Page 57 of After the Spy Seduces

But she couldn’t find him. Nowhere. Not a flash of him to be seen.

Doubt jolted through her, and she stopped, her hands falling helplessly to her sides even as the people bumped into her from all directions.

Had she truly seen him? Her throat tightened. Maybe she’d only seen another man and so desperately wanted to find her brother that she believed—

Farther ahead in the crowd, a man turned to look back at her. Their gazes met…Garrett.

Then he stepped between the wooden booths and disappeared into the shadows.

She ran after him, practically shoving people out of her way as she stumbled forward. She reached the narrow gap between the stalls where she’d last glimpsed him and slipped into the darkness.

Someone grabbed her arm, and she was yanked inside the stall. The narrow plank door slammed shut behind her. A hand came down over her mouth before she could scream.

“You’re safe.”

Her heart lurched into her throat, and she mumbled against the man’s palm. “Garrett?”

“You’ve always been the more responsible sibling.” His hand slipped away. “You’re supposed to be saving me from trouble, not the other way around.”

In the darkness of the shuttered stall, with the only light coming in through small gaps between the boards, she could just barely make out—

“Garrett!” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “I knew it was you!”

“It’s me,” he murmured, holding her just as tightly.

She pulled away from him to cup his face between her palms and turn his head this way and that, searching for any sign of injury. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?” The questions poured out of her, so did a wave of relief. “Where have you been? I was told that you’d been kidnapped, that you were giving information to—”

“We don’t have much time. We only have a few moments before the French realize that they’ve lost sight of you and come searching.”

A chill swirled down her spine. “A few moments for what?”

“Give me the general’s diary,” he ordered. When she hesitated, he pressed, “I know you have it with you.”

Her dread turned to betrayal as the sickening truth washed over her.

What Christopher had told her was true. There was only one reason why her brother would want the diary, only one way that he could possibly know that she was in Bradwell and had it with her.

“You’re working for the French,” she whispered, too sad and angry at him to find her voice. She drew her hands into fists at her sides. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

“Nothing is as you believe it to be.” In the shadows, his eyes gleamed brightly as he held out his hand. “Give it to me, Diana.”

Anger roiled inside her until she didn’t know what to believe about him. Except— “You took Meri to get the diary,” she seethed, now tangling her fists in her skirt to keep from attacking him. She wanted to scratch his eyes out! “It was you…”

“Never.” The force behind that struck her like a blow. “I am working to keep everyone safe, including you and Meri.”

“Safe?” The word choked from her in furious disbelief. “She’s been kidnapped!”

“She’s fine,” he said calmly. “She’s on a farm near Idlewild, being cared for by a kind old couple who are most likely spoiling her rotten.”

Her heart couldn’t believe that. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. The person who took her placed her on that farm, to keep her out of sight until you give them the diary. My men have the farm surrounded and are watching over her every moment to ensure that she’s safe.”

“Men?” she repeated, bewildered. “You havemen?” How on earth was her brother in a position to command anyone? Her world had not only turned upside down, but also inside out.

“Lots of them, all ready to move in at a moment’s notice.” In the shadows, his mouth twisted into a wry smile. “The worst that will happen to her is a scratch by one of the barn cats.”

“Don’t tease.”