A Spy's Devotion (The Regency Spies of London #1)(85)

“I will get permission from Mrs. Atherton.”

How could she explain? Your former fiancée, Mrs. Tromburg, would only find some way to humiliate me. Besides, he would be ridiculed for dancing with her.

She swallowed and said, “I must leave soon. I have a new position.”

“Come with me now, to the garden.” There was an edge to his voice. “I need to speak to you.”

“I will be there in five minutes.”

“I’ll wait for you at the north side of the hedge.” His voice sounded eager and oh so dear.

Julia quickly washed her face, put on her bombazine spencer, and then grabbed her bonnet. Taking a quick look, the mirror showed a pale, wide-eyed girl. “Give me strength, Lord. No matter what happens.” Tying her bonnet under her chin, she hurried from the room, down the stairs, and out the back door.

Julia walked toward the north side of the hedge. She kept her head down to avoid the strong wind that was forcing her eyes to water. As she rounded the end of the tall hedgerow, she glanced up, expecting to see Mr. Langdon alone. Instead, she saw Mrs. Tromburg standing in front of him. The two of them were talking, their faces close together.

Julia’s stomach churned and her cheeks burned. Had he summoned her here to see this?

Just then, Mrs. Tromburg stood on tiptoe, her hand reaching up as if to caress Mr. Langdon’s face.

Mr. Langdon stepped away from her, and his eyes fell on Julia.

Mrs. Tromburg turned around, also catching sight of Julia, and smiled her widest smile. “If it isn’t the governess!” she called out.

Julia was an imbecile to believe Mr. Langdon might care for her, might even ask her to marry him. Julia turned and hurried back toward the house.



Nicholas took a step toward Miss Grey, about to call out to her, when Henrietta caught his arm.

“What do you want with her?” She gripped his arm tighter. “Don’t be a fool, Nicholas. Marry me and I will make you happy, I swear.”

He looked down at Henrietta, really looked at her. Was she mad to offer him marriage? Her words repulsed him, but at the same time, the desperation on her face evoked pity. She had little to live on now that her husband had died. She must be frantic to find another husband.

“I am sorry, but I cannot marry you.”

“What will become of me? Surely there is still some love for me in your heart.”

She lifted her hand toward his chest, but he sidestepped out of her reach.

“I do not love you. I’m sorry.” He started walking toward the house. Did he still have time to catch Miss Grey?

“I don’t believe you,” she called after him.

He didn’t look back but broke into a run, not seeing Miss Grey anywhere. She must have gone inside.

As soon as he walked in, Mrs. Atherton stopped him. “Mr. Langdon, I was just looking for you. I wanted to speak with you about the parish here at Donnerly and the living that has become vacant. Mr. Atherton and I are trying to decide whom to offer it to. Can you tell me of any worthy rectors who might be interested? I wanted to get your opinion of some of the candidates.”

“Mrs. Atherton,” he broke in when she finally paused to take a breath, “may I speak with you about this later? I am in a hurry—”

“Oh no, for I only have a minute myself before I have to go get ready for the ball, and you do as well, for it is getting very late. Believe me, it will only take a moment.”

Nicholas clenched his teeth and followed his hostess into what appeared to be her husband’s office. There she listed what seemed like a hundred prospective clergymen for the vacant living.

“Mr. Langdon? Are you listening?”

“Mrs. Atherton, I wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Killigrew. I know him personally, and he is an honorable man, and now I believe we both of us have barely enough time to get ready for the ball, so I bid you good day until then.” He bowed formally but quickly.

“Oh, of course, Mr. Langdon. You must get yourself dressed and ready, and so must I.”

He left the room as she was still speaking.



Julia made it to the house without Mr. Langdon even calling out to her. She went more slowly up the stairs to her room, hoping he might catch up to her. After all, the tête-à-tête he was having with Mrs. Tromburg might not have been his doing.

But what if Mr. Langdon had asked Julia to meet him there so he could tell her that he was marrying his former fiancée? Julia quickly closed her door behind her.

It made sense. He had once loved Mrs. Tromburg, had once planned to marry her. And she was very beautiful. Julia could understand how a man could be blinded by beauty and artifice and marry someone who was completely wrong for him. He wouldn’t be the first man to succumb. And besides, he might feel badly that she had been left with such a small jointure, hardly enough to live on.

It was silly of Julia to think he might want to marry a governess with no fortune or connections. An orphan whose guardian was a traitor. Unloved and unlovable.

Julia felt dizzy and realized she’d hardly eaten anything all day. So she closed her door and went down to the kitchen to see if the cook and kitchen maid would be more polite than usual when she asked for tea. After all, it was her last day.



Nicholas reached Julia’s door. Finally. He knocked but there was no answer. He knocked again and called softly, “Miss Grey.” Still nothing.