Still, he intended to keep his doubt of those in command to himself. He would have need of them if he were to keep Harry from the gallows.
“Let us hope that the Home Office considers it equally brilliant.”
“How could they not?”
He snorted at her naivety. “Politicians are rarely sensible, even when it comes to organizing a war. They are far too busy battling one another to actually concentrate on the true enemy.”
She looked as if she desired to argue, but she simply gave a faint shake of her head.
“I still do not comprehend how you intend to prevent Harry from being revealed as a traitor,” she instead admitted.
“I intend to barter for his future.”
“With the list?”
“Yes.” He shifted to return the precious sheet of parchment to his jacket pocket before leaning back and running a slender finger down the bare skin of her shoulder. “If they desire to keep the names of the remaining traitors a secret, then they must agree that Harry’s connection to Jacques Gerard will never be revealed.”
She shivered beneath his touch, her eyes darkening with a heated anticipation.
“What if they refuse to follow your suggestions?” she managed to demand.
His finger continued down her arm and toward the hand that so desperately clutched the blanket to her bosom.
“They will still be willing to sacrifice whatever necessary to keep the betrayal of these men from society.”
“I do not know how you can be so certain.”
Gabriel shrugged. “Because I am well aware of the hysteria that would explode throughout Britain once it was revealed that such powerful gentlemen were in secret contact with a French spy.” He grimaced at the mere thought. “It would not matter if the men on this list had offered nothing more tangible than the name of Wellesley’s boot-maker to Jacques Gerard. It would be assumed that the war is on the brink of failure and that all of parliament has been purchased by Napoleon.”
She gave a slow nod. “Yes, I see your point.”
Grasping her hand, he gently untangled her grip on the blanket, hissing in pleasure as the fabric slid down to reveal the pale perfection of her curves.
“So long as Harry avoids any further stupidity, he should be able to put his past behind him and begin anew,” he said, his tone distracted as his body stirred and hardened. “Wherever he is.”
A flush stained her cheeks as she lay back on the pillows, her eyes shimmering with an invitation that would tempt a saint.
“He will return when he is ready,” she murmured.
“Enough of my brother.” Stretching out at her side, Gabriel curled his fingers around the soft weight of her breast. “I believe we have a better means of passing the rest of the voyage.”
She arched beneath his touch, her arms lifting to wrap around his neck.
“Do you?”
He lowered his head, his gaze centered on the sensuous lips that were already parted in anticipation of his kiss.
“Allow me to demonstrate.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
AS WAS HIS USUAL habit, Hugo rose from his bed at an early hour and attired himself in a fitted blue coat and buff breeches that showed his large, muscular body to advantage. He had no patience for those fools who lay abed the entire morning, expecting a bevy of servants to tend to their needs as if they were helpless invalids.
He had to admit there were some advantages to being the first to rise. He strolled into the breakfast room that was decorated with pale green satin wall panels and gold-framed mirrors. The delicate rosewood table matched the chairs upholstered in a yellow-and-cream stripe in the center of the room.
He was not only able to enjoy his breakfast of thick sliced ham, fresh eggs and warm toast with a large dollop of honey without apologizing for his healthy appetite, but he was able to enjoy the fine view of the craggy cliffs and distant sea without being forced to make meaningless chitchat.
Polishing off the last of his food, he strolled past the sideboard that groaned beneath the brimming silver chafing dishes and out the French windows that led to the balcony beyond.