How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy Read Online Free

do with it. Stepping away at the height of his influence and prestige was not a choice Will could see making in a similar position, and he found it hard to imagine how someone like Dominic could exchange his place at the center of power for a life of quiet domesticity.
    A rather meditative silence settled over the room. The duke, never one to waste time or mince words, stared absently at a painting of a hunting scene on the wall behind Dominic’s desk, his thick brows pulled together in a slight frown. The spymaster remained silent, clearly waiting for his superior to begin.
    â€œWell, sir, why did ye bring us here today?” Alec finally asked, impatience giving his voice a faint burr.
    Will winced at the break in protocol. But Alec had always been impatient with social niceties and rarely met a rule he wasn’t tempted to break.
    Dominic muttered something disapproving under his breath but, fortunately, the duke chose not to bristle up. Instead, he ignored Alec and lifted an eyebrow at Will. “I suppose I was the last person you expected to see today,” he commented.
    â€œI must admit to some surprise, sir.” It seemed odd that his father would choose to visit Dominic’s town house when he could easily order them to appear at his office at the Horse Guards. His father was also not in uniform and his carriage had been nowhere in sight on the street, all of which was highly suggestive of a desire to avoid prying eyes. “Perhaps you wished for this meeting to be unobserved by your staff at the Horse Guards?”
    â€œI wish for it to be a bloody secret,” his father said bluntly. “We’ve got a damned awkward situation on our hands, and we need you and your cousin to handle it.”
    Will didn’t like the sound of that. “Indeed, sir? How can we be of assistance?”
    When the duke’s gaze flickered to Dominic, the spymaster took up the conversation. “Gentlemen, I’m well aware that you both deserve a well-earned rest. Nevertheless, your services are required on an urgent mission.”
    â€œChrist,” Alec groaned. “Not Napoleon again, for God’s sake.”
    Dominic cracked a slight smile. “No, he’s well contained, I assure you. This is a matter closer to home. In fact, most of the mission will likely take place here in London.”
    â€œAnd what is the nature of this mission?” Will had to rein in his frustration. Dominic was correct. He and Alec did deserve a rest, and the thought of yet another espionage mission made him want to curse long and loud.
    â€œThe nature of the mission is stopping an assassination,” the duke answered sharply. “Possibly a royal assassination that could happen within the next few weeks.”
    Even Alec couldn’t help looking stunned. “Ye’re joking, aren’t you?”
    The duke’s gaze narrowed. “I wish I was, Captain, and I’ll thank you not to interrupt me again,” he said irritably.
    Properly reprimanded, Alec grimaced and murmured an apology.
    â€œForgive me, sir,” Will said, hoping to draw the duke’s ire away from Alec. “Is there any indication of the target of such an attempt? Is it the Prince Regent, or perhaps yourself?”
    Will and the duke were not particularly close—after all, he hadn’t met the man in person until he was sixteen. Still, the idea of his father facing that kind of danger tensed every muscle in his body. The threat of assassination wasn’t hard to imagine, since it had been only three years since Prime Minister Spencer Perceval had been the victim of just such a foul crime.
    Dominic smoothly took back control of the discussion. “At this point, we’re lacking that sort of precise information.” He glanced at the duke. “With your permission, your Highness, I’ll start at the beginning.”
    â€œThat would be helpful,” Alec muttered under his breath.
    This time it