Page 90 of The Bachelor

“I mean, askhim, not me.”

“I knew what you meant. I’m just . . . well, when you said you had a post, I didn’t realize—”

“That it was so important? Neither did I. Then again, we did have a dead body in your family’s parlor. And yours is a very prominent family, whose late patriarch was a noted ambassador before becoming a duke.”

Didhave a dead body?

They’d reached the parlor, where she was shocked to find that Lionel’s body had disappeared. There were spots of blood on the wallpaper, but the blood that had been on the floor and the console table had already been scrubbed away.

“Mr. Fitzgerald,” Joshua said, “may I present my fiancée, Lady Gwyn Drake? Gwyn, this is Mr. Lucius Fitzgerald, undersecretary to the War Office.”

Fiancée.What a lovely word.

Mr. Fitzgerald bowed and took the hand she offered as they exchanged greetings.

“I understand that congratulations are in order,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “Have you chosen the date and place for your wedding?”

She laughed. “Major Wolfe only just proposed and I only just accepted, so no. And do forgive us for calling you to the house so late in the evening.”

“I’m used to it,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “My position requires that I be available at odd hours.”

Taking Joshua at his word about the questions, she asked, “And will that be true of my husband as well?”

“I’m afraid so. Is that a problem?”

“Of course not. I’m proud of whatever he does to serve his country.” She closed the parlor door. “I don’t suppose you can tell me what that will be.”

“No,” Fitzgerald said. “Nor can he.”

“I see. Then I cannot say he works for the War Office?”

“No. He is merely a retired decorated officer who happens to also be the grandson of a duke and the husband of a duke’s daughter. Although there will be instances when neither of those will be his role.”

“So he’s to be a spy,” she said.

“I did not say that.”

She heard Joshua softly chuckling beside her. When she glared at him, he said, “I believe you’ve met your match for keeping secrets and giving enigmatic answers.”

“I already met my match for that. I’m about to marry him.” She turned to Fitzgerald. “Then tell me this, sir. Is it dangerous work?”

“No more dangerous than going back to the war, which was your fiancé’s previous suggestion.”

“That’s hardly a helpful answer,” she grumbled. “And what happened to Mr. Malet’s body? I have to tell my familysomethingabout your presence here.”

When she caught a suspicious glint in Mr. Fitzgerald’s eye, she realized he was enjoying this, curse him.

“Tell them that the War Office handles the inquests for any deaths involving our officers. Which happens to be true.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize that.” She flashed him a coy smile. “So I shouldnottell them that Mr. Malet had sold important government papers to the French and that you’re here to retrieve them?” When Mr. Fitzgerald’s gaze shot to Joshua in alarm, she added, “Mr. Malet was very chatty while holding me at knifepoint.”

“Ah,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “Now, Lady Gwyn, if you don’t mind, I should like to leave. I still have a few more matters to attend to involving Mr. Malet’s death.”

“And his spying for the French.”

Joshua bent to murmur, “You made your point, dearling. No need to rub it in.”

Mr. Fitzgerald laughed. “I can see that you two will make a formidable couple. I’m glad you’re on our side.”