The Heart That Wins (Regency Spies Book 3) by April Munday Page B

Prussian was much in demand and the demand grew as it became known that he, unlike his country, had never supported Bonaparte. Franz took care that he was never alone with Sophia and was careful to ensure that she knew he had done so. Sophia became a little easier in his company again, even though she suspected that it would not be long before he tried to seduce her again.
    They were invited everywhere and Sophia accepted as many invitations as she could. They were introduced to a large number of people, some of whom were invited to meet the Finches. This latter group fulfilled their criteria of people they needed to keep an eye on. They expressed vaguely republican ideals and had been unhappy when the United Kingdom of the Netherlands had been created.
    Sophia and Franz visited Antwerp and the cathedral at Ghent with some other sightseers whose acquaintance they had made. It was on this trip that she came across the first piece of useful information since they had arrived in Brussels. One of the party mentioned that he knew a Bonapartist sympathiser and Sophia managed to get the name from him without his realising what she had done. Then there were other trips and many new acquaintances. Some of them were invited to dinner parties to allow Edmund to assess what they might or might not know and how useful that information might be. Sophia and Franz would then either get to know their new friends better or drop them discreetly.
    Sophia knew that she talked about John to her friends too much for someone who was convinced that he did not love her. She loved him, however, and thought about him a great deal. It was not that Franz suffered when she compared him to John; she never bothered to make the comparison. She loved John and would never love Franz.
    Since this was the case, Sophia began to enjoy his company. Despite their linguistic difficulties, they got on well. Sophia had put a lot of effort into learning German and it was not as difficult as she had thought at first and she had help from the Finches. Franz, however, preferred to speak English. It was only polite, he said, for it seemed that half the population of Brussels spoke it. He was unfailingly polite. Sophia came to suspect that he amused himself with other women, under the guise of discovering their loyalties. She thought that Edmund and Mary were too preoccupied to notice that he was sometimes out all night. Edmund could think about little other than the birth of his child and Mary had to rest a great deal. Philippe had not caused her so much discomfort. Sophia caught their concern and joined them in their worry.
    One afternoon she sat with Mary while Edmund was out visiting and Franz had gone to the races with a small group of new friends, disappointed that Sophia had declined to join them.
    “It’s not that I don’t like him, “Sophia explained to Mary. “He is very good company and his manners are excellent.”
    Mary sniffed.
    “That is faint praise indeed. Do you think you could finish this off for me?”
    She passed across to Sophia the bonnet she had been working on.
    Sophia examined it critically. Mary was an excellent teacher and pianist, but her sewing skills left a great deal to be desired. Sophia searched the workbasket for the thread she needed.
    “Tomorrow we must go and buy some lace for the trimmings.”
    “We?”
    Mary was uncertain.
    “It will do you good to get out for a while.”
    “Don’t change the subject.”
    “I didn’t. You did. I was perfectly happy to talk about Franz.”
    “Wouldn’t you rather talk about Captain Warren?”
    Mary’s grin was knowing.
    “I would, but you have run out of patience with such talk.”
    “He will be here soon enough.”
    “I hope so. I worry that he will leave it too late and...”
    “He promised Edmund he would come. He is a man of his word?”
    “Always. He is a man of good character.”
    However much John might have changed, this would not. He was completely reliable. It was foolish of