Wicked Surrender by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Carole Mortimer
Published: 2017-06-29T23:00:00+00:00

It was fully dark when Bella woke, her eyes feeling gritty and sore from where she had cried herself to sleep several hours ago. She had not thought to light a fire earlier, and the bedchamber felt a little chilled. But no more so than Bella’s heart.

Dante believed her to be a traitor to her adopted country.

The Prince Regent and another unnamed man who was a spymaster for the Crown also suspected her of treason.

Fresh tears stung her eyes and fell soundlessly down her cheeks.

Living in France until she was nine years old was a distant memory, as was the family she still had there, an aunt and uncle, and several cousins older than herself. She and her mother had left France all those years ago because of the unrest caused by Napoleon and his army. They had totally embraced their adopted country once they arrived in England, her mother’s eventual marriage to a marquis securing them both a place in England’s aristocracy. Bella’s own marriage to Lord Jeremy Aston six years ago had confirmed that place.

Perhaps that was the—what was it called when… Ah yes, modus operandi. Perhaps integrating and becoming a part of England’s aristocracy was the modus operandi of all French spies?

Perhaps, but to now know she was suspected of being one, not just by Dante but also the highest authority in the land, was hurtful in the extreme.

Although it had not succeeded in robbing her of her appetite, she recognized self-disgustedly as her stomach now gave a low growl. She had no idea what the time was, but her early breakfast this morning seemed a very long time ago.

Bella lay on the bed and listened to the sounds of the house. She could hear the creaking and settling of the floorboards and the timber it was built from. The wind rustling the leaves on the trees outside. The ticking of a clock somewhere inside the house. But otherwise, all was silent.

Was Dante still here?

Surely, with his suspicions toward her, he would not have gone out and left her alone in the house?

More likely he had also retired to one of the six bedchambers Bella had discovered on the second floor before choosing this one looking out at the beautiful forest beyond, and he was now asleep.

If so, then it was safe for her to go down to the kitchen and hopefully make herself a cup of tea. She could also prepare something to eat from the box of provisions the groom and driver had carried in from the carriage earlier.

After which, she would turn her attention to how she might leave here and return to London without Dante knowing she had gone. At least until it was too late for him to stop her. He had mentioned the nearby village earlier. If she walked to the inn there and was careful, she might avoid being seen by Dante’s driver and groom. It should then be a simple matter to persuade the innkeeper, with the incentive of

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