Saving Shadow: A Regency Spy Romance (The Beckett Files Book 1) Read online

  Jonathon’s rambling broke into her thoughts. “So, we are getting in and out this time?”

  “I am sorry, Jonathon. What are you going on about?”

  Jonathon gave her a lopsided grin. “Time to stop staring at your new dress. We need to talk about the mission tonight.” Jonathon took a seat on the mahogany settee and crossed his legs.

  After a moment’s consideration, Eliza decided her brother looked very handsome tonight in a black tailcoat that highlighted his tall, muscular build. His deep brown hair was a little longer than the current style, but it did not hide his strong jaw and his engaging smile.

  It also served him in his work as an agent. Jonathon’s contacts were often to be found in taverns in questionable areas of London, and perfectly-groomed hair might actually invite danger. With that thought, she grew serious and began to review the plan for the evening’s mission.

  “You will play the rogue, and I will play the overbearing sister who tries to dissuade you from embarrassing the family with your childish behavior. Then we will sneak into Lord Vernon’s office and see if he is involved in Mr. Wade’s business. I will review the documents, then we will get out. No one will be the wiser.” Eliza joined her brother on the settee and reached for her white satin slippers with the gold fringe.

  Jonathon groaned loudly. “I do not want to play that role again.” He stood and walked over to the stone fireplace. “What if you swoon and I carry you to the study to recover?”

  She shook her head. “No, the footman would direct you to one of the fainting rooms. The only way we can access the study is if we are in a compromising situation that might reflect poorly on Lord Vernon.”

  “Fine, we will do it the way we always have. This will not help my reputation, you know.” Jonathon pointed towards the door to indicate to his sister that it was time to depart for the ball.

  “Perhaps…” Eliza reached for the silk reticule that Martha had placed on the table by the door, glancing inside the small bag for a moment. “Perhaps, as this is an engagement party for Lord Vernon’s son, the best time to strike would be during the announcement, when the guests are distracted.” She glanced around the room once more, then stepped into the hall.

  Jonathon followed his sister, but stopped her at the top of the stairs that led down to the entryway. He gently placed his hand on her arm. “Please be careful tonight.”

  She gave Jonathon a teasing smile. “Do not worry about me. I have my dagger if it really comes to that.” Eliza patted her thigh. She always felt safer having her dagger close to her, even though it would not be easy to retrieve from her long dress.

  Jonathon was still holding onto her arm, and she noticed for the first time an apprehension in his eyes as he searched her face. Did he know something about this assignment that she did not? Jonathon never worried about her when they had to search a house. After all, what could really happen? They might be caught and dismissed from the party. Surely, he would not be…

  Then it hit her; France. Eliza closed her eyes. She did not want to think about her last trip to France. Six dead sailors, warm blood dripping from her hands… No, she did not want to think about that at all.

  Her eyes snapped open. “Why are you warning me to be careful? Is this because of what happened in France last month?”

  Jonathon grimaced as she wrenched her arm away from him. “I just thought…”

  “I did what had to be done.” Her eyes dared him to argue.

  Jonathon spoke calmly. “I know. You saved me and a whole team of agents that night. We all owe you our lives. But Eliza, I worry that it has affected you more than you have acknowledged. I heard that horrible dreams afflict you every night now.” The worry etched onto his face was evident. “You know you can always come talk to me about anything.” Jonathon hesitated, then continued. “What really happened that night?”

  Eliza lowered her eyes from Jonathon’s intense gaze. If she revealed that, then he would insist she retire as an agent forever. She forced a smile. “I am fine. Martha should not have told you about my dreams.”

  Jonathon clenched his jaw and looked away. “Mr. Larson told me about them.”

  Her loyal butler and friend had betrayed her trust? Her eyes widened in shock.

  Jonathon continued before she could react. “Before you get upset with him, you should know he told me because he loves you.” Jonathon lowered his voice. “We all love you.”

  Eliza did not want to spend another moment thinking about that ill-fated night in France. She had long ago separated her life as Lady Elizabeth from the necessary actions of agent Shadow. That was the only way she could cope with the killing that was so often required of her.

  Taking a deep breath, she forced her face into an expressionless mask. “We should go, Jonathon. We have a job to do.” She spun on her heels and started down the stairs.

  Jonathon did not move. He could tell that Eliza was hurting, but she refused to confide in him as she once had. He was her brother, her partner, her best friend… but she had begun to withdraw from him after that mission in France. Something had happened, something that had drastically altered his sister.

  Mr. Larson had been with them in France, but he also refused to divulge any details about that night. In fact, it had surprised Jonathan that Mr. Larson had even mentioned her dreams, as he was fiercely loyal to her. What could have alarmed such an experienced agent?

  Jonathon watched his sister descend the stairs. He loved working with Eliza. If he had to be honest, he would acknowledge that his sister was the best agent working for the Crown.

  Her peculiar mind allowed her to piece together information and decipher enemy codes faster than any agent he had ever seen. She could shoot a pistol, wield a sword, and throw a dagger with deadly accuracy. Her skill with the dagger was only surpassed by her skill with the longbow, and that skill had saved many agents’ lives, including his own.

  Yet Eliza had grown distant of late, and her smile did not reach her eyes anymore. She always claimed she was fine, but he knew it was an act. Jonathon forced a smile of his own and started down the stairs to catch up with his sister. He had a plan to help her, and it was time to put that plan into action.

  2

  Benedict, the Earl of Sinclair, was bored. He chuckled to himself as even he recognized the irony that he was bored. He was leaning against an ornate white pillar drinking a glass of champagne in Lord Vernon’s ballroom, observing the candle sconces that illuminated the cream walls with gold embellishments. Large floor-to-ceiling windows ran the length of the ballroom and two oversized doors opened to a well-manicured courtyard.

  At any point, he could end his self-imposed boredom by playing cards upstairs or dancing with one of the ladies that continually glanced his way, but he preferred to be alone. Lord Vernon’s ballroom was so blasted hot even with the doors wide open. Benedict decided to step outside and take advantage of the cool night air, as he placed his glass onto the tray of a passing servant.

  Walking out into the lighted courtyard, he found a bench towards the back of the garden. He sat down and placed his elbows on his knees. He was vaguely aware of the soft music drifting out of the ballroom. This wasn’t supposed to be his life, it was supposed to be his brother’s life. Benedict was supposed to live the quiet life as the second son of the Marquess of Lansdowne. Rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, he grimaced. Well, the quiet life of a spy.

  Oh, how desperately he missed his brother, Henry. Benedict was gone for months on end for his work as an agent of the Crown, but when he came home, he spent all his time with Henry. In the morning, they would tour their lands and meet with the tenants. More times than not, they found themselves working alongside their tenants to repair roofs, build fences, or tend to the elderly. If there was remaining time in the day, they would fence until they collapsed from exhaustion. Although, he always found time to harass his brother about the new lady that caught his fancy. He smiled fondly as he thought of his brother.

  Then hi
s smile faltered as Benedict dropped his head in shame. Six months ago, he received a letter from his father informing him that Henry was dead, and he was now the heir. His father told him to report home immediately and take his rightful place as the Earl of Sinclair. It was all business with his father, the Marquess of Lansdowne. Well, to be fair to his father, he wanted to settle his estate since he had taken ill.

  After he received the letter, he chose to ignore Father’s summons. He did not want to go back to his ancestral home, Chatsworth Manor. How could he go home to an estate without Henry? How could he go riding on their lands without Henry? Most importantly, how could he take over for Henry, without being reminded daily that he was replacing his brother?

  In the end, it did not matter. A month ago, he was injured on a mission, forcing him home to recover. His mission involved following an English merchant ship to France that had abducted fifteen women off the streets with plans to sell them to the highest bidder, supposedly a brothel. Five agents were assigned to board the ship and rescue the women. It was supposed to be an easy mission, but it quickly turned deadly.

  Without realizing it, he rubbed his right leg where he had been stabbed. He had been attacked from the side, and he did not even have a chance to defend himself. The sailor stabbed him in his right thigh and was getting ready to plunge the knife into his chest, when he just collapsed on top of him. Fortunately, an agent, code name Shadow, had been providing support from a nearby rooftop, and saved him by shooting an arrow into the sailor’s back.

  Benedict acknowledged he had been given a second chance at life, and he was going to make the best of it. His father was dying, and soon he would be the Marquess of Lansdowne. As he reviewed the accounts and ledgers of each of his seven estates, he was astonished at how much wealth his family had obtained. Father had done an impressive job of increasing their wealth and holdings over the years. Now, it was his turn to continue the family legacy.

  However, it was not the life he wanted. He wished to remain an agent of the Crown. He was grateful that Lord Charles Beckett agreed to let him pursue one more mission before he had to retire, now that he was the heir to his father.

  His mission was to gather proof against his stepbrother, Aaron Wade, for the murder of Henry. Benedict knew Aaron had a hand in Henry’s death, but he needed to prove it. He would gather proof and then see his stepbrother hanged for his crime.

  Rising from the bench, he straightened his black coat. As he was approaching the refreshment table, he heard Lord Jonathon Beckett’s voice over the crowd. He turned towards the sound of his friend’s voice and noticed that Jonathon was talking to a small group of men.

  He broke through the group as Jonathon was saying, “…so then my sister decided that it would be easier to catch frogs with her pillowcase.” The group of men started laughing and Benedict assumed that the story must be about Jonathon’s younger sister, Eliza, since she always did the most amusing things. His friend used to read her letters aloud to him when they were at Oxford.

  Before Lord Jonathon continued with the story, he stopped and glanced over at Benedict. “Lord Sinclair, is that you?” Jonathon’s face broke out into a huge smile and embraced him. “I haven’t seen you in years. How are you?”

  Benedict smiled, because he had just accompanied Jonathon last month on a mission in France, but they must be discreet. “I’m doing well. I see that your sister is up to her usual tricks,” he said good-naturedly.

  Jonathon laughed. “No, I am sharing the story of when Eliza read a book about how frogs could be used for medicinal purposes.”

  Chuckling, Benedict rubbed his chin knowingly “Ah. If I remember correctly, that was when she was fifteen.” Jonathon nodded and then quickly provided introductions to the group.

  Suddenly the group parted, and the most beautiful woman Benedict had ever seen slid in, and placed her hand into the crook of Jonathon’s arm. She was dressed in a beautiful gold gown that hugged her curves perfectly, and sparkled red when the light reflected off the bodice.

  When she turned towards him, her green eyes latched onto his, and for the briefest of seconds, time stood still. She seemed oddly familiar to him, but he was certain he had never seen her before. As they proceeded to gaze at each other, he heard Jonathon discreetly clear his throat, and she averted her eyes.

  The loss of her gaze seemed to pierce his very soul, and Benedict could not deny the instant connection he felt towards her. He found himself longing to learn all that he could about this young woman.

  Jonathon provided the introduction. “Lord Sinclair, may I introduce you to my sister, Lady Elizabeth Beckett.” She gave him a slight curtsy.

  Benedict was shocked to discover that this enchanting young woman was Jonathon’s adventure-seeking sister. His years of etiquette training kicked in, and he executed a perfect bow. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Elizabeth.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Why would you be finally meeting me?”

  Jonathon spoke up. “I used to read your letters aloud to Lord Sinclair when we were at Oxford.” Glancing at her, he grinned. “The situations you got yourself into were quite hilarious, and I just had to share it with my roommate.”

  Her lips curled downward in a frown of displeasure. “Lord Sinclair, I apologize that you were subjected to learn about the adventures of my youth. I did not realize Jonathon was reading my letters to other people.”

  Benedict did the one thing that would make this situation worse. He laughed. “I am sorry, Lady Elizabeth, but your adventures were quite humorous.” He held up one finger. “First, I recall you somehow managed to burn a barn down during a rainstorm.” He held up another finger. “Secondly, you tried to train a donkey to do tricks.” He held up his third finger. “Then, you made wings out of your bed linens so you could fly out of your second story window.” He held up a fourth finger. “And lastly, you tried to make your own perfume and your estate had to be evacuated.”

  Bending over with laughter, Benedict realized that Jonathon and the rest of the men were laughing, as well. The only person that was not laughing was Lady Elizabeth. In fact, she did not look pleased by the memories that he shared.

  She squared her shoulders and spoke over the laughter. “First of all, the burning of the barn was when I was fourteen, and I knocked over a candle in the barn while I was reading. All the other ideas came from books that I had just read.”

  Benedict stopped laughing, but his eyes still twinkled with merriment. “I’m sorry, my lady, but I really did love hearing about your adventures. You were like a breath of fresh air.”

  Visibly relaxing, she returned his smile. “I am glad that I could amuse you, my lord.”

  Another dance started and the men in the group left to claim their dance partners. Benedict looked around to see who would claim her for a dance, and when no one appeared, he asked, “Do you not have a dance partner for this set, Lady Elizabeth?”

  She glanced at her brother, and he shrugged. Benedict did not know what was being communicated between them. Her gaze flickered back to him. “Jonathon and I were sitting this dance out. We are anxiously awaiting Lord Vernon’s announcement.”

  “You are anxiously awaiting Lord Vernon’s announcement that his selfish, thirty-four-year-old son has agreed to an arranged marriage?” he said sarcastically.

  “Of course, Lord Sinclair.” Her eyes danced with amusement as she leaned in towards him, with her hand at her mouth like she intended to tell him a secret. “As Socrates said, ‘By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll become happy; if you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.’ So, in a few years we will see if Lord Vernon’s son becomes a philosopher.” Eliza smiled and leaned back.

  Benedict chuckled. “I will look forward to that discovery.”

  Her smile became strained but stayed in place. “I do pity the recipients of an arranged marriage. Marriage should be based on love, not business.”

  Nodding, Benedict agreed. “Although, my parents star
ted in an arranged marriage, and they eventually evolved it into a love match.”

  Smiling sadly, Lady Elizabeth glanced towards the dancers briefly. “The majority of arranged marriages that I know of have not gone well, and I would prefer to marry a man I love before we marry.”

  “People in our stations tend not to marry for love, but there are exceptions.” He reached for her gloved hand and brought it up to his lips for a kiss. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

  She flashed him a brilliant smile. “You are familiar with William Shakespeare.”

  Benedict puffed out his chest at her reaction. He would continue to quote Shakespeare if she would continue smiling at him like that. He needed to release her hand but found he did not want to, so he said the next best thing. “Since I am already holding your hand, may I escort you to the dance floor?” A corner of his mouth quirked up. “Unless you really are trying to secure good spots for Lord Vernon’s announcement?”

  Jonathon let out a bark of laughter, but covered his mouth with his hand. “Eliza, go dance with Lord Sinclair. I will be right here when you get back.”

  She allowed Benedict to escort her to the dance floor where the music had already begun. When they reached the other dancers, he placed his hand on her waist and started leading Elizabeth in the waltz. He noticed that she seemed to stiffen when she put her hand on his shoulder.

  “I hope I did not embarrass you back there with your brother. I just find it refreshing to hear that other people believe that love is a requirement for marriage,” he said while trying to engage her in another conversation.

  Elizabeth observed him almost as if trying to gauge his sincerity. “Sadly, I do not have a favorable opinion of marriage.” Her eyes then refused to land on his face. “It is common knowledge that my father lives with his mistress, Lady Anne, and my mother just recently found a new man to entertain her during the Season.” Benedict’s eyes grew wide as he realized the implications.