Read Online The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson - Free Book Online Page A

reveal who is telling the truth, who is dangerous, and who is trying to protect you.”
    “The anger and resentment in your voice makes me sad. But I daresay you are right.” Margaretha rubbed the side of the stallion’s head to distract and calm him.
    He kept his back to her as he dodged another attempt by the stallion to bite him.
    “I like the name Colin. It suits you.”
    “I would prefer you not allow anyone to hear you call me that. My life, and yours as well, would be in danger if Claybrook knew I was here.”
    “Lord Claybrook is away with my father.”
    “But he will return.” He spun around to face her. “Do you know when they will return?”
    “No, but Mother said she thought Lord Claybrook might return before Father. He could come back tomorrow.”
    Colin straightened and his eyes widened. “Does he have a guard named Reginald?”
    “Yes, Reginald is the captain of Lord Claybrook’s guard.” The fact that he knew Claybrook’s captain’s name sent a chill through her.
    “I need you, once Claybrook returns, to spy on him and Reginald.”
    “Spy? Me?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh, I don’t think I would be good at spying on anyone.”
    He gave her a hard look.
    “I don’t know if I could spy on Lord Claybrook and the captain of his guard. How would I even do that? I’ve never deceived anyone.” She stopped and drew in a quick breath. “No, that isn’t entirely true. I am very good at matchmaking between our servants, and when I am matchmaking, I do temporarily neglect to tell them something, sometimes, in order to — ”
    “All I ask is that you listen to his conversations with his captain without him knowing it, and to tell no one except me what he says.”
    “You want me to purposely and secretly listen to a conversation and then tell you — and no one else — what they said.”
    “Exactly.”
    “What if I make a mess of it? What if I’m found out?”
    He gazed across the distant meadow, beyond the town wall. “Yes. Perhaps you are right. It would be too dangerous for you.” He turned away so she couldn’t read his expression.
    “I didn’t say it was too dangerous.” She suspected he was only baiting her, but she suddenly didn’t want him to think she couldn’t do it. “I’m sure I could spy for you. But I still think you must be wrong about Lord Claybrook. He would never hurt me.”
    He turned to stare at her again with those intense blue eyes of his. “He killed my sister’s friend, and she was every bit as young and innocent-looking as you. Although in her case, looks were deceiving.” A grimace of pain flitted over his face. He cleared his throat. “No, I don’t want you to do it. I would never forgive myself if he hurt you. I am sorry I mentioned it. Let us not speak of it.” His voice was quiet and resigned.
    He seemed sincerely concerned for her. But before she could respond, he went inside the black stallion’s stall.
    Colin took the horse’s reins and began to lead him out of the stable. “Are you sure you want to ride this horse?”
    She still wanted to pursue the matter of spying on Claybrook and his captain, but she didn’t want to waste the opportunity to ride the new stallion. “Of course. He is completely gentle with me.”
    Colin looked doubtful. “I hope I don’t get into trouble for saddling this horse for you.”
    “Oh, you won’t get into trouble. I will tell them I forced you to do it.”
    He pointed his finger at her. “So I was right. You aren’t supposed to ride this horse.”
    “I never said that. I only said you won’t get in trouble. And earlier you said you weren’t angry about me not speaking to my father about you. But you are angry with me.” Her guilty conscience seemed to demand that she extort some sort of rebuke from him. Besides, she was desperate to distract him from the subject of the horse, since she was horribly close to admitting she wasn’t supposed to ride him.
    He took the horse’s reins, ducking out of the way of