My Earl the Spy Read Online Free Page B

eyes and tinkling laugh. Henry moved away as soon as was polite; he really had no idea why men were attracted to such slips of girls. He would be bored with such a chit in five minutes, and a tinkling laugh made him seriously think of strangulation.
    *
    The impeccably dressed Henry was led into the drawing room in number six Half Moon Street at the end of morning calls. Milly’s colour heightened at his entrance, and Henry’s smile widened as he saw her discomfort. “I take it your cousin did not advise you of my intention to pay a call this morning?” he asked drily.
    “No! He didn’t, but please be seated, My Lord.” Milly sat down after curtseying and busied herself with making a cup of tea for her guest.
    “I was saddened not to have the opportunity to dance with you last night; I know dancing is a pleasure you enjoy.”
    Milly flushed. “I do, but I find it preferable to miss the evening altogether rather than watch from the chaperones area.”
    “But you are no longer a chaperone.”
    “I’m no longer a debutante either. The chaperone area, or the wallflower benches, they are both effectively the same. I watch, not partake.” There was no resentment in Milly’s tone, just an acceptance of her great age; at eight and twenty it was very unlikely her company would be sought out by anyone wishing to dance. In any entertainment the hosts always ensured that the younger, more lively in society were in attendance to ensure a successful evening. Milly had not been considered part of that set for some time.
    “Matches are made even at the end of a season, Miss Holland,” Henry could not resist verbally prodding her just a little.
    Milly laughed; it was not a tinkle like Miss Beresford’s but a real laugh of amusement, which made Henry smile. “Have you noticed the unmarried ladies at the end of a season, My Lord?”
    “Obviously not in the respect that you have. Tell me more.”
    “There is a look of desperation in their eyes while they assess the poor souls they’d have rejected at the start of the season. One can almost see the thought processes as they try to decide whether to accept an undesirable proposal or risk another season. Their dilemma is almost palpable.”
    “Oh, Miss Holland! You are a delight! This is exactly why we get on so well; we have similar levels of cynicism.”
    Milly stopped smiling. “I would hope not, My Lord. And as I recall, we don’t get on well. I, for one, am thankful our views are completely at odds with each another.”
    Henry was stung by her cool tone; he had really been enjoying her company. “I see; well, in that case I shall stick to what I came here for in the first place.”
    “I would appreciate that.”
    Henry could not but admire her matter-of-fact tone. “I recall your drawing ability from the sketches you showed me during our time in Dorset, and I wondered if you would do a sketch for me?”
    Milly recalled with a blush the one time she had thought Henry was a decent man and not the unfeeling beast she now considered him. He had warned her to keep one of her drawings a secret because she had inadvertently drawn two of the men who were intent on using the beach for illegal activity. He had seemed so concerned for her safety, but now it seemed the reality was that he had not wished his planned ambush to suffer any set-back.
    “What would you wish me to do?”
    “Mr Shambles has gone to ground since that night,” Henry started. “We’ve done everything we can to try to find him but to no avail.”
    “Would it not be best to leave things as they are then?” Milly asked. “Surely if he is hiding, he won’t try to do anything again?”
    “If only that where the case,” Henry responded. “No, he will be up to his old tricks soon enough. I need to find him before he can arrange something on the scale of last time. If they’d have succeeded, it could have caused death on our streets, and we don’t want the nation in a state of panic with Napoleon