The young woman pursed her lips. “Are you two daft?” she asked. “You need to go help Caleb before he is killed.”
With a lift of his brow, Fredrick asked, “What if this is a trap?”
“If I wanted you dead, you already would be,” she said. “I am just trying to do the right thing here, and you two are making it incredibly difficult to do so.”
“We don’t even know your name—” Fredrick started.
The young woman cut him off. “Would that truly make a difference?” she asked.
“It would be a start,” Fredrick responded.
She stared at him, disbelief etched across her face, as if she couldn’t quite fathom his response. He sensed her frustration, but he wasn’t ready to trust her. Trust had to be earned, and it was not something he handed out freely.
“I don’t have time for this,” she declared, her voice laden with exasperation. “If you want to save Caleb, he is at the factory, but I would hurry.”
The young woman began to walk away, but Fredrick couldn’t let her leave, not without answers. He had too many questions, and he needed to know more. Raising his pistol, he commanded, “Stay where you are.”
An amused expression crossed her face. “You intend to shoot me?” she questioned. “The honorable war hero that served right alongside Wellington. You would shoot an unarmed woman?”
“How do I know you aren’t armed?” Fredrick asked.
She took a step closer to him, despite having a pistol being pointed at her. Her eyes showed no hint of fear. “I am armed, my lord, but I see no reason to draw my weapon. I know you won’t shoot me.”
Fredrick tightened his hold on the pistol. “You don’t know that for certain.”
“Don’t I?” she asked. “I have made it a point to learn as much as I could about you.” She shifted towards Roswell. “About both of you.”
“Why?” Roswell asked.
“It is best that you don’t know,” she replied. “Quite frankly, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation. But I can’t, in good conscience, let Caleb die.”
Roswell observed her intently and inquired, “Why can’t you save him?”
Something resonated deep within her eyes that Fredrick couldn’t quite decipher. Regret? Pain? Whatever it was, it seemed oddly familiar.
“I have said enough,” she said. “Good day, gentlemen.”
The young woman showed no hesitation as she started to walk away, turning her back on them. She had called his bluff.He hadn’t intended to shoot her, especially since she didn’t pose an immediate threat, but he had hoped for more cooperation.
To his surprise, she suddenly stopped and turned back around. “My name is Simone,” she informed them before resuming her departure.
Once she had disappeared into the woodlands, Fredrick returned his pistol to its place and asked, “Should we trust her?”
“Do we have a choice?” Roswell asked.
“That is what I was thinking, as well,” Fredrick replied. “We should hurry and go see if Caleb is in any danger.”
After they emerged from the woodlands, Fredrick noticed that Anette and Emilia were engaged in conversation as they waited for their return.
Fredrick accepted the reins from the groom and addressed Emilia. “I do apologize, but Roswell and I have urgent business to attend to. Anette will see you home.”
Emilia pressed her lips together as her eyes darted towards the woodlands, as if pondering a riddle. He knew she had questions, but they were questions he could not answer. Not now. Not ever. He couldn’t risk Emilia getting involved in his world of espionage. It was far too dangerous for her.
Anette spoke up, assuring Emilia, “I would be happy to see you home.”
Roswell mounted his horse and tipped his head at his wife. “I shall be home shortly.”
“You better,” Anette said. “You made a promise to me that you would always return.”
