The Devil's Necklace. Kat Martin

her mind to focus on the discussion at hand.

      “According to the colonel, this will be your cousin’s last assignment. Do you think Captain Sharpe will miss the sea very much?”

      She barely knew Ethan Sharpe though she had been aboard the ship that had sailed to France to rescue him from prison. During the single occasion Cord’s family had all been together to celebrate his return, she had thought him cold and distant, but Cord said he had not always been that way.

      “The sea has always been Ethan’s life,” Cord replied, “but he is resigned to assuming his duties as marquess. I think part of him is looking forward to the challenge.”

      “Do you think he’ll enter the marriage mart? It is, after all, his duty to produce an heir.”

      “Eventually, he’ll have to, but not right away.” Cord reached up and tugged a strand of her thick chestnut hair. She was small, but a little less slender now that she was four months gone with child. He turned around in his chair, pulled her down on his lap and kissed her.

      “What is this sudden interest in Ethan?”

      “Sarah dropped by. She is beginning to worry. You know how she is.” Sarah was Ethan’s sister, the Viscountess Aimes. Along with Cord, Sarah had been a driving force in bringing her brother safely home from France.

      “There is no reason for her to worry. Harmon Jeffries has fled. The man is no longer in a position to give away secrets—or sell them, as the case may be. Ethan will complete his mission and return safely home.”

      “With the viscount removed from the government, I suppose the voyage will be safer.”

      “Which brings me to a question I’ve been meaning to ask. Recently it occurred to me that it was extremely co incidental for your friend, Grace, to decide to visit a relative in the north so shortly after Lord Forsythe’s escape.”

      Tory gave him her innocent, wide-eyed expression. “Darling, surely you’re not implying that Grace had anything to do with it?”

      “Don’t give me that look. Tell me Grace Chastain was in no way involved in the viscount’s escape.”