Read A Cantata of Love (The Code Breakers 4) for Free Online Page B

damning glare. “Provoke you?”
    “You’re the one who has accused Gabby of being a French spy.”
    “Gentlemen!” Ashworth raised his voice. “Think of Lady Henrietta.”
    “You’re right. It’s best not to get Hen riled.” Michael sat down in the chair next to Ashworth. “Hen doesn’t lose her temper easily, but when she does, watch out. With one glib remark she can level a man.”
    Lord Rathbourne sat back down at his desk. “She does have a sharp and deadly precise way with words.”
    Michael laughed at Rathbourne’s tone of awe in regard to Hen.
    “You two are pathetic.” Ash shook his head. “Lady Henrietta, like Gwyneth, is a most gentle and accommodating woman.”
    “Gwyneth, accommodating? Since when?” Rathbourne chortled.
    “My wife is always reasonable in her demands.”
    Michael was shocked to hear Rathbourne hoot with laughter. Was it possible that his sister’s husband had a sense of humor?
    “My sister doesn’t have a reasonable bone in her body.”
    Michael looked back and forth between the two men, trying to grasp the connections. “You’re married to Lord Rathbourne’s sister?”
    “Yes, and Cord is married to your sister. Cozy, isn’t it?”
    And, struck by their mutual bonds and fueled by the brandy, the men chuckled together—a tentative sense of camaraderie.
    When the door opened, all three men jumped to their feet. Michael found it difficult to control his laughter. Exhaustion and brandy might not be the best combination.
    A giant of a man, broad-faced, with longish black hair and piercing eyes, stood at the door. “What is so humorous?”
    Ashworth said, “These men were cowering because they thought Lady Henrietta had come to give them hell.”
    Examining the stranger’s fierce face, Michael tried to remember where they had met.
    “Glad to have you back on British soil.” A wide grin spread across the man’s face. He crossed the room and slapped Michael on the back. “You gave me a hell of scare in Paris.”
    Michael shook his head in disbelief and pointed. “You’re the man who was hiding behind the tree.”
    The giant’s thick eyebrows slashed together. “It’s called ‘covert operations.’”
    “It must have been one hell of a big tree,” Ashworth added irreverently.
    “If you were on our side, why in the hell did you chase my man and me out of France?” Michael asked.
    “I wasn’t after you. I was guarding you. I left a false trail for Fouché and Napoleon’s men to give you time to make your getaway.”
    “You could have fooled me.”
    “When you were playing a nun?” the amused man asked.
    “Then, sir, I’m in your debt.” Michael offered his hand. “As you already know. I’m Kendal.”
    He tilted his head to the side. “Brinsley, at your service.”
    “Brinsley has shared your daring escape dressed as nuns, but how did you end up wearing religious garb?” Ashworth inquired.
    Rathbourne moaned aloud. Obviously his brother-in-law didn’t appreciate how sticky the situation had become in France.
    “Both Fouché and Napoleon’s men were after us,” Michael said.
    “After you stole the French code book from Le Chiffre, which wasn’t included in your assignment,” Rathbourne added.
    “I wasn’t planning on stealing the book, but as you already know, I was shot returning home.”
    “Yes, ruined your cover, forcing Fouché and Napoleon to come after you. Then you almost got your sister killed by sending the damn code book to her.” Rathbourne’s sharp voice matched his harsh stare.
    Michael jumped out of his chair. “Who tried to kill Hen?”
    Rathbourne gestured for Michael to sit back down. “I’ll explain later.”
    Michael stared at Rathbourne’s implacable expression. He refused to believe Rathbourne’s hyperbole that his sister had been in danger. This was England, not France. To keep the peace with Rathbourne, Michael kept quiet, but he was growing tired of his brother-in-law’s insinuations about his competency.