скачать книгу бесплатно
Courting Danger With Mr Dyer
Georgie Lee
A stolen kiss from a spy!Working undercover for the government, Bartholomew Dyer must expose a nefarious plot to make Napoleon the ruler of England! He needs access to the highest echelons of Society to find those involved, so he’s forced to enlist the help of the woman who jilted him five years ago—Moira, Lady Rexford.Moira's widowed, yet still as captivating as ever, and Bart’s determined not to succumb to her charms a second time. But as they race against time Bart suspects it’s not their lives at greatest risk—it’s their hearts…
A stolen kiss from a spy!
Working undercover for the government, Bartholomew Dyer must expose a nefarious plot to make Napoleon the ruler of England! He needs access to the highest echelons of Society to find those involved, so he’s forced to enlist the help of the woman who jilted him five years ago—Moira, Lady Rexford.
Moira’s widowed yet still as captivating as ever, and Bart’s determined not to succumb to her charms a second time. But, as they race against time, Bart suspects it’s not their lives at greatest risk—it’s their hearts...
‘You’re in a position to become better acquainted with Lord Camberline, but your involvement will be strictly limited to social engagements and nothing else,’ Bart insisted.
Her astonishment gave way to a sideways teasing smile. ‘You mean I won’t be able to point a pistol at other people or you?’
‘You can point a pistol at me any time you like.’ He enjoyed this saucy Moira, and was elated by her tacit agreement. It meant they didn’t have to part just yet.
‘I can’t simply call on a marchioness and discuss her son,’ she protested.
‘You can if you become better friends with her. There’s a painting exhibition tonight at the Royal Academy and Lord Camberline and his mother will be there.’
‘If they suspect anything, what shall I say?’ she asked.
‘You’ll have to come up with something.’
‘Oh, well, if it’s as easy as that I should have no trouble!’ She laughed.
He winked at her. ‘Welcome to the world of intrigue.’
Author Note (#u0c33e761-b112-50cb-bb5c-c745aa0a3725)
Writing Courting Danger with Mr Dyer was a new challenge for me. Some of my previous stories have had elements of intrigue in the plot, but intrigue wasn’t as critical to those stories as it is to this one. It was fun to write the story not only from Bart’s perspective as a member of the espionage community, but also from Moira’s position as an outsider. Her innocence where plots and treason are concerned was kind of like mine when I began my research. I didn’t realise how much cloak-and-dagger work was going on during this time period.
In order to craft the treason plot that Bart and Moira work to uncover I did a great deal of research on spying and plots in and around the Regency period. William Wickham and Mr Flint—two men I mention in the story—are real people who helped pioneer early British espionage and the British Secret Service. It was Mr Wickham’s involvement in the London Corresponding Society’s plot to assassinate the Prime Minister in 1793 that inspired the plot in Courting Danger with Mr Dyer. I also reached a little farther back into history to research the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes. Not having grown up with the Bonfire Night tradition, it was fun to learn about all the key players involved and how it was eventually uncovered and thwarted.
I hope you enjoy following Bart and Moira through the danger and excitement of saving Britain and falling in love!
Courting Danger with Mr Dyer
Georgie Lee
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
A lifelong history buff, GEORGIE LEE hasn’t given up hope that she will one day inherit a title and a manor house. Until then she fulfils her dreams of lords, ladies and a Season in London through her stories. When not writing, she can be found reading non-fiction history or watching any film with a costume and an accent. Please visit georgie-lee.com to learn more about Georgie and her books.
Books by Georgie Lee
Mills & Boon Historical Romance
The Business of Marriage
A Debt Paid in Marriage
A Too Convenient Marriage
The Secret Marriage Pact
The Governess Tales
The Cinderella Governess
Scandal and Disgrace
Rescued from Ruin
Miss Marianne’s Disgrace
Courting Danger with Mr Dyer
Stand-Alone Novels
Engagement of Convenience
The Courtesan’s Book of Secrets
The Captain’s Frozen Dream
Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk. (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
To my family who are always so supportive.
Contents
Cover (#u681afe50-f11e-5aab-8b61-c951ebf33e9a)
Back Cover Text (#ua4e8677b-7ca7-5a03-99a8-c874a1db8c61)
Introduction (#ud3782738-c425-57dc-ae04-11c6b6c1003c)
Title Page (#u2257e6ad-e54d-5a45-9d57-abb419ce74ce)
About the Author (#ue6ecf260-b914-5d7c-96d6-cda49647c7c5)
Dedication (#ud25b7a27-b286-5d9d-b662-0a0ca277f4d5)
Chapter One (#uc8e522bc-2a09-5efb-844b-c6ea8143d462)
Chapter Two (#u39fea2c0-0525-5a24-9bc4-c221b845505b)
Chapter Three (#u7b5f08f2-ecc1-512c-be8e-6964769de430)
Chapter Four (#u76c543fb-c61b-5f6e-b6ce-1a0181c3d89f)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#u0c33e761-b112-50cb-bb5c-c745aa0a3725)
London—1813
‘You must do it.’ Bartholomew Dyer banged Frederick Chambers, Fifth Earl of Fallworth, hard against the wall, trying to knock the fight back into him. The unprovoked swing the Earl had taken at Bart gave him hope it could be done. ‘We need you.’
‘I can’t, don’t you understand?’ Freddy growled, fingers biting into Bart’s forearms. ‘I’ve given enough. I won’t give any more.’
‘Let go of him.’ The lady behind him punctuated her command by cocking a pistol hammer.
Damn. Bart cursed under his breath. She’d just made the weapon more dangerous. If she wasn’t competent with it, the ball would tear through him and the Earl under his elbow.
Bart took his arm off Lord Fallworth’s chest and stepped back.
‘Moira, it’s not what you think,’ Lord Fallworth choked as he leaned away from the wall and tried to wave his sister off.
Bart ground his teeth at the mention of Lady Rexford and the way it made his neck, and something much lower down, tense. A maid or the elderly aunt would have been preferable to Lord Fallworth’s sister, and his one-time fiancée, having stumbled in on them. The young Dowager Countess of Rexford was as stunning as she was a complication Bart didn’t need.
‘Then what is it?’ She kept the pistol pointed at Bart’s chest and her beautiful green eyes fixed on his.
She’d changed since he’d last seen her five years ago when she’d been a young lady new to London and he an ex-soldier beginning his career as a barrister. The innocent, uncertain tilt of her head was gone, replaced by a confidence he imagined widowhood and the deaths of her father and sister-in-law must have given her. It made her sharp cheekbones set in an oval face and framed by blonde hair more striking and more tempting. He knew better than to fall for it. He had no desire to hear again from her family how he wasn’t good enough for her or to have his official duties curtailed by her incorrect reading of this situation.
Bart bent into a bow. ‘Good evening, Lady Rexford. It’s a pleasure to see you again.’
‘I can’t say the same, Mr Dyer. If you weren’t one of the most celebrated barristers in England with as many magistrates in awe of you as the public, I’d put a ball through you and end your scourge on this house.’
He opened his arms to increase the size of her target. ‘Why not take the chance?’
She frowned at his defiance, the disapproving yet intriguing downturn of her mouth tempered by the still-raised weapon. ‘Since I have no desire to be hanged for murder, I demand you leave at once and never return.’
Any other day her order would have been charming. This morning it was merely irritating. ‘Your aunt used to make the same request and it didn’t work.’
‘I’d like to think I’m a touch more persuasive.’ She nodded at the still-raised pistol.
He admired her desire to protect her brother, even if it was woefully misguided. However, what had brought him here in defiance of her widowed aunt’s dictates was far more important than his or anyone else’s life.
‘Moira, it’s all right. Leave us be, we have business to discuss.’ Lord Fallworth took up his drink and drained it.
‘What business? Which gaming hell to visit?’ she challenged. ‘Don’t think Aunt Agatha didn’t write to me about what you got up to with Mr Dyer when you were in London two years ago. I won’t have you ruining yourself again a mere week after we’ve returned to town.’
Bart suppressed a growl of irritation. If Lady Rexford knew the real motives behind those nights out, she’d lower the pistol, throw her arms around his neck and thank him for his service to their country.
‘Freddy, I won’t leave you to the influences of a man like this.’ Lady Rexford waved her free hand at Bart. ‘Not with you already so vulnerable since Helena’s—’
‘You needn’t say it.’ Lord Fallworth snatched up the brandy decanter and refilled his glass.
Bart opened his mouth to tell Lady Rexford to step out of things she didn’t understand, then closed it again. With her brother slipping into a liquor-induced fog, his suitability for this mission waned while Lady Rexford’s possible involvement played on him like a hunch. She stood straight, one foot in front of the other to make her gown drape across her shapely thigh. The firm set of her full lips beneath eyes as focused as a fox’s made him take more notice of her than the pistol or her reluctant brother. No one would suspect a woman. Bart knew better. ‘You’re friends with Lady Camberline?’
A crease of confusion appeared between her shapely eyebrows. ‘Not friends so much as acquaintances. We’re both patrons of the Lady’s Lying-In Hospital.’
‘But you know her well enough to call on her and to receive invitations?’
‘No, Bart, don’t do it,’ Lord Fallworth warned.
Lady Rexford glanced back and forth between Bart and her brother. ‘I do.’
‘Are you attending her ball tonight?’
‘Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?’
‘I said don’t do it.’ Lord Fallworth banged his glass down on the table, making the brandy slosh over the sides.
Bart ignored the glowering Earl. ‘I need your help to—’
‘No, not her.’ Lord Fallworth grabbed Bart by the lapels and gave him a shake. ‘I lost my wife to plotting scoundrels. I won’t lose a sister, too.’
If Lord Fallworth were any other man Bart would drop him like a sack of flour, but the other man had sacrificed a great deal by helping Bart two years ago. Until today, Bart hadn’t realised how much it’d changed his friend.
‘What are you talking about, Freddy?’ Lady Rexford asked in a shaky voice. ‘What scoundrels?’
Bart exchanged a concerned look with Lord Fallworth. His sister didn’t know the truth about Lady Fallworth’s death, but then few people did. This wasn’t the moment to enlighten her.
‘Nothing,’ Lord Fallworth answered in a voice to convince no one. ‘I misspoke.’
