“You are a dunce, Gabriel Ashley,” Sir Bramwell Stevens hefted a bale of hay, tossing it to the ground inside the horse’s stall.
“Hush! My name is Anthony Spencer,” Gabe hissed.
“There isn’t anyone left in the stables, Mr. Spencer. The stablemen have gone to the kitchens for an early luncheon and that lofty crowd would never disgrace themselves by showing their haughty faces in here.” He sat down on the hay bale and crossed his feet at the ankles. “You are safe in here for the moment.”
“Very well,” Gabe grumbled.
He inhaled deeply, breathing in the dull yet somehow acrid scent of horse manure and crisp hay.
Stevens flung his powdered wig down beside himself. “Pull up a bale and unburden yourself, friend. I can see that you need to.”
Gabe shook his head. “I did not approach you to discuss private matters. I—”
“Oh come now, Gabe. You and Mary have been at odds since you both began your education, surely you can admit to there being something between you by now.”
Gabe clenched his jaw, keeping his thoughts to himself. He and Stevens had always been on good terms, but while the man was Gabe’s junior by only one year, they had not developed as fast a friendship as he had with Colin and Hugh.
“Shall I hedge a guess?” Stevens’ lips split in half a smile. “Since Mary nursed you back to health from your injuries, and—”
“Mary visited, I will grant you, but she hardly nursed me back to health.”
Stevens shook his head, then stared, disbelieving, at Gabe. “Who do you suppose alerted Hydra to your absence? Found you in that cellar? And who sat at your bedside while you were unconscious, and administered to your wounds and held your hand?
“Now,” Stevens continued, not waiting for Gabe to reply, “with both of you being on assignment together, you thought the two of you could have a go at it. She, being half in love with you, willingly went along with the venture.”
Gabe moved to disabuse the man of his assumption.
“But,” Stevens continued before Gabe could speak, “there was something vital that you were too stupid to realize.”
“Oi!”
Stevens’ gaze hardened. “Mary is a maiden.”
“B—but,” Gabe stammered, his brow creased in confusion. “How the devil did you know that? Please tell me you haven’t…”
Stevens barked out a humourless laugh. “Good God, no!” He raised his arms to link his fingers behind his head then leaned back against the wall of the stable. “It is painfully obvious, old boy. Have you never seen her interrogate someone?”
Gabe shuffled his feet, discomfited. “No. Have you?”
“Of course! We’ve been on assignment together many times.”
Gabe bit back an oath as something akin to jealousy began to fester in his gut.
Stevens clucked his tongue. “Have you ever asked her how she acquired information from men?”
Gabe shook his head. “No.”
“You are a dunce.”
“Now see here—”
“No, Gabe, you see!” Stevens rose from his relaxed position to face Gabe squarely, irritation and sudden fury lining his features and stiffening his spine. “Mary is my friend and I will not stay silent on this matter any longer. As experienced as Mary is in the art of seducing and questioning men, she knows nothing of intimacy…of passion…or of affection. Despite knowing precisely what men want, how they want it, and where and how to move her hands and body, Mary is an innocent. No man has ever returned her attentions and no man has ever given her the honest affection that she damned well deserves.”
Stevens stepped forward and poked Gabe in the chest, his eyes gleaming with anger.
“You were once her friend, surely you know her well enough to understand? Mary is a woman, Gabe. Full of passions and emotions, needs and desires. She deserves to be treated with respect and given precisely what she wants. I’ve seen the way you treat her, as though she is incapable of making her own decisions or of conducting her life in a manner of her choosing—”
“That’s not what I do,” Gabe denied.
“That is precisely what you do, at least from her perspective, and from those around you. You constantly berate her for being an actress. Not once have you congratulated her on a job well done, not once have you encouraged her or—”
“See here!” Gabe said, incensed. “Mary is far too good for this life! She deserves a life of pampering, of warmth and love and passels of children! Not working herself to the bone and satisfying traitorous men’s needs on a nightly basis, damn it!”
The man’s golden eyes glistened in understanding. “Have you tried telling her that? Have you ever told her why you treat her and speak to her as you do?”
There his guilt went again. “No.”
Stevens shook his head, his eyes narrowed in derision. “Dunce.”
Gabe grappled with the onus weighing heavy on his shoulders, not to mention his remorse. Had he truly treated Mary so ill? Why had he never told her all his reasons behind his treatment of her? Why had he never apologized for abandoning her and their friendship?
And last night? Christ, last night had been a disaster. Mary had given herself to him. To him! Why had he rejected her? What kind of an idiot man rejects such a gift from a woman like her? From Mary, for God’s sake! His Mary!
He shook his head. “What is wrong with me?”
Stevens slapped a hand on Gabe’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’re in love.”
Gabe’s eyes widened, and he determinately ignored the sharp pang in his chest. “No, I am not!”
The man gently shook his shoulder. “… and in denial.”
“A man like me can’t fall in love, Stevens.” Gabe knocked the man’s hand away and stepped back.
“You mean a Scotsman?”
Gabe cursed soundly. “No, I mean a…” he looked around the empty stables, then lowered his voice, “a spy.”
A nearby horse neighed and stomped its foot.
“Hydra is a spy and he is married. Happily, I might add, to a wonderful woman.”
“And what happened to Hydra in the past year? What happened to his family?”
Stevens conceded the point with a nod. “He did have some difficulty with a few nasty fellows knowing his identity, but—”
“Aha!” Gabe pointed his finger at him. “That is exactly my point! What if someone discovers who we are? Who I am? What will happen to Mary, then? A cozy little life could be snatched away like that!” He snapped his fingers to emphasize his point.
“A cozy life!” Stevens scoffed. “What in God’s name makes you think that a life with Mary will be anything different than it is now? Mary’s life is the same as yours; the life of a spy.”
Gabe grit his teeth. He hadn’t considered that fact before. “That might be true, but the danger increases when we are together.”
Stevens shook his head once more. “Will you live the rest of your life denying yourself the pleasures of love, Gabe?”
* * *
“Just a moment, Mary,” Sheffield called after her as he hurried after her down the garden path.
Drat.
She turned and faced him with a smile. “Yes, Lord Sheffield?”
The portly man wheezed as he caught up to her, heaving great rasping breaths. He withdrew a handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and dabbed at his glistening forehead. “Mary…my dear…” he said between gasps. “I do not…know your…direction.” He paused to catch his breath and Mary waited. “I and my horrid wife are having a ball at Sheffield Court. It is our house in town, you see.”
He took another moment to breathe and dab at his forehead and chins.
Lord Boxton and Lord Reddington caught up to them, walking down the path like lions stalking their prey. Heavens, they had positively voracious airs about them. She could not possibly participate in whatever lewd acts they had planned for her this evening. Gabe must be successful in his task this afternoon; she would ensure it.
“Would you do us the great honour, Miss White, of attending the ball?”
Mary took a moment to think on it. According to the traitors’ meeting last night, the exchange of information would take place just after the Sheffield ball.
Her answer was simple.
She beamed at him. “How gracious of you to invite me, Lord Sheffield. I would be delighted to attend.”
He returned her smile, his chins widening. “Very good then, very good. Capital, wot? We will see you Thursday next.”
“Indeed, you shall.” Mary dipped in a deep curtsey. “If you will excuse me, gentlemen.”
She turned on her heel and swept down the path on swift feet. The crunch of the gravel beneath her feet, and those of the men who followed, scarcely registered in her mind above her harried feelings.
As she walked toward Kerr House, Mary attempted to sort through her thoughts, but one topic kept pushing at her. Gabriel. He filled her thoughts, which worsened the persistent ache in her chest. In fact, the more she attempted to shut him out, the more it seemed he consumed her.
She mustn’t do this to herself. Gabe was a cad. He had broken her heart not once, but twice, he continuously berated her for doing what she loved, and he showed no remorse for hurting her feelings. Indeed, she must continue to remind herself of that.
Her heart flip-flopped as an image of his horror-struck expression crossed her mind’s eye.
Curse Gabriel Ashley!
* * *
Gabe’s heart thudded wildly in his chest as he turned his hard gaze on Stevens. “That was precisely my plan.”
Stevens looked taken aback. “But why would anyone deny themselves love if it presented itself? ‘Tis foolish, and you know it is.”
Gabe waved a hand through the air. “I’ve grown weary of this conversation.” In fact, he had grown categorically miserable from it. “I came here to speak with you on a specific matter.”
Stevens kept his disbelieving gaze on Gabe’s face. “I will never understand you,” he said, shaking his head.
“Have you had any messages from Hydra?”
“I have.” Stevens resumed his seat on the hay bale, stretching his legs out in front of him once more. “What do you wish to know?”
Relief swamped Gabe, as apparently Stevens was willing to allow the conversation to pass with no further comments to add to Gabe’s already painful volume of guilt. “Has he heard anything from Hugh? Have they discovered his location, or who has captured him?”
Stevens shook his head grimly. “I’m so sorry, Gabe, but Hydra did not mention Hugh in his letter.”
“But he has been missing for weeks!”
“I know. I am sure he will be found soon.”
Gabe began to pace back and forth in the stall, his movements quick and agitated, and the crunch of hay beneath his feet filling the small space.
“It is perfectly normal to worry over your friend’s welfare, but you must also keep your wits about you. You are surrounded by the enemy here, Gabe.”
“I know you’re right, Stevens, I just…” Damn. His chest felt tight and his thoughts were muddled. This entire conversation made him feel too inept to run his own life.
Stevens thankfully changed the subject, “How fares your assignment?”
Gabe shrugged one shoulder. “We’ve found the missing documents but have yet to exchange them for forgeries.”
Stevens inclined his head. “Mary is broadly skilled.”
“She is at that.” Gabe gave a short laugh. “She and I overheard a clandestine rendezvous…” He outlined the events of the previous evening’s meeting.
“Hm,” Stevens hummed in thought. “And you did not see the others involved?”
“No.”
“Damn.”
Gabe grinned mirthlessly. “Indeed. Tell me, how is your assignment progressing?”
His fellow spy’s lips straightened into a thin line and his eyes sharpened with a dangerous glint. “Lord Hale is a vile man. He mistreats his wife and daughter while he and his despicable son torture his poor, orphaned nieces. Good God, the abuse in that family, both mental and physical, is astounding.” His fists clenched. “And he is most assuredly a traitor.”
“Why not hand him over to Hydra and be done with him?”
He leapt to his feet and joined Gabe in pacing. “I do not have any proof!” Stevens’ knuckles whitened. “I’ve searched every crevice and cranny, every secret compartment, strong box… Oh, hell, Gabe, I’ve searched everywhere. I cannot find one piece of evidence. Oh, I’ve heard plenty of evidence confirming Hale’s duplicity, from first-hand accounts to gossip from his servants, but…” He shook his head in aggravation.
“Perhaps my assignment could have the added benefit of aiding you with yours.”
“How…” His golden eyes widened. “Oh!”
“They plan to rendezvous Thursday next. Mary and I will be there to observe. If Hale is there, your assignment may have reason to conclude, as well.”
Stevens’ typically jovial smile broke out as he clapped Gabe on the shoulder. “Capital!”
The sound of a horse’s hooves echoed outside the stables and with a nod at Stevens, Gabe turned to make his exit.
“Wait!” his fellow spy hissed.
Gabe spun around to face him, eager to take his leave so as not to be caught by any of Kerr’s guests.
Stevens gripped his shoulder, his expression grim. “Be wary of Hale,” he whispered. “He may not appear it, but he is a loathsome creature. He and his friends—particularly Lord Boxton—have done unspeakable things with women behind closed doors. Keep Mary away from them and be wary of their attentions. The same applies to any of their acquaintances. Do not trust them.”
Gabe jerked his head in a nod. “Duly noted. Thank you, Stevens.”