To Be a Spy by Jessie Clever

Author:Jessie Clever [Clever, Jessie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780990702429
Publisher: Someday Lady Publishing, LLC

Samuel set down the coffee press, watching Penelope Paiget’s face as her question lingered in the air between them. Something he had learned very quickly was how to lie when someone asked him about his family’s activities. The Blacks were not always ones to follow society’s expectations, and it often meant questions for Samuel at school.

But when Penelope Paiget asked him the same question, he answered in the only way he knew how when it came to this particular woman.

“My father is a spy for the War Office. He taught me.”

He added sugar to his coffee and offered the dish to Penelope, who sat with her mouth hanging open much as it had when she realized she had hit him in the head with a bag full of rocks. “Sugar?” he asked when she did not move and continued to stare at him.

“I beg your pardon?” she said, taking the sugar dish from him.

He felt a jolt of electricity as her fingers brushed his and wondered what else he could hand her to experience the feeling again. “Spy,” he said the word again, “My father is a spy for the War Office. He taught me how to handle myself in situations of duress.”

He added a small amount of milk to his cup and offered the pitcher to Penelope. And when she refused the milk, he felt a pang of regret at not being able to accidentally on purpose slide his fingers over hers.

“Situations of duress?” Penelope asked. “Is that a normal topic between a father and son?”

Samuel shrugged. “I haven’t the faintest idea,” he said. “My family has never been really ordinary in that regard.”

Penelope frowned at him. “I can imagine.”

He smiled at her. “What about you? How long have you been Lady Witherspoon’s companion?”

“A little more than two years,” she said, taking a sip of her coffee.

He didn’t know what was more pleasing, the fact that she appeared to enjoy the drink or the look of sheer ecstasy that came over her face when she swallowed. He felt something tug in the region of his groin and wondered if he should scold himself for such a base reaction. But in that moment she was entirely too beautiful, and he couldn’t summon the strength to scold himself for anything.

“This is quite good,” she said, and he smiled at the incredulity in her voice.

“It is,” he said. “I’m glad you enjoy it.” He took another sip from his own cup. “Have you always thought to be a companion?” he asked.

Penelope set down her cup, frowning at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“When considering an occupation. Have you always thought to be a companion?”

Penelope continued to frown at him. “I didn’t know the sons of gentlemen thought about such things.”

Samuel shook his head, feeling slightly shameful for not explaining earlier. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I should have elaborated on the unusual attributes of my family.”

Penelope cocked her head at him, looking more adorable than one of Lady Pemberly’s puppies.

“My mother was a housekeeper before she met my father, and she and I lived below stairs.

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