“Yes,” Cassie admitted as she got to her feet. “I thought you only conform to customs when they suit you.”

Lady Agnes grinned. “You’re very perceptive. Sometimes it suits me to withdraw, and when I do, I have a decanter of the same excellent Ballard port in the morning room.”

Cassie glanced at Grey. He looked wary but resigned to being left with the general and Kirkland. After he gave her a small nod of reassurance, she left with the two older women. Closing the morning room door behind her, she said, “I’d like some of that port to support me in the upcoming interrogation, please.”

Lady Agnes poured three glasses of tawny port and distributed them. “I want to know more about Wyndham’s captivity and rescue. If I ask him directly, he’ll get all stiff and stoic and claim that all is well.”

“Perhaps,” Emily Cantwell said thoughtfully. “But he was always better at speaking his mind than most of our boys.”

“Then, yes,” Lady Agnes agreed. “But he was in reserved English gentleman mode this evening.” She fixed Cassie with a gimlet gaze. “I won’t ask you to violate his privacy, but”—her face tightened—“will he ever … be himself again?”

“He is himself, though it’s a self formed by traveling an unexpected path,” Cassie said gently. “He will become more relaxed in society, I’m sure. But he will never be that uncomplicated golden boy again.”

Lady Agnes exhaled. “I knew that, of course, but it helps to hear it from the woman who knows him best. Of course he’s been changed by his experiences. But I pray that in time he’ll be whole and happy.”

“I always thought he’d be a wonderful father,” Miss Emily said. “He was so patient with the younger boys.” Both women turned assessing gazes on Cassie.

“Are you planning on giving me the lecture about not developing expectations of Wyndham?” she asked with acid sweetness. “No need, Kirkland has already done so.”

Lady Agnes winced. “I didn’t intend a lecture. You’re a woman of the world and you understand the situation. But I do want to thank you for all you’ve done. For rescuing him, for being there as he recovers from all he’s endured. I suspect the price for you will be high.”

“As you say, I am a woman of the world. I have no illusions.” Cassie sipped the excellent port, thinking that Lady Agnes’s comment was another oblique reference to Grey’s general lovability. “Since we are hinting around the subject of Wyndham’s future, I will give you my private opinion. I wouldn’t be surprised if he never marries. Or if he does, it would be far in the future.”

Miss Emily’s brows arched. “You can’t convince me that he has lost his appreciation of women!”

No one knew better than Cassie how much Grey liked women, but this conversation had crystallized an insight. “He likes women very well, but after ten years behind bars, he hates being trapped by society, by responsibility, by other people’s expectations. He will not shirk those responsibilities, but I think that he will see marriage as one set of bars that he can avoid.”

After a long silence, Lady Agnes said, “You’re remarkably clear-sighted, Miss Fox. As a woman who has avoided the bars myself, I can understand that.”

“But it will be a waste of a good father,” Miss Emily said with a sigh.

Grey and Cassie had agreed that afternoon that for discretion’s sake, they should sleep in their separate rooms. But in the dark hours after midnight, Grey’s resolve snapped when a nightmare of darkness and desolation yanked him awake.

Shaking, he crossed the corridor to Cassie’s room. She woke instantly, as a good spy needed to do, and equally swiftly recognized her visitor. Silently she extended a hand. He took it gratefully and slid into the bed next to her.

In her arms, he slept.


Chapter 27

With a groan, Grey sat up in bed. “It’s almost dawn. I’d better slink back to my own room.”

Cassie wrapped an arm around his waist. “This doesn’t seem like the sort of household where anyone is easily shocked.”

“Perhaps not, but I don’t want to put Lady Agnes in an awkward situation.” He kissed her forehead. “Don’t complain. You get to stay in this nicely warmed bed.”

“It just got a great deal colder,” she sighed as he stood up.

“We have a cozy journey to London ahead of us. By the time we reach there, you’ll be bored with me.” He opened her door, checked that no one was in sight, and slipped back to his own room, thinking there was a reason people got married. Sharing a bed legally would be much more pleasant than tiptoeing through icy corridors.

He wasn’t going to sleep again, so he dressed and headed downstairs in hopes of acquiring a cup of tea since the kitchen staff started early. He found not only a friendly cook and tea, but toasted bread with honey. He was happily consuming a second slice when Lady Agnes appeared fully dressed and with amusement in her eyes. “Good morning, all.”

As Grey murmured a response, the cook poured a cup of tea, added honey and milk, and handed it to the headmistress. After a deep swallow, Lady Agnes said, “Complications have arisen, Wyndham. Come with me and I’ll show you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” It was easy to fall back into schoolboy mode. Though Lady Agnes didn’t seem upset, he was curious, so he swallowed the last of his toast and honey and followed her upstairs. To his surprise, she led him to her private rooms and threw open the door to her dressing room.

“Behold the complications,” she said with a laugh.

Curled up on an expensive velvet cloak were Régine and three fat little puppies who were blindly nursing. “Good heavens!” Grey knelt to examine the new arrivals, keeping a careful distance away. “Aren’t you looking proud of yourself, Régine. Apart from eating enough for three horses, you kept your secret well. I wonder what the father looked like? The puppies look even more mixed than their mother.”

“They’re adorable,” Lady Agnes said firmly. “Lineage doesn’t matter.”

Grey grinned. “There speaks a woman with some of the bluest bloodlines in Britain.”

“I didn’t choose my ancestors any more than these puppies chose their father.” Lady Agnes swallowed more tea. “I rather like mixed breeds. More surprises.”

Régine briefly looked up from licking the pups, then returned to her washing. Grey got to his feet. “I have no idea how she got in here, Lady Agnes. I will replace the cloak when I have money again.”

Lady Agnes made a dismissive gesture. “No need to worry about that, but you can’t take a new mother and her puppies in a carriage to London.”

He laughed at her expression. “You aren’t the least bit sorry, are you?”

She grinned. “I’ve a weakness for all young creatures, whether children, kittens, or puppies. I’d love to keep one of these. My old dog died a few weeks ago, and I’ve been thinking it’s time I looked for a new pup. There are boys here who would like puppies, too.” She looked thoughtful. “There is one lad in particular who really needs a pup of his own.”

“You can give away the puppies, but I’ll be back for Régine when her offspring are old enough to do without her.” He extended one hand, and when Régine didn’t seem inclined to bite, he scratched her head. “I’ll miss her, though.”

“You’ll just have to keep your Miss Fox close then,” Lady Agnes said blandly.

Grey certainly intended to try.

After a fast trip up to London, the luxurious coach rumbled to a halt in front of Kirkland House. As the footman lowered the steps, Kirkland offered his hand to Grey. “I’ll call in Exeter Street tomorrow. If you need anything, just send word.”

“I’ll be fine.” Grey shook his friend’s hand. “When I feel ready to return to the bosom of my loving family, you’ll be the first to know.”

“More likely the second to know.” Kirkland inclined his head to Cassie, then climbed out of the carriage.

After the door was closed and the carriage resumed its progress across the city, Grey settled back in the seat and took Cassie’s hand. “Was London always this crowded, smelly, and noisy?”

“Yes, which is probably why you’ve buried those memories.” She laced her fingers through his. “Does London make you want to run screaming?”

“Somewhat.” His smile was twisted. “I’m doing better than I would have even a week ago. But I’m glad to be heading to a cave where I can hide for the rest of the day to recover from the journey.”

“For the rest of today, you can relax. But I warn you that as of tomorrow I’ll be marching you out to sample the delights of London,” she said. “Starting with the Covent Garden market. It’s so close to the house that if you run screaming, you won’t even be out of breath by the time you return to your cave.”

“Very thoughtful of you. But I think that if you’re with me, I should be able to control myself under most conditions.” He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead. “I don’t know why I find your presence so easy, but I’m grateful for it.”

“I may be easier because I didn’t know you before Castle Durand,” she said thoughtfully. “I don’t expect you to be the same as you were at twenty. And because I know you’re not broken beyond repair, I’m not hovering and worrying and missing the glittering Lord Wyndham of fond memory. I’ll settle for seeing you happy as the man you’ve become now.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “The fact that I’m an amazing lover isn’t part of your calculations?”

She laughed. “That belongs on a different set of scales, my lord.”

“Scales of solid gold, I’m sure.” His smile faded as he gazed out the window. “My parents might be in London waiting for Parliament.”

“Perhaps. Even if they’re here, you needn’t see them until you want to.”

“I do want to see them. Just … not yet.” He made an effort to lighten his tone. “I’d rather visit Astley’s Circus or some other entertainment. I assume the Theatre Royal is still in Covent Garden?”