The Beauty and the Spy by Gayle Callen Page B

two pillows against the headboard and leaned back.
    â€œDo you have brothers or sisters?” she asked.
    â€œMy mother died when I was fourteen. After my father married again, they had another son and two daughters.” His expression grew thoughtful. “I’ve never met my youngest sister, and the others were very young when I left the country.”
    â€œHow old are they now?”
    He looked up at the ceiling for a moment. “My brother would be sixteen now, and my youngest sister twelve.”
    â€œSuch a shame that you’re not a part of their lives.”
    â€œI’ve sent them gifts and the occasional letter. They’ve never written back.”
    She felt a catch of sadness, knowing that she’dbeen lucky to have Jane at her side, even if they did not always agree. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œI know it’s not their fault. I ignored my father’s wishes when I joined John Company, and he never forgave me.”
    â€œJohn Company?”
    â€œThe East India Company. I’m part of the Political Department, although I used to be an officer in the cavalry.”
    Though she wanted to question him about his military career, she could not imagine not being close to her father. “Did it…disturb you greatly to go against your father?”
    He smiled. “No. He controlled me by the purse strings, even after my stepmother convinced him to let me attend Oxford.”
    â€œWell…that was decent of her.”
    â€œShe wanted all my father’s attention on her own children,” he said dryly. “But that suited my purposes.”
    â€œIt sounds like your family life was not ideal,” she said in a soft voice, realizing how lucky she was, even though her marriage had turned out badly. At least she had a family that loved her.
    Nick shook his head. “I don’t want your pity. My father was a cold man and my family emulated him, so I found my relationships elsewhere.”
    â€œâ€˜Was’?”
    â€œHe died several months ago.” His voice lacked all emotion.
    â€œWere you even in the country then?”
    â€œNo. Word reached me as I made my way through Paris on my way to England.”
    â€œIt must have been terribly difficult on your stepmother, not to have you to lean upon.”
    â€œI wouldn’t know. I haven’t been home yet.”
    She gaped at him. “But surely when you came across the channel—you said your home was on the coast, did you not?”
    â€œI couldn’t abandon my duty, Charlotte. You better than anyone know how important it is to me. My father’s death was months ago. A few more weeks’ delay will not harm matters.”
    They stared at each other quietly, while she tried to imagine how different their lives were. And then came the realization that he might not be telling her the truth.
    Yet…she believed him. And deep inside her she wanted to believe it all. He didn’t seem like a criminal.
    Or was it that she didn’t want him to be?

Chapter 9
    Guard evidence of a crime with your life. It’s all that stands between you and ignominy.
    The Secret Journals of a Spymaster
    N ick watched Charlotte’s expression cloud over with pensiveness instead of the interest she’d just shown in him. He hadn’t thought he’d ever want to talk about his family, but she only had to ask, and he’d told her private things.
    Well, not everything.
    But he didn’t want to stop talking, even though the water was cold. If he told her he had to get out, it would break this tenuous thread of communication that was strung between them. She was a woman; she wanted to hear about family relationships. It was a good way to keep her calm and interested—and not a threat to his mission.Maybe she would finally believe the truth. And what harm could there be in her learning a few carefully selected facts about his family?
    â€œOver the years,” he began,