Title The Spymaster’s Lady: A Spy Adventure, Found Family Regency Romance
Author C.K. Mackenzie
Genre Regency Romance
Book Blurb
In a world of secrets, love is the riskiest code to crack.
Nathalie Van den Berg's life of smuggling and secrets takes a perilous turn when her brother vanishes, leaving behind only a cryptic message: Find the spymaster, Hilton.
Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Hilton changed his name, his life, and his path. When Nathalie stumbles into his world of espionage, Marcus is compelled to protect her—and the vital information she carries.
As they work to decode Bonaparte's latest moves on the Continent, an unexpected passion ignites. A simple affair? Nothing in her life is simple. But when Nathalie is kidnapped by Marcus's enemies, their blossoming romance faces its ultimate test.
Trust is a luxury and love a liability. Can Nathalie and Marcus forge a future together? Or will the dangers of espionage tear them apart?
Excerpt
“Have you a place to stay?” Hilton asked, tone softening as fractionally as his shoulders.
“I—no.” Nathalie blinked at him. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. I arrived on the morning tide and came right here.” After the captain and crew helped her evade customs. But she doubted confessing such a thing to a colonel in His Majesty’s Army would earn her any sympathy.
“I’ll arrange for a place for you and your dog.” Hilton’s gaze flicked down at Elin, then back at Nathalie. “A safe room, where no one will bother you. I promise you, Miss Van den Berg, I’ll keep you safe on British soil.”
“You can stay with us,” Lord Strachan said abruptly.
Shocked, Nathalie frowned at him. “With you and the colonel? That’s hardly appropriate.”
His smile widened, and he half glanced at Hilton. Nathalie couldn’t decide what that look meant, but Strachan’s green eyes sparked with a mischief that was slightly out of place in this cramped cupboard of an office. “My wife and I. Esme will be thrilled to host you, I promise.”
“You don’t even know me.” Nathalie shook her head. She needed more food than the chicken and bread she’d shared with Elin, and maybe a month’s sleep. Both were in short supply these last years.
“It’s no trouble,” Strachan promised. His improbable and unexplainable grin widened. “And this way you’ll have a safe place to sleep. Esme will love your dog.” He nodded at Elin, who eyed him with suspicion. Then again, Elin eyed everyone with suspicion. She was a good dog. “And Hilton can easily visit without arousing any suspicion.”
Hilton, who looked as if he approved of this arrangement, carefully folded his papers. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how important your brother’s letters are to our war effort against the French.”
Nathalie masterfully held back a snort. She couldn’t hold back the pointed look. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you I’ll do anything to see they’re run out of my homeland.”
Hilton’s lips twitched again, and for one wild moment Nathalie feared he saw through her anger to the woman she’d been before. She didn’t know how she felt about that.
Strachan made a strangled sound that he swiftly turned into a clearing of his throat. “Then it’s settled.” He nodded in satisfaction, as if they’d engaged in a lengthy discussion.
“Thank you, Strachan, and thank the marchioness as well.” Hilton hadn’t set down the letters but carefully slipped them into an inner pocket of his military coat. “Is your ship still in port?”
Nathalie eyed the men, wondering just what she’d walked into. “I’m sure it is. The evening tide is still some time off. Though I disembarked as soon as I was able.”
He held her gaze and she knew, just knew, he understood that she’d slipped away before customs arrived. How he knew, Nathalie had no idea, but he seemed to understand a great deal more than what lay on the surface. If this office was anything to go by, he understood more about what lay beneath that surface than anyone. “Is there anyone I should contact about your arrangements?”
She dismissed that with an impatient wave of her hand. “No. The less anyone knows, the better. I won’t endanger my employees any more than I already have.”
“Understandable.” He stepped back and to the right, easily evading a small shelf Nathalie only just then saw sitting on the floor. She didn’t want to be impressed by this man, though she had no idea why. “If you tell me the name of the ship and her berth, I’ll see she isn’t harassed.”
“Aemilia. Named after our mother.” Nathalie shook her head, banishing memories and grief.
Why had she added that part, what difference did it make? None, except the pang of loss she’d felt when she boarded the ship. It’d been years since she thought of her parents, lost more than a decade ago during the anti-monarchy protests. So much had happened since then.
“I’ll see to her,” Hilton promised with an underlying emotion that sounded very much like honesty and understanding.
“Thank you.”
“If you don’t mind waiting here, I’ll send for Esme and our carriage, keep this proper.” Strachan smiled at her, which she easily returned. Nathalie liked him—he was quick to the point and easily understood. Unlike Hilton. Then he bowed and left, once more leaving her and Hilton alone.
“What do the letters say?” she asked, too restless to sit, even as exhaustion pulled her down.
“They’re in code, of course.” Hilton touched his pocket, the only indication he held something that might stop Bonaparte from continuing his rule over most of the Continent. “And in Dutch.”
“Do you not read Dutch?” Head tilted, she picked at the chicken. For as hungry as she’d been these last years, with food so scarce, Nathalie found her appetite meager when faced with a real meal.
“I do, but not as fluently as I’d like.” He frowned, gazing at a shelf of books stacked in a pyramid along the far corner. “I have many books, however, so it shouldn’t—”
Nathalie laughed. It was the second time in a single day—nay, a single hour—that she had done so. “Oh, but if only you knew someone who read both Dutch and English.” Shaking her head, she grinned at Hilton, a sharp smile that didn’t hide her desire for revenge. “Oh, whoever could that be…”
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Author Biography
Hello! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m a Regency Romance author, dog lover, French fry connoisseur, and explorer of new and interesting teas. I recently lost my beloved corgi after almost 14 years together and am now exploring becoming a foster dog mom.
But let’s talk books!
I’m a Regency Romance author with a taste for a hint of intrigue and mystery. I have several series planned and can’t wait to share them with you! As happens with most things in my life, once I start a story the secondary characters demanded attention. So in addition to the main Legacy stories (4 families, 4-5 siblings each) I also have shorter stories of those side characters.
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