Extract+1

She had only been lingering in the shadows across from the Unicorn for approximately five minutes when she saw him come out. He scanned the street before he crossed over to her side of the road and turned left. Never having pursued a man on foot through London and unwilling to follow him with a carriage and give herself away, Beatrice was so preoccupied with following the man unseen she failed to notice the curtains in the Unicorn’s second-floor window fall back in place or the man who had being intently studying here every move. “She is following Kentwood.” “So she took the bait,” a soft female voice replied. “Yes, my belle the pretty princess took the bait. This affair is really beginning to aggravate me. If only we could just get rid of her.” Pouring more brandy into his cup, he knew it was out of the question. Not only had his grace warned them from laying a finger on the meddlesome woman but they had been promised to pay with their lives for it. Unbuttoning his waistcoat and untying his cravat he contemplated the woman resting languidly on the couch. “Andrew, is that the only thing bothering you? The fact that you can’t touch her.” He noticed the slight hint of a sneer in her tone and chose to ignore it. “Yes of course it bothers me, she is a beauty after all” pausing a moment, for the innuendo to be noticed. “But as a matter of fact my dear, that is not the only thing that bothers me.” “What is it then?” “The Duke.” “Which duke?” “Warrington.” “He has become bothersome, has he not? Thinking about it now, they have been seen together more often than not.” Larissa sat up straighter and Andrew waited for the observation she had just made. “Lord Cunning.” She gasped out breathlessly. “”Yes, what about him?” “On two occasions I have seen him and Warrington deep in conversation.” “You think they are working together?” “It is a possibility. I do not know. What are you going to do with this tidbit of information? If this is true then we – you have to tell them.” <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“I suppose I will have to tell Fen...” he stopped, interrupted by two small knocks. With a sigh he put his glass down on the table behind him and went for the door. On the other side of the door, one of the establishment’s maids stood looking at him with impatience. <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“Mr. Wes–“ <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“What is it?” <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“I was told to give you a message.” He turned around and smiled at Larissa. <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“So faith has decided for me,” and turning back he curtly said “what is the message?” <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“//Meet us at the regular spot’// is what his grace said sir.” <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Okay then,” and with a nod he left the room, leaving the maid standing looking at his back.

** <- back **