My Lord the Spy

Prologue

London 1806

Clara picked up the mask and fastened it securely around her head, the gold and red ribbon intermingled with her dark curls. Troubled blue eyes stared at her reflection in the looking glass; it was the first time she had put on a masquerade mask with such apprehension. She turned her face this way and that, checking to see what the mask covered, trying to convince herself that it would provide the concealment she needed. To think otherwise would affect her courage and, tonight of all nights, she needed every ounce of strength she could muster to complete the task she faced. Failure would cause her ruination and leave Charles without the support she supplied, even if he did not appreciate it most of the time.

She had to find him. There was no other option to consider. He was in too deep with his new so-called friend, who was using the young man to fleece him of money ̶ all in the name of friendship of course. Charles was too easy-going to realise he was being taken advantage of; but Clara was not as naïve as her brother and was fully aware of why he had been singled out.

Clara gritted her teeth; she would not let her brother be deceived by this man or be cheated by him, whatever the cost to herself. She sighed; if tonight did not go well, the cost would be the loss of her reputation, but she could not shy away from what had to be done. She had made a promise to her mother that she would look after Charles, and she was determined not to fail her deceased parent.

She pushed away from the dressing table and smoothed down her gown, her stomach churning with apprehension. It was time to go.

Chapter 1

Edmund Ainscough, Earl of Chertsey leaned casually against the wall. He had a prime position in the large double-size drawing room, enabling a perfect view of all the comings and goings without attracting any attention to himself. The room was busy with bodies, some loitering to drink, chat and become more familiar with the people they were drawn to while others passed through the room, intent on seeking pleasure elsewhere in the house.

It had been a fruitless night so far, and he was tediously bored. It was all well and good agreeing to do a job, but if he had realised just how much waiting around it would involve, he would never have signed up in the first place.

He sighed. He was going to tell them to either give him something that he could actually get his teeth into or they could find someone else. He had been dubious about agreeing to his role in the first place, but now he was aggrieved that he had allowed himself to be talked into a tedious situation. A week had already been wasted; he was not about to waste any more evenings in this den of iniquity. The times he had visited to partake of the pleasures were completely different than his visits these days; now he was sober and watching everything; then he had been drunk and intent on enjoying himself to the full. The lack of copious amounts of alcohol showed the place and the people within it for what they were: aristocrats determined to enjoy pleasures at which civil society would shudder. The hypocrisy of the people surrounding him was not lost on Edmund, making him long to be far away.

Edmund noticed her as soon as she walked through the door. True, it was his role to notice everyone, but she stood out more than the usual types of ladies in attendance. The red and gold feathered mask covered her face well, but he could see the eyes darting around the room behind the disguise. The dress she wore was completely out of place; it was a gown that would have been considered daring in any respectable drawing room, but here it was positively demure. The red and gold of the dress was not a colour seen on a debutante but the bodice covered her breasts, giving only the slightest peek at her cleavage whereas most women visiting the establishment left nothing to the imagination when dressing, revealing almost the full breast in some of the more daring ladies.

It had amused and aroused him when he had first been introduced to Mrs Langtree’s famous parties. The venue drew everyone in society who was more inclined to be risqué, all hiding behind masks, but most knowing more or less who was there. Liaisons were more excusable when masks were worn; it was as if the anonymity took away the need for respectable behaviour, and there was little respectability within Mrs Langtree’s walls.

He had enjoyed the activities as a young man, but as the years passed, he had attended fewer and fewer. He had not become more respectable ̶ oh, no, not Lord Chertsey ̶ the well-established rake; it was more the novelty of the place had worn off for Edmund. Unfortunately his welcome into places like the one he now stood in had made him a very attractive prospect for those wanting to find out who were friends of the enemy they all faced.

He had been lazily watching the girl as he mulled over his thoughts, his long frame leaning against a marble pillar. He was sure she was a girl, certainly not one of the usual jaded, married women that normally attended Mrs Langtree’s. She progressed slowly into the room, obviously looking for someone amongst the groups of people loudly enjoying their evening whilst at the same time trying not to draw attention to herself.

He smiled in cynical amusement when she was approached by a man; Edmund was obviously not the only one looking at the new arrivals. She stepped back, her body flat against the wall, fortunate to find a space in the busy room. Edmund was too far away to hear what was being said, but she shook her head, looking around as if seeking an escape. The man, Baron Preston, if Edmund was not mistaken, started to caress her shoulder, at which the girl placed her hand on his chest trying to push him away without causing offence.

Edmund sighed and reluctantly pushed himself upright. The only way she would get rid of a man like Baron Preston would be to cause a scene, which would benefit no one in the room. Edmund could prevent that happening and, although he had no wish to play the hero, it would not suit his task for a scene to be caused; he felt obliged to act. That was his reasoning as he walked slowly over to the couple, watching with mirth as the Baron pushed against her arm. The young woman’s strength was no match against the Baron’s, even though it was clear she was pushing with all her might to stem the amorous advance.

“
Ma cherie
, I have found you,” Edmund drawled, standing next to the newcomer and slipping his hand around her waist. “Do you aim to make me jealous by toying with other men?”

Clara had stiffened at his touch and almost lost control as her feelings of panic increased at the approach of the second gentleman. For a split second she was in danger of being overwhelmed by the situation, but she had glanced at the man now with his arm holding her firmly, meeting his eyes for a second. She saw amusement and something else, almost a flicker of sympathy, which was enough to convince her that he did not have the same intentions as the man facing her. She quickly decided to go with her gut instinct and moved her hand from Baron Preston’s chest and placed it on the chest of the other gentleman.

“My sweet, I did not know you were here already; of course I’m not trying to make you jealous. This gentleman was just offering refreshments to me,” she said. Her voice steady even though her heart was pounding at the situation, but it was not just the fear of being faced by two gentlemen who could destroy her reputation in a moment; it was the feeling of being held so tightly, causing her heart to thud against her chest. She could feel each one of his fingers holding her beneath her ribcage; the hold was firm and sure. No one had ever been so close to her, and the sensation made her breathing deepen. She hoped that, outwardly at least, she presented a confident air.

“I’m here now, and I will see to your needs,
all
of your needs,” Edmund whispered seductively but loud enough for Baron Preston to hear. The Baron shrugged and moved away, an excess of drink and a dislike of confrontation ensuring that there was no argument from him. Edmund was sufficiently large enough to intimidate a man of the Baron’s proportions even without the Baron knowing who he was dealing with.

Clara watched with some relief as the Baron left the intimate group, but then she faced the more pressing problem that she was being held by a man who had just been more suggestive than she had ever heard before in her life. It seemed her troubles were not over quite yet.

“Sir ̶ ” she started.

Edmund bent his head as if to nuzzle her neck. “I presume that you don’t wish to be faced with many more men like the one I have just rid you of. It is in your interest to be enamoured with me until we can find a safe place,” he whispered.

Clara’s eyes widened, surprised at his words whilst at the same time experiencing the feeling of goose bumps running over the skin touched by his breath. She paused for a moment before once again reacting on instinct and wrapped her arms around the stranger’s neck tucking her head into his shoulder.

Edmund swallowed before moving. Her actions had caused a stirring in his body that was completely inappropriate when dealing with an innocent, which he was convinced she was. Her arms around his neck felt small, and her slight frame pressed against him; she obviously had no idea what he was capable of by responding to him in such a way. He took a breath; he was not here for enjoyment. He lifted her into his arms, ignoring her gasp of surprise, tucking her closer against him and walked towards the private rooms.

He kicked the door closed of the first empty room he found and set her on her feet. He locked the door before walking over to the decanter and pouring himself a large brandy. All the rooms were well catered; Mrs Langtree wanted only happy guests.

Clara watched the movements as if she were watching a caged animal. She was in a locked room with a stranger, and he held the key. “S-sir ̶ ,” she stuttered, trying to sound more assured than she felt.

He turned towards her, watching her closely. It was disconcerting communing with someone in such a situation while both wore masks. He stood straight and tall; he had been a full head above the man who had approached her. There was an air of confidence about him that was not surprising when looking at his clothes. His face might be masked, but the quality of his outfit certainly was not. Without knowing who he was, she knew without doubt he was a very wealthy gentleman. Every piece of clothing was made of the finest material from his deep blue frock coat to his startlingly white cravat.

“I need to leave this room.” Clara was pleased that her voice sounded fairly calm; her insides had not been steady since his fingers touched her body and breath touched her neck.

“The moment you leave, you will be accosted. I won’t be the only one noticing that you are here and completely out of your depth. An innocent in a place like this won’t be innocent for very long,” Edmund said quietly, but there was a mocking tone to his voice.

Clara gasped at his words. How did he know she was an innocent? She had picked the dress and mask so carefully. “I need to find someone,” she insisted.

“Ah, an assignation?” Edmund asked, moving to a settee and sitting down. The feeling of disappointment that she could be so foolish was quickly pushed aside; her reason for being here was none of his business he reminded himself roughly. “Whoever he is, I would question his character if he arranged to meet you here. It’s not the type of place where a girl should lose her innocence.” His tone was bored, and it angered Clara that he had immediately thought the worst of her.

“You presume quite a lot, sir,” she said primly.

Edmund’s mouth twitched at her tone. “There aren’t any respectable reasons to be in a place like this.”

“You condemn the place, and yet
you
are here!” Clara said with a defiant tilt of her chin.

Edmund laughed in genuine amusement. “My innocence was lost a long time ago, a far too distant time for me to be worried about appearing respectable. I’m happy to be a lost cause, but I admit to being a little curious as to why you’re willing to risk discovery.”

“No one else would wish to be unmasked while they were here; they would leave me alone,” Clara respond with confidence.

“True, no one wishes for any sort of revealing,” Edmund conceded. “But they are also very protective about their entertainments and would not take lightly to someone uninvited being in their midst. You have done well to get this far. Now are you going to tell me the real reason you are here, or shall I leave you to continue on your flawed mission?”

Clara sighed and sank into a chair opposite the stranger. There was little she could do but trust this man, for the moment at least. “I’ve been a fool to think I could carry this off.”