Read Online My Earl the Spy by Audrey Harrison - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Audrey Harrison
Tags: Trad-Reg
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the boy a coin. “That’s all you’re getting until I have some more to go on. The quicker you are, the better the reward.”
The boy caught the money, bit it once and turned on his heel with a nod of acknowledgement. He disappeared into the night as quickly as he had appeared.
“How will finding out who did this help you?” Mack asked.
“It won’t, but I’ll make sure they pay for it,” Joshua responded with determination. He thought he had escaped, but it would appear not. He moved his fingers along his collar, almost as if he could already feel the hangman’s noose around his neck. No, he was not going to be led down that path without a fight.
*
Henry rubbed his hands over his face for the umpteenth time that morning. He sighed as his hands landed with a thud on his desk; he had no idea what was wrong with him, but he was out of sorts. Nothing caught his attention; nothing diverted him; all he wanted to do was hide from the world, and that was unknown for the usually sociable Henry.
He had been to visit an old mistress of his. Greeting her with a kiss he had been disappointed when opening his eyes, he had been faced with green eyes instead of the clear grey eyes that haunted his dreams. He had pushed the image to one side determined to forget her, but he had been sharp with the woman who had immediately sensed there was something wrong.
He had left her residence shortly afterwards, both of them wondering what had happened to Henry. It had cost him an expensive trinket, which he had sent around a day later to apologise for his unusual behaviour.
It was no use; he had found comfort in knowing she was close by in London; he had not felt the need to seek her out, but she had been there. Now, she was miles away and, for the first time in his life, he was longing to be in someone’s company.
After hours sitting at his desk, he slammed his hands down on the green leather-bound blotting pad. This was no good; he had to do something, only he no longer had the urge to be out seeking the enemies of the state. He would visit his estate for a while; that was bound to block out everything and would reaffirm his determination to complete what he had set-out to do.
*
Joshua was dumbfounded. “The little bitch; I know who’s behind this!” he spat as the words the boy had told him sank in.
“Why is a lord interested in you, Josh?” Mack asked, showing admiration that his acquaintance seemed to be more important than he had first thought.
“I dunno.” Joshua had not realised that two members of the aristocracy were on the beach that night, but he did begin to wonder at the issue of the picture being linked to someone he had met while a house guest. He was sure Charles had something to do with it and was curious to find out if the young man had issued some sort of reward for Joshua. “I know the old maid who did this though, and she’s going to pay for my face being all over London!”
He handed coins to the boy. “Number six Half Moon Street; find out where the family are and what’s going on there. I need to find the spinster cousin.”
*
Henry had been out for a walk. He chose to walk early these last few days, having his exercise before most of the ton arose from their beds. His face wore a grimace of a smile when he remembered how his peer Edmund would find the situation amusing; the sociable Henry avoiding the public.
He was to leave London on the morrow and, if his current mood was anything to go by, he would not be returning soon.
The thought of chasing Miss Holland and declaring his feelings had never entered his head; it was not the done thing as far as he was concerned. He had never lost his heart before, so he presumed this state of melancholic frustration would pass soon enough.
He handed his hat, cane and gloves to his butler and entered his study; pouring himself a large glass of wine, he took a large gulp. The rich red liquid slid down his throat, the moment of warmth providing some
The boy caught the money, bit it once and turned on his heel with a nod of acknowledgement. He disappeared into the night as quickly as he had appeared.
“How will finding out who did this help you?” Mack asked.
“It won’t, but I’ll make sure they pay for it,” Joshua responded with determination. He thought he had escaped, but it would appear not. He moved his fingers along his collar, almost as if he could already feel the hangman’s noose around his neck. No, he was not going to be led down that path without a fight.
*
Henry rubbed his hands over his face for the umpteenth time that morning. He sighed as his hands landed with a thud on his desk; he had no idea what was wrong with him, but he was out of sorts. Nothing caught his attention; nothing diverted him; all he wanted to do was hide from the world, and that was unknown for the usually sociable Henry.
He had been to visit an old mistress of his. Greeting her with a kiss he had been disappointed when opening his eyes, he had been faced with green eyes instead of the clear grey eyes that haunted his dreams. He had pushed the image to one side determined to forget her, but he had been sharp with the woman who had immediately sensed there was something wrong.
He had left her residence shortly afterwards, both of them wondering what had happened to Henry. It had cost him an expensive trinket, which he had sent around a day later to apologise for his unusual behaviour.
It was no use; he had found comfort in knowing she was close by in London; he had not felt the need to seek her out, but she had been there. Now, she was miles away and, for the first time in his life, he was longing to be in someone’s company.
After hours sitting at his desk, he slammed his hands down on the green leather-bound blotting pad. This was no good; he had to do something, only he no longer had the urge to be out seeking the enemies of the state. He would visit his estate for a while; that was bound to block out everything and would reaffirm his determination to complete what he had set-out to do.
*
Joshua was dumbfounded. “The little bitch; I know who’s behind this!” he spat as the words the boy had told him sank in.
“Why is a lord interested in you, Josh?” Mack asked, showing admiration that his acquaintance seemed to be more important than he had first thought.
“I dunno.” Joshua had not realised that two members of the aristocracy were on the beach that night, but he did begin to wonder at the issue of the picture being linked to someone he had met while a house guest. He was sure Charles had something to do with it and was curious to find out if the young man had issued some sort of reward for Joshua. “I know the old maid who did this though, and she’s going to pay for my face being all over London!”
He handed coins to the boy. “Number six Half Moon Street; find out where the family are and what’s going on there. I need to find the spinster cousin.”
*
Henry had been out for a walk. He chose to walk early these last few days, having his exercise before most of the ton arose from their beds. His face wore a grimace of a smile when he remembered how his peer Edmund would find the situation amusing; the sociable Henry avoiding the public.
He was to leave London on the morrow and, if his current mood was anything to go by, he would not be returning soon.
The thought of chasing Miss Holland and declaring his feelings had never entered his head; it was not the done thing as far as he was concerned. He had never lost his heart before, so he presumed this state of melancholic frustration would pass soon enough.
He handed his hat, cane and gloves to his butler and entered his study; pouring himself a large glass of wine, he took a large gulp. The rich red liquid slid down his throat, the moment of warmth providing some
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