“Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.”

He took her arm and tucked it into his, pressing her body next to his. She moved slightly so they weren’t touching. It certainly did not feel as it did when Dante had done the same thing.

Dante’s form was muscular, where the Ambassador’s was soft. Dante smelled of bergamot while the Ambassador smelled of onions.

Now that they were on their way and she knew what the evening would bring, the butterflies had returned to her stomach.

Dante was nowhere to be seen when they entered the lobby. Lydia examined the footmen, wondering which ones were officers of the law. Everything seemed perfectly normal, but she still felt shaken inside. If only Dante were here, just one glance at him would calm her.

“Would you care for a glass of wine, Miss Sanford? Or perhaps some lemonade?”

She was quite thirsty, but with how tight her muscles felt, she doubted she would be able to swallow anything. “No. But thank you.”

He strolled them over to the table where the drinks were being served. “No whisky?” He picked up a glass of sherry and glowered at the footman, as if the poor man was responsible for the lack of drink the Ambassador preferred.

Th

ey made light chatter, with other people stopping by and speaking with them. There was more than one quelling glance at seeing the two of them together.

Just as the footman announced the attendees should find their seats, she spotted Dante leaning against the far wall, his eyes boring into hers. He offered her a slight salute and a smile. He then turned and sauntered with the rest of the crowd to their seats.

He climbed the stairs, going to Hunt’s box, she assumed. She and the Ambassador moved smoothly with the crowd to the upper floor, where he opened the heavy black curtain to his box, and she stepped in.

Good grief, she felt as though she were about to swoon. And she never swooned. She really had to get herself under control and act as though this was just like any other night at the theater.

They took seats near the front of the box, the Ambassador grasping her hand and setting it on his thigh. Had she not known he would be disappearing within ten minutes, she might have run screaming from her seat. The last thing she wanted was for her hand to be anywhere near his man parts.

Her heart pounded so rapidly she swore he must have heard it. In fact, they must have heard it in the box next to them.

“Are you looking forward to the play, my dear?”

My dear? Oh good heavens, how could ten minutes take so long? She nodded and furtively patted the sweat from her upper lip with her lace-edged handkerchief and took a deep breath.

Finally, the orchestra began to play and after a few minutes the curtains opened, and the play began. As planned, about ten minutes into the performance, the Ambassador leaned over to her, his warm malodorous breath wafting over her. “I’m afraid I must make a quick visit to someone.” He raised her hand again and kissed it, staring into her eyes. “I shall be right back, my dear. Enjoy the show while I am gone. I have a wonderful surprise for you when it is over.”

And I have a not-so-wonderful surprise for you in a few minutes.

17

Dante reached the lobby no more than five minutes after the curtain had raised on the play. There were a few stragglers who had hurried across the room to either boxes on the next level or seats in the main area of the theater.

His instructions from Sir Phillip had been to be present to witness the exchange of information, but not to involve himself in it. He’d been assured there were several men posing as footmen who would arrest the Ambassador and his female partner.

Lydia was to wait in the Ambassador’s box until Dante fetched her. For that he was grateful. Just in case something went awry and violence broke out he didn’t want her anywhere near the lobby. She hadn’t been too happy to hear that news, and it was only after he’d showed her Sir Phillip’s missive with the instructions that she’d yielded to the order and agreed to remain hidden.

He took up a position against the wall across from the entrance. The woman who Lydia had described entered the lobby and smiled brightly at the man at the door. Instead of moving to a box or seat, she strolled the lobby, attempting to look as if she waited for someone.

That had to be the woman to pass information to the Ambassador. Dante looked from footman to footman, but none of them appeared to be anything but theater employees. But then, he was certain he didn’t look like a government spy ready to take down the Ambassador of Germany.

His heart sped up when the Ambassador hurried down the stairs from the upper level. He looked around and with Dante concealed behind a large potted plant, the man seemed assured that all was well.

They spoke in what Dante assumed was Russian, of which he didn’t understand a word. Lydia would be of use now, but since she was ordered to stay far from the exchange, nothing could be done for it. However, he wasn’t interested in what they were saying, only in witnessing the exchange.

The couple seemed to argue, but eventually, the Ambassador withdrew an envelope from his jacket pocket. The woman opened it and after examining it thoroughly, she stuffed it into her reticule.

Looking annoyed, the Ambassador held his hand out. The woman handed him what appeared to be several papers. He glanced through them, a smile on his face. He nodded in her direction and turned toward the stairs.

The woman moved to the door and was immediately stopped by the footman there. Two other men seemed to appear from nowhere and blocked the Ambassador’s attempt to climb the stairs.

Tags: Callie Hutton The Rose Room Rogues Historical
Source: readsnovelonline.net