“Cassie!” Dark haired and stunning, Lady Kiri Lawford emerged from the drawing room and enveloped Cassie in a hug. “Since we’re going to the theater and were in the neighborhood, I decided to drop by some new perfumes for when you returned, but I didn’t expect to see you. I’m so glad you are safely home again!”

Cassie laughed and hugged her friend with care, since Kiri was dressed in a dashing green evening gown. “I am a woman of mystery, my movements never to be predicted.” Then she registered the fact that Kiri had said “we.”

“I’m glad to see you’ve cheated the devil again, Cassie,” a deep voice said.

Cassie looked over Kiri’s shoulder as a tall, powerfully built man entered the foyer from the drawing room. Damian Mackenzie was smiling and more than handsome in formal evening wear.

Cassie’s first reaction was pleasure. She always enjoyed Mackenzie, and it was hardly surprising to see him with his new wife.

Her second reaction was, Damnation! But it was too late for retreat. Mac’s gaze moved behind her and he stopped dead. “Ye gods, is that you, Wyndham?” he breathed. “Or am I hallucinating?”

Even without looking, Cassie sensed Grey tensing, but his voice was steady as he stepped forward. “It’s early in the evening for hallucinations, Mac.” He offered his hand. “So I think I must be real.”

Mackenzie’s face lit up. “Kirkland would never admit you were dead, and damned if he wasn’t right again.” Exuberantly he seized Grey’s hand in both of his. “I’ve never been so glad to be wrong in my life!”

Seeing Grey next to Mackenzie’s broad, athletic figure made Cassie realize how thin Grey still was. But he smiled with genuine pleasure as he shook Mac’s hand. “I’m rather pleased about it, too.” He bowed to Kiri. “And surely this magnificent creature is your wife, Ashton’s sister?”

“You’re as good at flattery as Mackenzie, Lord Wyndham.” Kiri’s shrewd gaze moved from Grey to Cassie. “You must be tired, so we won’t keep you with questions about what happened.” She glanced at her husband. “We need to be on our way to the theater. Cassie, may I call on you tomorrow to catch up on the gossip?”

“I’d love to see you, but not before midafternoon since we’ll be out earlier.” Cassie caught her friend’s gaze. “Don’t tell anyone we’re back.”

“So you’re not yet officially returned, Wyndham?” Mackenzie commented. “I imagine adjusting to London takes time after ten years abroad.”

“Especially after ten years in prison,” Grey said tersely. He and Cassie had discussed what he would say about his long absence, and he’d decided to keep the explanation as simple as possible. Kiri and Mac were in the inner circle who might be told more, but the details could wait.

“Then we’ll not speak of it until the miracle is official.” Mac hesitated. “Is there any single-sentence explanation you can give to assuage my curiosity?”

Grey’s mouth twisted. “I was a fool, and paid for it with ten years of my life.”

“Was a woman involved?” When Grey nodded, Mackenzie said, “Some night when we’re drunk enough, I’ll tell you how being foolish about a woman got me flogged, almost hanged, and tossed out of the army.”

Grey’s smile turned genuine. “Good to know I’m not alone in my foolishness.”

Kiri shot her husband a curious glance. Cassie had the sense that Kiri knew the story, but was surprised that Mac was willing to talk about it. Mackenzie must have guessed that sharing his failings would make his old friend feel better.

Mac laid his hand on the small of Kiri’s back to usher her out. “If there is anything I might do to ease your return, Wyndham, Cassie knows where to find me.”

When they were gone, Grey wrapped his arm around Cassie and drew her close. “Obviously this house is not as private as you and Kirkland thought. I wonder what old schoolmate will pop in next?”

“I didn’t give enough thought to the fact that this is a center for Kirkland’s work,” Cassie said apologetically. “I can’t think of any other old schoolmates who might appear, but that may be lack of imagination on my part.”

“Will Mackenzie or Lady Kiri tell others that I’ve returned from the dead?”

She shook her head vehemently. “Absolutely not. The first thing Kirkland’s agents learn is discretion.”

“That gorgeous creature Mac married is another agent?” Grey asked, surprised, as they headed up the stairs side by side. “For that matter, I didn’t know that Mackenzie dabbled in the murky undercurrents of intelligence work.”

“That wasn’t very discreet of me to reveal that,” Cassie said ruefully. “Though you would have figured it out quickly enough.”

“Lady Kiri was an unlikely visitor to a spy house,” Grey agreed. He was looking drained by the day’s activities.

“A pity so many people liked you,” she said as she opened the door. “It makes for very energetic celebrations of your return to life.”

Grey’s expression eased. “Mackenzie was always energetic. Rather like a large and likable puppy. Now that I see Mac again, I realize that there must have been more going on under his surface than I realized when I was a callow youth.”

“Isn’t that true for everyone?” She unfastened her cloak. “More under the surface than is visible?”

“Not me. I was entirely on the surface.” He hung their cloaks in his wardrobe. “No more substance than a sparrow.”

“Not a sparrow. A glittering golden finch.”

He laughed. “I am correctly classified. Thank you, Catherine.”

His brows drew together when he saw her shiver at his use of her real name. “I won’t call you Catherine if it bothers you. I’ve always thought it a lovely name, and it suits you. But if it calls up too much pain …”

“The name does call up deep feelings, but it’s not all pain.” She considered. “I wouldn’t want the whole world to call me Catherine, but I don’t mind if you do sometimes.”

“Very well, Catherine.” He brushed a kiss on her hair. “Cassandra. Cassie. The names suit different aspects of your personality.”

She narrowed her eyes and said mysteriously, “I am a spy, a woman of a thousand disguises. With whom will you sleep tonight?”

Laughing, he drew her into his arms. “All of you!”


Chapter 30

Cassie and Grey were discussing a boat ride down to Greenwich when Kirkland appeared to ruin their breakfast. “What’s wrong?” Cassie asked as soon as she saw him.

“Am I that obvious?” he said tiredly.

Cassie’s “Yes” clashed with Grey’s “No.”

“I’m glad I can still mystify some people.” Kirkland accepted the cup of steaming tea that Cassie poured for him. After a deep swallow, he said, “I’m afraid I’m the bearer of bad news, Wyndham. I’ve just learned that your father is critically ill.”

Grey’s face paled. “At Summerhill?”

Kirkland nodded. “I don’t know any details, but … I’m told his life is despaired of. You might want to reconsider visiting your family as soon as possible.”

“I’ll go tomorrow. Can you arrange a carriage?”

“I’ll have one here first thing in the morning.”

Grey turned to Cassie, his gaze stark. “Will you come with me? I can’t manage this on my own.”

She gasped. “I can’t go with you to your family estate!”

Grey caught her hand. “Please, Cassie! I need you.”

“If you need support, take Kirkland.” Cassie shot a burning glance at the other man. Wyndham was supposed to be Kirkland’s project, not hers!

“It isn’t me he needs, Cassie. But you’ve already done more than enough.” Kirkland rose from the table. “I need to speak with the Powells, so I’ll leave the two of you to sort this out.”

“Tactful of Kirkland to let us argue in private,” Cassie said after the door closed. “But the answer is the same. Taking your mistress to your family home would be scandalous under any conditions, much less when your father may be dying.” Her mouth tightened. “Nor will anyone believe a man like you with a woman like me.”

Grey looked blank. “Why not?”

“Look at us! A gentleman and a washerwoman.” Furiously she stood and yanked on his arm, pulling him to his feet so they could see their reflections in the mirror above the sideboard. Grey was not only strikingly handsome, but in an aristocratic way. Cassie looked like an aging peasant, not fit to be even his servant. “Unattractive men with money can easily find a beautiful woman, but handsome men with money don’t choose plain, aging women.”

He studied their images in the mirror. “Strange. I see a fractured man who can barely manage day to day, and a woman with the heart of a lion and more beauty than she allows the world to see.”

She bit her lip, fighting an urge to weep. “You may believe that, but no one else will look at us as you do.”

Turning from the mirror to her, he said, “I agree that you can’t go as my mistress. That would be most improper. You must go as my fiancée.”

Cassie thought she was beyond shock, but at that, her jaw dropped. “I told Kirkland that you weren’t mad, but apparently I was wrong!”

He smiled. “When you’re better dressed, no one will question us being together.”

“But there isn’t time for new clothing!” she said with exasperation as she thought of her wardrobe. There wasn’t a single item suitable for wearing at a nobleman’s country estate. The plain dark clothing she kept here in London would have suited a middle-aged widow of modest means. Not a single garment could claim to be fashionable or flattering. “Old gowns from a rag shop will not turn me into a plausible fiancée and there’s time for nothing else.”

Ignoring her comment, he said earnestly, “You don’t have to marry me. Why on earth would you want to? Just pretend to be my intended bride for a week or two until I’ve come to terms with my family. Then you can end the engagement and return to London.”