Read Online A Lady's Revenge by Tracey Devlyn - Free Book Online Page B

her.”
    “As do I,” Somerton murmured. “However, Valère’s said to be quite handsome and very charming, especially when he wants something. With the amount of time they spent together—”
    “Are you saying she spent intimate time in his company before the kidnapping?”
    A charged pause. “Yes.”
    A gale of jealous rage swept through Guy. Too late, he recalled Cora’s description of Valère’s dancing ability.
    Normally, he danced with fluid passion, full of touches and innuendo, but after my return from the balcony, his movements became stiff and crushing.
    Goddammit. How could he have forgotten the rumors of the Raven’s ability to seduce secrets from the enemy? Had Valère succumbed like all the others? Or had the Raven fallen prey to a more masterful predator?
    “How long?” Guy nearly growled.
    “A fortnight, maybe longer.”
    The pressure in Guy’s head grew with each revelation. “Bloody hell.”
    Somerton moved to stand behind his desk. “Cora might not have revealed British secrets, but it’s possible she inadvertently revealed some of her own.”
    Guy’s teeth clamped together so hard his jaw popped. “In which case, Valère might know about you.”
    “Precisely. And her brother.”
    Which meant none of their holdings would provide a safe harbor for Cora.
    “It’s doubtful he knows about me,” Guy said without hesitation. “When my aunt Phoebe passed away last fall, she left me a small estate in the country. Few know of it. Perhaps now would be a good time to air out the place.”
    Somerton tapped his fingertips on his desk, considering Guy’s offer. “It could be several weeks before we rout Valère.”
    “I understand.” Guy straightened his shoulders. “She’ll be safe with me.”
    “I don’t doubt it.” Somerton paced over to the window. After a moment, he faced Guy again. “With Cora protected, I could devote my attention to finding Valère and removing the threat—before he finds her.”
    Guy’s disappointment in Somerton’s decisions didn’t stop him from warming under his mentor’s praise. Somerton had never been an emotionally demonstrative man, but neither was he impossible to please. Quite unlike Guy’s father.
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “Take Cora’s servants with you,” Somerton instructed. “They’ll help keep an eye on things and are useful intermediaries for communication purposes.”
    “Very well. I can be ready to depart for the country as early as tomorrow afternoon. I’ve arranged to breakfast with Cora in the morning.
    “I will alert her servants,” Somerton said, returning to his desk. He shuffled papers around, indicating their meeting had come to an end. “All will be in readiness for your departure.”
    Guy hesitated.
    His mentor glanced up. “Something wrong?”
    “I seek only one favor for my intervention.”
    Somerton eyed him. “Indeed.”
    “Did the message I deciphered about the British ships aid in your decision to send Cora to Valère?”
    The slight lowering of his mentor’s eyelids sent Guy’s heart crashing into his stomach.
    Somerton folded his hands on his desk. “As I mentioned in the library, I assigned Cora to the task of exposing a double spy. Having her keep an ear to the ground for intelligence on the ships, as well, only made sense.”
    The bile he had wrestled into submission earlier reemerged. He knew better than to challenge Somerton’s assertions; the man kept information more securely than any cast-iron safe.
    “I take it we will have no further discussion on this matter,” Somerton said.
    Guy’s pulse pounded in his temples. “No, sir.” He bowed and turned to leave. His world felt tilted, out of kilter. By deciphering one of Valère’s messages, he had provided the door to Cora’s imprisonment. Good God, how was he supposed to live with such knowledge?
    He thought of their journey tomorrow, made all the more difficult with this bit of treachery between them. The best he could hope for was that she