complicity. As long as I am safe, you are safe. Agreed?”
She would have promised the moon to be rid of him in that moment. “Agreed.”
“Excellent. Had I let you live, and had you betrayed me, the consequences would have been dire for your mother. And I promise, Miss Nevins, I would name you as my accomplice without a single twinge of conscience.”
Did he have a conscience? “Why did you not just kill me, Mr. Sutton? Would that not have made your life easier?”
He came to the edge of the bed, sat beside her, and took one of her hands in his. “Perhaps not easier, but certainly safer. I had my hands around your slender, lovely throat. ’Twould have been simple to squeeze and end the problem. I have killed for the cause ere now, Miss Nevins, and I would die for it gladly. But I held out some hope that would not be necessary in your case. Do not prove me wrong.”
Sobered by his matter-of-fact tone, she sank back against her pillows and closed her eyes. “Go away.”
“In a moment, Miss Nevins.”
She wanted to slap his hand away when he slipped her skirt up her leg and removed the bandage from her thigh. Her cheeks burned as he bent to examine her wound closely.
“You will have a scar. Whatever possessed you to try to shoot me?”
“I was afraid.”
“You needn’t fear me.” He smiled. “Believe me, Miss Nevins, my intentions were far from dangerous at that moment.”
“Samuel told me that one of your friends had been found face down in the mud. The soldiers said you had done murder. ’Twas you, wasn’t it? You murdered your own friend! Shall I believe you would murder a friend yet let me live?”
His lips formed a firm line. “There were reasons for what happened, Miss Nevins. Just know that I will be keeping a very close eye on you until this wretched war ends. If you should make any move to betray me, I will know it, and you will answer for it.”
…
Three sharp, fast raps then three slow. Ryan tapped the secret code on the door as he glanced over his shoulder to make certain he could not be seen from the manor house. When his operative opened the door, her eyes widened, and she pulled him inside by his coat sleeve.
“Are ye daft, Major? ’Tis broad daylight! What if ye’re seen?”
Ryan surveyed the single room, noting the kettle over the fire and a cup and saucer on the table. He had interrupted her at her breakfast. “Easy, Bridey, and do not call me ‘major,’” he soothed. “If we were overheard, that would give us away.”
“What—”
Ryan waved one hand to stay her questions. “Listen first, Bridey.” He held the small straight-back chair by the table for her before taking a seat opposite. “There was a leak in our little coterie . Night before last, Leon Erickson held me at gunpoint and attempted to arrest me for treason. He admitted to killing Arthur and Benfield last month after discovering they were a part of our group. We struggled, and he was killed. He did not know about you or Oak Hill, Bridey, but be very careful until we can find if there is another leak.
“Erikson had sent for the king’s men before meeting me. They were fast on my heels. I do not know if he sent them my identity before he rode out to meet me.”
Bridey’s eyes widened. “Do you think he told the soldiers?”
“I pray not, but it is a risk I must take. If I am not arrested in the next few days, I think I am safe.” When Bridey seemed about to protest, Ryan shook his head. “I know full well what the risks are, Bridey. Believe me. But I cannot leave until I discover if there is a traitor in our midst. Despite the consequences, you must trust that I would never betray you or the others.”
“I do, sir. But how did you run afoul of Miss Emily?”
“I was fleeing the soldiers and could not get across the lawns to the summerhouse or your cottage. I had to climb through a manor window. Regrettably, I ran directly into your mistress. After a bit of persuasion, she agreed to keep my
She would have promised the moon to be rid of him in that moment. “Agreed.”
“Excellent. Had I let you live, and had you betrayed me, the consequences would have been dire for your mother. And I promise, Miss Nevins, I would name you as my accomplice without a single twinge of conscience.”
Did he have a conscience? “Why did you not just kill me, Mr. Sutton? Would that not have made your life easier?”
He came to the edge of the bed, sat beside her, and took one of her hands in his. “Perhaps not easier, but certainly safer. I had my hands around your slender, lovely throat. ’Twould have been simple to squeeze and end the problem. I have killed for the cause ere now, Miss Nevins, and I would die for it gladly. But I held out some hope that would not be necessary in your case. Do not prove me wrong.”
Sobered by his matter-of-fact tone, she sank back against her pillows and closed her eyes. “Go away.”
“In a moment, Miss Nevins.”
She wanted to slap his hand away when he slipped her skirt up her leg and removed the bandage from her thigh. Her cheeks burned as he bent to examine her wound closely.
“You will have a scar. Whatever possessed you to try to shoot me?”
“I was afraid.”
“You needn’t fear me.” He smiled. “Believe me, Miss Nevins, my intentions were far from dangerous at that moment.”
“Samuel told me that one of your friends had been found face down in the mud. The soldiers said you had done murder. ’Twas you, wasn’t it? You murdered your own friend! Shall I believe you would murder a friend yet let me live?”
His lips formed a firm line. “There were reasons for what happened, Miss Nevins. Just know that I will be keeping a very close eye on you until this wretched war ends. If you should make any move to betray me, I will know it, and you will answer for it.”
…
Three sharp, fast raps then three slow. Ryan tapped the secret code on the door as he glanced over his shoulder to make certain he could not be seen from the manor house. When his operative opened the door, her eyes widened, and she pulled him inside by his coat sleeve.
“Are ye daft, Major? ’Tis broad daylight! What if ye’re seen?”
Ryan surveyed the single room, noting the kettle over the fire and a cup and saucer on the table. He had interrupted her at her breakfast. “Easy, Bridey, and do not call me ‘major,’” he soothed. “If we were overheard, that would give us away.”
“What—”
Ryan waved one hand to stay her questions. “Listen first, Bridey.” He held the small straight-back chair by the table for her before taking a seat opposite. “There was a leak in our little coterie . Night before last, Leon Erickson held me at gunpoint and attempted to arrest me for treason. He admitted to killing Arthur and Benfield last month after discovering they were a part of our group. We struggled, and he was killed. He did not know about you or Oak Hill, Bridey, but be very careful until we can find if there is another leak.
“Erikson had sent for the king’s men before meeting me. They were fast on my heels. I do not know if he sent them my identity before he rode out to meet me.”
Bridey’s eyes widened. “Do you think he told the soldiers?”
“I pray not, but it is a risk I must take. If I am not arrested in the next few days, I think I am safe.” When Bridey seemed about to protest, Ryan shook his head. “I know full well what the risks are, Bridey. Believe me. But I cannot leave until I discover if there is a traitor in our midst. Despite the consequences, you must trust that I would never betray you or the others.”
“I do, sir. But how did you run afoul of Miss Emily?”
“I was fleeing the soldiers and could not get across the lawns to the summerhouse or your cottage. I had to climb through a manor window. Regrettably, I ran directly into your mistress. After a bit of persuasion, she agreed to keep my
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