Page 37 of A Dash of Disguise

“You should be in your bed recovering. Not gallivanting around London.” He immediately regretted the words but couldn’t take them back. He forced his voice into a pleasant tone. “Reese explained about tonight’s soiree. I know how much the cause means to you.”

“You do?” Surprise widened her eyes.

“I never met your grandmere, but I know how important she was to you and Roddy.” Dash lowered himself to the settee, wishing she were closer so he could take her into his arms and wipe away the sadness that crossed her face at the mention of her grandmere.

“What news of Roddy?” She looked down at her lap, away from his gaze.

How thoughtless of him not to speak of Roddy right away. Perdita was the only woman who caused him to lose his concentration by her mere presence.

“We haven’t found him yet. But we will soon. I spoke with Pitt, and we have the motive, which will lead us to the kidnappers.”

She twisted her hands together. “I don’t understand.”

“What I’m about to tell you, you must never confide to anyone, including Miss Rothsby. It is imperative for Roddy and our country’s safety.”

“He is on a secret mission?” Her voice lifted. “This is good news.”

“Roddy was involved in a covert operation when he was in France. Pitt and his supporters funded French royalists to remove Napoleon and return the monarchy to France. Roddy brought the funds to France to give to the lords who want to overthrow Napoleon.”

Dash didn’t share that Yardley was part of the group to fund the assassination. He didn’t want Perdita to take it upon herself to pursue Yardley after hearing that she and Miss Rothsby had been investigating him. Dash also didn’t mention that Pitt and his secret committee hadn’t shared the plan with Rathbourne, who was livid at the covert operation. Pitt’s reasoning was that it gave them deniability during the peace treaty negotiations. The truth was that Pitt didn’t want a veto or interference from the intelligence community. On hearing the news of Roddy’s disappearance, Pitt became very forthcoming.

Pitt’s man who orchestrated the exchange was captured by Fouche’s secret police and tortured. It didn’t take a highly trained operative to conclude that Napoleon wanted the names of his French enemies to eliminate them. Napoleon and Fouche excelled at getting rid of the little general’s enemies. So much for thelibertefor France.

“Roddy was kidnapped to identify the French lords who plotted against Napoleon?” All color left her face. “Roddy will never give them the names.” Her quivering lips were pale.

“Perdita, let me hold you. I can’t see you like this.” Dash jumped from the settee.

She shook her head and put her hands up to stop him. “I’m fine. What is to be done?”

He didn’t want to leave her but couldn’t go against her wishes. He sat nearer to her.

“Rathbourne is using every resource to search for him. His men are reaching out to the underground connections and their informants. We know that Haversham has a smuggling operation down on the docks. Rathbourne’s men are tearing the docks apart to find Roddy. Someone will have either seen or heard about Roddy. We will find him.”

“Dash, be honest with me.” He rejoiced at the use of his name on her lips, but it was for the wrong and awful reason. “Do you think they’ve already killed Roddy?” She stared at him, searching his face. The vulnerability in her eyes and voice was more excruciating agony than any stab wound that he had received.

He knelt next to her, taking her cold hand in his. “I am sure that Roddy is alive.” He didn’t know for how long, once they were able to get the information from him. Roddy was strong, but no man could withstand the torture forever. Fouche and his secret police were known for their brutal techniques.

“Thank you. But I know once they have the information, they’ll have no reason to keep him alive.”

So much for protecting Perdita from the harsh reality. “Yes, except I don’t believe anyone who is helping the French would kill a titled peer. It will bring too much scrutiny to their illegal and treasonous activities. I will never stop hunting them. Nor will Rathbourne.”

“You speak of Haversham and his associates.”

“Haversham is a broker and a businessman. He doesn’t have loyalty to either side. He only seeks a profit. He has many avenues for making money, including blackmailing peers with their gambling debts to turn over state secrets to sell to the French. As you and Miss Rothsby have discovered about Yardley. And assisting in Roddy’s disappearance smells of Haversham and his foul gang.”

“You know of our work. Our plan?” She tried to pull her hand away, but he wasn’t willing to release her now that he had her. He smoothed his thumb over her palm.

“Lord Rathbourne shared that you wanted to prove that women are capable of intelligence work. He is very impressed with your methods of gathering data. Not that I was surprised. You’ve always been an incredible woman, Perdita.” Dash chose not to mention his initial reaction to the idea.

Her mouth opened and closed, and it would be so easy to lean in and take her lips. But not yet. Not until he’d made things right with her. He had a lot of groveling and begging ahead.

“Why would he reveal our plan for a school for women to you?” Her surprised response made it clear that she didn’t hold him in the highest regard.

“He didn’t mention the school precisely. But I can see how it would appeal to you.”

Dash and Roddy had been shocked when Perdita, who wasn’t interested in a lady’s conduct, flourished at the finishing school. Perdita and a lady’s finishing school were an oxymoron. She had developed friendships with the other young women, which had been missing in her life. “You would teach women self-defense and horsemanship? And Miss Rothsby would be part of this school too?”

Dash had already calculated that a school wouldn’t put Perdita in direct danger. He could support the idea of the school. He had conditions for her involvement, but he would negotiate when she was his wife and in his bed.

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