Impostors
Excerpt
cover credit: Don Miller
Charlotte had struggled with how to appear this morning, as herself in her riding habit or as a young groom. It was safest to play herself as often as she could and save her other persona for when she wanted to venture further afield than the parks. Grant would be looking for her as herself, so this was the best plan. Besides if he accosted a groom, people might wonder at it. But riding up and talking to a lady would cause no remark, since casual observers would not know that she was a nonentity.
She had been out an hour and had taken it easy on her mare, walking her most of the way. She has guessed that a spy might be an early riser, but his failure to appear did not mean he was not a spy but a lazy gentleman. She gave s sigh and turned her mare toward the gate when he appeared on Rafe and trotted toward her.
“Good morning, Miss Charlotte.”
“Any morning without rain is a good one, Mr. Grant.”
“May I accompany you?”
“I was going to go home, but Shadow can make another circuit so long as we don’t gallop.”
She looked over her should as Greg, one of the younger grooms, he fell back a dozen paces.
“You convey much with a look.”
“I tip well at any rate.”
“So do I.”
She glared at him. “Which is how you found me.”
“Let us not mince words. I need that letter back”
“What letter?”
“You know what letter. The one you slipped out of my pocket. ”
“You mean the one you stole from my father’s desk?.”
He ground his teeth. “Yes, that letter and I didn’t steal it. It was left there for me. ”
“By whom?”
“I cannot say.”
“Why in my father’s desk.”
“I cannot tell you that either.”
“What does it say?”
“You mean you haven’t opened it.” He was so surprised he jabbed the hack in the mouth and made him snort.
She cast him a look of reproval. “Mr. Grant. It is mister, isn’t it.”
“Esquire. I am a younger son. ”
“Of whom?”
“Lord Winfield.”
“Right. I have every reason to believe you are a spy and no proof to the contrary. Why should I not tell my father about this?”
“Because he would laugh his head off. He doesn’t know anything about it.”
She frowned at him. “And the it is what you cannot tell me about. Should I write to my brother about it?”
“I advice against it.” Grant paused for a moment before he looked her in the eyes. “That would put his life in danger.”
“So he is involved. There is also my almost brother-in-law. ”
“That would be inconvenient.”
“Seems the lesser of several evils.”
“But would make a deal of work for many people trying to win this war.”
“Is there anything that you can tell me that would induce me to hand back the letter?”
“Nothing that would not endanger you and many other people.”
“You are a hard man to negotiate with.”
“I am sworn to secrecy.”
“Ah you swear oaths, do you?” She hated to try to converse on horseback. Even at a walk there was always the danger of being overheard or of mistaking what the other person said. She stared at him. “Then swear to me that no harm will come to the English cause if I return the envelope to you.”
“I swear it on my honor as a gentleman.”
“Don’t be absurd. Swear on your honor as an Englishman.”
He chuckled at this distinction. “I swear. Now give me the letter.”