Chapter 6

Six

A lex splashed a bit of water on his face and wiped away the worst of the grime with the tail of his shirt. Perhaps a fire was not a bad idea. With some hot water he might at least manage a decent shave. And though the river was rather chilly, a bath might be in order, too. Judging by the state of his stained jacket and dusty breeches, the rest of his person must be in none too pristine a state.

After a slight hesitation, he stripped off his clothes and slid into the rippling current. It was several hours past noon and the sun had burned off the morning clouds, dappling the tall grasses with a mellow warmth that looked even more inviting from where he was sitting. Ducking his head under water, he threaded his fingers through his tangled locks, then grabbed up his garments and gave them a quick rinse as well. The years of rough camp life had made him well used to such primitive conditions. With practiced ease, he scrambled back up the bank, wrung out the mass of soaking cloth and draped the items over a nearby bush to dry.

For his own dripping body he chose a patch of gently swaying meadowlark and ryegrass. The sun’s rays soon stilled the chattering of his teeth, and the sensation of the icy numbness ebbing away to a pleasant warmth left him quite content to linger until his clothes were dry as well.

As his eyes fell half closed, Alex couldn’t help but think on how, after years of enduring the hardship and the uncertainties of soldiering, his life was about to change dramatically. It was hard to imagine that this was to be his last mission. No more baths in cold rivers or weevilly biscuit for supper. The rough camaraderie of his fellow officers was about to be replaced by the polished small talk of the ton . A foray into enemy territory would soon mean attending one of the myriad glittering balls and facing the matchmaking Mamas curious as to whether the new Earl of Woodbridge was … available.

An oath formed on his lips. Hell’s Teeth. He wasn’t sure he didn’t prefer the threats of actual warfare to those of Polite Society. The thought of standing up to mere physical danger was far less intimidating than the idea of living with subtle innuendo and whispered rumors. Never had he been accused of cowardice, but a part of him wanted to flee—to Spain, to India, to the ends of the earth. Anywhere where he might avoid facing the future.

Or the past.

It was, however, inevitable. His sense of duty, and honor, would not let him desert his duties. He would return to London when this mission was finished and figure out how to deal with what the vagaries of life had placed in his hands. All the things he had never wanted—a title, a fortune, a vast estate.

And a wife.

The thought of his unknown bride brought the chill back to his bones. Good Lord, he had never even seen her face! All he recalled was that she was very small and very young. Perhaps she had been as much a pawn in the game as he had, but somehow he doubted it. The son of an earl, even a younger one, was a far greater catch than any daughter of a reprobate baron might hope to land. No doubt the little witch had been happy to go along with the travesty of a wedding, well satisfied at thinking she was soon to be mistress of her own estate, however small and run down. His lips compressed. And now, she must be rubbing her hands with glee at learning she had become a countess in the bargain.

Alex gave vent to a harsh sigh. Yes, in his experience, all females—young or old, titled or not—looked to gain something from a man, be it profit, prestige, protection or simple pleasure. There was no reason to think his nominal wife was any different from rest of her sex.

Was any woman? he asked himself with a sardonic grimace. To his own bemused surprise, the answer to such jaded cynicism that slowly took form in his head was not quite what he expected.

Perhaps there was one.

Aurora Sprague. Now there was a singular young lady. One who was, inarguably, unlike any other female he had ever encountered. She was as brave and resourceful as any of his brother officers. Which, Alex realized with a rueful smile, was about as high a praise as he could bestow on anyone. Rather than resorting to shrieks and tears when confronted with danger, she had displayed a feisty courage, relying on her own wits and determination to see her through.

Her outer toughness could not, however, quite hide what lay beneath the steely demeanor and guarded words. From the few facts he had gleaned concerning her current activities, it had become clear that she had undertaken an arduous—and expensive—journey in order to help a female of no relation, simply because the poor woman had no one else to turn to. She might claim that this rather bizarre hobby of hers was inspired simply by dislike of men, but he sensed it stemmed from far more nobler sentiments. Though she seemed loath to admit it, even to herself, kindness and compassion lay at the core of her being rather than the cold cynicism she chose to wear as one would a suit of armor.

His expression turned pensive. Certainly she had revealed a softer side in caring for him. Softer and more vulnerable. It seemed she expected nothing in return. He admitted that it was beyond his experience. It was unexpected. As was just about everything about her.

Yet another quality that had earned his grudging admiration was how she was pluck to the bone. Why, not once since he had accosted her in the gloom of her carriage had she complained of being tired or hungry or uncomfortable. Or, for that matter, any of the myriad discomforts that would have driven another female into a state of permanent hysterics.

It was not that she lacked certain other feminine … attributes. Very feminine, he might add. Though her gown was hardly designed to flatter her figure, it revealed enough of the slim, rounded hips and firm, ripe swell of bosom to have his thoughts straying far from the mission at hand.

It was his own desires that were turning traitorous on him. Never before had he allowed anything—much less a woman—distract him from his duties. With a start, he realized that instead of concentrating on how to ensnare a dangerous spy, his attention had been focused on a very different sort of lady, and how he might capture ….

Capture what? That gave him pause for thought. Oh, he wanted her. Strangely enough, more than he had ever wanted a woman before, though he could not quite explain why, even to himself. There was no question that she was not as beautiful as some of the women in his past. Nor did she lure him on with coy flirtations or seductive charm. A soft chuckle stole forth from his lips. Ha! Her idea of a murmured endearment had been a threat to strangle him.

An odd half smile played at the corners of his mouth, then quickly faded as he reminded himself that all females were adversaries of a sort. The fact that Mrs. Sprague was married and no innocent made her fair game. He was free to pursue her as ruthlessly as he meant to go after the true enemy. After all, it was clear from a number of her comments that she knew the rules and expected no quarter from men.

Alex found himself staring at the scudding clouds, their shapes changing with quixotic whim from moment to moment. Suddenly, desire was tempered by a twinge of regret, even guilt. That was the damn problem, he realized. Though why it should bother him that the young lady had been hurt in the past eluded any reasonable explanation. The stirrings of a conscience—that is, if he had one when it came to his dealings with women—was an unfamiliar sensation, and one he sought to still just as quickly as it had arisen. It wasn’t as if her life, however tragic, had anything to do with him. He had always been most careful to keep an emotional detachment from any female, especially those he had taken to his bed. This shouldn’t be any different.

“Damnation,” he muttered. He must still be suffering the effects of his fever to confuse simple lust with any other more complex feelings.

“Alex? Are you out there?” Aurora’s voice, tight with concern, floated across the field. The cry sounded again, louder this time.

He sat upright. “Yes, I’m over here.”

“Oh!” She turned and rushed forward in his direction. “I feared you might have … passed out again.”

He started to rise, then quickly thought better of it. “Er, you had better stop where you are.”

“B-but why?”

“Because if you take another step, you are going to see a great deal more of me than just my great hairy legs.” He pointed to the bush where his clothes were hung. “If you would be so good as to turn around for a moment, I shall fetch my things.”

She did as she was requested, but not before he saw her eyes flare and her face turn a distinct shade of crimson. With a mischievous grin, he couldn’t resist adding, “And no peeking.”

“Hmmph.” Her head gave a toss. “As if I should find the view in that direction of any interest whatsoever.”

A peal of laughter greeted the steely retort. “I am lucky your razor tongue is the only sharp implement you are wielding at the moment, else I should be forced to turn tail and run,” he murmured, drawing another indignant snort. “Even so, it has dealt the most grievous of all the wounds I have suffered over past few days.” He finished with the buttons of his breeches, then tugged on his shirt. “There. Now you may now admire the view with utmost propriety.”

Aurora made a point of walking toward the river without so much as a glance in his direction. He hurried to catch up and fell in with her stride. “Forgive my teasings. I did not mean to set your back up, but it is hard to resist when you look so very becoming with a flash in your eyes and a glow on your cheeks.”

To his surprise, a pinch of longing seemed to tug at her features before it was quickly brushed away by a look of wariness. “Surely you are not flirting with me, Major Woodmore?”

“Alex,” he reminded her. “And why not? Most any man would find it impossible not to engage in a little harmless flirtation with a pretty lady.” On catching a glimpse of the surprise that flickered for a moment her eyes, he added, ”Can it be that you are not used to men flirting with you, Aurora?”

She stumbled, nearly losing her balance on the rocky ground. “You have spent too much time on the Peninsula, sir, for your compliments have the ring of Spanish coin.” Shaking off the hand he had placed on her elbow, she stalked to the edge of the bank and peered down at the swirling water. “What I wouldn’t give to wash away the dust and grime, too,” she sighed, her words hardly more than a low whisper.

“You wish to bathe?” Alex came up behind her. “Then go ahead. I promise I shall be as steadfast as you were about not peeking. I warn you though, it’s cold as a witch’s ti—er, that is, it’s quite icy, but there is a shallow pool just a little farther on. Here—” He peeled off his shirt. “You may use this to dry yourself. And if you leave your things on the bank, I’ll give them a good scrubbing and hang them up to dry.”

A look of utter disbelief spread across her face.

His eyes twinkled. “Army life teaches one a great deal of useful skills.”

“More useful than those most men possess,” she replied, but there was little sting to the words. After another look of longing at the water, she turned back to him. “You promise you will not look?”

“Word of honor.” Alex draped his shirt over her shoulder. “Hurry along, while the sun is still warm. I’ll go back to the cottage as soon as I am done, so you may come out whenever you wish.”

Flashing him a grateful smile, Aurora hurried to toward the spot he had indicated.

After a few moments, he fetched her garments and after giving them a good washing hung them up in the bush. Then he forced his steps to continue away from the splash and gurgle of the river. His word was his word, he thought with wry resignation, and however strong the current of his desire, he had to abide by his pledge.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to imagine what usually lay beneath the folds of faded muslin. The graceful sway of her hips hinted at just the sort of rounded curves he longed to run his hands over and the swell of the breasts looked firm and ripe, their rosy buds ready to be taken between his teeth and teased to arousal.

Such thoughts brought back the memory of how those expressive lips of hers had felt pressed against his. Beneath the scowls and grimaces, they were tantalizingly soft and pliable. Lord, she was not nearly as cold or indifferent as she wished people to think. There was molten fire under the steel, he was sure. He had felt it in her initial response. Just as he had also felt her inexperience, her fear at in intimacy.

His brows drew together in consternation. What sort of a plaguey fool was her husband, to ignore her charms?

That was not his concern, Alex reminded himself none too gently as he threw the rough door of the cottage open and stepped into the gloom. Yet he found it hard to banish from his mind the fleeting look of need in the young lady’s eyes, made more poignant by the fact that she tried so very hard to keep it hidden.

At that very moment, had the cursed fellow been present, there might have been hell to pay.

“Has your shoulder taken a turn for the worse?” Jack looked up from sorting through the bag of supplies laid out on the table. Another roll of bedding lay on the floor, as did two battered iron pots and a small pile of kindling.

Alex growled something unintelligible, then took a seat on one of the crates. “Did you learn anything of interest?”

“I—” He paused and darted a look around the darkened interior. “Er, perhaps we should wait for Aurora to be present too, seeing as she seems to have some interesting ideas on the subject.” There was an awkward cough. “I’ll go fill the water jug for her while we wait?—”

“You will not!” At the look of surprise that sprang to the other man’s face, Alex made a grudging explanation. “She is taking a bath.”

The puzzled grimace tweaked into a rakish smile. “Lord, I am tempted to forget I am a gentleman and revert to the antics of a randy schoolboy, spying on the local village lasses.”

“I gave her my word she would not be disturbed.” The note of command in Alex’s voice was unmistakable.

Jack fixed him with a speculative gaze. “I thought you said you had not engaged in any intimacies with?—”

“I did! I mean, I didn’t!”

The other man’s eyes took on a certain glitter. “She is quite a lovely young lady, and one free to indulge in a dalliance. If you have no claim, then I am tempted to see if she might be willing?—”

“No!” Alex shifted uncomfortably on the wooden slats. “The devil take it, man,” he growled. “What I mean is, since I dragged her into this affair, she is under my … protection until I can see her safely returned to her home. It’s a matter of honor. I take it my meaning is clear?”

Even as he spoke, Alex couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted such an outburst. It was hardly his right to object if Jack wished to attempt a seduction. Why, just a short time ago, he, too, had been thinking improper thoughts with regard to the young lady’s person. But somehow, the idea of another man’s eyes—or hands—roaming over that lovely body caused a clenching of his fists, and not simply because he wished to keep such pleasures reserved for himself. Confused by his own conflicting emotions, he muttered a sharp oath. “Come now, it’s time we started thinking with our brains rather than our loins. Tell me what have you discovered. You can repeat it when Aurora returns.”

The other man’s brow furrowed slightly, but he made no reply other than to unfold a piece of paper and push it across the table. Alex took it up and skimmed over the scribbled notes. “So,” he said after a few moments. “Three possible suspects have passed through Kilmarnock.”

Jack nodded.

“Hmmm. We had better study what other route a traveler might take when coming from the south."

Soon the only sinuous curves that held thrall on their attention were the fine lines and squiggles on the rough map Jack had retrieved from his rucksack. So busy were they studying the roads and terrain leading to the coast that neither heard the faint rasp of the iron hinges as the door pushed open.

Aurora stood at the threshold, the light filtering through the still damp hair that cascaded down over one shoulder. Highlights of red and gold tangled around her fingers as they combed through the silky strands. “Do you wish for me to wait outside while you finish with your plottings?”

“You are—” Jack was already on his feet, but his words seemed to lag behind. Swallowing hard, he looked from her to Alex.

The earl stared at the play of sun and shadows upon her features, suddenly very aware of every subtle detail—the tilt of her chin, the plane of her cheekbones, the fullness of her mouth and the vibrancy of her eyes. A faint prickling sensation stirred over his bare skin and he looked away. “You are, of course, welcome to listen,” he finished gruffly, turning his attention back to the map. “The sooner we solve this, the better.”

Aurora gave one last tug at her tresses before crossing the threshold. What a strange and quixotic man this stranger was, she mused, all leers and laughter one moment, coldly calculating the next. He was certainly unlike any gentleman of her acquaintance—not that there had been that many!

Her limited contact with the opposite sex had left her with the distinct impression that men were, in general, vain, shallow, self-centered and prone by their very natures to be bullies. But while the major possessed a goodly amount of arrogance and was obviously used to having his word obeyed, she sensed there was a great deal more depth to his character than just that. It was difficult to put into words. There was an undeniable strength about him, yet oddly enough, it was more comforting than intimidating. He was kind as well, though he chose to mask it with casual bravado. Perhaps even odder was the fact that he appeared able to recognize his own foibles and find some measure of ironic humor from them.

Now, that was truly a rarity—a man who could laugh at himself.

“Your shirt is almost dry, sir.” She draped it over his shoulders as she passed by, taking great care not to touch the tanned flesh. “Put it on before you catch cold. I should not wish to be accused of sabotaging the mission, all for want of a bath.” Spying the pots on the earthen floor and the sack of provisions on the table, she scooped them up and made toward the small hearth. “Why don’t I see to some supper while you go on with your plans.”

A short while later the rich aroma of a simmering stew wafted up with the spreading warmth of the fire, causing the two men to pause for a moment in their measurements and calculations.

“By Jove, Mr. Sprague is a singularly lucky fellow,” murmured Jack as Aurora stirred some of the fresh herbs she had gathered into the mixture of lamb and turnips. “I hope he recognizes his good fortune in having a wife who is beautiful, clever and a marvelous cook, to judge by the smells drifting our way.”

Her knuckles went very white from the force with which she clenched the wooden spoon.

Unaware of her reaction, he continued on in the same light vein.” Why, if you were not already taken, I should consider falling on bended knee?—”

“Such a romantic gesture would be entirely wasted on me. I don’t plan to ever walk to the alter again.” Her mouth set in a tight line. “Not that I chose to do so the first time.”

All the humor went out of Jack’s face. “Please forgive such cow-handed teasing. I-I did not mean to upset you in any way,” he finished lamely. Striving to understand the source of her agitation, he added, “Is your husband, however unlamented, recently deceased, then?”

There was an awkward silence before Aurora answered. “I have no idea,” she said with exaggerated unconcern. “Nor do I care.” Carefully ladling a generous helping from the pot into each of the tin bowls Jack had brought from town, she carried them to the table. “Are you married, Jack?” she asked abruptly.

He shook his head.

“Then it is you who are the fortunate one.”

There was no reply, only a slight creasing of his brow as he bent his head and began to pick at his food.

“I’m afraid that like us, Jack, Aurora has taken on the sort of duties that have given her a rather jaded view of the human race. Men in particular.” Alex had not yet touched his stew and Aurora was all too aware of how his gaze had remained focused on her face. “Actually, now that I have my wits about me, I am more than a little curious to hear in more detail about the working of Sprague Agency for Distressed Females.”

Jack made a choking sound.

“That is,” continued Alex, “If it wouldn’t be too distressing.”

Striving to mask what those probing blue eyes were doing to her insides, she gave a careless shrug. “You’ve heard the gist of it. Women come to me with a problem, one that usually involves men. Using common sense and reliable sources I am almost always able to solve it.”

“For example?” Jack’s spoon hung in mid-air, stew untouched.

Aurora rubbed at her chin. “Let me see, there was a certain lady of title whose husband was being particularly intransigent about untying the purse strings for a Season in Town. Claimed there wasn’t enough blunt for it, even though the lady in question had brought a hefty fortune as a dowry. Now, she was sensible enough to decide the little matter was worth investigating, so she came to me.”

“And then?” prompted Jack, who was clearly hanging on every word.

“And then only the Good Lord could help the poor devil,” quipped Alex with an amused chuckle.

Aurora ignored his interruption. “Well, it was really quite simple. The pompous prig was so sure of himself that he consigned his frequent billet doux to the waste bin, where any maid might retrieve them, rather than locking them away in his desk or burning them in the grate. He also made the rather foolish mistake of riding past where the milkmaids churned the cream on his way to the summer house by the lake. That made it even easier to discover that he was tossing up the skirts of not one, but three of the local ladies.”

Both men made a weak attempt at a grin.

“Once I had the basic information in hand, it was child’s play to make a quick trip into the nearest town of any note and visit the purveyors of such fripperies as filigree ear bobs, silk parasols and the like, always implying how much I wished to emulate a certain gentleman’s purchases. The list was quite extensive.” There was nothing forced about the smile that spread over Aurora’s lips. “When presented with a full overview of the situation, he became eminently reasonable about how expenses might be reallocated to allow his wife to spend time—and a full purse—in London.”

Jack made a convulsive swallow, but not of any morsel of lamb or turnip. “Amazing. I, er, understand now how you have come by your expertise in the field.”

“Of course,” she added, unable to suppress a touch of smugness in her voice. “There are the cases where a merchant or supplier simply seeks to cheat one of my clients because she is a female, but those are usually not so interesting, for they involve little more than patience and a skill for arithmetic.”

It was not hard to read the look of admiration writ across Jack’s open face. Alex’s expression was much more difficult to decipher, especially as he had turned away to contemplate the fire, as if the flickering embers were of more interest than any of her words.

It didn’t matter a whit what he thought, she reminded herself. She had long ago left off caring what others thought of her.

Was it because rejection still had the power to wound after all these years?

Aurora shoved such disquieting insight aside, along her unfinished meal. As she made to rise, Jack ventured a tentative question. “I do not mean to pry, Aurora, but it is clear from your speech and your manners that you are a lady.” His voice trailed off in question.

She ducked head. “My father was a baronet.”

“And Mr. Sprague?”

“A younger son.”

“You did not care for the match?”

“I was not of an age to object.”

Jack’s brows draw together. “Sprague,” he repeated. “From what part of the country did you say he?—”

“I didn’t,” said Aurora quickly. “Please, I really do not wish to discuss the matter any further. It has absolutely nothing to do on our current situation. And seeing as in a few days we will go our separate ways and never see each other again, it is just as well to remain strangers.”

He nodded. “As you wish.” Then, following her lead, quickly changed the subject. “Speaking of our mission, you have heard what the information I managed to pick up in Kilmarnock. Is there anything you wish to add to our plans?”

She turned the question over in her mind. “Not as of yet, but I would counsel you to keep alert. I do not share in your belief that she will not show up because the major is here.”

“And why is that?” Alex’s eyes were half closed and his voice came in a lazy whisper.

“Because men are not the only ones for whom danger is a potent elixir.” Seeing she had startled him into full wakefulness, she went on. “We all agree the spy you seek is both clever and willing to take great risks. My guess is that she sees herself as able to outwit you, regardless of the fact that you know she is coming.”

It may have been a trick of the light, but Aurora thought she detected a glint of humor in his gaze.

“Well, then may the best man win.”