A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter

Author:Kristi Ann Hunter [Hunter, Kristi Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FIC042030, FIC042040, FIC027070, Single women—England—Fiction, Nobility—England—Fiction, Man-woman relationships—Fiction
ISBN: 9781441228857
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

Ryland sat in the middle of Grosvenor Square, watching the callers coming and going from Hawthorne House. Colin sat next to him, rolling a plucked blade of grass through his fingers.

“Think any of them are here to visit her?” Colin twisted the blade of grass into a circle and tried to toss it around a nearby branch.

“Only the smart ones.”

“So none, then.”

Ryland laughed at his friend’s assessment of the parade of Quality. While he agreed with the sentiment for many people, there were a few men that had better heads on their shoulders. Of course, even a level head could be turned by a woman of Georgina’s beauty. Had Ryland not witnessed her shallowness while working at Riverton, he would have been a bit awed as well.

Colin stood. “This isn’t a campaign, chap. We either go in or we don’t.”

Ryland hated to admit that his friend was right. He couldn’t treat this courtship like a mission. He was officially retired. As hard as it had been, he’d turned over all of his findings on Lambert and the still-open investigation. It was time for him to move on and let someone else protect the country.

The butler opened the door before they even had a chance to knock. Colin immediately extended his calling card. Ryland had actually forgotten about the practice of presenting cards with one’s name on it. Leaving a paper announcing your presence wasn’t high on a spy’s priority list.

He stuck his hand in his coat pocket and removed a stack of parchment rectangles. Jeffreys had not forgotten. Ryland figured that made up, at least partially, for the atrocious outfit the night before. He held his card out to the butler.

Where Colin’s had gotten him nothing more than a quizzical stare, Ryland’s card got them immediately issued into the front hall. It occurred to Ryland how easily someone could fake being him. He ran his thumb over the heavy signet ring on his right hand. It had been in the family for generations and was actually the only personal effect he had carried with him on his travels. Dangerous, yes, but he couldn’t risk his cousin finding it. It was the only proof he’d had when communicating with his managers.

“If you will wait here, I will announce your presence.”

“Hold, man,” Ryland said softly. “Who all is in the drawing room?”

“Lady Blackstone and Lady Georgina, sir.”

Ryland clapped a hand on Colin’s shoulder. “Enjoy their company, my good man. I’ve business with Griffith to take care of first.”

Colin’s eyes narrowed.

Ryland headed down the corridor before his friend could protest the arrangement. He knew where the study was, having spent time in the house as a boy. He had come with Griffith to town on a school holiday. Griffith’s uncle had traveled with them. None of the ladies in the family had been present.

Trusting that Griffith would be hiding from the horde of callers, he knocked softly at the door. Instead of hearing a call to enter, he saw the door swing open to reveal Trent, Griffith’s younger brother.

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