Free His Lady Spy (The Star Elite Series) by Rebecca King Page A

protector.
    “Do you know the inn keeper?”
    “Yes,” Cecily replied. “We have lived around here all of our lives. We know the majority of the people in the area, if not by name, then by face. They will recall having seen us and will tell our father when he comes looking.”
    “Even if you ignore the fact that you are alone in the presence of two unmarried females,” Portia replied darkly, feeling a surge of bitterness toward the gossips who would be agog over the latest scandal.
    “I think it would be best if we moved on tonight,” Archie replied, eying the women warily. The last thing he wanted to do was be out on the roads, in the middle of the night, unchaperoned , with two single and very eligible females. Even if one ignored the murderous spy smugglers in the area, he had his own bachelorhood to take into consideration. He had no intention of being forced to offer for any woman’s hand right now, and that included the delightful Portia, and her sister.
    He had a fair suspicion that Jamie was the Lord Calverton who had offered for Cecily’s hand. He also knew that Jamie had been sincere in his offer for Cecily’s hand, and then Archie’s life wouldn’t be worth living if it ever became known that Cecily hadn’t received the best of care Archie could offer.
    A lthough he wanted both ladies off his hands as quickly as possible, Archie needed to keep them together for now. They could act as chaperone and companion for one another, at least until he sent for assistance, and sequestered the ladies somewhere safe while he returned to Tissington to complete his mission.
    Mentally running through the layout of the village, he began to plan what they were going to do next.
     
    “But you can’t leave us here,” Portia protested, watching Archie move toward the door of the huge barn in consternation. She turned her head and peered behind them , but in the darkness could see nothing to indicate if there was anything, or anyone else in the huge building with them.
    “I won’t be gone long,” Archie replied gently, biting back a sigh of impatience. He had to purloin a cart and horse to take them to Montgomery, the larger market town several miles away and couldn’t exactly do it with the ladies in tow. While he was fairly certain they had managed to get to the barn without bei ng seen, he couldn’t risk being noticed by one of the village’s nefarious gossips, even if the ladies did acquiesce to him purloining a conveyance at the expense of an impoverished farmer.
    “How do we know that?” Portia gasped, moving to stand behind him. “We don’t even know who you are; let alone why we should trust you.”
    “That’s right,” Cecily added, moving to stand beside her sister. “How d o we know that we can trust you?”
    Even through the darkness , Archie could see the militant gleam in the sisters’ eyes and knew he was facing an uphill battle. Reluctantly closing the door, he moved to stand directly before them and sketched a mock bow.
    “My name is Archie, and I am here to protect you both. I am on the side of the good men, I promise you. While I am here, you will come to no harm.”
    “But you are going to leave us,” Cecily protested, unwilling to believe him.
    “Only for a little while. I need to get my things from the inn and see if any of the Guards made it this far. When I am sure we are not being followed, I am going to find us some transport to take us to Montgomery. From there I will arrange for someone to come and collect you. They will take you to a place of safety.”
    “Collect us? Who? From where? What place of safety?”
    Archie sighed and shook his head as he was bombarded with questions, relieved that in the darkness, neither sister could see him.
    “I have – associates – who are working on capturing the French you unfortunately came into contact with. While for your own safety, I cannot tell you too much, I can tell you that the French Guards are security men for very