A Buccaneer at Heart by Stephanie Laurens

Author:Stephanie Laurens [LAURENS, STEPHANIE]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2016-04-25T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Frobisher’s words on the inadvisability of trusting anyone in the settlement’s officialdom remained in the forefront of Aileen’s mind when, the following morning, she swept into the Office of the Naval Attaché.

Little had changed since she’d last been there. The three clerks still worked at desks along the wall; the same lanky individual with whom she’d previously spoken rose and, recognizing her, rather warily came to the counter.

Although Frobisher had advanced no definite evidence that anyone in the navy was involved in whatever heinous scheme was afoot, she had, nevertheless, determined to say nothing that might in any way alert anyone to his mission.

That was too important to jeopardize.

“Good morning.” She’d dressed for the occasion—her mission for today—in another of her jacket-and-skirt outfits, this one a delicate pale lemon yellow with a crisp white blouse. She smiled at the clerk as sincerely as she could.

He didn’t smile back. “How can we help you this time, miss?”

Clearly, she wasn’t going to get any further with these dolts than she had the last time, but who knew? Pigs might fly. She parted her lips on her rehearsed speech—and saw a shadow move behind the frosted glass in the door in the rear wall of the outer office.

The door with the words “Naval Attaché” blazoned on it.

She redirected her attention to the clerk. “I understand that the naval attaché is in the office today. Please inform him that I, Miss Hopkins, wish to speak with him.” The clerk opened his mouth—no doubt to tell her his master was too busy to oblige her. Before he could, she rolled on, her tone increasingly pointed, “And perhaps you might tell him—” That I’ve recently posted a letter to the Admiralty? That was too close to Frobisher’s mission. She substituted, “That I expect to be back in London soon and will be calling at the Admiralty.”

She clasped her hands about the top of her reticule and, no longer smiling, arched an imperious brow at the clerk.

He debated for a second, then waved her to a chair by the side of the room. “If you’ll take a seat, Miss Hopkins, I’ll let Mr. Muldoon know you’re here.”

Buoyed by mild triumph—and a surge of anticipation over perhaps getting some worthwhile answers—she consented to sit on one of the three straight-backed chairs lined up against the wall. She placed her reticule in her lap and watched the clerk go to the door, tap, and enter.

The clerk shut the door behind him. She wondered how long she might have to wait.

A minute ticked past, then the door opened, and the clerk came out—followed by a rather handsome man in a plain suit.

The man’s gaze found her. While the clerk returned to his desk, the man came forward and opened the gate to the side of the counter. “Miss Hopkins?”

Aileen rose and went forward. “Indeed, sir. I take it you are the naval attaché?”

The man bowed. “Muldoon, Miss Hopkins.” He straightened and, with a wave, invited her to precede him into his office.

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