The Scandalous Life of a True Lady by Bárbara Metzger

you not agree?”
    “No, I do not agree with your overbearing organization. I’ll wait to speak to the major, out of courtesy and gratitude on my brother’s behalf, but I will not accept more than his hospitality until then.” She would share his house, but not his bed.
    “I think he might have expressed the urgency of the house party.”
    “He did explain, if one considers such fustian to be an explanation, that he requires an unknown female with a modicum of intelligence to accompany him. Surely he can find someone else, someone more willing.”
    “But I promised— That is, I swore to see his wishes carried out. The major will insist that he promised you a new wardrobe either way, in addition to your brother’s schooling.” He mentioned the brother again, which was more underhanded, but expedience always trumped politeness in the spy business. He’d use guilt, obligation, even sympathy, any port in a storm.
    She stared at her hands, since she could read nothing in the secretary’s shielded eyes. “I cannot refuse the major’s largesse for my brother’s sake, but I swear to repay him eventually. I will not go further into his debt.”
    “The money for the school is not a loan. It is a gift to a worthy student, an outright gift. We—he—makes charitable contributions to less noble causes.”
    She nodded in concession. “Very well, my brother has a scholarship. But I will not accept a shilling more.”
    “Dratted female,” she thought he muttered, but he’d bent down to pick up the cat so she could have mistaken the secretary’s words for dratted feline. Then he exclaimed that a stray cat must have wandered in to take Miss White’s place at the breakfast table.
    “I brushed the cat to rid it of all the knots and mats.”
    “And this elegant creature is what is left? You have wrought a miracle.”
    His delight made Simone smile, despite knowing the secretary was manipulating her for his master’s purposes and pleasures. “She ought to be brushed regularly.”
    “Do you think no one has tried? Miss White has drawn blood on many occasions. I have given up all attempts to groom the beast.”
    “I had no problem.”
    “You see? The major is in your debt, not the other way around. He is inordinately fond of Miss White.” Who was purring loudly, in the secretary’s lap.
    The major was not the only cat-lover, it seemed. Mr. Harris was pouring cream into a saucer, and crumbling bits of toast into it while the cat purred loudly enough to be heard across the table. The sight and sounds made the secretary more human, Simone decided, more approachable. So she asked, “Major Harrison is a very caring gentleman, isn’t he?”
    Caring? Harry ordered assassinations, sent men to certain death, broke every law in the name of patriotism, and did nothing about half the atrocities he saw every day. Caring? He cared about his family, old and new, but the cat was closer to him than many people. “I cannot say.”
    “He took in Miss White, and the Judds, I understand. He helped Mrs. Burton establish her business, and aids many of her employees, from what they said. He must have a good heart.”
    Which had only started working again recently. “Like most of us, he cares for his own.”
    “Exactly. I am neither kith nor kin to him. Nor a charity case. I truly must be on my way.”
    Truly? As soon as the Aide’s minions could return with reports of Miss Ryland’s background, as much as could be discovered in so short a time, he was willing to let her go, or chance revealing what no more than a handful of people knew. He’d never reveal his family’s secret, of course, only some of the government’s workings. With her help he could uncover a subversive plot, if Lord Gorham’s gathering truly harbored such a scheme, and expose an extortionist. Then his work would be over and he could be who he wanted to be.
    “Please wait,” he said. “He needs you. I am not at liberty to say why, but I think, that is, I know