Page 109 of The Bachelor Spy
“Yes, my lord.” Brandon moved immediately toward the door, already straightening to his full height with renewed purpose.
“And, Brandon?” Frederick’s voice stopped him at the threshold. “Tell the men to be cautious. Whoever did this is desperate enough to break windows and flee bleeding. He may be dangerous.”
And there was also the matter of what Blake and Miss Montgomery might be dealing with elsewhere in the house. Multiple dangers converging at once.
“Understood, my lord.”
Grace turned toward Frederick as soon as the door closed behind Brandon. “Whether they find him or not, Pennington will have a hard time getting into the tunnels beneath the chapel without a key, won’t he?” She paused, studying him. “Frederick, do you think he’ll even know about the key?”
“I can’t say what Pennington may or may not know.” He raised another paper close to his eyes, squinting. “But I’m rather certain what he stole from my case will give him an excellent head start.”
Grace moved to his side. “It has to do with the chapel, doesn’t it?”
He nodded. “An architectural drawing of the chapel—the nave, the chancel, and most importantly, the foundation and the tunnel entrance beneath. It’s the most detailed architectural drawing we have of that site.”
“Oh, that’s right. The sketch would have given him only a general idea,” Grace whispered. “But the architectural drawing will show exactly how to access the tunnel.”
“We still have the upper hand, however.” Frederick glanced toward the window, the cool evening breeze blowing through the gaping broken glass. “We have the key.”
His wife’s smile spread so wide her eyes gleamed, and he could almost make out her customary twinkle. “Then it seems our very next plan is to locate it.”
“We have two garden houses to search.” Frederick felt his own lips curve despite the gravity of their situation. “First thing in the morning?”
“Why wait until morning?” Grace’s enthusiasm was palpable. “It’s not even eight o’clock.”
“Because, my darling wife”—Frederick reached out and found her hand, pulling her close enough to see her properly—”you are with child, it’s dark, and there’s at least one desperate man loose on the grounds. Possibly more, if Blake’s mission has gone sideways.”
Grace sighed dramatically. “Why are you always so remarkably sensible?”
“Someone has to be.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Besides, if we’re going into those tunnels tomorrow, we’ll need proper supplies. Rope, lanterns, bandages—”
“Oh!” Grace’s eyes lit up. “I knew we were missing a rope earlier. I’ll have Brandon add it to the list.”
Frederick raised a brow. “You made a mental list of adventuring supplies?”
“How can you doubt it? One must always be prepared for mysteries, Frederick. I thought you’d learned that by now.”
Despite everything—the break-in, the danger lurking in the darkness outside, Blake and Miss Montgomery facing heaven knew what elsewhere in the house—Frederick found himself smiling and drawing Grace’s warmth back toward him.
His lips found hers, the familiar touch yet ever new. Each time. Each taste. His darling Grace.
She drew back from him. “Do you think Blake will be all right?”
Whatever his cousin was hunting—or whatever was hunting him—it was deadly serious.
“Blake’s one of the most capable men I know,” Frederick said honestly. “And if half of what I suspect about Miss Montgomery is true, he’s in excellent company.”
Grace leaned against him. “Still. We should pray for them tonight.”
“Certainly.” Frederick wrapped his arms around her, feeling the slight swell of their child between them. So much at stake. So many people to protect.
But standing here with Grace—planning their next move despite his damaged eyesight, despite the dangers converging on Havensbrooke from multiple directions—he felt something he hadn’t felt since returning home.
Useful. Capable.Needed.
Not despite his wounds, butwiththem.
“Though, Frederick, we have to take Shams outside tonight before bed anyway,” Grace whispered between another kiss. “It would be a shame not to take advantage of a good search.”
