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Henry spent the rest of the day walking along the river, feeding the birds, and doing his best not to think about Georgiana—and failing quite miserably. When the sky began to darken, Henry returned home. He hung up his coat and moved through the tiny flat, then paused in the doorway of the sorry excuse for a kitchen.
“Have you been waiting this whole time?”
The commodore rose from the room’s lone chair. “So, youdidget my message.”
“Yes.” Henry lit a small table lamp, which cast the older man’s frown in an orange-tinted glow.
“Is that all you have to say for yourself?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation, Commodore,” Henry snapped. “In case you forgot, I have paid my dues in full. You got your hero to parade about, and I can tell you no for the rest of my life.”
“But that is why I’mhere,” the commodore replied, his dark eyes glimmering with purpose. Henry was quite familiar with that look. His stomach was already turning. “Your reputation is necessary to the success of this mission, which is a matter of great national importance. The Germans are—”
Henry held up a hand. “If you are so damned concerned about the Germans, then I suggest you talk to your ambassador. I know for a fact that his attaché has been trying to raise the alarm for some time, but no one will listen.”
The commodore narrowed his eyes. “You mean Rafe Davies?”
Henry nodded and hoped to God he wasn’t getting his friend wrapped up in something nefarious.
Commodore Perry leaned back and rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “He doesn’t have the best reputation within the government. Not everyone takes kindly to having their secrets exposed.”
He was referring to Rafe’s actions when he had uncovered a blackmail operation that targeted a number of officials and members of Parliament. The extent was largely covered up, but a few names were fed to the papers “for the greater good.”
“He had nothing to do with that,” Henry pointed out.
“That doesn’t matter to those men. They need someone else to blame for their indiscretions.”
“And you?” Henry immediately regretted the bold question as the commodore folded his arms and eyed him. Many a sailor had broken under that glare.
“I’m not some nob who’s spent his life having his arse wiped by a servant,” he spat. “I will answer for all my sins when I reach the gates of heaven and be judged by none but Saint Peter himself.”
Well, then.
“I thought you’d be itching to return to the game,” the commodore continued. “It’s been two years now. Sometimes a fellow needs a break, I understand that. And you needed to recover from your injury. But you looked very well in Monte Carlo, and I’ve heard great things about your little business.”
Henry shifted in his seat. “A man has to make a living, Commodore. The naval pension isn’t enough. You know that.”
“If you work for me, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
That was likely an empty promise. But rather than reject the offer outright, Henry decided to let the commodore dangle on the line a little and see if he could get some information out of him. “Who told you I was in Monte Carlo?”
If the commodore was surprised by the question, he didn’t show it. “Someone who is quite desperate for money and owed me a debt. They offered some information about you that I might be interested in. Turned out he was correct. But not to worry. Lady Arlington is no longer in danger, as long as she agrees to give up her plans for expansion.”
A chill ran through Henry. “She won’t do it. She came back specifically to sign the papers.”
The commodore merely shrugged. “Then one of you has a difficult decision to make. You can come work for me, and I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Henry huffed a bitter laugh. “You’d give up your source that easily?”
“If that’s what it takes. You are a valuable asset, Henry. I never should have let you leave. Or you can keep chasing philandering husbands while your viscountess is forced to sacrifice her expansion. But perhaps that is for the best. Then she can settle into a nice life with Lord Pettigrew. Have I got that right?”
Henry narrowed his gaze. The commodore knew just which buttons to push, but Henry kept silent. He would not be manipulated by this man.
“You have twenty-four hours, Captain,” the commodore said as he stood and pulled on his gloves. Then he shot him a dark look. “And not a minute longer this time.”
***
The next morning, Georgiana was met at her office by an enthusiastic Mr. Khan.
