My Lady, My Spy by Sheridan Jeane

Author:Sheridan Jeane
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Flowers and Fullerton
Published: 2016-06-20T18:00:00+00:00

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Later that evening following dinner, Frederick and Mr. Montlake returned to Robert’s study to continue working. They quickly became engrossed in translating the church register. Not only did Montlake want information from the pertinent page where Antonia’s parents’ wedding was recorded, but he also wanted some sample entries from other pages to check them for consistency.

“I want no surprises,” Mr. Montlake said.

Despite the pain in Frederick’s hand, he found himself completely immersed in the translation when Robert and Antonia entered the room. He glanced up from his spot behind Robert’s desk, vaguely surprised by their arrival.

“How are the burns?” Robert asked as he crossed the room to stand in front of his desk. He looked relaxed and refreshed.

“Painful.” He aimed an irritated glare at his brother. He struggled not to take Robert’s smiling good humor as an insult. Frederick glanced down at the pen he held in his left hand. “A bit better, I suppose. I can manage to hold this in my off-hand.” He tossed it on the table and flexed his fingers.

“Should I prepare the poultice again?” Robert asked.

Frederick shook his head. “All the herbs are gone. Lady Harrington must have finally taken me at my word and decided to stay away.”

Antonia gave him a sharp glance. “That’s odd. She arrived just as we were leaving for Lord Tidmore’s house. She brought the poultice supplies with her.”

Frederick stiffened. She’d been here? Why had no one told him? He shot his brother an accusatory gaze, but Robert seemed not to notice.

“Maybe she grew tired of waiting for you,” his brother said. “I believe that was the gist of her complaint at the ball as well.”

Frederick recalled Josephine’s criticism two nights ago that he hadn’t contacted her in days. He felt his face redden as he opened his mouth for a retort, but then Mr. Montlake pushed himself up from the seat next to him, interrupting him.

Devin Montlake shuffled some papers into a tidy stack. “I think the best way I can finish my preparations for tomorrow is to sleep for a few hours.”

“Certainly.” Frederick rose to his feet. “I’ll direct you to your room. I could do with some rest as well.”

Without saying another word to his brother, Frederick hurried from the study. After closing Mr. Montlake’s door, Frederick continued on to his own room. He looked around. If Josephine truly had stopped by with poultice supplies— yes. He saw her basket now, sitting on his mahogany dressing table.

He crossed the room, flipped open the basket’s lid, and found a cloth of robin’s-egg blue draped over the contents. He nudged it aside with his finger and found the fresh poultice supplies nestled beneath.

He held the cloth gently, unaccountably pleased to know she’d come by as she’d promised. But she hadn’t stayed, nor had she left a message. Why? Josephine did nothing without a reason.

Frederick rang for his valet.

When Herbert entered the room, Frederick gestured toward the basket. “Lady Harrington dropped off poultice supplies after all. Did you see her?”

Herbert looked surprised.

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