looked up to see Major Ramsey approaching. He had that commanding officer look on his face again. I felt Mr. Winthrop’s posture stiffen beside me.
“Hello, Gabriel,” I said brightly, dropping my hand from Matthew Winthrop’s arm and easing back ever so slightly from him. “Mr. Winthrop, this is Major Gabriel Ramsey. Gabriel, this is Matthew Winthrop. He’s a poet. He’s just been telling me the most fascinating things about…”
“How do you do,” Major Ramsey interrupted coolly. “Elizabeth, may I speak to you?”
“Yes, in a moment.”
“Now.” There was a beat of silence before he added, “Please.”
There was nothing I could say to that without making a scene, and I didn’t suppose that would be useful. Though, if a man had talked to me that way in other circumstances, I would have let him know what I thought of it.
I gave Matthew Winthrop an apologetic look. “Perhaps I’ll see you later? I would so like to hear your poem.”
He nodded. His face had closed up upon Major Ramsey’s arrival. I had a feeling, however, that he wouldn’t object to picking up the conversation again.
Without further ado, the major took my arm and led me away to a secluded corner of the room. “What are you doing?” he asked in a low voice as I turned to face him.
“I was talking to Mr. Winthrop. What are you doing?” I asked this, though it was clear that what he was doing was reading me a lecture.
“This wasn’t part of the plan,” he said. “I told you to follow my instructions. You were not to approach the suspects.”
I realized he still held my elbow, so I pulled my arm from his grasp. “I’m capable of holding a conversation without putting myself in danger.” My tone was mild, but I could feel my temper beginning to simmer below the surface. I clearly wasn’t cut out for military service; I instinctively resented orders.
“Stop frowning,” he commanded. “People will notice.”
“They’ll think we’re having a lovers’ quarrel,” I retorted. “After all, you did just drag me away from another man’s side.”
He gave a quick glance around the room. “Yes, you were quite close to his side. What did you intend to do from there?”
I had been going to tell him about the message I had seen Mr. Winthrop receive, but he was making me angry, and I never felt like being cooperative when I was in that frame of mind.
When I didn’t answer, he leaned forward, his eyes on mine, and dropped his voice so there was no chance of being overheard. “I’ve recruited you to open safes, Miss McDonnell, not seduce the enemy.”
I gritted my teeth, and my fists clenched at my sides. Don’t lose your temper, Ellie. Don’t lose your temper. I drew in a breath through my nose and let it out slowly, but I was losing the battle. I could feel the blood pounding in my ears as I glared at him, not trusting myself to reply.
“Oh dear. I hope I’m not interrupting at a bad time.” We dragged our eyes from each other and turned to see Sir Nigel walking toward us, a smile on his lips. He knew perfectly well that he was, and neither of us bothered to reassure him.
Major Ramsey stepped back slightly from me, his expression once again bland.
“A lovers’ quarrel, is it? Well, ‘the course of true love never did run smooth.’ Isn’t that the saying?” Sir Nigel asked. He was enjoying this. “Alas, Miss Donaldson, I have to side with Ramsey on this one, I’m afraid. I wouldn’t leave you alone with Winthrop for long either. Despite the boy’s gloomy countenance, he has a reputation.”
So he’d been watching, had he? Well, at least we had made a good show of it.
I managed a tight smile. “I can look after myself, Sir Nigel.” The man was beginning to irritate me, and there was only so much a fine gown and silk stockings could do to hold down an Irish temper.
He grinned, and I wondered if he sensed how difficult it was for me to remain civil. Somehow, I thought he did. “I don’t doubt it, Miss Donaldson. Not for a moment. I merely hope you aren’t too cross at Ramsey here. He means well.”
I glanced at the major. His expression was impossible to read.
“Were you looking for me, Sir Nigel?” he asked.
Sir Nigel smiled. “Yes, I ought to mind my own business, oughtn’t I? The real reason I came over was to tell you Turner-Hill is about to begin