Page 27 of To Catch A Rogue

"Apologies," Balfour said. "We were expecting Sir Gabriel Scott and his party of seven, with servants. With the rest of Europe sending emissaries, suites in the palace are at a premium."

How droll.

Barrons exchanged a long, slow look with Gemma as if trying to think of a solution. "The others can set up in the English diplomat's house in Saint Petersburg. It's only several miles away."

Every inch of her was stiff with tension. "Four suites. Barrons, of course. Dmitri and I, Byrnes and Ingrid, and... Kincaid and Ava. The rest of our party can sojourn in the city."

"Excellent." Balfour's dark eyes twinkled. It was clear he'd wanted to separate the group, but the joke was on him. He spoke quickly in Russian, asking one of the servants to prepare refreshments while they waited.

Gemma caught a faint shifting out of the corner of her eye, and noticed Lark glanced toward the palace the second he mentioned it. Troubling.

"Thank you for the kind offer," she said in English.

"Dido can arrange for carriages for the others. After you, Lady Hollis."

Let him think he'd won this round.

The first roll of the die was in play.

Chapter 6

The English diplomat's house in the center of Saint Petersburg was an imposing building painted sunset pink.

Herbert, Blade, Lark, and Charlie were greeted by a household personally vetted by Luther, the Russian-based agent nobody had yet seen. Lark took the chance to rest in her rooms for a couple of hours before the sound of voices drew her downstairs.

Byrnes, Charlie, and Gemma were taking tea in the dining room. Or at least, Herbert was trying to get them to take tea. The butlernéeagent had taken one look at the household staff and assumed authority. The place was immaculate, but since their arrival, there'd been a flurry of dusting.

"What are you both doing here? Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for the welcome ball?" Lark asked.

Gemma sipped from a fine bone china cup, her hair pinned elegantly and her face already powdered. "The others are getting ready and all I need to do is get dressed. We want Balfour to think this separation has thrown us into a tizzy, so I'm here to ensure you and Charlie are getting ready for the ball."

"We're attending?"

"Someone needs to steal me an impression of Balfour's seal and plant a communicator in his study. Get me a letter he's written too, please." Gemma set her cup down and circled the table. "When Charlie assured me you were going to join the mission, I had my dressmaker alter several of my and Ava's gowns, just in case." She rested her hands on Lark's shoulders, sizing her up. "He gave me a rough estimation of measurements, and with a little pinning, I think you'd look lovely in one of my gowns. Herbert, did you have the servants take that trunk up to Lark's rooms?"

"Of course, Miss Gemma."

"Lark? In a dress?" Charlie started laughing. "She'll never be able to pull this off."

Lark's eyes narrowed. "It has happened on occasion."

"Yes, but a ball?" He looked incredulous. "Gemma, I barely have the manners to attend a ball and I was raised in a duke’s manor. Lark's practically guaranteed to stick a knife in someone by mistake."

Oh, now she was mad.

"Can you pull this off?" Gemma asked.

"Contrary to popular opinion, it wouldn't be the first time I've dressed the fancy to gull an aristocrat."

No point in admitting to her recent larceny spree, courtesy of all Honoria's speech classes and lessons in etiquette. Not that she'd ever admitted to Honor what she'd been intending. Stealing from the blue bloods of the Echelon wasn't just profitable, Lark discovered, it was also incredibly satisfying. Especially when they were lecherous old groping windbags who thought she was nothing more than a pretty, empty-headed potential thrall.

Ha. The joke was on them.

And the jewels were inherpocket.

Charlie tried to capture his laughter with a hand. "I must have missed it." He cleared his throat. Failed miserably in wiping the grin off his face. "But this is a high-stakes mission, and we need something a little..." He gestured. "You know...."

"No, I don't know." Her tone turned dangerous. "Why don't you enlighten me?"