One Thing Leads to a Lover (Love and Let Spy #2) - Susanna Craig Page 0,71

as we do. It’s possible, of course, that there will be an innocent explanation. A simple mix-up. Or…” With a circle of his wrist, he waved the book through the air, as if conjuring the truth. “Perhaps less innocent, but still hardly dangerous. Lord Dulsworthy, in possession of what he believed to be a valuable old cookbook, might have seen an opportunity to make a few pounds and found another bookseller. Until we know for certain, however, I don’t intend to let it be known that this”—he returned the book to the top of the pile and thumped it with his first finger—“has been recovered.”

“Then the ones looking for it will still believe it to be in Lady Kingston’s possession,” said Langley. “She will still be in danger.”

Amanda had been eyeing the codebook, wondering how soon it would be hopelessly buried beneath an avalanche of important papers on the general’s desk. An archeological expedition would be required to recover it. At Langley’s words, the sharpness of his voice—impatient, incredulous—she started.

“Unfortunately, yes,” agreed General Scott, eyeing her. “It’s good that you have Major Stanhope with you. For your protection, as well as your sons’.”

“Sir?” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Langley’s fingers curl into the arms of his chair. “I expected you to reassign me to the search for Hopkins, now that the codebook has been found.”

A breath caught in Amanda’s throat. She knew Langley would leave eventually, be assigned to his next mission, though she had not considered that it might happen so soon. Did his reaction suggest he was eager to go?

Or just the opposite?

“No,” General Scott answered after the briefest consideration—the sort of hesitation Amanda herself sometimes employed when she wanted Jamie and Philip to think she’d weighed some outlandish request before refusing it. “Colonel Millrose told me you’d appointed yourself Lady Kingston’s private guard…by claiming to be her sons’ new tutor, wasn’t it?” He didn’t wait for—obviously didn’t require—an answer. Amanda couldn’t decide whether he sounded displeased by what Langley had done. “Under the circumstances, I think you’d better stay in that role a while longer.”

“Stay?” Langley echoed hoarsely, disbelief etched into his face. “At Bartlett House?”

From the moment he had interrupted her luncheon, Amanda had been aware of a subtle change in his demeanor, his mood. Last night, even this morning, sparks had crackled between them. Dangerous, just as he’d said. A spreading fire that would consume them both if they were not careful.

But somewhere between the drawing room and the morning room, once Jamie had given him the codebook, he’d raised a sort of leaden shield between them, through which those sparks could not travel. To protect her, she’d thought.

Now, however, she wondered whether he had not been trying to protect himself.

“Oh, goodness no,” General Scott said with a laugh, plucking his pipe from his mouth.

Langley’s posture shifted. Not relief, precisely, but she did not know how else to read his response.

Then the general returned his pipe to his lips and added, “Not Bartlett House. I think it would be best to get all of you quite away from town.”

It was Amanda’s turn to stiffen with surprise. “Leave London?”

“For a time, yes. The hustle and bustle of city life makes it easier for someone with ill intent to disguise his movements, his intentions. In the country, though, all is out in the open. Watchers are everywhere. Suspicions are more easily raised.”

“The country,” she repeated. “You would have us go down to Foxhaven, then?”

“In Hampshire, is it not?” General Scott appeared to ponder this option for a moment before shaking his head. “Charming, I’m sure. But a bit too remote for our purposes. And a bit too obvious, as well. There must be somewhere else, somewhat closer to hand…”

All three of them thought in silence. Or rather, Amanda thought. Langley’s expression was distant, wooden, slightly alarmed. And General Scott made a show of trying to stir his brain, once more propping his spectacles atop his head and occasionally tapping his temple with the stem of his pipe.

Rather like a schoolmaster giving his wayward pupils time to come up with the proper answer.

Amanda wound a loose thread around her finger, making a slight pucker in the delicate fabric of her ruined skirts. “Would Richmond suit?”

“Richmond?” To her surprise, General Scott directed his gaze to Langley. “An interesting suggestion, don’t you agree?” Langley’s mouth popped open, but no words came out. The general’s attention shifted back to Amanda. “Did you have a particular house in