12

Spies would be needed as well as loyal men. The crown thought Garret was the perfect candidate due to him being a pirate and his old friends were still loyal. Jared came and offered the job himself, knowing this was a very sensitive matter. Jared and Garret would be working close together. While these events were going on, Jerry came to live with them and serve as their cook and Kiera and Jason’s guard. Kiera loved having him around again. Choi came for their wedding and now had a reason to stay as Garret employed him and his crew to be spies. Andy and the crew plus Choi and his crew and a few others were serving as Garret’s spies. Jared or Ben usually come for the report or to update Garret on progress, seeing how one of them coming was not suspicious. She hated being left out, but one day when one of his spies were caught, he decided he needed her help. She and Red wrote coded messages to each other and made Garret a key to help him read the letters. Kiera was paying Red to get her girls to listen in on everyone and gather information for her.  This worked for a while as information came flooding in and no one knew who the source was.

One morning, six months later, Garret had run out to gather information from his spies to make it seem like Kiera wasn’t his only outlet. She was in Duchess’s chambers with a three-year-old Jason, when the butler entered.

“An Admiral Shane here to see his grace.”

“Garret is not here but will be back shortly. Please tell the admiral I will receive him in the parlor until his grace returns.”

“Very good, your grace.”

With that, he left. She handed Jason to Penny. She grew a little nervous as she straightened herself and Penny grew nervous for her, tell her it would be alright. She hadn’t seen Dominic since the divorce. Jason was just a few months old.

Dominic was greeted by the butler again.

“His grace is out, but the Duchess will receive you in the parlor until the Duke returns.”

Dominic nodded his head, unaware that Garret was the duke and that Keira was the one receiving him. He stood over by the window and swung around at the sound of her voice.

“Dominic?”

“The Duke allowed you to live with him? Because of Jason?”

“No. No one has told you?”

“What was I not informed of, then.”

Just then, a maid walked in, telling Dominic everything.

“Your Grace, would you like me to bring some tea?”

“Yes, Maddy. Thank you. Some tea cakes too, please.”

“Yes, your grace.”

The girl dipped her head and disappeared from the room. Keira met Dominic’s shocked gaze.

“You are the Duchess?”

“Yes.”

“James?”

“Died in an accident some time ago.”

“Jason?”

“Will have title of Duke when he is grown.”

“Then who?”

“Garret.”

“Garret?”

“After James died, Garret was passed the title of Duke. He didn’t take long in proposing.”

“Of course, you said yes.”

“What did you expect. Please sit.”

Just then, Maddy brought in the tea and cakes and poured some for the pair.

“Thank you, Maddy. That will be all.”

“Yes, your grace.”

She dipped her and left. Dominic sat across from Keira and had tea with her. After a few cakes, he spoke again.

“How has he been treating you?”

“Good. I don’t want for anything. As a wedding gift, Choi brought Star.”

“You mean that cat is here in this house?”

“In Jason’s room. She loves that little boy.”

“How is Jason?”

“Looking more and more like his father every day. It kills me. The two of them are two peas in a pod.”

“Ah.”

“Dominic, I know you don’t like him and you know he doesn’t like you. I don’t know who sent you here to conduct business, but I think you should ask to be reassigned.”

“Why?”

“He will insist you address him formally.”

“I’ll have to call him your grace every time.”

“Yes.”

They were both startled as the butler came through the door.

“His Grace has returned.”

Garret walked through the doors and stared at the pair. He smiled at Keira and helped her from her seat. He kissed her head.

“Go up and get some rest. Don’t forget we have dinner plans tonight.”

“I know. Be nice, please.”

“I will try.”

She walked away, and he watched after her. When she started on the steps, he turned back to Dominic.

“Admiral, I believe we have business to attend to.”

“Yes, your grace.”

“Bitter pill to swallow?”

“You have no idea.”

They both walked into the study and shut the door. After a few minutes of reviewing some paperwork, Jared came through. Dominic straightened and clicked his heels.

“At ease.”

Dominic nodded, and they went back to the paperwork. Olivia went up to find Keira. Keira was surprised to see her.

“Olivia, what are you doing here?”

“Something has happened.”

“Like what?”

“I’m not sure. Jared just said he had to get here to talk with Garret and Dominic. I didn’t know Dominic was here.”

“He is the new envoy.”

“Oh. Had did that go?”

“Better than I thought.”

“Jared refuses to tell me anything and Katey says Ben won’t say a word. I doubt Dominic will say anything, but maybe Garret?”

“If he thinks some harm may come to me, he won’t say anything.”

“Any of his men?”

“Maybe. I’ll try. We need to sneak out.”

“How?”

“Servants quarters. Penny.”

“Yes, your grace.”

“I need to get out without the duke knowing.”

“Again.”

“Yes. Can I trust you?”

“Of course.”

An hour later, Keira and Olivia were out of the house. Olivia was a bit nervous due to the part of town they were in. Keira patted her hand as they walked into the back of the pub. Keira knocked once and then twice in a musical pattern. A man opened an eye slot and stared at them.

“Password?”

“I have a red star.”

Olivia stared in confusion at the transfer and then the door was opened. Keira walked in and sat down at the table the man offered. Olivia came behind her and sat as well. The man turned to her.

“She will be down soon, Kiera.”

“Thank you, Brutus.”

“Keira, what is this place?”

“You can never tell Jared about this place, okay.”

“Why where are we?”

Just then, a woman with bright red hair came in. She sat down next to Keira and handed her a note. Keira read it and nodded. She glanced back at the woman.

“Red, are you sure?”

“Yes. According to what my girls heard, it will be two weeks from now. Garret will have to be quick. Don’t let him ponder too long.”

“Thank you, Red.”

Olivia watched as Keira produced a purse of coins and handed it to Red. She got up and left and Brutus went out back to make sure everything was clear. The two women left. Olivia started to question Keira as they got back to a safer part of town but stopped when they heard a familiar voice.

“Does your husbands know about this?”

“Dominic.”

“Keira.”

“What do you want?”

“You followed us?”

“Jared and Garret are still in there. I got what I came for.”

“So?”

“What where you doing in a brothel?”

“Business.”

“Really.”

“Yes.”

“Let me see.”

“No. Now, if you will excuse me, Admiral, I must be getting home.”

“Of course, your grace. I meant no offense.”

He dipped his head and gave her a wicked smile. He sauntered off and Olivia began to panic.

“What if he tells.”

“He won’t. Don’t worry.”

They snuck back in through the servants’ quarters and Olivia went to parlor for a strong drink. This was too much for her. She was surprised to see Keira walking back towards the dark hallway and pull the letter out that Red gave and give it Garret. Garret took it and read it, then he pulled a paper with holes out of his pocket and place it to the letter. He knew Keira knew how to read Red’s codes, but he still needed help. Once he was done, he folded the paper and gave it back to her. He kissed her and returned to his study. Keira looked up and saw Olivia watching. She walked to her.

“Jared doesn’t know where I go to get my information. You mustn’t tell him. He would be furious.”

“You are helping him spy?”

“It started months ago when one of his men were apprehended. No one would suspect me. Red is an old friend but if you reveal her true name, I fear for her.”

“Her true name?”

“She was Choi’s first mate.”

“The one who mutinied to bring you here?”

“Barb. She is a brothel Madame now and my confidant. If Choi finds out…”

“He won’t hear it from me.”

“Thank you. Go get some rest. You could use it.”

Olivia nodded her head and went up. Kiera went to the kitchen for a bite to eat. She was sitting at the little table when Garret walked in and sat with her.

“Without the information you provided, we would have been at a dead end.”

“I’m happy I could help.”

“I don’t want you to do it anymore.”

“What?”

“I want you to stop. It could get dangerous now, more than it has been. I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you.”

“I’m alright, but if you truly want me to stop, I will do one last run and tell Red.”

“I’m glad we are on the same page about this.”

“Garret, why did you ask me to start getting information for you?”

“I knew you met up with someone from that part of town where we suspected the traitors to be hiding. I figured if you knew the person enough to trust them, you could get information and you have. I know you keep their identity a secret upon their request, but can’t at least tell me?”

“If I do, you must not tell anyone.”

“I would not betray you.”

“It’s a madame at the brothel. Her girls collect information and relay it to her. She writes it in code and gives me the notes. I always go by a back door and use a secret code, as you saw the one night.”

“How do you know this madame?”

“She saved me once.”

“Who?”

“Promise me first.”

“I swear on my life I will not tell a soul.”

“Barb.”

“What?”

“Now you see why secrecy was important.”

“I won’t tell him, I swear it.”

“Good.”

She stood up and kissed him and headed for bed. It had been a long day and she needed time to rest. Jared walked in some time later and sat with Garret.

“I will ride to inform my superiors and we shall take care of these traitors.”

“I just hope no one in your troop is a spy.”

“Me too.”

“It’s late and we should get some rest. We will discuss more in the morning.”

Jared nodded his head and went upstairs to bed. Garret sat for a minute and finally went up. Keira was asleep by the time he went in. He scooted in close behind her and held her. He knew tomorrow he would see less and less of her as he got closer to help end the traitor to the country. He thought about this tirelessly, but when she turned over and snuggled closer to his chest, he pushed those thoughts aside and savored the feel of her in his arms and eventually drifted off to sleep, himself.