Jarrod shook his head. “Unlike the rest of you, I declined my invitation.” He met Colin’s gaze and smiled. “How was Her Grace’s party? Did you and your lovely viscountess have a good time?”
“We had a very nice time,” Colin told him. “But not at Sussex House.”
Jarrod frowned. “You didn’t go?”
“Colin and Gillian stayed home,” Griff answered to spare Colin another explanation.
“Why?” Jarrod demanded. “Was Gillian ill?”
“No,” Colin assured him. “She’s fine.”
“Then why the devil didn’t you take her to the duchess’s party? Gillian would have loved it. It’s the biggest ball of the season, and the most exclusive.”
“Too exclusive,” Colin answered.
Jarrod frowned.
“Colin and Gillian didn’t receive their invitations in time to attend,” Griff explained diplomatically.
“Why the devil not?” Jarrod glanced toward Sussex’s customary seat.
Jonathan intercepted his glance. “You know the duchess.”
“Yes,” Jarrod sighed. “I know the duchess. That’s why I declined. She only invites me to her celebrations because I’m unmarried and available to partner the eligible young ladies.”
“She invites you because you’re considered unattainable,” Alex Courtland corrected. “And she would like to be the one to snag you.”
“She’s a lovely lady and quite well-preserved for her age.” Jarrod pretended not to understand. “But she’s still a bit too old and too tyrannical for my taste. She outranks me, and she would never let me forget it.”
Courtland choked on his coffee at the idea of the dowager Duchess of Sussex sharing a bed with anyone—much less Shepherdston. As far as he was concerned, Daniel’s conception was the second miracle birth.
Jarrod glanced at Colin and couldn’t resist baiting him a bit. “Once upon a time, you and I were both considered unattainable. Apparently she’s decided to punish you for going and getting yourself leg-shackled last season without her help or approval, else you’d have received your invitation this season.”
Colin chuckled. “Give me my leg shackles any day.” He looked at Griff, the only other married Free Fellow, for confirmation. “I prefer marriage to Gillian over the Duchess of Sussex’s invitations any time.”
“And I prefer to remain unmarried.” Jarrod winked at Barclay and Courtland. “Unlike these two who, no doubt, accepted her invitation and ventured into dangerous territory last evening.” He took a drink of coffee, then looked at the others. “So I stayed home and spent most of the night deciphering.”
“Any new information?” Colin asked.
“I don’t know. Unfortunately, I was interrupted before I completed the deciphering.” Jarrod didn’t offer any explanations for the interruption, and the others didn’t ask for one.
Griff raised his hands in a sign of surrender. “I thought the War Office requested the dispatches be delivered this morning,” Griff ventured.
“They did.” Jarrod turned to Colin. “Do you think Gillian would mind … ?”
Shortly after his marriage, Colin had accidentally discovered that his bride was extremely proficient at solving anagrams, all sorts of word puzzles, and deciphering French code. Gillian’s talent had come as a most pleasant surprise. Colin was a proficient code breaker, but Gillian was excep
tional. Colin trusted her talent as much as he trusted her.
“She’d be disappointed if you didn’t ask,” Colin confided.
It was true. Colin’s wife didn’t know the history of the Free Fellows League or all of the work it did, but she knew he and his friends were part of it and that continuing their secret work was vital to the war effort. Gillian’s gift for numbers and her uncanny ability to break code had made her the Free Fellows League’s secret weapon, and she was delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the fight against Bonaparte. And they all knew that she would die before she would betray her husband or any member of the League.
Jarrod reached inside his jacket, removed the key to his desk drawer, and handed it to Colin. “The dispatches are locked in the top drawer of my desk. I’d be obliged if you’d get them and take them to your viscountess. Tell Henderson I sent you.”
Colin nodded and pocketed the key.
“I’ll stop by your house on my way to my meeting with Scovell at Whitehall later this morning and pick them up,” Jarrod continued. “Now, where’s Sussex?” He glanced around. “I want to know why he didn’t invite Colin and Gillian to his mother’s party, and I want to hear his report on his mission.”