Dangerous Liaison (Lords of Whitehall Book 2)

tired. My lady’s introduction to your recalcitrant flock of retainers can wait.”
“Moreham,” She would not allow him to deprive the butler of this moment. Her arrival as countess was a historical occasion for everyone who lived in this house. Showing her off to the household staff was a ritual as old as England. She took hold of his hands and pulled him closer. She tightened her hold. “James, I want to greet the household staff now.”
He glared down at her. Had she made him angry? If so, that was too bad, but she would do as she deemed proper. She meant to start as she intended to go forward. Regardless of how they got to this point, she was the Countess of Moreham.
After a moment, he nodded. He turned to the butler and waved the elderly man forward. “My countess would like to be introduced to the staff.”
The butler had the wherewithal not to smirk at his master’s about face and led the way into More House where the household staff stood in a straight line by precedence. Timmie proceeded to introduce each retainer from his wife, the housekeeper, to Willie, the boot boy.
Gillian listened closely and spoke to each person. She had learned at Aunt Isadora’s knee the finer points of household management. She had taken those principles and added a few of her own. The foremost of those was her practice of taking a few moments here and there to speak kindly to a member of the household. To address them by their name. Doing so fostered a congenial atmosphere in the household.
After all the introductions had been seen to, Moreham thanked the servants and took hold of her hand and rested it on his arm. She stiffened when he escorted her to a set of double doors. She’d assumed he would escort her above stairs to her rooms. He had to know she was tired.
She’d not slept well last night. Far too dire thoughts consumed her. She tossed and turned worrying about what was to become of her uncle and aunt if that encoded note she found provided Moreham with the evidence he needed to charge her uncle with treason.
Of course, there was the business of being ruined and betrothed. Even now, married, she blushed at the goings on in Uncle Whitney’s bookroom.
Moreham leaned closer and whispered, “Before you arrived at St. George’s, I received word Fitzroy has had success with the code. I directed him to join us here.”
“Oh my! So quickly done. What does that mean?”
He patted her hand on his sleeve. “Gillian, don’t fret until there is something to fret over.”
As they approached the library doors, the footmen stepped forward to open the doors. Moreham nodded to both servants and guided her into the massive library. Shelves rose to the ceiling on two sides of the room.
“I’ve never seen so many books in a private home. My aunt and uncle do not like to read so the libraries in their homes are much smaller.”
Moreham smiled at her. “We Morehams are avid readers. As a young bride, my mama declared each evening there would be time for reading. She is the one responsible for our impressive collection.”
“I must thank her. I love to read. Aunt Isadora is forever chastising me for sneaking off to a quiet corner to read. I promise I’ll spend many hours sequestered in this magnificent room enjoying myself.” She smiled up at him. At that moment, for the first time since standing in the back of St. George’s she felt married to this man.

Chapter 6
Moreham wished Fitzroy wasn’t due to arrive at any minute. He wanted time with Gillian by himself. Fitz had sent the same note to Philly which meant she and his mother would be arriving at the same time. Time to get back to government business.
Gillian roamed around the room looking at the various bits sitting on the small tables and sideboard scattered around the room. He remained in the middle of the room and watched her. The sight of her looking over his possessions. She wouldn’t know that. Every trinket, book and painting was his not the earldom’s. Her appreciation of each item warmed his heart.
A sharp rap on the door brought her perusal to an end.
He called out. “Enter.”
Timmie came through the door. “Mr. Fitzroy has arrived, my lord.”
“Excellent, show him in. My mother and Lady Philly should also arrive momentarily. Show them in as well.”
He’d give Fitz a rise in pay if he had decoded that note. All this time with his wife was wreaking havoc on his mind. It was time to form a strategy and bring this investigation to a close.
Fitz walked into the library and bowed. Before the agent could speak a single word, his mother and Philly entered. Fitz stood back as the ladies made their way to Gillian who they fussed over for several minutes.
“Mama, Lady Philly, please have a seat so Fitz can tell us what he has learned. You can make over Gillian after he departs.”
“Moreham, you can be so bothersome at times,” his mother uttered as he escorted her to a pair of settees in the far corner of the library. There were two footmen at the doors, but he never took chances. Anyone could be bought.
He went to Gillian and led her to the other settee. “Fitz, now that the ladies are comfortable, you may begin.” The room positively hummed with tension.
Moreham watched Gillian’s face for any indication she knew what was to come. All he saw was fear in the tightness of her mouth and her eyes. If she was a part of the conspiracy, she was a topnotch actress. He moved closer to Gillian to have a better perspective of her reaction to the cryptographer’s report.
“My lord, my ladies, I came as soon as I could. I have decrypted the note you found in the duke’s study.”
“Excellent, what does the note say?”
“You were right, my lord. The code is the same letter