there has been an… unexpected opening.”
Adrian could almost feel the excitement radiating from his wife, and his own was bubbling up as well. “Are you saying if we solve this case, we shall be reinstated into the Barbican group?”
“No.” The prime minister shook his head. “There is only one position open in the group, and I have need of only one investigator. There is no we .”
Adrian leaned back. “I see. Then you called us here tonight with the intention of choosing one of us for the position. Very good, my lord. Though it is out of my usual line of work, I will be happy to accept.”
Beside him, Sophia made a sound of protest. “Of all the arrogant, egotistical men I have met—and I assure you, Lord Smythe, there have been many—you have, by far, the most swollen head.”
Lord Liverpool raised a brow, and Adrian stared at his wife. Where the devil had this little hellion come from? She’d never so much as raised her voice to him before.
“I do not have a swollen head,” he said, attempting to remain calm. “I am merely stating the obvious. You are a woman and should therefore have no part in this investigation. We are dealing with a murder, and that is a subject not fit for female discussion.”
Sophia sputtered indignantly, and Liverpool said, “So, Lord Smythe, you believe because you are a man you should automatically be given the assignment.”
“Of course. You cannot possibly think to choose a woman over a man for this assignment or reinstatement into the Barbican group.”
Liverpool looked thoughtful. “And yet, I asked Lady Smythe here tonight. She comes very highly recommended, and by your own Lord Melbourne, as well as other agents.”
“That may be,” Adrian said, rising to his feet, “but this is a job for a man. Lady Smythe should go home and focus on what is important—my home.”
Sophia jumped to her feet. “What home? We barely live there and certainly take great pains to avoid one another on the rare occasion when we are both in residence. We don’t have any children and never will.”
“Now wait a moment—”
But Sophia would not be deterred. “And might I remind you, sir, the year is 1815, not 1515. Women have rights. I am in every way your equal, and in this instance, I am your superior. My training and skills are unsurpassed, my exemplary service for the Barbican group undisputed. No one has my instincts and intuition.”
Adrian stepped closer to her. “Instincts and intuition? Those are not skills.” He was towering over her, purposely attempting to make her back down.
She didn’t. She put her hands on her hips and glared up at him. He ignored her defiance. “You are my wife, and I will not have you involved in this work. You are to go home and wait for me there. Leave immediately.”
But instead of acquiescing, she laughed, throwing her hands up as though he were an exasperating child. “I’m not going anywhere except to begin my investigation of this case.”
“Not if I begin it before you.”
“You two are worse than the bloody Parliament!” Liverpool roared, stepping between them. “I have half a mind to choose someone else entirely and send both of you home.”
Adrian glared at Sophia. If he lost this assignment, there would be hell to pay.
“But I am not going to do that.”
Adrian practically sighed with relief.
“And I have made my decision.”
Adrian’s head shot up, and he straightened. Now she’d see where her place was.
Liverpool gave both of them slow, stern looks. “Before I announce my decision, I want to make it clear I do not have time to arbitrate domestic disputes, so there will be no argument. My decision is final. Is that understood?”
Adrian glanced at Sophia. She was looking right back at him. And when Liverpool cleared his throat, he saw her nod grudgingly. Adrian did the same.
“Good,” the prime minister gripped his hands behind his back. “You are obviously both talented operatives who deserve a
Adrian could almost feel the excitement radiating from his wife, and his own was bubbling up as well. “Are you saying if we solve this case, we shall be reinstated into the Barbican group?”
“No.” The prime minister shook his head. “There is only one position open in the group, and I have need of only one investigator. There is no we .”
Adrian leaned back. “I see. Then you called us here tonight with the intention of choosing one of us for the position. Very good, my lord. Though it is out of my usual line of work, I will be happy to accept.”
Beside him, Sophia made a sound of protest. “Of all the arrogant, egotistical men I have met—and I assure you, Lord Smythe, there have been many—you have, by far, the most swollen head.”
Lord Liverpool raised a brow, and Adrian stared at his wife. Where the devil had this little hellion come from? She’d never so much as raised her voice to him before.
“I do not have a swollen head,” he said, attempting to remain calm. “I am merely stating the obvious. You are a woman and should therefore have no part in this investigation. We are dealing with a murder, and that is a subject not fit for female discussion.”
Sophia sputtered indignantly, and Liverpool said, “So, Lord Smythe, you believe because you are a man you should automatically be given the assignment.”
“Of course. You cannot possibly think to choose a woman over a man for this assignment or reinstatement into the Barbican group.”
Liverpool looked thoughtful. “And yet, I asked Lady Smythe here tonight. She comes very highly recommended, and by your own Lord Melbourne, as well as other agents.”
“That may be,” Adrian said, rising to his feet, “but this is a job for a man. Lady Smythe should go home and focus on what is important—my home.”
Sophia jumped to her feet. “What home? We barely live there and certainly take great pains to avoid one another on the rare occasion when we are both in residence. We don’t have any children and never will.”
“Now wait a moment—”
But Sophia would not be deterred. “And might I remind you, sir, the year is 1815, not 1515. Women have rights. I am in every way your equal, and in this instance, I am your superior. My training and skills are unsurpassed, my exemplary service for the Barbican group undisputed. No one has my instincts and intuition.”
Adrian stepped closer to her. “Instincts and intuition? Those are not skills.” He was towering over her, purposely attempting to make her back down.
She didn’t. She put her hands on her hips and glared up at him. He ignored her defiance. “You are my wife, and I will not have you involved in this work. You are to go home and wait for me there. Leave immediately.”
But instead of acquiescing, she laughed, throwing her hands up as though he were an exasperating child. “I’m not going anywhere except to begin my investigation of this case.”
“Not if I begin it before you.”
“You two are worse than the bloody Parliament!” Liverpool roared, stepping between them. “I have half a mind to choose someone else entirely and send both of you home.”
Adrian glared at Sophia. If he lost this assignment, there would be hell to pay.
“But I am not going to do that.”
Adrian practically sighed with relief.
“And I have made my decision.”
Adrian’s head shot up, and he straightened. Now she’d see where her place was.
Liverpool gave both of them slow, stern looks. “Before I announce my decision, I want to make it clear I do not have time to arbitrate domestic disputes, so there will be no argument. My decision is final. Is that understood?”
Adrian glanced at Sophia. She was looking right back at him. And when Liverpool cleared his throat, he saw her nod grudgingly. Adrian did the same.
“Good,” the prime minister gripped his hands behind his back. “You are obviously both talented operatives who deserve a
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