Page 101 of His Betrothed
“Because I might have the proof that will convince the queen of Shaw’s guilt. And I could use your help.”
Soon the two women were back in the master suite, their heads bent over the letter written in Spanish. Lady Thornton frowned as she read.
“What does it say?”Roselyn asked anxiously.
“These are orders to kill a Mr. Smythe, a British agent who was discovered. It is signedby Señor de Alcega. Do you know this name?”
“No,” she said, refusing to acknowledge the panic that made her fingers tremble upon the letter. She pointed to the top of the parchment. “Is this not a name?”
“No, formal greetings only,” the Lady Thornton said, shaking her head. “Bah,murderers who politely greet one another.”
“Then there is no proof.” Roselyn felt as bereft and cold as if Spencer were already dead.
“What did you say the name of the traitor is?”
“Rodney Shaw,” she whispered, then half-heartedly looked at where Lady Thornton pointed.
Though the curling handwriting made it hard to see, at the end of a sentence was the word “Shaw,” as if the writer had addressedhis cohort by name.
“That’s it!” she breathed, grinning at the viscountess. She gave the older woman a hug, then blushed as she quickly pulled back. “Forgive my impertinence, my lady.”
“It is not impertinent when you are trying to help my son,” Lady Thornton said with a smile.
“But what if we’re too late? What if—”
“The queen will want to deal with Spencer herself—he was a great favorite ofhers. But she will most likely let him languish and contemplate his sins for a while.”
“Then I will send her a missive asking for an audience, to show her the proof of Spencer’s innocence.”
“You can try,querida—but she might make you wait as well.”
