Page 58 of After the Spy Seduces
“I’m not.”
She blinked rapidly to keep back tears of rage. “If you knew where she was, then you’d free her. You’d send word to the general, and he’d—”
“She can’t come home just yet. But you have to trust me with her safety. You know that I wouldneverharm her and that I would never lie to you about her.”
She rasped out, desperate to believe him, “She’s safe?”
“Perfectly fine.”
Thank God… Oh thank you, God!A ragged breath seared her lungs as she gulped for air, and she grabbed for him to keep her knees from buckling beneath her in relief.
“My men won’t let anything happen to her, I promise you. But she can’t go home until the French have the diary. We have to play this out, all the way to the end.” He gently took her upper arms in a plea for cooperation. “Trust me, Diana. I would never lead you astray.”
She didn’t fight him when he reached into her pocket to take the diary.
As he turned his back to her in the shadows to hold it up to the torchlight slanting between the boards, he flipped through it, searching for a specific entry. He found the page he wanted and scanned over it, then he lowered it back into the shadows, where she couldn’t quite see what he was doing with it. Not that it mattered. Meri was safe, and in a few hours, the French would have the damned thing and she’d never have to think about it again.
He turned around and held it out to her. “Take it.”
“You’re giving it back?” Confusion fell over her. If Christopher was correct, and her brother was working for the French, then he shouldn’t be handing it back. He should be giving it to the French himself.Thisshould have been the exchange they’d been waiting for. “Why would you—”
“You’re going to hand this to the French,” he answered, ignoring her question. “They’ll approach you tonight, most likely before you leave the festival. Give it to them when they ask for it. They won’t harm you if you don’t fight them. And Meri will be waiting for you at Idlewild when you return.”
“Won’t you be there for the exchange?”
“No. They can’t know I’m here. Youcannottell them, understand?” He offered the diary to her again, this time making certain she took it and placed it back into her pocket. “Give this to them when they ask for it, and by dawn, you’ll be on your way home. So will Meri.”
Her heart lurched into her throat. “And where will you be?”
The flash of uncertainty in his eyes told her the truth. At least he didn’t insult her by lying to her. “You can tell the general that I’m safe and will be home as soon as possible.”
She clung to what few tendrils of hope she had left. “Can I also tell him that his son isn’t working for the French?”
He gave her a tight, chastising smile, then abruptly changed the topic, dashing all of her hopes that he wasn’t a traitor. “So I hear that you’re staying at the Mermaid. With Christopher Carlisle.”
She glared at him, offended by his prying and refusing to answer. Why should she answer his questions if he wouldn’t answer hers?
“Be careful with Carlisle, Diana. He isn’t what he seems.”
She didn’t bother attempting to hide her pain. “Neither are you.”
His smile faded.
“I know exactly what Christopher is.” And so did Garrett, obviously. “He told me that he’s working for the Home Office.”
“He’s keeping more secrets than that.”
Her heart stuttered. No, he’d told her everything… But suspicion made her whisper, “What secrets?”
“Ask him yourself.” He retreated toward the door. “Tell no one that you saw me.”
“Why can’t I—”
He slipped through the door and closed it before she could chase after him, wedging it shut so that she couldn’t open it.
“Garrett!” She pounded her fist against the planks. “Come back! I need to know—come back!”
The boards rattled beneath her pounding, but the sound was lost under the noise of the festival. With a fierce curse, she grabbed onto the door with both hands and yanked with all her strength, wrenching it open.
