The Spy by Celeste Bradley

Author:Celeste Bradley [Bradley, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2010-02-14T14:43:51+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

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Phillipa waited, scarcely breathing, for James to respond to her words. But the interruption had cost her the game. He only nodded at Denny and stood.

"Thank you, Denny. Tell him I'll be out directly." He walked from the study without looking at her.

Her cause lost in the bustle of donning hat and coat, Phillipa sagged back into her chair, nearly ready to weep. She'd thought, just for a moment, that there might have been some saving of James. When she'd earner witnessed his cold carelessness of Robbie's feelings, she'd thought him truly foul.

Then, when she'd seen the glimpse of lonely boy in his eyes when she'd compared him to his own father, she had remembered his various and real kindnesses to her and others.

There was good in him. And who knew, if not for the war and its inherent politics and plays of power, he might never have taken the road to treason. He might have stayed on the path drawn for him, raising his apples and sheep in the Lancashire countryside.

So she'd hoped, in those few minutes when he'd really seemed to be listening to her, that she could still confide in him. That he would yet be revealed as someone she could trust, that she could explain her love for her father and her need to bring him home safely. That she could still remain James's friend, and not be forced to become his enemy.

Denny came back to the door of the study to give her a disdainful sniff and an arch look. He had obviously heard some portion of her argument with James and just as obviously disapproved of Phillipa's cheek in disrespecting the master.

"I'm shutting up this room. Mr. Cunnington will not be returning to his study this evening and he has requested me to lock the door."

The loss Phillipa had been feeling crystallized once more into anger. James was shutting her out, shutting Robbie out. Running again.

She stood and smiled widely at Denny. "Of course he did." That was what one did, with an enemy on the premises. She strode away from Denny and up the stairs. Robbie was likely still in an injured fury. She ought to hurry before the schoolroom saw true damage.

She had tried to raise a flag of peace. She had been rebuffed. As it had meant from time before time…

This meant war.

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