“I remember, and I only grudgingly accepted, which means you will too.”
Morrey chuckled. “Well played, Pembroke. I will accept, but those funds will be entirely within Letty’s control, for her use and pleasure.”
Letty’s heart gave a leap at hearing that. She hadn’t been sure before what sort of man Morrey was, and if he would allow her any independence, especially financial.
“Very good,” James replied. “Now about the wedding . . .”
“I think I’d like it to be in the small church by Chilgrave Castle.”
“Not St. George’s?” Her brother sounded surprised.
“No. Too open, too dangerous. Chilgrave is off the beaten path. It’s safer. Besides, I have a personal connection to the place.”
“So now we come to the heart of this matter. What the devil happened last night, Morrey? I know you cannot tell me about the mission itself, but you must explain how Letty became entangled in this mess.”
There was a heavy silence, then a long, weary sigh.
“I was to protect Lady Edwards last night while she waited to deliver a message. I had been warned that French agents might try to silence her. The message was only in her head, not upon paper. Had she been killed, she would’ve died with that precious intelligence trapped inside her.” Morrey paused, and Letty realized she had stopped breathing as he spoke. “The French are clever. They use female spies to their advantage, far better than we do, at least until Russell took over from Waverly. I saw a woman walking with Lady Edwards away from the crowd and feared the worst. I realized too late it was your sister. As Lady Edwards and I sorted out the mess, the real French agent fired upon us. Lady Edwards was able to escape out the window, where she eventually met her contact, but while she escaped I needed to maintain my cover. I did the only thing I could think of.”
“By kissing my sister . . .”
There was an uncomfortable pause. Letty could only imagine the looks being exchanged.
“I admit, my judgment was . . . clouded. But in the moment, it seemed the wisest course.”
“Yes. I understand the logic. You countered one outrageous act with another. No one there would have imagined that the two events were connected. I must say, however, that I’m still displeased.”
“I quite understand, James. Your sister deserves to be wooed by a gentleman who is mad about her. I could not woo her, but the truth is I am quite mad for her.”
Letty covered her mouth to keep the sound of her gasp from escaping. He was mad for her? That forbidden flutter of excitement filled her lower belly again.
“Oh? Are you?” James sounded surprised. “I had no idea you had a tendre for Letty.”
Morrey gave a soft chuckle, and Letty desperately wished she could see his face again. She clutched a book to her chest as she strained to hear his response.
“From the moment I first saw her, I was captivated, but in my line of work it is unwise to marry. It is simply too dangerous. Either her life is threatened, or she faces a future where her husband does not come home and she may have to live forever with a lie about the circumstances of my death. I couldn’t do that to a woman. So I closed off that part of my life and buried any affections I felt for any woman I was interested in.”
“Until last night,” James asserted.
“Yes. Last night forced my hand, but I won’t deny that it does give me joy. But now Letty faces a danger that never should have been placed upon her shoulders.”
“What can be done to keep her safe?” James’s voice grew slightly louder, and Letty knew he was moving closer to the bookshelf she hid behind.
“She should remain at Chilgrave for the foreseeable future. My staff, both in London and Chilgrave,were hired for their abilities to deal with the risks my employment creates.”
“Will you stay with her?” James’s tone held a hint of worry and a bit of warning that endeared him to her even more.
“I will be with her as often as I can, but there will be times I must be called away. She will have the utmost protection in those circumstances,” Morrey promised.
Her brother let out a sigh. “I cannot help wishing that I could protect her. After losing our mother, we were both adrift. Gillian has helped me navigate the rivers of my grief, but I worry over Letty being alone.”
“I understand, Pembroke. Believe me, I do. I’m still very much a stranger to Letty, but I will be present for her and give her anything she needs, within my power.”
“Give her love, Morrey. Give her love. It is perhaps the most crucial thing of all.”
Yes, Lord Morrey, give me love, she thought.
Letty bit her lip as unexpected tears burned her eyes. Now was not the time to turn into a silly watering pot, but James was right. The death of their mother, the cruel fate of watching her memories fade at so young an age, had been awful. It had left scars upon Letty’s heart that would never fully heal.
“Let’s draw up the paperwork, and then you may have a moment with Letty.”
“Thank you.”
She waited a full thirty seconds for them to leave before emerging from her hiding spot. She screeched as a hand suddenly clamped over her mouth and pulled her back.
An instant later, the person holding her cursed. “Not again.”
“Lord Morrey?” Letty mumbled through his fingers.
“Lady Leticia,” Morrey sighed, then uncovered her mouth and turned her around to face him. “What on earth are you doing hiding in here?”
Letty, stunned by the sudden thrill she felt being manhandled by Lord Morrey, could only blink up at him.
“I . . . ,” she stammered as she lost herself in his storm-cloud-gray eyes.
“You mustn’t do that around me—never spy upon me. I can feel it, like a tingling at the back of my neck. I feared you were someone else.”
Finally, Letty found her tongue. “Someone like a French spy?”
Morrey’s gaze turned stormier. “Yes, exactly like a French spy. What did you hear from your little hiding place?”
Letty pursed her lips together, refusing to tell him that she’d heard, among many things, his confession that he was mad for her.
A worry line creased his brow, and then he seemed to relax a bit. “Understand me, Letty—my instincts must never be tested. You understand? I usually act automatically. I could have hurt you.”
Morrey still held her waist, their lower bodies pressed together. The contact of his legs against hers through the thin barrier of her skirts left her dizzy and excited.
“Your eyes,” he said softly.
“What about them?” Letty dared to ask.
“Your pupils—they’re quite large.” He cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her lips. “That only happens when one is very frightened or very . . .” He didn’t finish.
“Very what?” she pressed, fascinated by the way his own pupils seemed larger as he leaned close to her.
“Very aroused.” The sensual and completely scandalous word set fresh fire to her blood.
“You mustn’t speak of such things,” Letty whispered, but she actually did want him to continue saying such wonderfully exciting things.
Morrey continued to study her. “Well, now. You aren’t what I expected.”