Page 70 of Rogue’s Holiday

Making a note to dispense with the man who had hit her, he described his role in the capture of the Cato Street conspirators and his service to the Crown in the past few years. He hoped she did not see his missions as less than honorable. Disguise—and he had donned many—implied deceit. He needed her to believe him worthy.

“However did you become His Majesty’s spy?”

“I come by it honestly. My father and my brothers have all undertaken intelligence work for the Crown, that is, in between their lives as shipmasters. In fact, the latter work was key in the assignments we accepted early on.”

“A family of spies…” she muttered. “So that is how you earned the baronetcy?”

“A reward bestowed by a generous sovereign. My brother, Martin, was also made a baronet for his work in France during Napoleon’s reign.”

“And what do you know of the man who abducted me?”

“By his surname, I assume he is somehow related to one of the conspirators who was hanged. When I first arrived at the Pavilion, he sent me a threatening message but it was unsigned.”

She visibly shivered.

Concerned for her, he squeezed her hands to remind her he was here to guard her. “What is it?”

“I was just remembering his cold, dark eyes. The man was dreadful. He said he intends to deal with you, too.” Her blue eyes clouded. “You must be careful. He means to harm you.”

“Don’t worry. I will be on my guard. I carry my pistols with me and Jack is very good with a blade.”

She stared at him a moment as if trying to understand. “Do you know why he took me? He said only it was the company I keep, meaning you.”

“He and his men have been following me for some time. They would have seen me with you and were obviously keen observers. In all our banter, Chastity Reynolds, you quite failed to discern my tender feelings for you. But the villain did not. He meant to hurt me through you, and would have struck a devastating blow had he succeeded.”

“Oh.” She looked down at their joined hands. He hoped she now realized how much he cared for her, how much he loved her. She looked up. “Will he return to Brighton, do you think?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it. His business with me is unfinished but he no longer has lodgings near North Street. Jack and I saw to that. Two of his men are in the king’s custody. They told us their leader expects to meet them in a riverside tavern in a week’s time. Jack and I will be there.”

“Oh, do be careful, won’t you?” Her blue eyes looked up expectantly. Perhaps she did care for him more than a little.

“I will. And that reminds me, were there four of them?”

“At the Pavilion, yes. The leader was different than the others. They were lecherous, but his speech was more refined and his manner cold, even arrogant. Remember the Russian serf at the ball?”

Robbie nodded. As a spy, he had taken in all those attending the ball and remembered the Russian serf.

“That was him. But when he brought me here, he was attired as a gentleman, though he retained the beard. I don’t think it was his.”

“He is clever enough to have at least that much of a disguise. But you have given me the look of the man, his height and his general demeanor.”

She chewed her lower lip as if in concentration. “The man who drove the carriage to London was the one named Augie, or at least that’s the name by which the leader called him. And there is one other thing I noticed that might help you.”

“What?” Robbie would be happy for anything that would identify the man.

“The leader wears fine black boots that bear my father’s insignia, a stylized ‘R’ on the base of the outside shaft. It is the mark of the Reynolds design and highly coveted. He could have purchased them in London, of course. A few bootmakers have them for purposes of taking orders. But he also could have acquired them in or near Northampton.”

“That will help, thank you.”

She rose and retrieved his musketeer cloak from a chair. Handing it to him, she said, “You cannot know what having this meant to me. It was the only barrier between the lust of his men and me. At night, it kept me warm when I would have shivered.”

He accepted the cloak and pulled her down to sit beside him. “I hope it reminded you of me, that I would come for you.”

“It did.” She slipped her hand from his. “I must return to Aunt Agatha. She will be terrified for me.”

“I agree. But I cannot be the one to take you. Our returning to Brighton together after your absence would have tongues wagging, unless you are willing to announce our engagement.”

“Definitely not.”