Read Online My Lady, My Spy (Secrets and Seduction Book 4) by Sheridan Jeane - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sheridan Jeane
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become rather protective of those around him. Frederick believed he now viewed them as extensions of his spy network rather than as disposable items.
Frederick sighed deeply. He hoped Lord Cary would be able to help him with this particular mess. He could use a guiding hand right now.
The way he’d treated Josephine these past few days weighed heavily upon his mind. He knew he should break things off with her, but the simple fact that he couldn’t erase her from his thoughts made him doubt the wisdom of his choice. He’d found that after he made a good decision, he could set a problem aside and stop worrying about it. Therefore, cutting her out of his life had been a poor one.
He needed a better solution. One he could live with.
He had two thorny problems to address, but only one had the fate of the nation depending upon it. That one needed to take precedence. Once it was under control, he could address the one closer to his heart.
He knew exactly where to find Lord Cary tonight. The man thrived on gossip. It was like fuel for his espionage network. They rarely met at the Foreign Office. Lord Cary preferred attending social events where he could simultaneously conduct business and collect new tidbits of information. When meeting with someone in his spy network at one of these public venues, he relied upon a code he’d devised. This worked well for providing simple updates, but the in-depth conversation Frederick required tonight would oblige him to schedule a late-night meeting. Probably at Lord Cary’s club.
Frederick hurried on his way, and a short time later he strolled into Lord and Lady Aldridge’s home for their musical soiree.
The high-ceilinged room with its cream-colored walls hummed with the conversation of elegantly dressed members of the upper class. The women’s bell-shaped gowns swayed gracefully as they swept across the room on the arms of men dressed in nearly identical black evening clothes.
Not for the first time, Frederick wondered at Lord Cary’s choice of venue. The Aldridges weren’t involved in the spymaster’s network, but he regularly used their home as a meeting place when they held one of their many social gatherings. In fact, none of the people who hosted events where Frederick met with him were ever directly involved in espionage.
From across the room, he spotted the lovely young soprano who would entertain them tonight. She and Lady Wilmot, an avid music lover, were engrossed in conversation. If Frederick’s brother Robert had been here, he would want to hurry across the room to join them, but not so for Frederick. Tonight’s soiree with its musical entertainment was simply a means to an end. He needed to meet Lord Cary, and the Aldridges’ event provided a venue.
A moment later, Lady Wilmot and the soprano both turned to face someone, and Frederick realized they were looking directly at Lord Cary.
Well, this was an interesting development. Perhaps Lady Wilmot’s presence explained why Lord Cary had chosen this particular event for a rendezvous. He’d seen them together often recently. Could she be one of his spies as well? He hoped not. He liked her too much to wish that sort of life on such an open and honest person. The secrets she’d be forced to keep would eat away at her, much in the same way they did him. He’d become accustomed to that sort of burden at an early age.
Lord Cary caught his gaze and tilted his head, indicating a spot nearby where they should meet. Then he spoke to Lady Wilmot and the young soprano, obviously saying his goodbyes. He casually turned away from them and glided over to intercept Frederick.
“Good to see you, Woolsy.” Lord Cary accompanied the greeting with a jovial pat on the back. According to Lord Cary’s code, “good to see you” meant it was safe for them to speak.
“I’m running late tonight,” he said, letting the man know his assignment hadn’t gone well last night.
“Late? You? There’s a first for everything.”
Frederick sighed deeply. He hoped Lord Cary would be able to help him with this particular mess. He could use a guiding hand right now.
The way he’d treated Josephine these past few days weighed heavily upon his mind. He knew he should break things off with her, but the simple fact that he couldn’t erase her from his thoughts made him doubt the wisdom of his choice. He’d found that after he made a good decision, he could set a problem aside and stop worrying about it. Therefore, cutting her out of his life had been a poor one.
He needed a better solution. One he could live with.
He had two thorny problems to address, but only one had the fate of the nation depending upon it. That one needed to take precedence. Once it was under control, he could address the one closer to his heart.
He knew exactly where to find Lord Cary tonight. The man thrived on gossip. It was like fuel for his espionage network. They rarely met at the Foreign Office. Lord Cary preferred attending social events where he could simultaneously conduct business and collect new tidbits of information. When meeting with someone in his spy network at one of these public venues, he relied upon a code he’d devised. This worked well for providing simple updates, but the in-depth conversation Frederick required tonight would oblige him to schedule a late-night meeting. Probably at Lord Cary’s club.
Frederick hurried on his way, and a short time later he strolled into Lord and Lady Aldridge’s home for their musical soiree.
The high-ceilinged room with its cream-colored walls hummed with the conversation of elegantly dressed members of the upper class. The women’s bell-shaped gowns swayed gracefully as they swept across the room on the arms of men dressed in nearly identical black evening clothes.
Not for the first time, Frederick wondered at Lord Cary’s choice of venue. The Aldridges weren’t involved in the spymaster’s network, but he regularly used their home as a meeting place when they held one of their many social gatherings. In fact, none of the people who hosted events where Frederick met with him were ever directly involved in espionage.
From across the room, he spotted the lovely young soprano who would entertain them tonight. She and Lady Wilmot, an avid music lover, were engrossed in conversation. If Frederick’s brother Robert had been here, he would want to hurry across the room to join them, but not so for Frederick. Tonight’s soiree with its musical entertainment was simply a means to an end. He needed to meet Lord Cary, and the Aldridges’ event provided a venue.
A moment later, Lady Wilmot and the soprano both turned to face someone, and Frederick realized they were looking directly at Lord Cary.
Well, this was an interesting development. Perhaps Lady Wilmot’s presence explained why Lord Cary had chosen this particular event for a rendezvous. He’d seen them together often recently. Could she be one of his spies as well? He hoped not. He liked her too much to wish that sort of life on such an open and honest person. The secrets she’d be forced to keep would eat away at her, much in the same way they did him. He’d become accustomed to that sort of burden at an early age.
Lord Cary caught his gaze and tilted his head, indicating a spot nearby where they should meet. Then he spoke to Lady Wilmot and the young soprano, obviously saying his goodbyes. He casually turned away from them and glided over to intercept Frederick.
“Good to see you, Woolsy.” Lord Cary accompanied the greeting with a jovial pat on the back. According to Lord Cary’s code, “good to see you” meant it was safe for them to speak.
“I’m running late tonight,” he said, letting the man know his assignment hadn’t gone well last night.
“Late? You? There’s a first for everything.”
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