Eloquence and Espionage by Regina Scott

lord.”

Chapter
Eight
    What! Ariadne stared at him, finding words,
even thought, impossible. Her father looked nearly as stunned. He
recovered first.
    “Of course. Certainly. I’m delighted at the
prospect.” He took a step back. “I’ll just go find Lady Rollings. I
know she will be over the moon . . . that is, tremendously pleased
by this development.” Taking another step back, he nodded to
Ariadne. “Congratulations, my dear. This is more than I’d hoped for
you.”
    She knew her smile was strained as he
disappeared out the door. She marched up to Lord Hawksbury and
slapped his arm.
    “What was that? I never said I’d marry you.
You never so much as asked!”
    He winced as he followed her father to the
door and closed it, blocking off the light once more. “And what did
you want me to say to your father? ‘Pardon me, my lord. I’m merely
an intelligence agent attempting to seduce your daughter into
giving up her secrets’?”
    Was that truly the best he could do on short
notice? “I expect you to have a better answer than leg-shackling
yourself to me. Do you engage yourself to every woman you kiss in
the name of the King?”
    “Certainly not! I don’t kiss most of the
women I meet as an intelligence agent.”
    That ought to have been gratifying, but he
ran a hand along his strong chin as if even now thinking up another
tactic. “Never fear. I won’t hold you to it. But it is a good plan.
The French spy I’ve been seeking must have been wondering why
you’ve been following me. This engagement will prove that it was
simply romance, not intrigue. Just play along for the next few
weeks, and then jilt me.”
    She planted her hands on her hips. “What man
wants to court a lady who cannot keep her word?”
    “They won’t blame you. One look at my
family, and they’ll know exactly why you refused to marry me.”
    He made the comment lightly, but pain
simmered under the words. The realization was like cold water on
the fire of her temper. What had she and the others missed about
his family that made him an unpresentable suitor? She did not think
he would answer if she asked, but she made a note to herself to dig
deeper into Debrett’s . If only she had her journal to make a
note instead!
    He seemed to assume she’d agreed to the
plan, for he was already reaching for the door latch again. She
wasn’t ready to let him go just yet.
    “Why only a few weeks?” she asked, moving
toward him. “What do you have planned?”
    “Nothing that need concern you.” He returned
to her side. “I hate to leave you now, but it’s best if I inform my
father before the gossip reaches him.” He reached out to touch her
arm. “Will you be all right?”
    Now he wondered about the consequences?
Perhaps quick thinking made him a better intelligence agent, but
she still felt it wiser to consider the potential ramifications
before acting.
    “I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I’ve been
dealing with my mother for years.”
    He started to move away. She caught his
hand. “But you are not to disappear again! I know your name now, my
lord. I can learn your direction. As your supposed betrothed, I
have some rights.”
    In the moonlight she could see him frown as
if he hadn’t considered that either. “Such as?”
    “You will call on me tomorrow,” she informed
him, dropping his hand. “We will determine what is most suitable to
maintain the ruse, my reputation, and your . . . vocation. I shall
expect you at two.”
    He inclined his head. “Your servant, madam.”
He stalked to the door and let himself out.
    My word! She drew in a deep breath of the
cool night air and clasped her hands together to keep them from
shaking. She was betrothed. Well, not really, but still. What would
her mother say when she learned of it? What would Daphne and her
friends say?
    She didn’t have to wait long to find out.
She had barely stepped back between the potted palms when her
sister pounced on her.
    “What happened?” she