Read Online The Fashionable Spy by Emily Hendrickson - Free Book Online

go,” Victoria replied with practicality. “I shall take Sable with me, and Sam Coachman, and there is usually a footman as well. I am well-chaperoned, my dear little sister.”
    Victoria took the mold over to the sink, washed it out, then returned to a small table where she put the sections together. A new batch of plaster was mixed, then poured inside the mold she had first lightly greased. She set the sculpture on the stand, and glanced at the clock again. Elizabeth had disappeared from the room, and Victoria hadn’t noticed her absence. One tended to concentrate while at work.
    “Excuse me. Miss Victoria, there’s a gentleman to see you and he won’t be put off. Sir Edward, he said to tell you it was.” The maid, quite accustomed to the clutter of the workroom, scarcely glanced at the various materials scattered about. Most likely she was only thankful that she was never assigned to clean it up. One of the footmen had that task, and a tedious one it must be, too. They were fussy about the room, and heaven help anyone who disturbed a thing.
    “Oh, botheration,” Victoria whispered. Turning to the maid, she quietly replied, “Very well, I shall be along directly. Where is he?”
    “Evenson put him in the study.”
    Nodding thoughtfully at the change of rooms, Victoria removed the enormous apron, hanging it on its peg. She smoothed her hair and dress with freshly washed hands, then rubbed some cream on them as she briskly walked down the hall to the front of the house. She paused at the study door.
    “Sir Edward, this is indeed a surprise. I was not aware that we had reason to meet again.” She remained where she stood for a moment, waiting for Sable to join her before entering the room. The man had been expecting her, no doubt from the sound of her footsteps in the hall. She was disconcerted when he crossed the room to her side. She had wanted to study him again, but found his closeness disturbing,
    “I wished to discuss your family carriage with you. I decided that it is only right that I replace your badly damaged one. Your coachman informed me that he feels it quite definitely is no longer safe. That will never do.”
    “How kind of you,” Victoria murmured, giving him high marks for fairness and wanting to do the right thing. She had forgotten that sensual quality in his voice, making the most mundane words appear fraught with secret meaning.
    Sir Edward stepped still closer, then reached up to flick her nose.
    “I beg your pardon,” Victoria said in a faintly affronted tone.
    “Plaster, I believe. Have I disturbed you while at work?” He tilted his head as though to study her better. That lazy smile of his was nearly her undoing.
    She nodded, reluctant to discuss what she did at the moment. The more intriguing possibility of a new chaise appealed to her. Not that they couldn’t afford one. But the thought had occurred to her that if he were to pursue the gift of a chaise, she might very well see more of him. Would he not wish to take her for a drive to test it out? And then he possibly could wish to consult with her regarding the design and color as well. She smiled at him, that dazzling smile that had stopped lesser men in their tracks.
    “Back to the matter of the chaise,” she said briskly. “If Sam has confided in you, I may as well admit I have great reservations about taking that coach on a journey again. But I should like to have a say in the style and color,’’ she cautioned with what she felt to be great craftiness.
    He leaned against the desk, studying her through suddenly narrowed eyes. “You plan another trip so soon?”
    “I frequently find it necessary to travel, as does Julia. In her painting, she prefers to have the sitter before her, rather than work from sketches. I feel the same. Sometimes this means we have to go to a distant place. It is usually worth it, however, as we achieve a better likeness.” She avoided meeting his gaze, for she found it far too penetrating for