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expression of boredom now on the lean features. “This is a tedious waste of time, madame. I don’t employ women in my business, and Simon knows it.”
    “How very definite you sound,” Gabrielle said, seemingly unperturbed. “Women make good spies.They have different assets and techniques from men, I would imagine.”
    “Oh, they’re tricky enough, I grant you,” he declared as indifferently as before. “But they’re more vulnerable … they hurt more easily.”
    Gabrielle shrugged. “If a woman decides to take the risk and accept the consequences, it’s hardly your responsibility, Lord Praed.”
    “On the contrary. Each agent is part of an interlocking network … dependent upon one another. In my experience, women are not good team members. And they don’t stand up well to pressure.” His lips thinned. “You understand me, I’m sure.”
    Gabrielle nodded. “Women are more likely to talk under torture.”
    “Not more likely,” he said with a shrug. “Just more quickly. In the end, everyone talks. But the lives of an entire cell can depend on the extra hour a man can hold out.”
    “I believe I have as much fortitude as most men,” Gabrielle declared.
And certainly as much experience in your business, Sir Spymaster
—but that was a private reflection. “I can move freely between England and France,” she continued. “I speak both languages without accent.” She sat on the edge of his bed with an air of calm assurance that Nathaniel found supremely irritating. It seemed calculated to increase the disadvantages of his position, huddled in bed in his nightshirt like some invalid.
    “You’ll have to forgive me,” he said sardonically, “but I don’t trust women.” He began to count off on his fingers. “As I said, they don’t make good team members; they lack concentration; they can’t focus on one task; and in general they fail to grasp the significance of information. I do not employ women.”
    Clearly a man of blind and stupid prejudice. It was amazing he was as successful and highly regarded as he was
.
    “I also know Talleyrand very well.” She continuedto enumerate her credentials as if she hadn’t heard him. “He was a close friend of my father’s and his house is always open to me. I move in political circles in Paris and have entrees at court. I even know Fouché quite well. I could be very useful to you, Lord Praed. I don’t think a spymaster can afford to indulge his prejudices about women in general when faced with such advantages in a potential agent.”
    Nathaniel hung on to his temper by a thread. “I am not prejudiced toward women in general,” he said in frigid accents. “As it happens—”
    “Oh, good,” she interrupted cheerfully. “I’m glad we’ve established that. Working together could be tricky if you really dislike women. Simon seemed to think that I could be put to good use discovering the identities of the French agents in London.”
    “Simon is not responsible for selecting agents, madame.” Why did he have this almost desperate feeling of facing an immovable object?
    “No,” she agreed. “You are. But I’m sure you take advice. And Simon is a very senior minister in Lord Portland’s government.” She examined her fingernails with an air of great interest.
    Her hands were long and narrow, he noticed, the nails short, the fingers white and slender. He pulled himself up sharply. She had just made the outrageous suggestion that he was bound to submit to the instructions of Simon Vanbrugh. Only the prime minister had the power of veto over the affairs of the secret service … and even that was open to question.
    “You are greatly mistaken, madame, if you think I can be influenced against my better judgment by anyone.
My
word is the last one, countess, and the only one that counts. I do not employ women agents.”
    “There are exceptions to every rule, my lord,” she pointed out with a tranquil smile. “My credentials are impressive, don’t