scheme.”
She clasped her hands together in her lap to stop their trembling. “I assume you have some reason for telling me all of this?”
“You are correct,” he said. “I do have a reason for revealing the sensitive nature of this issue. We cannot arrest Lord Somerton, because he alone knows the identities of the agents comprising the Nexus. The moment we apprehend him, they will disappear, and we cannot allow that to happen. Until we confirm the guilt or innocence of each person, we must be careful not to draw attention to our suspicions.”
“Because you fear a French invasion and believe the traitorous members of the Nexus will continue their efforts, with or without their leader?”
“Bravo, Mrs. Ashcroft. You have summed up our concerns precisely.”
Rather than preen for having gained his admiration, Catherine felt sick to her stomach. “So what is it you would have me do?”
“The Foreign Office has directed Somerton to compile a list of his agents while in the country.”
“After protecting them for so long, will he comply? Especially in light of your accusations?”
“Hard to say with any certainty,” he said. “Knowing Somerton, I wouldn’t doubt that he’d create the list and then conveniently misplace it.”
“I’ll be interested in seeing how his lordship faces this challenge.”
“Glad to hear it, Mrs. Ashcroft, because this is where we need your assistance.” His gaze caught hers, held her immobile with feral claws. “I want you to copy the list of names and deliver them to me within the next sennight.”
“ What? ” She bolted from her chair and paced the confines of the drawing room. “You cannot be serious. What you’re asking me to do goes far beyond our arrangement of reporting suspicious activities.”
He didn’t flinch at her outburst, simply followed her about the room. “Indeed, it does.”
“What if his lordship catches me? If he’s as ruthless as you say, I’m putting not only myself in danger but also my daughter.”
“That is an unfortunate side effect to this request, but my superiors are concerned about Somerton’s ability to complete his task.”
“Unfortunate side effect?”
“You do understand now that the Nexus might be the ones responsible for your husband’s death, don’t you?”
She strove for calm. “I surmised as much.”
“Then you also realize that the letters Ashcroft sent you were likely coded messages, warning the intended recipient of Somerton’s perfidy. Are you certain Ashcroft did not mention my name anywhere in his correspondence?”
Catherine felt every drop of blood drain from her face. “This can’t be happening.”
“Ashcroft did mention me.”
She nodded. “It’s how I recognized your name.”
“You lied to me,” he said. “This revelation complicates matters.”
“How so?” she asked. “If the letters were meant for you, shouldn’t that knowledge clarify, rather than complicate?”
He waved off her comment. “I must think on this more. In the meantime, keep an eye out for a list of names. It will bring you one step closer to the justice you so desperately seek.”
Catherine’s jaw tightened. “How on earth do you expect me to locate something so important?” Especially after Lord Somerton rebuffed her earlier. “If he compiles it at all, he’ll likely keep it in a secure spot in the family wing.”
“Mama, are you still here?”
At the sound of her daughter’s muffled voice, terror ripped through Catherine. She glanced at Cochran, whose gaze slithered from the closed door back to Catherine. She did not like the calculating gleam pulsing in his eyes.
“In whatever manner you deem necessary and expedient, madam.” He nodded toward the door. “Let her in.”
“I would rather not,” she said. “Are we finished? I am late for my appointment.”
He stood, the action so abrupt that Catherine stepped back, even though several feet separated them.
“Indeed, we are.” Before she could
She clasped her hands together in her lap to stop their trembling. “I assume you have some reason for telling me all of this?”
“You are correct,” he said. “I do have a reason for revealing the sensitive nature of this issue. We cannot arrest Lord Somerton, because he alone knows the identities of the agents comprising the Nexus. The moment we apprehend him, they will disappear, and we cannot allow that to happen. Until we confirm the guilt or innocence of each person, we must be careful not to draw attention to our suspicions.”
“Because you fear a French invasion and believe the traitorous members of the Nexus will continue their efforts, with or without their leader?”
“Bravo, Mrs. Ashcroft. You have summed up our concerns precisely.”
Rather than preen for having gained his admiration, Catherine felt sick to her stomach. “So what is it you would have me do?”
“The Foreign Office has directed Somerton to compile a list of his agents while in the country.”
“After protecting them for so long, will he comply? Especially in light of your accusations?”
“Hard to say with any certainty,” he said. “Knowing Somerton, I wouldn’t doubt that he’d create the list and then conveniently misplace it.”
“I’ll be interested in seeing how his lordship faces this challenge.”
“Glad to hear it, Mrs. Ashcroft, because this is where we need your assistance.” His gaze caught hers, held her immobile with feral claws. “I want you to copy the list of names and deliver them to me within the next sennight.”
“ What? ” She bolted from her chair and paced the confines of the drawing room. “You cannot be serious. What you’re asking me to do goes far beyond our arrangement of reporting suspicious activities.”
He didn’t flinch at her outburst, simply followed her about the room. “Indeed, it does.”
“What if his lordship catches me? If he’s as ruthless as you say, I’m putting not only myself in danger but also my daughter.”
“That is an unfortunate side effect to this request, but my superiors are concerned about Somerton’s ability to complete his task.”
“Unfortunate side effect?”
“You do understand now that the Nexus might be the ones responsible for your husband’s death, don’t you?”
She strove for calm. “I surmised as much.”
“Then you also realize that the letters Ashcroft sent you were likely coded messages, warning the intended recipient of Somerton’s perfidy. Are you certain Ashcroft did not mention my name anywhere in his correspondence?”
Catherine felt every drop of blood drain from her face. “This can’t be happening.”
“Ashcroft did mention me.”
She nodded. “It’s how I recognized your name.”
“You lied to me,” he said. “This revelation complicates matters.”
“How so?” she asked. “If the letters were meant for you, shouldn’t that knowledge clarify, rather than complicate?”
He waved off her comment. “I must think on this more. In the meantime, keep an eye out for a list of names. It will bring you one step closer to the justice you so desperately seek.”
Catherine’s jaw tightened. “How on earth do you expect me to locate something so important?” Especially after Lord Somerton rebuffed her earlier. “If he compiles it at all, he’ll likely keep it in a secure spot in the family wing.”
“Mama, are you still here?”
At the sound of her daughter’s muffled voice, terror ripped through Catherine. She glanced at Cochran, whose gaze slithered from the closed door back to Catherine. She did not like the calculating gleam pulsing in his eyes.
“In whatever manner you deem necessary and expedient, madam.” He nodded toward the door. “Let her in.”
“I would rather not,” she said. “Are we finished? I am late for my appointment.”
He stood, the action so abrupt that Catherine stepped back, even though several feet separated them.
“Indeed, we are.” Before she could
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