In a firm voice, Simone replied, “Whatever it takes.”
“And your friend? Does he feel the same way as you?”
“He does.”
Juliette returned to her seat and leaned closer. “I need to know whose side you are on. Are you loyal to Britain or France?”
Simone raised an eyebrow and asked a question of her own. “Why do you think I came all this way to be with French sympathizers if I didn’t believe in their cause?”
“Interesting,” Juliette muttered, as if seeing her for the first time. “I do believe you might be of use to me, but I do not wish to explain it here. I want you to meet me at the boarding house up the street tomorrow morning.”
Rising, Juliette continued. “And bring your handsome friend. I do not think I could get tired of looking at him.”
“He isn’t that handsome,” Simone remarked.
Juliette grinned. “I disagree, my lady.”
Simone opened her mouth, but Juliette spoke first. “I know. You aren’t a lady, but I think I shall call you that. It fits.”
After Juliette walked off, exiting the pub, Caleb approached the table and sat down. “What was that about?”
“I don’t know, but I think I might have found one of our French spies,” Simone said. “She wants us to meet at the boarding house up the street tomorrow morning. I think she has a job for us.”
Caleb placed his tankard down on the table. “If the barkeep is to be believed, he said that woman comes and goes from this place but spends most of her time in the back room with the more ardent French sympathizers.” He paused. “And she doesn’t always come alone. Her brother is often seen with her.”
“If they are the French spies that we have been looking for, we need to proceed with caution until we find out their purpose for being here,” Simone said.
“I agree.” Caleb pushed his tankard away from him. “I think it is time we depart before I even think of drinking more of this ale.”
“Is it terribly watered-down?”
“I think that water is the main ingredient,” Caleb joked.
Simone pushed back her seat and rose. “Let’s depart before my companion comes searching for me.”
Caleb chuckled. “We do not wish for that.”
“No, we most assuredly don’t,” Simone said.
As they exited the pub, Simone was pleased that everything was falling into place. But an uneasy feeling came to her stomach. It all seemed too easy- almost unnervingly so. If Juliette was, in fact, a French spy, why had she sought her out?
One thing was certain, they had to be cautious.
Keeping his gaze straight ahead, Caleb said in a hushed voice, “We are being followed. How do you want to play this?”
“I think it would be best if we gave them a tour of Town until we can lose them,” Simone responded.
“Then a tour of Town it shall be,” Caleb declared. “It shouldn’t be too difficult to lose them in the crowded streets.”
The carriage came to a stop in front of Simone’s townhouse and Caleb promptly stepped down onto the pavement. Extending his hand, he assisted Simone out of the carriage.
Simone withdrew her hand once she stood beside him. “Thank you for the carriage ride.”
“Allow me to escort you inside,” Caleb said.
“That isn’t necessary—” Simone began.
Caleb interrupted, “Let me be a gentleman, please.”
