cream dress? It would have been perfect for the journey.”
Kate glanced at him, a conspiratorial smile touching her lips. “James wanted to show me a lovely prospect at the edge of the park, and I fear I muddied my hem during our walk.”
“Oh, no matter,” Lady Hawthorne said, pulling Kate into her arms for a hug. “You are lovely in any gown.”
“Thank you, Aunt Edith,” Kate said, holding her tightly before withdrawing from the embrace.
“For everything.” James executed a quick bow.
Kate accepted his offered arm and he led her to the carriage.
Heavy clouds loomed in the distance, urging him to quicken their pace.
It was only a day’s journey to London, but they could not afford any delays.
He folded his tall frame into the seat beside Kate.
Tess sat across from them, and her expression made it clear she had guessed there had been a change between them—and approved.
As the carriage rumbled down the lane toward the country road, the maid leaned her head back on the seat with a smile and closed her eyes, giving the two of them what little privacy was to be had.
James took the opportunity to slide closer to Kate, his leg brushing the edge of her skirt. “Whatever wages your father is paying your abigail,” he whispered to Kate, just loudly enough for Tess to hear, “I do not believe it is enough.”
Tess smiled without opening her eyes, and Kate laughed. He reached out and covered her gloved fingers with his, cursing whoever had decided that gloves must be worn while traveling. He would have to remedy that particular inconvenience.
Kate tilted her face toward him, devotion shining in her eyes, and a profound sense of belonging took hold. He was hers. Completely. “Whatever happens next, Kate, we shall see it through. Together.”
She slipped her arm around his, leaned her head on his shoulder, and let out a small sigh. “Together. I rather like the sound of that.”
For a few blessed hours, they surrendered to the peaceful rhythm of the carriage, content to be together without danger at every door.
The following morning, James stared out at the low, dreary skies of London and the bustle of a city unaware of the threat moving beneath its polished surface.
Anxious to begin preparations for the charity ball, he dressed and broke his fast quickly.
He had already instructed Jimmy, Anthony, and several other informants to ask discreet questions, hoping to discover if there were any whispers in London’s less respectable corners about the enemy’s plans, but it would take time.
Hurrying down the front steps, he set off in the direction of Kate’s family home, holding his hat to his head before it blew away in the brisk wind that carried the scent of damp stone, coal smoke, and horses.
He was eager to see Kate, confide in Hugh, and discuss his friend’s part in what lay ahead.
He also needed to return home soon. His mother and sister had arrived while he was in Dover, and he had yet to properly greet them.
The hour was far too early for a typical social call, but nothing about the situation was normal. The butler ushered him into the house, and voices carried from the parlor. Inside, Hugh sat on a low-backed sofa as Kate attempted to adjust his pillows and he voiced complaints at her fussing.
James leaned against the doorway. “It would appear in my absence you still haven’t learned how to follow instructions.”
Hugh pushed himself up on the sofa, the bulge beneath his shirt showing where bandages wrapped around his ribs.
“I wasn’t sure what to think when you rode out of here like the devil was at your heels, but thank you for bringing Kate home.
She has not told me much of your travels yet, but I trust it was uneventful. ”
James turned to Kate, who had already gone pink. He suspected her thoughts mirrored his. The memory of their kisses was never far from his mind. No, they would not be telling Hugh everything that had occurred.
Hugh was too observant to miss the awareness between them. “What is it? What has happened?”
James let out a slow breath. “This may take some time.” Together, he and Kate laid out the mystery in the library, the narrow escape in Dover, and their clandestine ties to Westmarch and the Home Office.
Hugh rose carefully from the sofa and moved toward them. For once, he seemed to have no ready jest. “You mean to tell me that you are both . . . spies?”
Kate lifted her chin. “Yes. That is precisely what we are telling you.”
Hugh’s expression was visibly unsettled. “Why are you sharing this with me now?”
James spared him any further confusion. “Because agents are expected to keep silent about their involvement until Westmarch decides otherwise. And apparently, he has. The three of us are to work together.”
Hugh smiled, then sobered. “Gads, I am relieved that he told you about my work as an agent. I have wanted to tell you for months. Though I am not comfortable with the notion of Kate being involved in all of this.”
James’s patience thinned. “Then perhaps you should explain how Kate came to have the note from your saddlebags.”
Hugh’s face paled. “You mean you opened it?”
Kate’s brows rose. “You asked me to see to your saddlebags, then looked at me as though the fate of England depended upon it. What else was I to think?”
“Kate.” Hugh’s voice roughened. “I am sorry. Truly. I never meant for you to be pulled into any of this. I am not experienced with all of this yet, and I was so blasted afraid a servant would find the paper that I did not think clearly. I meant for you to keep the bags out of sight. That was all. I should have warned you. I should have trusted you.”
Hugh’s mouth tightened. “There is more I need to tell you. Before James left Brenton Hall to propose to you, I asked him to watch over you.”
Kate’s gaze sharpened. “You asked him to do what?”
“I thought I was merely being a protective brother,” Hugh said.
“Since I undertook this business with Westmarch last year, I find myself imagining peril at every turn, and you seemed troubled in recent weeks. I told myself it was nothing, but I did not believe there would be any harm in asking James to keep a sharp lookout.”
“I am not certain if I should be resentful or grateful.”
Hugh winced. “Both would be entirely fair.”
“I was out of sorts when I learned you were an agent and had not trusted me with the truth,” Kate said, her voice softening.
“But I was keeping secrets of my own, after all. And after the note sent me into Lord Wycliff’s library during a ball, I consider you in my debt and fully plan on collecting when convenient. ”
“I believed I was protecting you by saying nothing.”
Kate’s mouth curved, but there was no humor in it. “That seems to be a common affliction among the men of my acquaintance.”
“I worry about you being part of this. This work leads to ugly places.”
James stepped toward Hugh, clasping his friend’s shoulder. “You may not have known about Raven, but you know your sister. You know her mind, her courage, and her habit of running directly toward the thing everyone else would avoid.”
Hugh gave a reluctant nod.
“So do I.” The promise settled in James before he spoke it. “And I give you my word, if Kate’s own brilliance is ever not enough to keep her from harm, I shall be standing beside her.”
Hugh went still as understanding dawned. “So it’s like that now between you?”
James could not help glancing over at Kate. The warmth in his chest sharpened into something fierce. He wished they were alone so he could show her just how much it was “like that” for him.
“Yes,” James said, unable to keep the tenderness from his voice. “Yes, it is.”
Hugh let out a sudden laugh. “Finally. I was beginning to fear the two of you would never realize how perfectly matched you are.”
“Do not go announcing anything to the families yet,” James said.
Kate’s smile softened. “Not until after the ball.”
Hugh’s amusement faded into confusion. “Why would you wait?”
“There is more you need to know,” James said, and the levity in the room vanished as he and Kate relayed what Westmarch had revealed about the charity ball and precisely how high the stakes had become.
By the time James returned to his own house, his mother and Alice were waiting for him in the morning room.