Ransomed Jewels by Laura Landon

wasn’t always successful. Certain members of society knew I was a military advisor. I am a major, after all. As to any other role I play in the government, there is speculation, of course. But nothing that has been proven. Hunt thought if we were seen together overly much, people might link him to any covert operations of which I was a part. We couldn’t afford to risk the exposure.”
    Claire closed her eyes and struggled to keep herself from crashing under the weight of this information. She’d lived with a spy for seven years, all the while pretending it had no consequences. But she could no longer ignore what he’d been.
    The major turned on her as if he’d read her thoughts. “You have no right to judge him. He was invaluable to his country. His title gave him access to people and places the rest of us couldn’t begin to infiltrate. He was a master when it came to living a dual role.”
    Claire wanted to laugh. Oh, he was a master at living a dual role, all right. As was she. Their public life had been totally opposite from the life they led behind closed doors.
    “Tell me about France,” she said, wanting to forget the way things had been. “How did Hunt get the necklace from Roseneau?”
    Claire could see the frown deepen on his features. Could see the agitation in his movements. He rose from the side of the bed and stood by the window.
    “I’m not sure it’s necessary for you to know.”
    “Don’t you? I was nearly killed because of . . . what happened there. I’d like to know . . . exactly what it is I’m . . . risking my life for.”
    The major clenched his teeth, then turned to face her. “Hunt and I were sent to France to retrieve jewels the Russian government intended to further fund the war. Roseneau was the middleman. The exchange was to take place sometime during the ball Roseneau was hosting.”
    A sense of disbelief washed over her. “The ball that Hunt and I attended?”
    “Yes.”
    “You were there, too?”
    “I was your driver.”
    She didn’t want to believe him. She didn’t want to know that Hunt would involve her in his work, would risk her safety along with his own. But he had. She’d been there with him. No wonder Roseneau was convinced she had the necklace.
    “The jewels were locked in Roseneau’s safe. We couldn’t let the exchange take place. With the money the Russians would receive in exchange for the jewels, they could continue the war indefinitely. The cost in British lives would be unimaginable.”
    “And Hunt took the jewels?”
    “Yes. As well as a necklace no one knew would be there. The Queen’s Blood. An icon in Russian history. I believe Roseneau realized the war was close to ending and that this exchange would be one of his last. He must have taken the Queen’s Blood either to ransom back to Russia, or to sell on the black market.”
    “Didn’t he realize how dangerous that would be?”
    Sam wanted to smile. “People involved in the ransom of jewels know the risks. And are willing to take them.”
    “But why did Hunt take the necklace if it wasn’t one of the pieces you were supposed to steal?” she asked, her voice a weak entreaty.
    He lifted his gaze and leveled her a piercing stare. “Why do you think he took it, my lady?”
    The look in his eyes grew darker. More menacing. For the first time, Claire was frightened of more than the domineering powers he possessed. “I have no idea. I was hoping . . . you could . . . tell me.”
    “What if I told you he took the necklace for you?”
    Claire felt the air leave her body. Nothing he could say would have shocked her more. “I’d call you a liar.”
    “Well, he did.”
    The major spat out the words with more vehemence than she was prepared to hear. His tone dripped with a bitterness that sank like a lead ball to the pit of her stomach.
    “He took the necklace for you. Because he thought you were worth it.” He swiped his hand down his stubbled face. “And for spite. Taking it out