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“I am well aware, and that is in your favor.” Corbyn rose and walked around his desk. “If we hurry, we can have you fitted before noon.”
“I think this is madness,” Guy said. “There is nothing wrong with my clothing.”
Reaching into his jacket, Corbyn removed a handful of bills and extended it towards him. “You will need this money to give the appearance that you are a man of means.”
Guy accepted the money and gave Corbyn a disbelieving look. “This is more than three months of my pay.”
“Yes, it is,” Corbyn said, “and you may keep whatever you do not spend. I hope it helps cover some of your mother’s medical bills.”
“How did you know about my mother?” Guy asked in surprise.
Corbyn smirked. “You insult me,” he said. “I make it my mission to know all I can about my agents, especially the new recruits.”
Guy slipped the money into the pocket of his waistcoat. “Thank you.”
Corbyn tipped his head in acknowledgement. “Are you ready for your toughest assignment yet?”
“I am.”
Chapter Two
With the morningsun streaming into her bedchamber, Miss Daphne Locke laid in bed as she stared up at the ceiling. Today was to be a happy day, she thought, as her dear friend was to be married; but she couldn’t help but feel a little sad at losing her friend to matrimony.
It wasn’t as if she were opposed to marriage, but Daphne just hadn’t been fortunate enough to meet a gentleman who sparked her interest. Most of the men in the village were rather disagreeable, despite their many attempts to court her. She found their advances to be disingenuous and questioned their motives.
She was the great-granddaughter of a duke, and her parents had left her a modest inheritance when they died nearly ten years ago. They had all contracted influenza when there was an outbreak in the village, but she was the only one who had survived. That is when she had come to live with her grandmother in Anmore, partly because no one else wanted her.
The door opened, and her blonde lady’s maid stepped into the room with a tray in her hands. “Good morning,” Anne greeted her, placing the tray on the dressing table. “I brought you up toast and a cup of tea.”
“Thank you,” Daphne replied.
Anne walked over to the armoire and asked, “Would you care to prepare for the day?”
“I suppose I must,” Daphne said, tossing off her sheets.
“I can’t help but notice that you seem hesitant.”
Placing her feet over the side of the bed, Daphne replied, “I am happy for Eliza, but I do hope that she is making the right choice.”
“You doubt her affection for Mr. Fitzwilliam?”
“I do not,” Daphne replied. “I’m afraid I am growing a little sentimental at the thought of losing her.”
Anne gave her an understanding smile as she draped a white gown with a pink net overlay over the back of the settee. “You aren’t losing her. After she is wed, she will be moving into Mr. Fitzwilliam’s manor, which is just on the other side of the village. It is only a short carriage ride away.”
“You are right, of course.”
“But?” Anne prodded.
Daphne rose and walked over to the dressing table. “I can’t help but point out that I rarely see Augusta now that she is wed to Mr. Banfield and is increasing.”
“You three were quite thick when you were younger.”
“We were,” Daphne replied as she sat and reached for her teacup, “but it all changed when Mr. Banfield started courting Augusta.”
Anne approached the dressing table and picked up a brush. “You could always accept one of the gentlemen’s offers to court you,” she suggested as she began brushing Daphne’s brown hair.
Daphne took a sip and returned the cup back to the saucer. “I think not.”
