Somewhat Scandalous by Pearl Darling

Author:Pearl Darling
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Henry sprawled in his favorite chair in the drawing room, draping his frame over the chair arms in an effort to find space. A fire roared in the drawing room grate, yet still he felt cold. The rest of the house in Mount Street was empty. More empty than he’d ever known it since his sister had married Lord Colchester and moved to his house in Brook Street.

He still felt cold, yet his lips burned.

“Where’s Stanton?” Granwich pushed at the papers in front of him.

“Not certain. Last I heard he was recovering.”

“I’ve been told reliably that he’s back.” Earl Harding sat down in the chair nearest the door. Five men sat around the large mahogany table that was positioned squarely in the middle of the wood paneled room. It covered nicely the large hole in the carpet that Henry had never bothered to repair since the phosphorous incident. Oh Agatha. After kissing her, he hadn’t been able to think straight. She’d stared at him as if he had dropped from the moon. He’d dragged her protesting to the Colchester carriage and sent her home for her own good. To protect herself from him.

“Who’s back?” Freddie yawned and tapped his cane against his chair.

“Monsieur Herr—Mister Mister.”

Freddie still looked nonplussed. “Didn’t know you had a stutter. Who’s he?”

“More like who’s Him. He’s a French spy. He caused untold damage five years ago by passing British military secrets to the French.” Earl Harding banged his hand on the desk. “We nearly lost thousands of men at Corunna because of him.”

“And Talavera,” Granwich interposed.

“And most importantly Burgos. We have no idea who he is. He must have access to military information, and the ability to easily pass them to the French.” Henry looked into the fire as he answered.

“Damnit. I was at Burgos.” Freddie picked at his trousers. “It was the first place my hair turned white.”

“Why wasn’t he caught before?” Anthony Lovall asked quietly.

“There has been no sign of him. I looked for him everywhere.” Henry dropped his leg to the floor and sat up. “That’s why I asked you all here today. You have all run missions for me. He must be stopped.”

Granwich nodded and spoke quietly. “If the Hawk has not been able to find him, then the man must have been as wily as a ghost.”

“Hmm, access to military information. And contact with the French. It can’t be any of us. Although it could be someone close to us, I suppose,” Freddie said thoughtfully.

The other men in the chairs sat silently for a few moments, contemplating the idea that their nearest friends and family might be passing secrets to the French. They hadn’t thought to look at themselves.

“Who’s new since five years ago?” Freddie sat forward and placed an elbow on the table.

“Lord Fashington’s back,” murmured Henry

“Hmmm. Government man, access to secrets alright.” Granwich cocked his head. “But always struck me as a bit of a bounder. I don’t think a spy would try to do that as a disguise.

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