Page 140 of The Bachelor Spy
“Noted.” He watched her work, this woman who’d shot him and saved him and somehow become the center of his entire world. “Though I should warn you—I’m terrible at following orders.”
“I know.” She met his eyes and sighed with enough exaggeration for him to notice. “It’s one of your more endearing qualities.”
“Along with my impeccable taste in shirts?”
“I said excellent style, not impeccable taste. There’s a significant difference.” She began cleaning his wound, and he prepared bandages for both of them. “The shirts need work.”
He caught her wrist gently, bringing her attention back to his face. “I love you.”
She paused, brushed his hair from his forehead, and smiled. “I know.”
No mission had ever been more appealing in Blake’s life than this newest assignment.
Mission: Loving Evie Montgomery ‘til death do us part.
Which, given his line of work, was always unpredictable.
But given the strength of his heart at the moment, as she stared down at him with those lovely eyes and that tempting smile, he considered with even more certainty that a future with her was definitely worth fighting “unpredictable” for.
“I still cannot believe that my butler helped defeat a German spy with a serving platter.” Frederick shook his head as Grace nestled near him in their private sitting room, where he, Grace, Blake, and Evie sat around the small table.
An intimate place for tea, and the only spot where curious eyes wouldn’t see the horrible state of both Evie and Blake after such an extraordinary evening. Grace sighed, her eyes heavy but her heart filled with the gratitude of someone who had all the people she loved most nearby and safe.
So many families couldn’t say that. Bombs still exploded throughout Europe. Soldiers still dug trenches in the rain and longed for home. Evil men and women on whatever side of the war still plotted ways to cause more destruction.
But in this moment, snuggled beside Frederick and watching dear Mr. Blake stare adoringly at Evie Montgomery, Grace welcomed the quiet. The stillness. Bathing in gratitude for God’s … grace.
Things could have turned out much differently. More painfully.
But they hadn’t.
“To be fair,” Blake said, wincing as he shifted in his chair, “it was a very well-polished platter. The reflection was impeccable.”
“One does take pride in one’s silver, sir,” Brandon said without a hint of irony, setting down the teapot. “Will there be anything else?”
“Just your assurance that you’ll never leave our employ,” Grace said warmly. “You’re far too valuable.”
“And dangerous,” Blake added. “I’ve worked with agents who had less effective timing.”
“Never this agent,” Evie said, raising her brow at him in challenge. She sat beside Blake, her freshly bandaged shoulder beneath a borrowed dressing gown.
“How could you ever think I would impugn you, ducky?” Blake looked over at her in mock shock. “Your timing is perfect. It’s your aim I take issue with.”
Evie’s eyes narrowed, though a smile played at her lips. “You’re alive, aren’t you?”
“Barely,” Blake countered. “And with significantly more scars than necessary.”
“I did relay to the police, sir, what you requested about Private Pennington,” Brandon continued, cutting through their banter. “They’ve agreed to keep watch for him but do not intend to pursue him, since you do not deem him a threat.” Brandon looked over at Blake. “And the other man … um …other matterremains appropriately discreet, collected from the ruins and taken into custody.”
“Is that so?” Blake asked quietly.
“Yes, sir. Secured and awaiting transport to London under guard,” Brandon confirmed. “The authorities have been informed he’s a dangerous German operative and have been remarkably cooperative.”
“And the patients?” Frederick asked. “Have you been able to assist Nurse Wilson in returning order and method?”
The slightest tip at the corner of Brandon’s mouth was the only clue of his reaction to Frederick’s teasing. “All accounted for and none the wiser, my lord. Order has been restored to the level it was before.” Which was vague enough to hint that Brandon wasn’t always in approval of Nurse Wilson’s type of order and method. “As far as the household is concerned, there was an attempted burglary that resulted in Private Pennington fleeing the grounds after some … heavy fighting in the west wing corridor involving gunfire.” Brandon paused, scanning the faces for any response to his clear fabrication of the events. “And as household rumor would have it, Nurse Rivers and Private Smith have run off to elope—well, Smith wasn’t running, according to the story. Nurse Rivers was wheeling him to their destination.”
Grace’s mouth dropped wide.
