A Code of the Heart (The Code Breakers Series Book 3) Read Online Free

lady, but…”
    Lady Gwyneth placed her hand on his arm. “I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. After our experience together I feel as if we are well acquainted; you simply must join us.”
    Ash pulled Lady Gwyneth close to him and whispered in her ear, loud enough for Brinsley to hear him say, “You don’t need to keep touching him.”
    Lady Gwyneth stared into Ash’s eyes. Her look of longing was painful for a lonely man to watch.
    Rathbourne cleared his throat.
    Lady Gwyneth laughed merrily.
    Ash turned to Brinsley. “We will understand if you have other commitments.”
    Brinsley had planned to decline, but was now determined to accept after Ashworth’s attempt to cut him away. “I couldn’t disappoint the ladies.”
    The look Ash gave him was very clear. He was not to get any ideas about Miss Amelia Bonnington.

Chapter Two

    Amelia’s heart beat a vicious tattoo against her chest. The incessant hammering had persisted since she had first learned that Lord Brinsley was at the Rathbourne house.
    After her inexplicable, impulsive, uncharacteristic behavior, she’d hoped to never cross paths with the rogue again. She had completely blocked out his work as an agent. Besides being a rake, the man was a spy.
    The conversation around afternoon tea had remained polite, although Amelia couldn’t ignore the prickly awareness of the gargantuan man who dwarfed the chair across from her. He leaned back, insolently crossing a broad leg over the other.
    “Amelia has outdone herself with the design of my wedding ball gown,” Gwyneth gushed to Ash.
    Ash whispered to Gwyneth, “You look beautiful in anything.”
    The intimacy in his look and the way his voice deepened made Amelia look away from the couple.
    Gwyneth caught her lower lip between her teeth in a delicate nip that was unable to hide her mischievous smile. The charged tension between the couple shot like a bolt of lightning through the sunny morning room.
    Henrietta, still pale after her nap, with dark circles under eyes, sipped her tea, ignoring the heated looks and sparks between the couple. “With Gwyneth’s tall stature and deportment, creating her wedding gown must have made it much easier than designing mine.”
    Gwyneth turned in her chair. “But Henrietta, you looked like a tiny fairy princess on your wedding day. I’ll never forget the look on my brother’s face. I would never have thought that either of these gentlemen, what with their rakish reputations, would finally fall in love.”
    Henrietta laughed. “I’m afraid I’m no fairy princess. But you are correct about Cord. He did have quite a reputation.”
    “Cord should be here to defend himself.” Ash coughed behind his hand. “You know much of his reputation was attributable to his work.”
    Gwyneth rolled her eyes and turned to Ash. “Was your reputation part of your cover too?”
    “Gwyneth…” Ash pleaded. Seeking to change the subject, he turned to Amelia. “Please tell us how you go about designing a gown?”
    Gwyneth snorted then coughed into her tea. Between sputters, she teased Ash. “James Henry Ashworth, you know you have no interest in the stitch and tuck of dress making. You’re just trying to change the subject from your devilish past.”
    Ash shook his head. “I was simply engaging in polite discourse with Miss Amelia.”
    Henrietta passed the tray that had been filled with finger sandwiches, cookies, biscuits, cheese, and slices of apple. Mrs. Brompton had sent a hearty repast knowing the gentlemen would be present.
    With four brothers, Amelia was very aware of men’s hearty appetites. The thought of Lord Brinsley’s voracious appetite was speeding up her heart again. He and Ash had almost cleared the entire tray of food except for a few lonely biscuits and cheese.
    “Brinsley, please, you must finish the rest of the biscuits. Mrs. Brompton will take it as a personal affront if any food remains.”
    “Thank you. You have an amazing cook.” His broad hand