Page 13 of Buon Natale, My Wicked Rogue (Wicked Widows’ League #18)

In a rather nondescript office in Brighton, Evan finished telling his superior that Angela had come to England at the request of her natural, ducal father. He did not specify her father by name. He mentioned she had not been welcomed or allowed to see her father.

Mr. Abney didn’t seem surprised by this new information.

It wasn’t new information for him.

This realization put a coldness in Evan’s stomach.

“Does she intend to attempt another visit with Amesbury, or does she intend to return to America soon?” Mr. Abney looked over the top of his spectacles. “You intend to spend Christmastide with her?”

“Yes, she will be with me.” Suddenly, it seemed imperative that he make this part certain. Though he didn’t know where the intuition had come from.

“It is of the utmost importance that you can convince her that any further attempts to see the Duke of Amesbury are futile and that it would be in her best interests to return to America.”

Evan’s forehead ached. He had not realized that he’d been frowning so hard. Imperiousness did not often come so easily to Evan as it did now. This man was basically a clerk for the Home Office, while Evan was the heir to the Duke of Holsworthy. He leaned forward in his chair.

Mr. Abney’s eyes widened, and he flinched.

“It would be in her best interest, my lord. She should go home and attend to the Berry family business, or perhaps she might use her considerable wealth and beauty to snare a new husband. She was never a part of Amesbury’s life, and to think she would become a part of his intimate circle at the hour of his death is absurd, don’t you think? ”

“I would like to discuss this matter with the Duke of Radstock,” Evan mentioned Mr. Abney’s superior’s superior.

Mr. Abney paled and gaped at him for a moment.

Then he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh, no, that would not be a good idea at all. There is no need to bother His Grace with a trifling bit of business like this. I think it is best to keep the matter between the Duke of Amesbury, his family, and my office. I have been empowered to speak for the duke’s family in this and some related business. ”

Mr. Abney’s chest seemed to have puffed up, and his voice rang with self-importance. But more than that, Mr. Abney’s pale blue eyes held a reptilian deadness. He couldn’t describe it any better than that.

The coldness in his middle seemed to grow heavy as lead, and his muscles became rigid. He had not mentioned Amesbury by name, had he?

Thoughts came all at once. The first was that he had been na?ve to have come here and spoken with Mr. Abney.

He should have known when she’d told him the truth about her father and her reception there that powerful people had knowingly placed her under a false investigation for such a serious crime as espionage.

Angela’s safety and perhaps even her life was in danger. Amesbury’s family had no intention of honoring her relationship with her natural father. And they might well be prepared to take extraordinary measures to get her out of their lives.

It was disturbing to discover that he was, or he had been, still too inexperienced to realize the depth of evil that he found Angela entangled in. However, now that he knew, his next steps were to protect her as best he could.

He would cover her with the protection of his title and his name, his position as heir to the Duke of Holsworthy. The marriage must happen quickly. He’d have to go to London and attain a special license.

But how can you plan the wedding ceremony itself without it being a shabby affair? They would go to Lady Wyndam. She would be able to arrange the event quickly.