A Spy's Devotion (The Regency Spies of London #1)(84)

They stared at her as if she were speaking another language, their eyes round and bright.

“Why are you leaving us?” Timothy asked. “Were we bad?”

“No, of course not. You weren’t bad. I don’t want to leave you, but I must. It is not your fault. If I could, I’d take you all with me.”

“You could take me.” Timothy’s face suddenly lit up. “No one would know I was gone. I once fell asleep in the cupboard and slept there all day, and Nellie didn’t even notice I was gone. You could take me with you, and I could come back when I was a grown-up man.”

Julia smiled. “I do wish I could, Timothy. Your mother and father wouldn’t allow it. Besides, your brothers and sisters would miss you.”

The others chimed in with either agreement or disagreement with her statement.

Julia got their attention again. “I want you to promise me that you will study diligently and obey your new governess, and be respectful of your nurse and your parents.”

Nellie came in and clapped her hands. “Come along, then. It’s a fair day to run around in the sun. Don’t waste it.”

Reluctantly, it seemed, the children stood and went to find their hats. Little Elizabeth put her arms around Julia’s neck. “You were my best governess of all,” she whispered next to Julia’s ear.

Julia smiled at her. “You are a brave girl, Elizabeth. I hope to see you again, perhaps when you are a young lady, all grown up. Yes?”

Elizabeth nodded. Julia wiped the girl’s chubby cheeks with her handkerchief, and the child went to find her things. Julia stood and watched them all leave with their nurse.



Julia had the rest of the day to pack up her things and say good-bye to the other staff members. Most of them hadn’t been very friendly to Julia, so she only bid a few of them farewell.

This was her last chance to speak to Mr. Langdon. She could not go away without telling him good-bye. And even though she was only a teacher at a girls’ school now, part of her longed to tell him how much she cared about him.

Julia stood at her window, absently staring at the stable yard. She saw a man dismount and hand the reins of his horse to a groomsman. There was something familiar about the man. As he spoke to the servant, he turned his head and looked up at Julia’s window. She gasped and covered her mouth.

Hugh Edgerton grinned up at her.





CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE


Nicholas hung back, hiding himself just outside the door of the drawing room. How had Edgerton wrangled an invitation to this already overcrowded house party?

Edgerton started toward the door, glancing around as if making sure no one would see him leaving the drawing room. Nicholas quickly ducked into the library, waiting in the shadows until Edgerton passed, and then he followed him, making his footsteps as silent as possible and staying as far back as he could without losing sight of him.

Edgerton headed for the back stairs. Nicholas stayed well behind him, letting him go around the curving wooden steps. He started up after him, stepping gingerly so as not to make any loud footfalls with his boots. He soon realized Edgerton hadn’t stopped on the first floor, as he could still hear his boots on the stairs above, but had headed up the next flight, to the rooms. When he heard him knocking on someone’s door, Nicholas flew the rest of the way up.

“Who is it?” came the muffled voice from inside, and Nicholas knew it as Miss Grey’s.

Edgerton didn’t say anything, only knocked again. Nicholas surged forward and Edgerton swiveled to face him and held up his hands. “What—?”

“Stay away from Miss Grey.”

Edgerton glared at him. “What gives you the right?”

“Because I know what you and Wilhern did. Do you wish me to blacken your name even more than you have done yourself? Stay. Away. From Miss Grey.” Nicholas leaned menacingly toward him.

Edgerton backed away, still holding his hands up as if to ward off a blow. “Very well, very well. I’m staying away.” He continued to back away and finally said, “May I leave now?” He gestured toward the stairs, which were behind Nicholas.

Nicholas stepped aside to let him pass and then watched him go all the way down and out of sight. Finally, when he could no longer hear Edgerton’s steps and all was quiet, Nicholas stepped up to her door.

“Miss Grey?” he called softly. “Are you there?”

“Yes, I am here. Thank you for chasing him away.”

“You are most welcome.” There was so much more he wanted to say, but it was hard to speak when he could not even see her, and when others might be coming up or going down the stairs at any moment and hear them.

He pressed his forehead against the door, imagining her on the other side. “Will you come to the ball tonight?”

“I cannot.”

“You will be my special guest. I will make sure no harm comes to you.” He pressed his palm against the door and closed his eyes. Please say yes. He imagined that he was pressing her warm hand instead of the cold wooden door, imagined her eyes sparkling back at him. It was agony to be so close to her and yet not be able to see or touch her.

He held his breath as he waited for her answer.



Julia approached the door, wishing she could open it, thinking of him on the other side. But as the governess, it would be improper to be seen talking to Mr. Langdon in the doorway of her bedroom. She pressed her hand against its hard surface, longing to be closer to him. “I do not believe Mrs. Atherton will want me at the ball.”