Page 68 of Lady and the Scamp

Duncan had an early morning with Mr. Fog, which meant he would most likely be crawling about in the mud, and had pulled the drapes on his bed and gone to sleep. Cal’s bed was empty now and stripped of its bedding. No one had come in to replace him yet. Will’s sleeping area was much as he’d left it.

“Tell me again why you gave Mr. Fog that bottle of sherry?” Hew asked. “The man is a sadist.”

“I came to appreciate him more in the field.”

“Thenyouwake up tomorrow and crawl in the mud.” Hew held his brandy glass in his hand, having taken only a few sips. He obviously had to join Duncan in the morning for training. Will might have grown to appreciate Mr. Fog, but he didn’t miss the early mornings and evasive maneuvers class. He’d preferred to spend as much time as possible with Mr. Glass’s surveillance lessons, though obviously he should have worked harder since he didn’t manage to notice the traitor even when the man was right before him.

“I have to freeze my bollocks off, and you get to take a leave,” Hew grumbled.

“It’s just a fortnight,” Will said, taking another drink of brandy. He would be back on the train in the morning, not climbing over fences. “Then I’ll be back at The Farm.”

“For good or to pack up your personals?”

Apparently, Hew had been taking extra classes with Mr. Glass or, more likely, he was just too clever for his own good. “That remains to be determined.”

Hew set his brandy aside and sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. His blue eyes were assessing. “What makes the agent who has just saved the life of the queen decide to take a...a sabbatical? Baron is obviously champing at the bit to give you another mission. Duncan and I would jump at the chance to partner with you. Any of the instructors here would like an hour to hone your skills. But you have decided to go on holiday. Curious.”

“I’m not a code for you to crack, Hew.”

But Hew continued to study him. “It can’t be a family matter. Your sister is not taking leave. Could it have something to do with a woman?” His eyes narrowed at whatever he saw in Will’s face. “Itisa woman. Someone you met at the palace?”

“You should be assigned to interrogation,” Will said, finishing his brandy. “You’re relentless.”

“Thank you. Who is she?”

“She was my target,” Will said. “I was sent to watch her and sabotage any further efforts she made to assassinate the queen. But it turns out, she wasn’t the assassin at all.”

“And she forgave you for that assumption?”

Will gave a curt nod.

“So you are spending time with her on this leave?”

“I don’t know,” Will said truthfully. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I suppose that’s what I’ll use the fortnight to figure out.”

“You have a promising career ahead of you,” Hew said. “Don’t throw it away on a woman.”

Will raised his brows. “You don’t have a very high opinion of matrimony, I take it.”

Hew looked away, his mouth turned up in scorn. “From everything you and Miss Galloway have said, your parents havea happy marriage. Of course, you have a rosy view of the institution. But the truth is that in most cases, once the lust has faded, there’s not much there. Women are fickle. That isn’t to say men aren’t. We are worse than they are in many respects. But your success in your career as a Royal Saboteur, a position you worked toward and love, is assured. Your happiness in marriage is not.”

“Your own parents’ marriage was not a happy one, I take it,” Will said.

“It was not, but I speak from more personal experience.” Now he lifted the brandy and took a long sip. “I was married.”

“Was?”

“She’s dead.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. She died giving birth to her lover’s bastard. I didn’t wish her dead, but her death was the only thing she ever did that made my life easier. When she died, it meant I didn’t have to divorce her for crim. con.”

“Hew, I’m sorry.” Will held up a hand. “I know. I don’t need to be sorry, but...” He trailed off, not certain what to say.

“I’m jaded,” Hew said. “I know that’s what you’re thinking, but take what I say under advisement. Make sure she is worth it before you throw away everything you’ve worked for this past decade—your whole life, really.” Hew rose, gave Will a slap on the shoulder, and opened the door to the bed chamber.

Will sat alone in the living area for a long time, staring into the fire, and trying to imagine a life without Emily.

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