Vanishing Point (Circle of Spies Novella) Read Online Free

you did?”
    “No. I wouldn’t.”
    Marissa tapped her fingernails against the door. So much for small talk. “No wonder if this is the way you treat all females.”
    He declined to answer but Marisa noticed a pulse on his cheek where he clenched his jaw. His earlier words repeated in her head like a tape recorder.  
    Keep Rottingham entertained .  
    He wasn’t here to assassinate, just to investigate .
    Her heart thrummed in her chest, while the butterflies roamed her stomach. The slight hint of a headache was coming on, probably from lack of food. She’d barely eaten today. The idea of mingling with a posh society felt wrong. She couldn’t help but feel like the country mouse visiting her cousin in the city. Did she believe Will?
    Not really.
    Just the way he smoothed out his pants so they wouldn’t wrinkle showed he was nervous; either that or he was such a perfectionist he couldn’t handle the slightest imperfection. But what would he have to be nervous about? He was obviously part of this scene. That must mean that he possibly was here to assassinate, and the real test was to see if she’d intervene or not.
    The limo crested the top of a hill. Marisa clutched her chest. “Holy brie cheese on a cracker.”  
    A mansion. More like a small castle really. A line of magnificent stone pillars stretched across the front of the building. Ivy crept up the sides leading to towers that peaked on both sides of the house.  
    Quickly, she opened her small purse decorated with rhinestones and pulled out a compact Janelle had given her. She powdered her nose and brushed up on her lipstick, taking pause to note that she still didn’t recognize the beauty looking back at her even with her make-up a tad bit smudged after traveling.
    They pulled up to the front of the house as if they were riding a horse and carriage. “Try not to embarrass yourself and don’t expect me to hold your hand.”
    “Surely you can’t leave me alone?”
      “I have my mission. You have yours.” His words, his cold tone of voice and uncaring nature caused her chest to deflate.
    One thought inspired her and filled her with courage. Her years of reading romance would finally pay off. She’d pretend she was a main character from the Regency romances she loved so dearly. Those heroines always came out on top.
    ***
    Marisa lost her breath as they swept through the doorway, her heels clicking on the marble flooring. The ceiling—was that gold? And who painted the mural on the wall—Leonardo? Heady perfume enveloped her and flashes of mink and fur coats blurred as servants welcomed guests and took their belongings. Marisa clutched her purse. She’d keep this and her cell phone inside. If only she’d figured out how to take a picture with the damn thing.  
    They followed a crowd into a humongous great room where hundreds of people already mixed. An orchestra in the corner played elegant classical music and some of her nerves faded. A variety of languages floated in the air and she wished she’d paid attention in French class back in high school. Will shook hands, smiled, and charmed every person he talked to.  
    Would he introduce her to Rottingham or point him out? Obviously not, because he completely ignored her like she was some barnacle he couldn’t pluck off and throw away.  
    His cold, callous, unfriendly demeanor disappeared with the rounds of champagne and tiny pieces of gourmet food being offered. As he got swept into the crowd, Marisa soon realized she was quite alone. He meant what he’d said.  
    She drifted through the posh society people as if she were invisible, holding onto her glass of champagne. She nibbled here and there but really would rather not have a piece of spinach stuck between her teeth if some duchess or duke talked to her. Did people still go by those titles? What did Rottingham look like? Tall and distinguished? Or a young rebel. She tried to break into conversations here and there and ask about Edward, but