“Nor how you worked for me,” said Gus.
“No.”
“You must tell him. He will breathe more easily,” Amber said, as she stroked her cheek. “He will be alarmed, I imagine. But he will get over it.”
This was more than Inès could bear to discuss. “I no longer run messages for you and Ramsey.” She faced Gus. “Nor do I do that for you.”
“Of course not,” said Gus.
Inès put a hand to her head. “I dare not tell him all I did. He would lock me away.”
“You mean…?” Gus stared at her. “You mean what you have done most lately?”
Inès held her tongue on pain of death, but stared into Gus’s eyes. Her friend could not know what she had done. Could she? Would her husband tell her? Would Scarlett?
It should not matter. She should not care what her friends knew of her. But she did. Curse this internal torment between her past, her present, her loves and her duties!
Giselle looked at her oddly.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Amber rushed to take both Inès’s hands, apology in her eyes. “Forget that. Trust me. The man adores you. He will not desert you. Whatever it is, he most likely will love you more for it.”
And the day may come when he dare not love me at all.
“You are his equal, Inès.” Amber was adamant. “Truly a gift to a marriage. One of equals.”
“His proper mate,” said Gus.
“Marry him and enjoy yourself,” Amber assured her.
A knock came at the door.
Inès caught a breath. “They want me to go down.”
Gus got up and opened the door. Friendly stood there with Scarlett Hawthorne.
Gus, as hostess for this wedding, had invited Scarlett. She and Scarlett were friends. It seemed natural to the outside world that the light of the London business world and of Society should come. Inès expected that Scarlett’s ever-present escort and chief clerk, Todd Carlton, was most likely downstairs.
She had not expected Scarlett to come upstairs. That lady and Inès were acquaintances, supervisor and subordinate, not friends, and they never would be.Oui, Inès earned a salary from Scarlett’s coffers, hidden in deposits through different bankers, all of it compensation for her job well done in Boulogne. Scarlett knew what she had done then. But if the woman had any inkling of what Inès was now about to do here in London, the fiery-haired spymaster would rush her off to some secluded hovel and have her killed.
So here, now, Inès must make a show that none of that was true. She must act like it. She was a free agent. Unencumbered. Unassigned. A bride about to be wed to a man who wished only to be with her. Live with her. Love her forever and die with her near.
“Scarlett,” Inès said, “I am delighted you have come.”
“I could not allow it to occur without my witnessing such a marvelous union. I wanted to extend my best wishes. I wish you great happiness, my dear.” Scarlett kissed her on both cheeks. “The two of you make a very charming couple.”
Giselle grinned and took Inès’s hand. “Come down. You must forget all these people and enjoy yourself.”
Amber hooked an arm in Inès’s. “Yes. Let’s do go down, shall we? All of us need to see you settled. No more fears, oui? No more debates with yourself. You are about to be a very happy woman.” She rolled her large, dark eyes. “A man who loves you can change your entire life.”
Inès rallied to the very idea. “I want that.”
Amber patted her hand. “Let’s make that a reality.”
#
Halsey dismissed his valet. “Go. Get ready yourself. I want you to enjoy yourself today at this wedding and for the next two weeks.”
“I worry, my lord, that you will need me.”
