Trapped by Scandal Read Free Page B

likely to be quite a few hours, according to Barrett, but she’s managing wonderfully. Better than I would, anyway.” Would or will? She dismissed the unbidden reflection instantly. It was irrelevant. She had no intention at this stage in her life of bearing children.
    â€œI saw William at Ranelagh,” she said abruptly, almost as if her reflection had given birth to the statement.
    â€œAh.” Alec refreshed his glass from the decanter, his back to her.
    Hero looked at him, her eyes narrowed. “You don’t sound surprised.”
    He shrugged, still with his face averted. “I’m not, particularly. It was inevitable at some point.”
    Hero perched on the arm of the sofa. “You knew he was in London.” It wasn’t a question.
    â€œHe’s been here for several weeks.” Finally, he turned back to the room, lifting the decanter in invitation.
    She shook her head. “No, thank you, I’ve had my fill for tonight. Why didn’t you say anything?”
    Her brother sat down with a sigh. “I was . . . am . . . sworn to secrecy, Hero.”
    She frowned. “He’s on business, then?”
    Alec merely looked at her, and she took his silence for an affirmative.
    â€œAnd I’m not to know of it, is that right?”
    â€œI’m sorry, love. I cannot break a confidence.”
    â€œNo, of course you can’t. But why? Does he think I can’t be trusted . . . after everything?” She couldn’t disguise her hurt and anger.
    â€œI can no more speak for William than you can,” Alec responded. “He didn’t tell me as such that I shouldn’t confide in you, but, as I say, he swore me to secrecy with no specific exemptions.”
    â€œHe can’t be on the same business as before,” Hero mused, pressing her brother no further. “The Terror is over; Paris is quiet again . . . or at least, no longer rioting. The Directory is in charge after that Brigadier Napoleon finally defeated the mob with his ‘whiff of grapeshot,’ and now he’s commanding the army with a host of victories behind him. So I wonder who William is working for.” Alec said nothing, and after a moment, his sister asked, “Are you joined with him in this work, whatever it is?”
    Alec sighed. It was impossible to keep secrets from Hero; he knew her technique all too well. She would duck and dodge around a subject until she somehow trapped him into giving something away. “Only very peripherally. Can we not talk of it anymore, please?”
    â€œWell, it would take your mind off what’s going on upstairs,” she stated. “I won’t ask questions, but I’ll speculate and watch your face.”
    â€œHero, don’t do this . . . please,” he begged, half laughing despite himself.
    She merely smiled. In truth, she was more interested in keeping his mind from his wife’s labor than anything else.It was going to be a long night, and Alec already looked worn to a frazzle. “So, is he spying for the French government or against them? He is spying, isn’t he?”
    Alec stared into the fire, struggling to keep his expression neutral.
    â€œOf course he is,” Hero continued briskly. “It’s the obvious answer, after what he was doing before. So, is it his French or his English half that commands his loyalty at this point, I wonder?” She regarded her brother quizzically, her head tilted to one side, her eyes bright. “Or is he still an independent, managing his own operation? That would be most likely. He’ll be following his own true north, as usual, throwing himself behind whatever issue on either side catches his sense of fairness . . . ah!” She gave a little crow of triumph. “I saw your eyebrows move. I’m right, aren’t I?”
    Alec shook his head in resignation. “So what if you