A Christmas Code (The Code Breakers Series Book 2) (3 page)

“I wouldn’t be doing anything to alert the lady. And you must agree that ladies spend a great deal of time together at house parties, and I might glean information that Ash could never obtain.”

“Let me talk to Ramsay and find out what the concerns are. Then we can decide.”

“I knew I could count on you, Aunt Euphemia. You’re a dear.”

“Don’t lay it on too thick. I didn’t say we’d attend.”

“Oh, I can always tell when you’re interested.”

Chapter Three

Ash paced in front of Cord’s massive desk. What could possibly be delaying his ever-punctual friend? Cord was usually at his office by nine AM sharp to deal with his heavy responsibilities as the Head of British Secret Intelligence.

Ten minutes later, Cord sauntered into the office. His posture relaxed—lacking his usual determined demeanor.

“Ash, what brings you to the office so early? Have you news about the threat?”

Cord handed his personal secretary his wet coat and umbrella. Cord hummed as he walked to the window where the rain beat against the panes. “Wonderful morning, isn’t it?”

What the hell? His friend never hummed and it was a God-awful day with torrential rain and wind to boot. “I’ve never seen you act like this.”

Cord turned back from the window with a wide grin across his face. “Acting how?”

“Cheerful.”

Cord gave a hearty belly laugh. “You make it sound sinful to be happy.”

Ash wasn’t happy, and his closest friend’s obvious pleasure only worsened his mood.

Since Cord had married Henrietta, his entire manner had transformed. His childhood friend had returned to the happy young man he had been before his older brother had died. Cord now laughed readily and was openly affectionate with his friends and family.

“I received wonderful…rather miraculous news this morning.”

“Wonderful” and “miraculous” would never have crossed the lips of the old, cynical Cord. Ash didn’t want his friend to be unhappy, but this gooey happiness was hard to stomach.

Ash moved toward the window in the gloomy, dim office to catch a closer look at his friend’s face. How could his friend look so completely different? The usual tired, world-weary lines around Cord’s eyes and mouth had vanished. The man looked blissful, at peace.

“This miracle is more than you walking around with an idiotic grin on your face?”

“I’m to be a father.”

The news hit like a blow to Ash’s chest. “A father? This is a shock.” His entire familiar world shifted below his feet.

“Who’d believe that in a few short months, I’d be a married man and now an expectant father.” Cord shook his head.

“Congratulations, old man.” Ash clasped his arm around his friend’s shoulder. “We need to toast the auspicious announcement.”

“Yes, a drink seems in order. I haven’t had time to grasp the news. Rather a surprising way to start the morning.”

Cord walked to the heavy mahogany cabinet and opened the door to reach his most prized carafe of port. He poured each of them a snifter of ruby red liquid. Both men inhaled the heavy fruity scent.

Ash raised his glass. “To Lady Henrietta.”

“To my amazing wife.” Cord’s lips curved into a satisfied smile and a look of wistfulness filled his eyes.

Ash’s own emotions were in turmoil. He felt the distance growing wider between himself and his closest childhood friend. He didn’t know what it felt like to make the ultimate commitment to a woman. His thoughts immediately went to Gwyneth as a mother. She’d be incredible—gentle and nurturing.

“You mustn’t share the news. We just found out this morning, and Henrietta wants to tell my aunt and sister when we are all together.”

“Speaking of your sister, how could you allow her to go to the Edworth’s Christmas party?” Ash couldn’t keep the hostility out of his voice. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Cord laughed loudly and slapped Ash on the back. “Allow? You’ve got a lot to learn about women. You never tell women that you’re
allowing
them to do anything. That gets their backs up, and then you can never, never win. Trust me—as an old married man.”

Ash wasn’t sure he liked this new side of Cord. He was a male and should support the male point of view. “You’ve only been married six weeks.”

“And speaking of my sister, you’d better not be applying your experience before the wedding.”

Immediately Ash felt his face turning red. Hell, he never blushed. It was feminine.

Snifter in hand, Cord sat at his desk as Ash took a seat across from him in one of the hefty chairs. Whenever Ash thought of his demanding kiss and the way Gwyneth melted for him, a surge of hunger hurtled through him.

Cord suddenly didn’t look as congenial as his eyes narrowed on Ash’s face. Ash took the offensive. “Why would you put Gwyneth’s safety at risk? You know what is at stake.”

“You made the party much more alluring to Gwyneth by forbidding her to go and by telling her that you’d talk with me.”

“She told you?”

“No, she told Aunt Euphemia who told me. I’m trying to help you. Benefit from my mistakes with Henrietta. I forbade her to be involved with the danger surrounding her brother’s disappearance. Her response was to immediately circumvent me and almost get herself killed.”

“I don’t know what to expect at the party, but my intelligence is solid. There is going to be a threat against Prinny, possibly from the French Jacobins. It might be nothing, or it could be deadly.”

“But why would the French extremists want to threaten the Prince of Wales? We share common goals. We want to get rid of Napoleon as badly they do. The Jacobins hate Napoleon for making himself Emperor and abandoning all of his liberal leanings. He got rid of all of his Jacobin supporters by either murdering or exiling them. Why come after the English?”

“It makes no sense. But I need to assume it’s a threat against Prinny. He did make it public that he plans to attend,” Ash said.

“I agree that we have to take the threat seriously, but I hate when I can’t deduce the logic. Prinny isn’t political at all. He’s much more interested in his art collection and dissipation.”

“Yes, but he is the Prince of Wales. And his father is severely ill.”

“I understand, but the threat against Prinny should be by Napoleon supporters, not Jacobins.”

“You will warn him?”

“I’ve an audience with him this afternoon to tell him of the possible threat and to suggest he remain in London for the holiday.”

“I’d rest easier if he didn’t come.”

“Prinny is like Gwyneth. If you warn him against attending, he’ll want to come simply to make a point.”

“God, this is a mess. I don’t want her to attend when we don’t know what we’re up against.”

“She can be a help to you. Gwyneth is quite observant and very skilled with people.”

“You want me to confide in your sister about our work with the French spy underground and their possible intelligence that there might a threat against the Prince of Wales at this party?”

“God, no. I didn’t mean that you should tell her about the danger, but if you tell her you’re following a lead tying Lady Charolois to French spies, she’ll feel more involved. And she might be able to observe things that you can’t. Women are much more sensitive to the nuances of society.”

“Your sister is a sheltered and innocent woman. She knows nothing about French spies. She will be an added distraction. I’ll be worrying about her safety instead of focusing on the danger to the prince.”

Cord raised his eyebrows. “Gwyneth might surprise you.”

“Why have you had a change of heart? The Cord I knew would never countenance his sister being involved in the spy business.”

“Marriage to Henrietta. I’d never considered how resourceful ladies can be. And Aunt Euphemia feels you’re doing Gwyneth a great injustice by not allowing her to be involved on the periphery of your work.”

“Your aunt, the foremost spy in our business, thinks Gwyneth should be involved in a clandestine operation?”

“My aunt, like me, thinks it will be a mistake to have Gwyneth working on her own, trying to prove to you that she can be helpful. My aunt believes if you’re there to guide Gwyneth, she won’t rush into danger. It’s safer to make her an ally and work with her, instead of leaving her to go off alone.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “This is a half-cocked plan. It could become perilous.”

“With any other man, I wouldn’t consider placing my sister in the situation. But my aunt and I both agree that you are totally capable of keeping her safe.”

Ash stood up and paced. The walls felt as if they were suffocating him. “I refuse to have Gwyneth at the party. I can’t imagine the scenario.”

“Well, I have it on the best authority, that of my wife and my aunt, that unless you include Gwyneth in your work, you’ll lose her.”

Ash turned sharply. He couldn’t control the savage desperation in his voice. “What the hell does that mean?” He wanted to wipe the knowing smirk off Cord’s face.

“My sister has had five marriage proposals. Lord Henley is very interested in her, and according to Henrietta, Gwyneth likes him greatly. Right now the way I see it, you have the advantage of her girlhood infatuation. The ladies are of the opinion that you need to start to see her as a competent woman or she might look to a man who doesn’t remember her in short skirts and curls. Women like men to see them as capable—or that’s what I’ve learned from my wife.”

“Capable of handling spies?

“My wife did.”

“Your wife is an exception.”

“I agree.” There was that lost sappy look on Cord’s face again.

“But Gwyneth is so young.”

“Yes, and smart, brave, and ready to help her country. After the king’s demonstration of our military strength against the possible invasion of Napoleon at Hyde Park, she wants to be of service. I’m proud of her.”

“But our job is to protect the women, not have them involved in war.”

Cord laughed again.

He might have to throttle his friend, new baby or not.

“All you have to do is ask Gwyneth to let you know if anyone or anything seems out of place at the party. You don’t have to go into any lengthy explanations.”

“Does your aunt plan to chaperone Gwyneth for the party? I’d feel better if the old girl was keeping an eye on the situation.”

“My aunt has reassured me that she will come to the party. She is tracking down an old contact who might have more information about the Jacobins. Gwyneth and Amelia have already departed. Aunt Euphemia is hoping to leave in two days’ time. Are you leaving today?”

“I went to Edworth a few days ago to get everything in place. I’ve got Brinsley in the stables and men in the house.”

“Keep me posted. And send a man if you discover any information on the threat. If it comes to it, I’ll go to the king to stop Prinny from attending.”

Chapter Four

Gwyneth peered upward at the impressive façade of Edworth mansion. The stone manor house looked like a castle from medieval times, complete with turrets dwarfing each corner and an enormous entranceway.

She envisioned the large wooden door decorated with holly and ivy soon to come. Here was the perfect setting for a Christmas party.

A footman held an umbrella over her head as she looked at the edifice. Amelia had rushed out of the rain to the entrance and the waiting butler. Her friend had wanted to freshen up before meeting the other guests.

The sheets of rain and gray clouds couldn’t dampen her cheery mood. Gwyneth hoped for snow to blanket the muddy hills behind her. Christmas was a season of hope and goodwill, and she felt exhilaration for the adventure she was about to embark on with Ash.

Before leaving London, Aunt Euphemia had confided in Gwyneth that Ash had agreed to her assistance in his clandestine work, including attending the house party. She couldn’t believe the craftiness of her aunt and Henrietta—implying to Cord and Ash that she was interested in Lord Henley. She still had a lot to learn from her aunt and sister-in-law on spy-craft and dealing with the male species.

A towering, authoritative butler waited for Gwyneth. She hurried up the stone steps into the foyer.

“Lady Gwyneth. Welcome to Edworth House. I’m Brunton.” He had an accent that she initially might have thought was French, but quickly realized must be Welsh. That would explain the singsong rhythm of his speech.

“It’s lovely to have finally arrived. I’ve never visited Edworth house, but my parents were frequent visitors and spoke often of the friendliness of those who live and work here, and the efficiency of a well-run house.” Gwyneth looked into the butler’s eyes waiting for a softening in his formal, stiff manner.

“Milady, I’m newly in service at Edworth house.” His small eyes flitted away from her close inspection.

She couldn’t hide her disappointment that Brunton didn’t know her parents. She hadn’t confided in anyone that coming to the estate of her father’s close friend for Christmas was a way to feel closer to her parents. It also suited her purpose with Ash perfectly.

“Well, Brunton. You and I are both new to Edworth house, but that won’t deter our holiday celebration.” She stripped off her sodden pelisse.

“Yes, milady.” Brunton didn’t meet her eyes and obviously didn’t share her enthusiasm. Cord always warned her that she was too familiar with the staff. Growing up in the country, she was used to more relaxed manners. Obviously Brunton was from Lord Edworth’s London home and embraced the proper ways of society.

“There are refreshments in the drawing room unless you’d like to retire to your room.”

“Thank you, Brunton. I’ll join everyone in the drawing room. I’m very excited to meet the other guests.” She was starving and didn’t want to take the time to freshen herself as Amelia had.

Gwyneth couldn’t contain her eagerness for her first house party and a Christmas party. A haughty, bald butler couldn’t dampen her excitement.

A footman walked ahead, leading her toward the drawing room.

As the door was opened, Gwyneth saw Ash standing close to Lady Charolois. He leaned toward her in an intimate way, his shoulders and head bent to her as if she were the sun and he a flower.