Love's Imposters: The Setup, page 1
LOVE’S IMPOSTERS: THE SETUP
MAGGIE DALLEN
COPYRIGHT
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Love’s Imposters: The Setup Copyright © 2016 Maggie Dallen
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Maggie Dallen
Cover art by Tammy Andresen
TITLES BY
MAGGIE DALLEN
A CHANCE ROMANCE SERIES
The Accidental Engagement -- http://amzn.to/1N4VJBA
The Accidental Boyfriend -- http://amzn.to/225AhU9
The Accidental Elopement -- Coming Soon
THE BEAU MONDE CHRONICLES
The Rogue Debutante -- http://amzn.to/1V4aJr9
LOVE’S IMPOSTERS: THE SETUP
CHAPTER ONE
England, 1809
The sword was pointed at Daniel Ashford’s heart. Its silver length seemed to flicker and glow from the light of the fire. No one in the room dared to breath.
Daniel met his friend’s gaze over the tip of the sword. “Lay on, Macduff, and damn’d be him that first cries, ‘Hold enough!’”
“End scene!” Their host, General Watters, called out with a loud laugh from the back of the room. At the break in tension, those gathered in the drawing room burst into applause. His friend Wren, who’d played Macduff in their little scene, slapped him on the back. “Not bad, Ashford.” He turned to the General. “Didn’t I tell you he made a phenomenal Macbeth? It’s all in the voice, really.”
But Watters wasn’t paying attention, he was too busy playing host to the local gentry and their wives. This was the way it had been since Daniel and the handful of younger officers had arrived at the house party the day before. The General and his wife treated them more like their own personal source of entertainment rather than fellow houseguests. But then, Daniel supposed they should be considered lucky that they’d been invited at all. It was a rare privilege for a captain to be invited to the home of a General.
Daniel led Wren toward the glass door leading to the garden. “Come on, I need some air.”
The garden was dark and blissfully quiet. The only other person out there was their friend Gabriel, leaning back in a chair in the corner, nearly hidden from view. Wren fell into one of the empty chairs across from him as Daniel leaned against the wall beside them. As far as friends went, it was hard to imagine two more different men. Where Gabriel was dark, rugged and terse, Wren was fair-haired, charming, and had the gift of a silver tongue, as their old arithmetic teacher used to say. Yet, despite their differences, they, along with Daniel, had been steadfast friends since their school days.
“You missed the performance,” Wren said.
“Somehow I think I’ll survive.” Gabriel’s voice was a low growl coming out of the shadows. “No offense meant, but I think I’ve seen enough of your theatrics this week to last me a lifetime.”
“And whose fault is that?” Daniel asked.
Gabriel shrugged. “The General asked for the names of the best dramatists in the regiment.” He pointed to Daniel. “Everyone knows you love acting.”
“For fun,” Daniel protested. “With family and friends. Not every night on demand like I’m some…some…”
“Dancing monkey?” Wren suggested.
“Exactly.”
“I was just following orders,” Gabriel said. “Daniel was an obvious choice and you,” he waved a hand in Wren’s direction. “Well, you’re game for anything, particularly if it means being the center of attention.”
“True,” Wren said. “But I generally like that attention to be in the form of young, pretty ladies not this ancient crowd.”
The sound of a particularly loud woman’s high-pitched laugh made all three cringe.
“God almighty, how long is this house party set to last?” Gabriel asked.
“It’s an honor to be invited,” Daniel reminded him. Though, at that moment, he would have gladly given up the honor for a nice, quiet night at home with his sister. How long had it been now? Three months since he’d last been home?
Wren’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Don’t worry, gents, things should start to pick up tomorrow.”
Daniel and Gabriel exchanged a wary look at their friend’s smug expression. “Why?” Daniel asked. “What happens tomorrow?”
Wren’s grin was wicked. “Watters is expecting more guests from London.”
Gabriel’s scowl would have been terrifying if they didn’t know better. “That’s exactly what this week needs, more socializing.”
Wren sighed. “Oh my sweet, innocent Gabriel. Why do you think we’re here, exactly?”
“To be drawing room entertainment?” Daniel suggested mildly.
“Well, yes. That, of course. But that’s not all.”
In the dim light of the shadows, Gabriel cast Daniel a look of exasperated patience before turning back to Wren. “Oh please, do tell.”
Wren ignored the sarcastic tone and leaned forward in his chair. “We’re here to be eligible young bachelors, my friend. I’ve learned that Watters has three daughters and a slew of nieces who are coming tomorrow. Why else would they invite a group of lowly young soldiers?”
“Fantastic,” Gabriel murmured. “Now we won’t even be able to hide out here in the evenings. We’ll probably be expected to dance.”
Daniel and Wren burst out laughing. “Oh, the horror,” Daniel said.
“The fiends,” Wren added. “How dare they?”
Gabriel ignored their jesting as he stood from his chair and headed back to the parlor. “Come on, they’ll start to notice if we’re gone too much longer.”
Wren followed but Daniel couldn’t bring himself to go back into the stuffy parlor. “I’ll be in soon, I just need some fresh air.”
With the others gone, the only sound came from the trickling water in the garden’s fountain, the muffled voices inside, and…crying? No that couldn’t be right. It must be a trick of the wind.
But no, there it was, separate from the falling water, a soft sniffling sound of a child trying to keep their sobs silent. As someone who’d all but raised his little sister singlehandedly, he knew the sound well. The sobs were coming from the dark shrubbery to the left of the house, an area that wasn’t touched by the warm glow coming from the manor’s windows. Daniel followed the garden path until the sound grew nearer and he could pinpoint the child’s hiding spot.
Coming round the corner, he saw someone huddled over on a bench and he paused, not wanting to frighten the child.
“Hello there,” he said in his gentlest tone. “What seems to be the matter?”
The stranger’s head shot up and for a moment Daniel wasn’t certain who was more surprised. This was no child. She was a woman—and a beautiful woman at that. Moonlight streamed across her delicate face and her eyes rounded as she looked up at him.
Daniel took a step back and cleared his throat. “I beg your pardon, miss, I didn’t mean to intrude. It’s just that I...”
The woman shook her head. “It’s all right. You startled me, is all.” She looked from left to right as though Daniel might be the first of many intruders. “I should take my leave.”
The woman stood to leave but Daniel stopped her. “Please, don’t go on my account.” When she hesitated he took two steps toward her so he could see her more clearly. Perhaps it was a trick of the moonlight but she looked like one of his sister’s dolls, with her delicate porcelain features and petite frame. She looked like…perfection.
As she turned her face up to his, he saw the tears in her eyes. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Her composure seemed to slip a bit and the tears that had been threatening to spill fell down her cheeks in a silent but heartbreaking trickle. She shook her head quickly and swiped at the tears. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “This is so embarrassing.”
Daniel touched her elbow gently, careful not to spook her again, and led her back to the bench where he sat beside her.
“Please, tell me what’s wrong. Perhaps I can help.”
The woman’s head dropped and once again the only sound was of her soft sniffles and the fountain in the distance. Finally, when he couldn’t take it any longer, he tried again. “At least tell me your name.”
She looked up then and smiled. The world stopped. Time froze. The sweet curve of her lips was the only thing that mattered.
“Hastings,” she said. “Miss Madeline Hastings.”
“Miss Hastings, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Captain Daniel Ashford.”
Her head tipped down and even in this dim lighting, he could see the color rise in her cheeks. In that moment he wanted nothing more than to be this woman’s savior. Hand him a sword and he would slay any dragon.
He just needed to know what exactly this dragon was.
“Now that we’ve dispensed with the introductions, please tell me what’s troubling you. I promise I’ll do all that’s in my power to help.”
* * *
Oh dear, this was almost too easy.
Madeline batted her eyelashes—just a bit, no need to hit this man over the head with her poor-desperate-me act. And then she launched into her
Ashford’s brows drew together in what she took for concern but he nodded for her to continue.
“I need to get the letters back but they’re…well, they’re in there.” She nodded toward the manor and gave him her most desperate look of despair.
There was a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. Maybe he wasn’t as dumb as he looked. Because he looked handsome. Too handsome. And she had yet to meet a pretty boy who had any brains to speak of.
But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. She could all but see him talk himself out of his suspicions as he leaned in closer. “What exactly is contained in these letter?”
Madeline offered a helpless shrug. “I have no idea, Captain Ashford. To be honest, I don’t think Johnny even knows.”
The captain’s gaze was appraising but he didn’t give any hints as to what he was thinking.
Impressive.
“I’ll tell you what, Miss Hastings—”
“Please, call me Madeline.”
“Madeline,” he echoed. “Why don’t I take a look at these letters and have a frank discussion with the General? He’s a reasonable man, I assure you.”
Madeline smothered a grin. She’d never heard the old general referred to as reasonable before. Many other adjectives, but never that.
Feigning fear, she reached out and grabbed the captain’s arm. “Oh, please don’t do that. I’m afraid Johnny will get into even more trouble if anyone were to know that I’m here.”
He patted her hand but his expression was unreadable. What had been impressive was now a bit frustrating, to be honest. She had no way of knowing if he was falling for her lies. Perhaps it was time to seal the deal.
“Besides,” she added. “Johnny’s friends have put together quite a nice reward for whoever helps him out of this trouble.”
She watched for a reaction out of the corner of her eye. He shifted a bit so his face was no longer in the moonlight but hidden in shadows when he said, “A reward?”
Aha. So he was intrigued by the money. Her pride experienced a bit of a blow that the promise of money held more allure than the hope of attaining her.
She stifled a sigh as she continued on. “Yes, of course. They’d be happy to pay you.” When he paused she added, “And all for helping an innocent young man.”
That, apparently, did the trick. Moving even closer so she could smell the heavenly sandalwood scent of his soap or his shaving lotion or whatever it was that made him smell so good, he spoke close to her ear. “Very well, I’ll have a look in the general’s desk. Do you happen to know where they are?”
Madeline rolled her eyes since he was so close to her ear he could hardly see her expression. Must she do all the work here? “No, I’m afraid not.”
“That’s fine. I’m sure I can find them tonight while the general is distracted with his company.”
Madeline didn’t trust herself to speak.
“Will you meet me back here in an hour?”
She gave a jerky nod.
Oh dear. This was not good.
LOVE’S IMPOSTERS: THE SETUP
CHAPTER TWO
This was bad, very bad.
Adrenaline kicked in as Daniel raced back to the manor. Wiping his sweaty palms against his pants, he replayed the conversation looking for any other explanation. Anything to explain how that lady—that magnificent, gorgeous, sweet lady could be propositioning him to commit treason. Because that’s what it would be. Treason. What other purpose could Johnny and his friends have for trying to smuggle private documents out of the General’s desk?
A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as the golden glow of the glass doors leading to the parlor came into view. Daniel stopped and veered off course. He needed to get the General’s attention but he certainly wasn’t going to go running into a crowded parlor filled with London’s elite, shouting out that he’d just caught a traitor.
An image of the lady’s wide eyes and innocent expression flashed into his mind. No, surely she was not a traitor. She was being used. She was just a pawn in some treasonous villain’s game. But even so, he would need to hand her over to the general for questioning.
A memory of the tears brimming in her eyes came back with a painful stab of guilt. He would make sure she was treated well. He would ensure she was given a lenient sentence in exchange for information.
A side door took him through the kitchen, past several startled servants and into the family’s private quarters. Finding a footman roaming the halls, he caught the servant’s attention and instructed him to summon the General to his study as soon as he was able to slip away without drawing undue attention.
He let himself into Watters’ private office. It was rude, to be sure, but Daniel figured the circumstances warranted a breach of protocol. That self-assurance withered and died the moment his superior officer entered the study and fixed him with a withering glare.
“Making yourself at home, I see,” he said as he headed toward a table set with multiple bottles of liquor. Pouring himself a brandy, he added, “What’s this all about?”
Daniel didn’t waste another second. The words tumbled out of his mouth so quickly the General was stuck staring at him in open-mouthed surprise. When he’d finished telling him everything, from the sound of the woman’s crying to how he’d snuck into the private quarters, the General sank into his desk chair.
Daniel shifted under the older man’s studying gaze. He resisted the urge to keep prattling on, though the mix of nerves and adrenaline made it nearly impossible to stand there doing nothing. When at last the General opened his mouth it was not to ask questions, as Daniel expected, or to berate him, as he’d feared.
It was to laugh. A great boisterous laugh, the likes of which he had never heard from the General, not even during Daniel’s admittedly hilarious round of impersonations the night before.
Daniel’s mouth fell open. “I…It’s true,” he stammered. When the general’s laugh grew louder and his face turned a terrifying shade of red, the nerves were replaced by irritation. “I’m not making it up, sir. There was a woman and she asked for my help—”
Before he got any further retelling his tale, the General cut him off by waving his hand in the direction of the door. “Is this your girl?” He shouted, “Madeline, get in here.”
The door creaked open and there she was. The woman from the garden. Although here in the warm glow of the firelight, she was a vivid, colorful, living, breathing work of art. An etching that had taken shape and come to life in all its vibrant glory. The skin that had seemed like porcelain was in fact ivory, glowing and translucent and pure magic. The hair that had been a dark frame around her lovely features now sparkled and glowed with hints of amber in the firelight. The color that had darkened her cheeks was a rosy glow as though she’d been sitting outside in the cold night air for just a bit too long.
“You…You were outside.” It came out as an accusation, and he found himself stabbing a finger in her direction as though he could pin her down and make her explain.
Even to his own ears the accusation sounded a bit bizarre.
The lady raised a brow. “Yes, I was. How very astute.”
This made General Watters burst out laughing once more.
Daniel turned on the man, temporarily forgetting the fact he was his superior. “Do you know this woman?”
“Of course,” the General said. “She’s my daughter.”
Every word Daniel had ever learned was erased from his brain for one horrifying moment. When he did finally regain his vocabulary, his voice came out choked and scratchy. “Your...” He cleared his throat and tried again. “Your daughter?”
Questions and implications chased through his brain faster than he could put them into words. Did the General know his daughter was a spy? Or maybe he’d misread the situation, after all. But why would she need his help gaining entry to her father’s office? And who the hell was little Johnny?
