Page 23 of After the Spy Seduces

Julia slid a glance between the two and mumbled, “Certainly interesting, at any rate.”

His deep voice tickled playfully down Diana’s spine. “I’ve come to pay my respects to the hostess.”

Of course he had. And pigs flew.

She smiled tightly. “None necessary, Mr. Carlisle. Your unexpected presence here tonight is respect enough.”

An amused gleam glinted in his blue eyes at her dig.Good. Let it serve as a reminder that she knew exactly what kind of bounder he was, especially to sneak into the party uninvited.

“But I insist. My mother taught me to always be a gentleman, and I wouldn’t want to offend my late mother’s memory.” He flashed both women a charming grin. “If anyone is capable of boxing her son’s ears from the grave, it would be her.”

Julia smothered a laugh behind her fan.

“Surely you’ve given her no reason to scold you for your behavior.” Ignoring Julia, Diana gave him a saccharine smile. “And so need not worry about it tonight.”

“Yet I do.”

Frustrating devil! “Then you should give your respects to the general. The party was his idea.”

“But the general isn’t nearly as much fun to dance with as his daughter.”

“He’s spry for his age. He’ll surprise you.”

“His daughter keeps surprising me even more.”

Julia’s eyes darted between the two of them, as if watching a tennis match. Diana wanted to shake her.

It was time to end this nonsense, so she gave him a dismissive smile. “I’m afraid that I’m done dancing for the evening.”

“Then I must settle for paying you other attentions.” He held out his hand. “Would you favor me with a turn about the room, Miss Morgan?”

At the invitation, Julia’s fan dropped away, and she gave up all pretense of not being interested in their exchange to stare at Christopher as if he were a prince.

“I’m sorry,” Diana refused, not at all apologetic. “I couldn’t possibly leave my friend.”

Julia gaped at her as if she were a bedlamite. “Of course you can!”

Diana glowered at her. With allies like this, who needed enemies? “It wouldn’t be at all polite of me to—”

“And where is your brother this evening, Miss Morgan?” he interrupted with a friendly smile.

His question jarred her, the private meaning behind it not at all friendly.

Well aware of the eavesdropping guests pressing in around them, she answered carefully, “Visiting friends in the North.”

“Is he? I’d heard differently.”

Her heart lodged in her throat.Thatwas why he was here. He had information about Garrett.

He held out his hand again. “A turn about the room, if you’d please?”

“Of course.” She placed her hand in his to be led away.

Chapter 7

“You’ve found out something about my brother.” Diana’s fingers stiffened against his sleeve where her hand rested on his arm. “What have you learned?”

Aware of all the guests who were watching them, and the necessity of not bringing undue attention upon them, Kit smiled but shook his head, as if they were having a normal conversation. But just like everything else in his life, this was nothing but pretense and illusion hiding a deeper darkness.