Page 36 of The Bachelor Spy
But it was also the exact sort of question someone gathering intelligence would ask.
“Suvla,” Hargrove repeated, his head lolling slightly against the pillow. “We landed at night. Thought we’d have the element of surprise. But the Turks … they were ready for us. Lost half our company on the first day. Heath was beside me one moment, and then”—he made a vague gesture with his hand—”gone. Just … gone.”
“Oh, how awful.” Nurse Rivers’ voice dripped with sympathy. She adjusted his pillow, voice dropping as the man clearly fought sleep. “You’re very brave. All of you.” She sighed. “And the officers who led the landing—were they experienced men? My brother worries about the young lieutenants they’re sending over now, straight from training. Said it’s a disaster sometimes.”
Blake tilted his head to hear more clearly. Another seemingly innocent question. But asking about officer experiences, about leadership during specific engagements?
That was intelligence work dressed up as friendly conversation.
“General Stopford … command,” Hargrove said, his eyes starting to drift closed. “Though there was talk … talk that he didn’t push hard enough. Should have taken the heights while we had the chance. Turks hold them, and we’re stuck on the beaches …”
“And are all those forces still positioned at Sulva Bay?” Nurse Rivers asked in wonder. “Was it safe there?”
“Spread out,” Hargrove mumbled. “Suvla, Anzac Cove, Helles … trying to hold what little ground we’ve got. It’s a bloody mess …” And with that, his head dropped back, sleep overtaking him.
“You poor dear.” Nurse Rivers patted his hand and stood. “You just rest now.”
Blake stepped back quickly, slipping into the shadows of a nearby alcove as Nurse Rivers emerged from the room. She moved down the corridor with a spring in her step, humming softly to herself—the picture of a cheerful young volunteer pleased to have helped comfort a wounded soldier.
But Blake had heard the questions and the way she’d extracted information from a drugged, vulnerable man.
He’d been so focused on Evie and the mysterious Nurse Wilson, so certain the spy must be someone with more experience, more skill. But what better cover than an eager young VAD nurse? Someone above suspicion, someone who could move freely among the patients, someone whose questions would be dismissed as naive curiosity rather than calculated intelligence gathering.
The Midnight Angel, hiding in plain sight as an enthusiastic amateur.
Or—Blake’s mind churned through possibilities—was she a genuine amateur who simply didn’t understand the sensitive nature of what she was asking? Some young women did have an unfortunate tendency to ask wildly inappropriate questions out of sheer curiosity, without any understanding of operational security. His mind immediately went to Lady Astley. He could envision her enthusiasm and curiosity taking over.
But the specificity of Nurse Rivers’ questions nagged at him. Battalion numbers. Officer locations. Weaknesses?
Those weren’t the questions of someone making polite conversation.
Blake waited until the nurse had disappeared around the corner before stepping out of his hiding place. He needed to find Grace, needed to warn her to be careful, needed to—
A soft sound behind him made Blake turn.
Evie stood in the corridor, partially concealed by the shadows near the linen closet. Her eyes were fixed on the doorway Nurse Rivers had just exited.
His breath stalled.
She’d been watching too.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither moved.
Oh, if only he could read her thoughts. Believe she wasn’t on the wrong side.
Then Evie dipped her head in acknowledgement, the corner of her mouth tipping ever so slightly, before melting back into the shadows and disappearing.
He almost followed her.
Had she been watching Nurse Rivers or … him?
Was she registering his movements? Keeping an eye on him as someone else collected information?
Was she here as a mere distraction, because if she was, it was working too well.
He breathed out a frustrated growl.
Two women who might be spies. Three, if he added Nurse Wilson.
