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unlike the others, and its purpose isn’t just to drink toasts to the Revolution and talk of a Jacobin Utopia. Its purpose is to create chaos in this country by any means available, so that a republic modeled after the one across the Channel can supplant our constitutional monarchy.”
    He stopped pacing. “We believe we know the name of their leader, but we have no proof. And because the man is the son of an earl, we must move carefully. The earl in question is a trusted and, as far as we know, devoted friend of the royal family, so there’s a need for extreme delicacy. Do you understand me?”
    â€œI think so. Who is the man?”
    â€œI will tell you his name after you’ve agreed to help us.”
    â€œHelp you in what way?” Cass burst out, exasperated. “Forgive my ignorance, but I still don’t know what you would have me do!”
    Quinn put his fingertips together and pressed them against his lips, studying her. “I would have you befriend him.”
    â€œBefriend him,” she repeated stupidly. But even as he spoke again, the light was beginning to dawn.
    â€œMake his acquaintance, win his confidence. Your father’s just been executed, you’ve spent most of your life in France—it shouldn’t take much to convince the man you’re as devout an enemy of England as he is. Make him believe you want revenge. Let him talk of fraternité and égalité until you seem as fervent a believer in the Revolution as any Jacobin. In the meantime, keep us informed of his activities, the names of his friends, whom he meets with in secret.” He spread his hands. “Simple.”
    Cassandra came around from behind the chair and sat down. “Simple,” she breathed, massaging her forehead. She tried to gather her wits. “You want me to be a spy.”
    â€œNot—”
    â€œYou want me to befriend a man who leads a group trying to overthrow the monarchy.”
    â€œIn—”
    â€œAnd the manner in which you want me to gain this man’s confidence, as you put it, is very likely to mean taking him for a lover. Isn’t that true, Mr. Quinn? Isn’t that what you have in mind?”
    For once he was at a loss for words, but only momentarily. “Miss Merlin, it’s perfectly immaterial to me how you engage the man’s confidence. I would leave that entirely up to you.”
    â€œHow magnanimous!”
    â€œIt may be the quickest approach, then again it may not. May I speak frankly?”
    She stifled a giddy laugh. “Do you mean you haven’t been?”
    â€œI meant, may I speak my mind without fear of giving offense?”
    â€œThat depends on what you have to say.” But she thought she already knew.
    He hesitated, and she gave him credit for at least attempting to be delicate. “Contemporary morality means nothing to me, Miss Merlin; it’s too apt to be different tomorrow from what it was yesterday. But unfortunately, we live in a society governed by rather strict rules of conduct, rules that are no less binding for their being often capricious or unfair, especially as they apply to women, and—”
    â€œMr. Quinn, I thought you wanted to speak frankly.”
    He stopped and clasped his hands behind his back, bobbing a bit on his toes. “Quite so. It’s only this. I would never have suggested or implied that you become our traitor’s mistress if I hadn’t been in possession of information to the effect that such a relationship would not be a—a novel one for you, if I make myself clear. And that you would fit easily into the style of life in which our man is known to indulge.”
    â€œThe style of life—ah, I see. He must be a terrible libertine.” She was laughing softly, leaning back in her chair. “Mr. Quinn, I’m sure I should jump up and slap your face, but I fear it would do no good. My tattered reputation is beyond repair, I