Free A Christmas Code (The Code Breakers Series Book 2) by Jacki Delecki

room.
    “You’re not a stableman?” Amelia’s bright violet eyes looked more dramatic against her pale white skin.
    “I’m many things, my fair lady.” He gave a roguish smile, accenting the dimple in his left cheek
    “Lord Brinsley…your name is familiar.” Amelia was staring at him. “You…ran off with your brother’s fiancée.”
    “The estimable one.” Lord Brinsley angled his head in an insolent fashion.
    Amelia gasped. “Of all the nerve.”
    “Please, we don’t have time for this.” Gwyneth tried to take the edge off her voice, but she still sounded like a shrew.
    “Lord Brinsley, your arrival will provide a distraction, but how will you explain your sudden uninvited appearance?”
    “I’ll ask Lord Edworth to understand that I’m in pursuit of a lady at the party. I’ve heard that Lady Charolois might be of interest to a gentleman with my reputation.”
    “Of course, she’s perfect for you,” Amelia said spitefully.
    “I don’t think it’s a good plan to call attention to Lady Charolois since Ash suspects her of having ties to the French spies. I think you need to pick another lady.”
    “No respectable lady will go near him,” Amelia sputtered.
    “My reputation is a barrier for some ladies, but not all,” he said in a low, seductive voice.
    “Amelia?” Gwyneth raised her eyebrows in question. “You can pretend to be courting Amelia,” Gwyneth said.
    Both Lord Brinsley and Amelia answered at the same time. “Never.”
    “But that’s the reason it will work. You obviously have had a fight and loathe each other, but Lord Brinsley has arrived to mend the wayward ways of love.”
    “Yes, it could work. In my pursuit of the lovely, respectable Miss Bonnington, I’ll be privy to all goings on and it wouldn’t be questioned if we devoted lovers steal private time in the conservatory. It will give me time to investigate the stillroom.”
    “And you can get messages to me through Amelia.”
    Amelia stood still, an unusual moment for her energetic friend.
    Lord Brinsley moved closer to Amelia. A red blush immediately covered her pale face and chest. With her porcelain white skin, all her emotions were written all over her skin.
    “It will be all for show, all part of my work. You needn’t look so frightened.”
    “I’m not frightened. And I’ll do whatever Gwyneth needs me to do to help my country.”
    Gwyneth hugged Amelia. “Thank you. I knew you’d help.”

Chapter Ten

    With a candle in hand and dressed in her wool pelisse to hide her nightclothes, Gwyneth snuck along the quiet hallway toward Lady Charolois’ room. This spy business was definitely exciting, but not particularly more challenging than sneaking into her brother’s rooms to play tricks on them. She would never admit to being frightened, but the way her stomach fluttered and her knees quaked, she was telling herself one big whopper of a lie.
    She hadn’t shared with Brinsley or Amelia that she didn’t plan to rest while they were at dinner. They would’ve tried to dissuade her from her search. They had no proof that Cook had poisoned Ash and they were no closer to discovering the threat against the prince arriving tomorrow on Christmas Eve, if the snow allowed. Ash was still too weak to pursue the mystery.
    Gwyneth had waited to embark upon her late night mission until the servants had gone down to the kitchen for their dinners. She planned to look through the lady’s belongings to see if there were any indications of her clandestine connections.
    Shadows danced along the walls. She walked briskly, in fear that someone might see her. With the sound of footsteps behind her, she turned suddenly. Panic flared down her spine, causing her to shudder in fear. The flame of the candle on the pier table in the hallway flickered with her abrupt movement. She was scaring herself, getting melodramatic. She exhaled the breath she had been holding since she left her room. There was no one following her. Everyone was at