GypsyDukeEpub (20 page)

She saw the bright silvery blue eyes, the straight, chiseled nose that his mask couldn't hide, the square dimpled chin. And the hair. It wasn't bound in a queue as usual, but loose to hang about his shoulders.

She'd never seen a man with hair that long, and she reached up to brush away the wavy tendril that fell alongside his gold earring.

"Who are you?"

"You know me, Kitty, search your feelings."

She gave a light shove against his chest, and he released her. "No, I want you to tell me. Why must you hide your face?"

John took her hand and led her into the seclusion of the pavilion.
"I work for the government. I am successful at what I do because no one in society knows my face. I cannot chance that now, even for you. It would put you at terrible risk. You could lose your position in society."

She turned away from him. She felt sick. He was a military spy. There was no other explanation. Robert, she knew, did something for the government as well. They must work together.

"You and Robert are spies. I have read that Napoleon sent traitors into our country to wreak havoc." He gave her a scandalized look. "Oh, do not look at me that way. I read the papers…when no one is watching. You seek them out, don't you? The French."

John reached for her hand. "I'm afraid it is more complicated than that. Yes, the French are involved, but Robert and I seek English traitors…And I do not refer to myself as a spy. We gather information in a professional manner."

Kitty laughed at the arrogant lift to his face. Obviously, he was quite aware that spying was not considered the most honorable endeavor in the eyes of the ton.

"I see." She held his hand in both of hers, noting the rough texture of his skin against her gloves. "And how long will this
endeavor
last? I have already waited for one absent suitor. I will not wait for another."

John lifted their clasped hands to his mouth and kissed her fingers. "From all we have been able to learn, the end is near. Within a week, Robert and I will reveal the traitor."

"I see."

"Will you wait?"

His earnest expression tore at her heart. Kitty closed her eyes, breathing in the male scent of him. He smelled exotic, and she wondered if perhaps he did have something of the gypsies about him. Some potion that made her lose her senses where he was concerned.

He still hadn't told her anything about himself. What if her father wouldn't accept an offer from him? The duke of Somerset had brought much to a marriage. This lord might be penniless.

She heard a sound, and realized that the duchess and Robert were approaching.

Lord Knight got a frantic look on his face. "Kitty, answer me. Will you wait for me?"

She shook her head. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to promise him anything, but if her father refused him, and she had spent her entire season pushing away acceptable suitors, where would that leave her?

She lifted stricken eyes to his face. "Will my father accept your
offer?"

A shadow passed his face, but he nodded. "He should. I can offer you as much as the duke."

"Kitty?" The duchess called.

Lord Knight squeezed her hand, willing her to answer.

"Yes, I will wait."

John picked her up and whirled her around until she was dizzy then he squeezed her to his chest. "You won't be sorry. I'll come to you tonight. If there were not many men's lives at stake, I would not leave you at all."

He set her loose as Robert stepped into the pavilion.

"Come along, Kitty. I'll help you mount your horse. You'd best be off, John. There are many riders in the park."

John bent and kissed her hand one last time before he disappeared over the side of the pavilion.

Kitty looked back at Robert. The disapproving look on his face made her sigh. "Robert, must you always disapprove when a man pays me attention?"

He put his hands on his hips and glared at her. "Katherine, I don't care if whole garrisons of men show you attention. But I think that man at least," he pointed after John, "should bloody well tell you everything if he wants to become leg-shackled to you. So there."

Robert turned on his heel, not bothering to see if Kitty followed after him, but she did.

What a speech! Surely if Robert wanted Lord Knight to reveal all, he must have some regard for her.

"Robert!" she called, hurrying to her horse where Robert waited. "Does this mean you no longer consider me a nuisance?"

"Kitty, of a truth…I stopped thinking you a nuisance long ago. I think you a charming girl, and if I was the least bit interested in the parson's mousetrap, I would give all your suitors a run for your hand. As it is…" He shrugged, looking mightily embarrassed. "I want you happy and well-cared for. That is all." He bent and held out clasped hands for her boot.

Kitty let him swing her up to the saddle then she gripped his shoulder. "Thank you, Robert. I appreciate your candor. It is always good to know who one's friends are."

"It is. Now return to the duchess and your groom. This is an isolated area of the park, and I do not like you here. I will follow you back to safety."

After one last look at the pavilion, Kitty turned her horse to the duchess. She still had too many questions for her own peace of mind.

John had known an overwhelming moment of anxiety when Kitty pulled away from him, but she looked as if she accepted the situation now. And she'd given her word. There was too much at stake, and he couldn't do his job properly if he worried about her.

It was bad enough that he was forced to send Robert instead of himself to watch over them as they rode through the park. Kitty and his mother were his responsibility, and he was anxious to be a duke they could respect.

John slipped behind trees, mindful of the many riders in the park. It was a warm day, and the ton had taken full advantage of the brilliant sunlight. He needed to find his horse quickly and vacate the area. Robert would meet him later.

He caught a glimpse of his horse through the trees but realized not only his horse awaited. A man with a decidedly furtive look crouched nearby. His protective senses went on alert, but he continued forward, apparently oblivious to the ambush.

As he stepped into the open, he whirled, catching the man by surprise and knocking him off balance.

The fellow kicked out at John, but he jumped easily out of the way.

When his assailant pulled a knife, John laughed, yanking his own out of his boot top. They slashed at each other several times with no advantage, and John grew weary of the useless pursuit.

"Who do you work for?" He cried as he struck out simultaneously with his knife and boot, tripping the man.

His assailant reached out with his knife arm to gain his balance, and John knocked the knife down, catching the man in a tight head-lock.

"I asked politely once, now, tell me who you work for."

"Not bloody likely."

The man struggled and managed to land a punch to John's ribs. John was about to return the favor, when two gents of the ton happened on the scene.

"Hey! Gypsy!"

"You there! Unhand that man!"

John groaned with frustration. Just because he was a gypsy, he was automatically the one at fault. But he couldn't explain who he was, and they bore down on his position fast.

He shoved the man against a tree and popped him on the jaw, dropping him to the ground. "Come after me again, and I won't leave you breathing."

He flew over the back of his horse and kicked him into a gallop. He heard cries behind him, but after a few twists and turns in the deep woods, he lost them.

He came out of the park, tearing his mask from his face. He couldn't ride through town with the mask on, and it was time he made his way back to Robert's. If the traitors had discovered his presence in town, he might have a problem. And if the man had seen him with Kitty…

He felt cold dread in his heart. Nothing must happen to Kitty. She was just as he remembered. Adventurous, daring, outspoken, and now, more beautiful. Yet she still trusted him. It was a miracle too precious to lose.

John jerked up in his saddle. He loved her! It was more than wanting to protect her because she was his. He truly cared for her, and nothing in his life would mean anything if he lost her. He had another job for Robert.

The duchess said nothing when Kitty rejoined her, even after Robert left them at the entrance of the park. What was she thinking?

Kitty hadn't much longer to wonder. As soon as they left the more congested area around Kensington Park, the duchess inclined her head.

"Kitty dear, I hate to intrude on your thoughts, but have you considered what we will say to your parents? I do not feel comfortable with this situation."

Kitty's mouth popped open, and stayed that way for several seconds. She shook her head in consternation.

"I have not changed at all. I am still that wild hoyden that does not know how to behave. And now...I am deceiving my parents. What must the Lord think of me?"

"Now, now. I would not go that far. You are young. Of course, this seems like a grand adventure. And not for one moment do I believe that you deliberately set out to deceive your parents. But, I should know better…" The duchess sighed, seeming greatly troubled. "And no matter the circumstances…we will have to tell them you have met someone you admire."

Kitty was silent, considering what the duchess said. It was true she wanted her parents to have full confidence in her, and she never wanted to disobey the Lord's direction in her life. But she had given John her word that she'd wait for him, and that did not include telling her parents she held tender feelings for a spy…or even a gatherer of information as John referred to himself. If he truly was to be her husband…she must consider his wishes. But she would need the consent of the duchess.

"Your grace, I made a promise not to disclose certain things about Lord Knight. I feel that because of some perilous circumstances of which I am unable to relate, I must maintain my silence for at least another day. He is coming to see me tonight. I will give him another
opportunity to speak with my father, if he will not…"

Kitty couldn't bring herself to say what decision she would make if Lord Knight refused to speak to her father. She looked helplessly at the duchess who was still frowning.

"I see," she said at last. "Well, then, one more day. But as your chaperone, I cannot condone keeping secrets from your parents. It does not honor them as the Lord would have you do. I was swept away by my own…well, never mind. As long as you understand I will not be a party to deception."

Now she turned and gave Kitty a smile of understanding.

Kitty took a deep breath. She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath, waiting for the duchess to make a decision.

"Thank you, your grace. I am in accord with your decision."

Now that hurdle was crossed, Kitty had to get through the entire day without blurting out her happy news. There was no one she could tell about Lord Knight, and yet he occupied her every thought. Her mother was sure to notice her pre-occupation. And the suitors!

A long day stretched before her.

An anonymous figure pulled out his pocket watch. It was well past time for the assailant they'd hired to return. John Seymour, duke of Somerset, should be dead, or, at the very least, injured past the point of catching conspirators.

He'd been sitting in this unmarked hackney for close to twenty minutes, and he did not have the time to spare. He had his last rendezvous to plan and a coded message to write. It wouldn't do for all of Wellington's men to die in one battle. He had to play this out a little longer or else he would be the one found guilty of ineptitude, or worse, treason. He'd worked too hard to join the landed gentry for that to happen now.

He'd been running this particular group of spies for close to five years. Sometimes it was difficult to run opposing sides at the same time, but he had a talent for it.

He studied the tips of his perfectly manicured fingers. A gentleman's gloves hid many things. Still, a gentleman did not get his hands dirty.

He nodded with satisfaction as he observed, finally, the progress of his hired killer. Yes, he had a real genius for knowing when to kill someone before they got too close to the truth.

No one would believe he worked for the French and the English. He was revered by both. He would never be caught. He really had no compunction whatsoever about working for both sides. The French would never win, and the English empire could stand to lose a few aristocrats.

With Somerset dead, he would retire from the spy business to one of those cozy estates in the country. There would be nothing to tie him to the illegal loss of the duke's estates or the dead spies. He was thankful Somerset's uncle had been so greedy, otherwise, he wouldn't have acquired nearly as many country holdings.

It was most satisfying, except for one more detail. His partner in crime. He knew too much and would have to be disposed of. Who knew the man would live so long? He looked half-dead years ago, but he was tenacious. No matter. Dispatch Somerset, dispose of his partner…ah, life was sweet.