The Enigma of a Spy (Regency Rendezvous Book 10) by Linda Rae Sande

Author:Linda Rae Sande [Sande, Linda Rae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scarsdale Publishing. Ltd
Published: 2017-07-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

A Summons is Received

The following morning, May 16, 1816

Lydia had just reached the breakfast parlor when Jenkins intercepted her at the door. “This was just delivered, my lady,” he said with an arched brow.

Examining the missive as she took it from the butler, Lydia realized why he seemed intrigued. “By a footman, I gather?” she replied, turning it over to examine the red wax seal on the back. Given its lack of any embossing, there wasn’t a hint as to whom it was from.

Except she knew.

Lord Chamberlain.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Is he waiting for a reply?”

The butler blinked, which only had Lydia feeling a hint of satisfaction. It was rare when something had Jenkins a bit discombobulated. “He is not. He left after making the delivery.”

Lydia sighed. “Well, there’s no hurry then,” she said as she tucked the note into a pocket and made her way to her regular seat in the breakfast parlor.

One of the house’s two footmen—there had been three, but without a husband in the household, the other one had left of his own accord to work for a neighbor—was quick to deliver a plate filled with coddled eggs, toast, and a slice of ham. One of the housemaids followed with a tea tray.

Once all the servants had left her alone, Lydia surrepticiously pulled the missive from her pocket and popped the seal.

Perhaps you thought your assignment was optional. It is not. Three o’clock, my office. C.

Lydia sighed, realizing from the tone of Lord Chamberlain’s note that he was angry with her.

Or, mayhap just a bit impatient.

He probably didn’t know about the ride she had taken with Sir Donald to the Serpentine. He certainly wouldn’t know anything about the knight’s nocturnal visits to her bedchamber. Although he wasn’t in her bedchamber when she fell asleep, she had awoken to the sound of his soft snores. No longer alarmed by the thought of the man in her bedchamber, Lydia found she took comfort in his presence.

How odd. To have been so annoyed by Adonis Truscott only a few days ago, and now ...

Well, now she had managed to annoy Lord Chamberlain.

Damnation!

Lydia wondered how she might start her verbal report. When I discovered Sir Donald had made himself at home in a Greek lounging chair in my bedchamber whilst I was sleeping, I promptly threatened him with my loaded pistol and demanded answers. He was most obliging.

Except he wasn’t.

Not really, anyway. He was keeping secrets from her, she was sure. Why, she didn’t yet know.

After a moment, she decided it wasn’t worth the attempt to shock the poor viscount. On second thought, she remembered Lord Chamberlain was beyond being shocked.

Well, she had some information to provide at least. Oliver Preston had paid a call, presumedly looking for Jasper’s ring. She knew he wouldn’t find it at the War Office—it was in the top tray of Jasper’s jewelry box—which meant he would probably come back to the house to ask after it.

Perhaps it was fortuitous that Adonis Truscott had been paying visits to her bedchamber, after all.

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