A Spy for Lady Clementine

By Susanne Bellamy

He's the King's man ... will he also be hers?

The war with Bonaparte rages in France while the London Season is in full swing. Businessman William Ravenshoe plans to propose to Lady Clementine, but a secret interview at the War Office upsets his plans and he is immediately deployed to spy for the King.

When Clementine's fiance goes missing before the announcement is made, she agrees to a fake engagement with his best friend to keep her parents happy.

But where is Will, and why did he disappear right before their betrothal?

Revised and updated. Previously published as Four Calling Cards in the 12 Rogues of Christmas anthology

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781867247012

Susanne Bellamy

Born and raised in Toowoomba, Susanne is an Australian author of contemporary and rural romances set in Australia and exotic locations. She adores travel with her husband, both at home and overseas, and weaves stories around the settings and people she encounters. Her Outback series, Hearts of the Outback, and Second Chance Love, one of the Bindarra Creek series with other authors, were inspired by her time teaching in far north-west Queensland. Her heroes have to be pretty special to live up to her real life hero. He saved her life then married her. They live on the edge of the Range with their German Shepherd, Freya. In another life, Susanne was a senior English and Drama teacher with a passion for Shakespeare and creative writing, but now her two children have flown the coop, she writes full time. Susanne is a member of the RWA (Romance Writers of Australia) and won third place in their 2011 Emerald Award. She placed third in the Pan Macmillan short story competition with Chez Romeo. A hybrid author, she is published with Mira, and Harlequin Escape, as well as being self published. A popular guest speaker, she presented the keynote address at the Steele Rudd Pilgrimage, and was a guest speaker for the Dynamic Life Speakers Series for U3A, and has been invited to speak in libraries, at book clubs, and to community groups. To find out more, visit Susanne on her website.   You can also follow Susanne on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Pinterest.   

Book preview

Chapter 1

Late October 1813

‘I had expected this interview to be with a much lesser personage than yourself, my Lord. After all, isn’t it a mere formality to my joining the regiment?’ William Ravenshoe stood before Lord Carstairs’s desk, his mind teasing out probable reasons for the singular honour.

‘We use resources as we see fit, Mr Ravenshoe, and you are uniquely placed by your connections and by the nature of your business to best serve your country in ways other than on the battlefield. We have men in abundance who have signed up to fight on the front lines. What we need is better intelligence to make best use of those numbers.’

Will stood straighter. As a plain mister, he hadn’t expected to be noticed by the powers that be, not like his many titled friends and relatives who were serving the Crown. And that was fine by him. Except that one of them must have had a word in the ear of someone high up in the War Office. There was no other way a man like him would have come to their notice.

His thoughts winged to Cousin Lavinia’s brother-in-law, Jasper, Earl of Wrotham. There had been something secretive in Jasper’s intent gaze across the billiard table when they’d played at White’s several nights ago.

Secretive and knowing, now he thought about it.

‘I expect no favours because of my connections, sir.’

‘There are no favours in this assignment, Mr Ravenshoe. Only practicalities and using every asset to advantage.’

Reserving judgement about whether to thank Jasper or throttle him for interfering, he glanced at the documents in front of Lord Carstairs. A map of France peeked out beneath several closely written pages. ‘Exactly what is the nature of the task you wish me to carry out?’

‘Last year, Boney pushed General Kutuzov’s Russian forces into a retreat and swept into Moscow unopposed. This year, the tide has turned. Austrian, Prussian, Russian, and Swedish forces dealt Bonaparte a crushing blow at Leipzig.’

‘Earlier this month, yes; I had heard.’

‘No doubt your cousin-in-law mentioned it?’

‘The earl is not indiscreet, sir. However, we were discussing Bonaparte’s tactics in the lead-up to the battle at Borodino.’

The fact Lord Carstairs referred to Jasper supported the notion there had been more behind their discussion than simple analysis of strategy.

‘Good fellow, Jasper.’ Lord Carstairs sipped his brandy and set the glass back on the desk with a decisive thump. ‘What we want is to gather better intelligence so we can increase the pressure on Boney and end this war as soon as possible. I understand you speak French fluently, and you have business contacts across the Channel. We have reason to believe one of your business partners may be … useful, if you were to apply appropriate pressure.’

Lord Carstairs set aside the handwritten pages, fully revealing the map of France on the desk between them. He stabbed a finger over the port of Calais then traced a path into the interior of the country. ‘One of the men you do business with—d’Aubray—Take a good look at where his business interests are, and tell me what you notice.’

Will glanced at the map, but he knew where Etienne d’Aubray’s interests lay. The man’s family had escaped the worst excesses of the French Revolution; many would say they had profited by their fellow aristocrats’ deaths. While soldiers from the French and other armies had devastated vineyards across the countryside as they marched through, D’Aubray had acquired several profitable estates. No one was certain where his sympathies lay, but the wines d’Aubray sold to Will were highly sought after, especially now as the war with Bonaparte dragged on into its tenth year.

‘You want me to pump d’Aubray for information. About what? Troop movements in and around his family’s lands?’

‘D’Aubray supplies the emperor’s court.’ A snide tone imbued the term with loathing and disgust. ‘Sometimes he personally accompanies consignments to the palace. There is proof he has been in the presence of the emperor himself. And we believe he may be privy to information about Boney’s next push.

‘Any advance warning of Boney’s plans will help our commanders in the field. A delicate touch is required to elicit information from those unwilling to reveal it. I’m told you are well-versed in the art of negotiation.’

The thrust of what Lord Carstairs required of him became clear. ‘You want me to watch and listen and draw out details.’

‘Exactly so, Mr Ravenshoe. Are you willing to undertake this assignment on behalf of your King and government?’

‘Of course, sir. When do you need me to leave?’

‘Probably the day after tomorrow, but prepare tonight. Plans are changing hourly. We’ll be in touch. And Mr Ravenshoe—not a word to anyone.’ Lord Carstairs opened a drawer, withdrew a letter and handed it to Will.

He glanced at the crest imprinted in the wax seal.

Jasper’s seal.

‘Instructions for your initial assignment and details about where to meet your contact are inside. Read and memorise them, then destroy the letter.’

‘Understood.’

‘That will be all. The Prince Regent and your country thank you for your willingness to serve.’ Lord Carstairs nodded and, picking up his quill, returned his attention to the document before him.

Will strode from the room, but, once outside, he leaned against a cool marble column, fingering the heavy paper.

What role does Jasper play in this game of war?

He turned the letter over and examined the seal before tucking the letter inside his jacket.

I do believe I’ve just become a spy for His Majesty’s government …

***

‘Dearest Lavinia.’ Lady Clementine Basingthwaite grasped the hand of her best friend. ‘Do you think Will might propose tonight at your ball? Has he spoken to you?’

Lady Lavinia Clermont shook her head and set her free hand over Clem’s. ‘My cousin speaks only of the very high regard in which he holds you, my dear. A regard I know you share. You’re hoping for a wedding before Christmas?’

Clem nodded, sharing her dearest wish with her friend. ‘Of course. For three years I’ve refused suitors as gently as I could. Not one of them stirred my heart as Will does.’

How patiently she had waited, certain that a real love like her parents’ was possible. And then, one day, she had encountered Will by the lake. He had bowed and returned the book she’d set down and forgotten on the park bench. When he looked up … One look into his sherry-brown eyes that seemed as unwilling as hers to lose their connection, and Clem’s heart knew. Before her stood the man she would marry.

Warmth crept up her cheeks that had nothing to do with the fire flickering merrily in the hearth as she admitted, ‘I love Will and I think he loves me.’

Tears sprang into Lavinia’s eyes and she freed her hands from Clem’s hold, found her handkerchief and dabbed her eyes and nose. ‘Oh, my dearest friend. I cannot wait to call you cousin too.’

‘I shall contrive to keep two dances for Will, including the supper dance. If you find us missing from supper, please do not send out a search party, Lavinia.’ Implicitly trusting Will’s honour, Clem knew she would be safe, but she hoped that contriving a few quiet moments together would elicit his offer for her hand.

Turning her face to the hearth, she lost herself in dreams of Will sitting beside her in front of their own fire, alone. Smoke rose up the chimney and she sent her prayers up with it.

By this time tomorrow may I be engaged.

Chapter 2

Later that evening