His Lady Spy (The Star Elite Series) by Rebecca King

one. Entering into any skirmish would mean he had no choice but to leave the women unprotected and his conscience wouldn’t allow that to happen. He was aware of Portia sidling toward him again and wished he could take a moment to reassure her that everything would be alright. It was more of a relief for him than it was for her when he felt her small hand clutch the back of his shirt again. He was strangely touched that she had sensed the dangers surrounding them and had instinctively sought his protection, but was at a loss to know of a way to get them out of their current situation without her witnessing more bloodshed.
    It wasn’t that Archie had any qualms about doing what he needed to do, even in the middle of a church. They were in the midst of a war after all, but he hated the fact that either lady was going to witness death first-hand, in such a brutal manner. He could only fervently hope that it wouldn’t be his death they would witness. Although he was fairly confident of his own abilities, this was still a battle for survival. Who knew what tricks Manton had up his sleeve? 
    Archie had the gun in his pocket of course, and the knife in his belt, but the Frenchmen were also armed, and he couldn’t kill three people in one go. The odds were stacked against him, even if he discounted the two ladies now cowering behind him.
    “I just want to know one thing,” Manton sighed, moving to stand beside the first pew, mere feet away.
    Archie watched the man approach, fully aware that Portia was sliding the gun slowly out of his pocket. He had to work hard to fight the urge to ask her what the hell she thought she was doing but, given the Frenchma n’s attention was locked on him and not Portia, and his bulk blocked both ladies from the sight of the two Frenchman standing in the main aisle, Archie could see no reason to draw anyone’s attention to what she was doing.
    “How did you know where the rendezvous was?”
    Archie snorted, knowing his teeth would have to be pulled out before he told anyone that. Shaking his head, he remained silent. “You know that if you take me out then there will be ten more men coming after you, don’t you Manton?” Archie replied casually, seemingly unaffected by the menace that hung in the air between them. He wasn’t ignorant of the flash of temper that appeared on the Frenchman’s face at Archie’s use of his name. Clearly the realisation that he wasn’t as clever at subterfuge as he had first thought didn’t sit well with the tall mercenary.
    Over the past few months, Archie had discovered enough about the man opposite to know that the tall, lithe gentleman was a ruthless killer. Although Manton preferred to use his veritable army of trained assassins to do the job for him, he liked to direct the activities of his Guards personally, with a callous efficiency that made him one of the Star Elite’s most dangerous adversaries.
    “Do you think that bothers me? For each one of your men, we have at least ten more Guards ready and willing to step in. You cannot stop us,” Manton boasted.
    “Oh, I think you will find that you are not as clever as you think. After all, I managed to find you without too much effort. My associates and I have gathered enough evidence on you and your Guards to ensure that there is no possibility of any of you leaving English shores alive. You have lost your man in Bodmin, and will lose many more before this game is over. You can never win Manton, as clever as you think you may be.”
    “I am afraid that on this occasion, you are wrong.” Manton lifted his knife. Archie’s gaze locked on the Frenchman’s and held it in silent warning. “All I need is to meet with my contact one last time, and then we are leaving these fetid English shores for good.”
    “ You think you have a boat waiting,” Archie replied thoughtfully. “Indeed, I am sure your boat is still at Haverlanding harbour where you left it, but I am afraid that your Guards won’t be