Chapter 19 #3
I, of course, said none of this to Sidney. It wasn’t yet the time. But I ruminated on it as I slipped away to the lady’s retiring room, smiling to myself at the picture forming in my mind. If nothing else, I might finally make my mother happy. She had long disapproved of my lifestyle.
I had stepped into the corridor to return to the ballroom when a hand tightly grasped my arm. “Mrs. Kent, how delightful to see you. Perhaps I might have a moment of your time.”
Before I even had time to react to the sound of Ardmore’s suave voice, he was hustling me through the next door and into what appeared to be a type of parlor. It was empty except for the two of us, and I stepped away from him as he released me, on guard for any further tricks.
“My husband is going to come looking for me,” I cautioned. “And I’m going to enjoy watching him draw your cork.”
“I very much doubt that,” he declared, adjusting his cuffs as if I’d been the one to ruffle his attire. “He’s had the chance before and not taken it.”
I scowled at him, determined not to display my confusion.
“You are causing a great deal of trouble, Verity.”
“I suppose that’s not something you’re used to,” I jeered.
He shook his head. “Not to me.” His mouth curled into a taunting smile. “Though I imagine you’d like to think so after that peccadillo with the phosgene.”
I narrowed my eyes, feeling “peccadillo” was hardly the word to describe his intentions to release poisonous gas over a crowd of thousands.
His brilliant mossy-green eyes hardened into chips of ice. “No, to the rebellion. To Collins and all the others, including MacAlister.”
I must have shown some sort of reaction, for his eyebrows arched. “Oh, yes. I know that he’s Captain Xavier. And I know that contrary to what you told Colonel Winter that he has joined the ranks of the IRA.”
This was something we’d thought we’d managed to keep from him but should have realized that if O knew about Alec’s presence here, then Ardmore would, too.
He stalked a step closer. “Just as I suspect I know where your genuine sympathies lie. Even though you’re fouling it up for everyone.”
I stiffened, wondering how I’d suddenly found myself on the defensive. “I’ve done nothing to obstruct the republicans. They aren’t why I’m here.”
“Yet, you have. By opposing me, you oppose them.”
“What I oppose is the death toll you leave in your wake and the fact that you intended to maim and murder hundreds of innocent bystanders to further your goals!”
“A few dozen, perhaps. Hardly hundreds.” He spoke as if this was of no consequence, his tone remaining maddeningly calm while my voice had risen. “And all to a good cause if it means exposing the truth. The Irish understand this. You’re the one getting in their way.”
I glared at him wild-eyed, uncertain how this confrontation had taken such a turn. I knew he was exploiting my own conflicted emotions, but that didn’t prevent my body from reacting. I felt as if I’d had the wind kicked out of me and my head sewn on backwards.
“It’s no wonder Collins has singled you out.”
My hands fisted at my sides as I scrambled to try to figure out whether what he’d said was true.
Kathleen had said there was chatter that the IRA had decided I was a target, and given Ardmore’s connections, he’d likely learned of this through similar intelligence channels.
But how did he know it was Collins? Or was he lying?
He took another step toward me, and while instinctively I wanted to back away, I stood my ground, refusing to give him the satisfaction.
“If you truly believe in the republicans’ cause, you should be working with me, not against me,” he murmured in a silky voice.
The type I imagined the devil would use to tempt humans.
“But it’s not too late. There’s still time to mend your ways. ”
Even in the haze of my turmoil, I recognized an opportunity when I saw one. “What do you mean?” I challenged, albeit in a less confrontational manner.
His gaze brushed over my features in a way that made me want to recoil. “Go home. Pretend your injuries are worse.”
“You must know the terms of my release.” I meant the stipulation that I was supposed to spy on the rebels. “I can’t do nothing.”
He raised his hand, tucking a curl that had come loose from my jeweled headband behind my ear. It was all I could do not to shudder. “You can,” he assured me. “Leave the matter to me.”
“Why?” I murmured breathlessly. “What’s going to happen?”
His eyes narrowed in suspicion, and I remained motionless, other than a flutter of my eyelashes. Even so, he retreated a step, brushing his hand down my arm. “That’s for me to know, and you to find out.” With that he opened the door, leaving it ajar behind him as he strode from the room.
I promptly swiped my hand down my arm where he’d brushed it, as if I could erase the memory of his touch, and gritted my teeth in anger and frustration.
Ardmore was definitely up to something, and I had to face the possibility that Michael Collins, and potentially Alec, knew about it.
If so, the target must be British, and for obvious reasons, I was being left in the dark.
This did not sit well with me. It didn’t sit well with me at all.