Page 84 of Isabel and the Rogue

“Still haven’t finished putting all your books away?” At Sirius’s curt nod, O’Brien looked at him askance as they walked to the draft horses’ stall. “Mrs. Ormsby said your library is your pride and joy, but I always see you here in the stables or out in the fields.”

His books, and their memories, were for the night, when sleep fled him and all Sirius had to keep him warm was the written word and his regrets.

“Organizing a library takes careful consideration, and I’m doing just that.”

Thankfully, O’Brien did not push the conversation, and soon he couldn’t if he wanted to, because the sound of pickaxes striking rock as several field hands worked to extricate debris to prepare for new plantings drowned out every other sound. It was why Sirius did not hear the approaching horse hooves until Monroe had stopped his mount next to the wagon. A flicker of unease sparked in his gut when the man thrust a piece of paper at him.

“Telegram was just delivered. Mrs. Ormsby said it was marked urgent.”

Sirius accepted it wordlessly, hastening to open it. The message was short, but it almost knocked Sirius off his feet.

Isabel departs for Mexico. Wednesday, 2 p.m. Fox

21

“So you got your wish. It seems you’re leaving.”

Isabel looked up from the letter she was writing to Padre Ignacio, her pen hovering over the paper. Sitting back, she lifted a shoulder. “I am. It wasn’t much of a struggle to accept.”

“Indeed.” Gabby wandered into the room, sitting on the edge of Isabel’s bed, her mien pale. “When you’re thanked personally by the president of Mexico and invited to serve as an assistant to the First Lady, it’s hard to say no.” Plucking at a loose thread on the counterpane, Gabby considered her. “Is this something you want to do, Isa, or do you feel like you can’t say no to it?”

Tossing her pen onto the desk, Isabel rotated in her chair to face her sister. “No, I’m very happy to have been offered this opportunity to work with Señora Maza de Juárez. I’d always hoped I would be able to return to Mexico and help with the war effort, and I’ve been working to do that this whole time.”

Gabby made a face. “What do you mean?”

Isabel bit her lip. Did she want to tell Gabby her secret? Did she trust her sister with such a truth? Looking into her sister’s eyes now, she realized how holding herself back from others had only ever hurt her. And hadn’t Gabby, and Ana María, earned her loyalty?

Squaring her shoulders, Isabel said, “Have you ever wondered why I always escaped during balls and other events?”

“I assumed you just didn’t want to be there.” Gabby snorted. “And I’ve envied you for it. I wish I could run away whenever I wanted.”

She was running away, to a small extent, but Isabel didn’t think that truth was the pressing issue of the moment. “Yes, well, you’re right, but that’s not the only reason I would slip away whenever I had a chance.”

“Well, this sounds interesting,” Gabby murmured, wiggling about.

Her sister’s eyes continued to widen and her mouth eventually slipped open as Isabel explained how Padre Ignacio had connected her with Fernando Ramírez, who then gave her the task of uncovering information the rebel government could use against the French.

“So all those times I thought you were reading, hiding away in the libraries and studies of pompous peers, you were searching through their belongings instead?” Gabby clapped her hands together. “Ay, are you serious?”

Isabel chuckled. “I am. I’ve been searching for anything that could help our people in their fight against the French. Sadly, I’ve not been very successful…until I read that letter in Westhope’s carriage.”

“¡Vaya! No me esperaba esto.” Gabby chuckled. “Here I was annoyed with you for fleeing these tedious events I’m made to attend, all to charm these gringos for Mexico, and you’ve been putting yourself in harm’s way in the name of espionage.” Her sister looked at her with starry eyes. “You’re amazing.”

Pressing her lips together, Isabel looked away. “No, I’m not. I’m terrible at this. I hadn’t found one useful bit of information during the years we’ve been here. I have been a horrible failure before now.”

“How could you call yourself a failure? You had no instruction, no tutelage, nothing but rushed directions on the eve of our departure.” Gabby tossed her hands up. “You had to teach yourself not only who was who, and who might possess useful information, but how to get into and out of rooms without being spotted. I repeat, that is amazing.”

Isabel tucked her chin to her chest. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew that was how Lord Tyrell found me in his study.”

Gabby gasped, her hazel eyes owlish. “That’s why you were in his study?”

She nodded, shame sweeping up her face.

Her sister made a rough noise in the back of her throat. “Too bad you didn’t find any of his secrets before he discovered you.”

Frowning, Isabel shook her head. “Y-you’re not upset with me?”

“About the situation with Lord Tyrell?” Gabby scoffed. “No. I don’t have to tell you that the incident in the earl’s study forced Ana María and Gideon together, and look how happy they are now. I could never be upset with how that turned out.”