Too Hot For A Spy. Pearl Wolf

      “I received glowing reports about your progress from my staff. I only hope…”

      His final words made her wary. What was he getting at? “What is it you hope, sir?”

      “Let me be frank, Fairchild. I hope that my instructors aren’t easier with you than with the other trainees because you are a mere woman.”

      His remark took her warm feelings away and replaced them with indignation. When she could trust herself to speak, she asked, “Have you reason to think they have been too easy with me?”

      “You complained of breaking some of your fingernails, didn’t you?”

      She forced a laugh, but her eyes betrayed her anger. “To shreds. Not some. All ten of them. My remark was directed to Mrs. Hunnicut when she asked if I needed her to pare them.”

      Bloody hell! I’ve put my foot in my mouth. He threw his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry. No need to chastise me.”

      “It appears you have little faith in your instructors’ opinions. Or in me.”

      “I’ve made you angry, I see. I beg your pardon. Can you forgive me?”

      “Of course, sir.” She rose and curtseyed. “How kind of you to favor me with your attentions this afternoon. Will you excuse me?” She turned toward the terrace and hurried away.

      Sebastian watched her depart. Damn! I made a mess of it. Just when I was making progress with her, too. He shifted uncomfortably on the bench. He was hard and it showed. He didn’t know whether he wanted to kill her for the way she made him feel, or kiss her senseless for the very same reason.

      After chapel on Sunday morning, the trainees were free to rest and to study. It rained all day, destroying all thought of outdoor pursuits. Having had enough of the company of her fellow trainees, Olivia took advantage of Mrs. Hunnicut’s offer to make use of her sitting room. She brought her study manuals from her room down the hall, and settled into one of the comfortable chairs in front of the fireplace. She was seated opposite her hostess, who was busy with her needlepoint.

      “How peaceful it is here, ma’am. You are very kind to allow me to intrude on you in this way.”

      “Nonsense, Fairchild. I enjoy your company.” A knock on the door interrupted her. “There’s our tea, dear.” She began to rise.

      But Olivia objected. In a soft voice, she said, “I’ll get it, ma’am.” She waited at the door while the maid placed the tea tray on the table, bobbed a curtsey and left the room.

      Olivia shut the door and asked, “How do you take your tea, ma’am? Let me prepare it for you.”

      “Cream, no sugar, thank you.”

      Olivia served her the tea, offered her the pastry tray, and served herself before sitting back down. “Have you always been the housekeeper at Wilson Academy, ma’am?”

      “I was an earl’s housekeeper in Leeds before I married. In fact, I met the spymaster when he visited there before the war. When Wilson Academy was completed to his satisfaction, he wrote to me and offered me this position. I jumped at the chance, for the challenge of being an instructor as well as housekeeper intrigued me. My employer did not stand in my way. And here I am.

      “I feel as though the trainees have become my children and the instructors my family. We all live on the grounds, you see. We meet for cocktails in the drawing room before dinner, so we’ve grown to know one another quite well. I’m a widow and it’s less lonely for me here among such congenial company.”

      “Are none of the instructors married?”

      “Aaron Foster is a widower. He came out of retirement at Viscount Sidmouth’s urging. He’s well-known in his field. He has a son in the army, I believe. The others are unmarried, except for Tom Deff. He has a wife, three grown sons and two daughters in Ireland. They rely on his financial support. There’s not much honest work to be had there. He owns a horse breeding farm that his sons tend in his absence. He returns to see them all when we take our holiday in the fall, after your training is done.”

      “Do you enjoy your role here?”

      “Oh yes. It’s important work and I take it seriously. Most gratifying, my dear. And not in the least bit difficult. I’ve managed to earn enough to see me in comfort when I retire. And having no family I can call my own, I dearly love to mother all you young ones.”

      Olivia smiled. “You are like a mother to all of us, ma’am.”

      “Do you have a mother?”

      “Oh, yes. And a father. And four sisters and one brother. I miss them all.”

      “I expect you do.” She glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Oh dear. Just look at the hour. Time to make ready for dinner, my dear.”