“There are worse things,” Simone stated.
“To me, perhaps, but your whole world revolves around high Society,” Juliette said. “Furthermore, what happens if your father discovers your secret?”
“You haven’t told him?”
Juliette looked the epitome of innocence as she rose from her seat. “A promise is a promise, is it not?” she asked. “I told you that I wouldn’t tell him and I meant it. Spies have a code.”
Simone wanted to believe Juliette, but, quite frankly, she knew she couldn’t trust a word out of the French spy’s mouth. Juliette would tell her father that she was a spy when it benefited her; she was sure of that.
Coming around the table, Juliette came to a stop near Simone. Her voice seemed to lack any emotion as she said, “If you interfere with me or my brother, I will kill your precious Mr. Bolingbroke.”
“If anything happens to Caleb?—”
Juliette cut her off. “It is cute how much you care,” she said. “But you made one crucial error.”
Simone was sure she was going to regret asking, but she did so anyways. “Which was?”
In a low voice, Juliette said, “You fell in love.”
Before she could respond, Juliette walked swiftly out of the dining room, leaving her all alone in the expansive room.
Love.
She was not in love with Caleb. She couldn’t be. But the more she thought on it, the more she realized that Juliette was right. She loved Caleb. It was so easy for her to love him that it frightened her.
She contemplated what she should do. She was a spy. Love was a weakness. And Juliette was exploiting that weakness.
The long clock in the corner chimed. It was time for her to start getting ready for her carriage ride with Caleb. The worst part was that she was looking forward to it. Every moment she spent with him, she was starting to cherish.
Caleb sat across from Simone in the carriage and he watched as she fidgeted with her hands in her lap. She had hardly spoken a word to him since they had departed from her townhouse, not even to chide him when he told her how lovely she looked.
Perhaps she was just growing anxious as they were approaching Bedlam. With every rotation of the wheels, he hoped that this was not a fool’s errand. He truly believed that Lady Hungerton was one of the patients at Bedlam. But what if he was wrong? He had no doubt that it would devastate Simone. He didn’t want to do one thing that would cause Simone pain.
“It will be all right,” he assured her.
A line appeared between Simone’s brow. “A part of me hopes my mother is there, but another part hopes she isn’t.”She paused. “If she is there, my father is a monster and I didn’t even know. What kind of spy would I be?”
“The kind that sees the best in people,” he encouraged.
She let out a puff of air. “A spy is supposed to be objective. Yet I am fooled by the people that I am closest to.”
“No mask can be worn forever,” Caleb said. “Besides, there were already starting to be cracks in your father’s mask.”
“Is there any word on my inheritance?”
Caleb nodded. “Mr. Morrish has drawn up all the required paperwork and is just waiting for my word to have it delivered to your father’s solicitor.”
“Once that happens, all hell will break loose,” Simone said. “I am not quite sure what my father will do. Do you think he would disown me?”
“Even if he does, we will be wed soon and you will have a home with me,” Caleb remarked.
Simone grew thoughtful. “I haven’t felt at home since my mother died.”
Leaning forward in his seat, he revealed, “My mother is thrilled to be gaining a daughter. She barely can contain herself at the prospect.”
“Will she be terribly disappointed when she learns that our marriage is in name only?” Simone asked.
Caleb worked hard to keep the emotion off his face. He wanted so much more out of this marriage, but he didn’t want to scare Simone off. He would honor his word, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t at least attempt to woo her.
