Free A Cantata of Love (The Code Breakers 4) by Jacki Delecki Page A

the fact that women found him appealing and chased him.
    Rathbourne laughed again. “Your linguistic skills.”
    “My linguistic skills?”
    “You speak Italian and German, isn’t that correct?”
    “The Romance languages aren’t much of a challenge. Mastering the Middle High German dialects and the Low German dialects was more of a challenge, but it helped my understanding of German, Russian, and the Scandinavian languages. Of course, my first love was the old Saxon tongue.”
    His brother-in-law raised his eyebrow.
    “I digress. Yes, I have a command of the languages you mentioned. As does my sister.”
    “Your sister is not to be involved in this matter.”
    “Of course not. I would never want to place Hen at risk…”
    Rathbourne raised his eyebrow again in that annoying supercilious manner.
    “Again,” Michael added, chastened.
    “Exactly. Madame Abney became very close to Josephine Bonaparte during her time in Paris. Madame has spent a great deal of time in both Germany and Italy and made many connections. We believe she has been passing on messages to these contacts for Napoleon. We don’t know how she is passing the messages, but we’ve assumed they are embedded in the music.”
    “Codes written in music have been used for centuries. It is a painstakingly slow method, but feasible. You are familiar enough with opera to know that the composer allows total leeway to the diva to sing her arias to showcase her vocal power and skills.”
    “I am aware. And it’s exactly why I need someone with both language and musical knowledge. Madame favors Italian opera, but she also sings in German.”
    “It means attending all of her performances to detect a change in her arias,” Michael added.
    “Precisely.”
    “And to get close enough to look at her written music to see if there are any discrepancies.”
    “Henrietta has explained that you also studied music.” Rathbourne stared at him.
    “That is very generous of my sister. Music, like codes, consists of mathematical patterns, and I see and hear patterns very easily. I lack the passion of an artist to be called a true musician.”
    “You are perfect. Your sister wants to help in the analysis of the music, but she has enough work. Abchurch has kept her very busy while you were gone. She needs to rest and must avoid taking on too much.”
    “I agree. I’ve offered to move Edward and Uncle Charles back to Kendal House, but she won’t hear of it. Of course, Edward will head off to Eton next year, but I worry about the stress of another change for Uncle Charles.”
    “I don’t want your sister worried about your uncle. Please, for your sister’s peace of mind, Uncle Charles must remain at Rathbourne House. You will be a regular visitor with your work for Abchurch. But you will have the freedom to pursue Madame Abney.”
    Michael shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. “Since arriving home, I hadn’t planned on pursuing any liaisons.”
    Up went Rathbourne’s eyebrow. The man used his damn eyebrow like a form of punctuation. Maybe Michael should pursue the study of facial movements in different languages. He wondered whether Rathbourne used his eyebrow in his inquisitions of spies. What a weapon! He could be known in spy circles as The English Eyebrow.
    “You’re worried about how your liaison with the beautiful opera singer might affect your relationship with Mademoiselle De Valmont?”
    “Yes, she’ll get the wrong idea of what sort of man I am if I’m in pursuit of an opera singer.”
    “You already have a reputation of pursuing opera…” Rathbourne coughed behind his hand. “The lady is bound to hear of your past once she goes out in society. Women ferret out that type of information readily. Has she made the move to Ashworth House yet?”
    Until Rathbourne mentioned Gabby, Michael realized they had been conversing in an easy manner. Rathbourne had even sympathized with the conflict of his assignment but still expected him to do his