For Her Spy Only

By Robyn DeHart

England, 1814

When Winifred is rescued from her snow-stranded carriage by the notorious and reclusive Alistair, Marquess of Coventry, she is instantly drawn to him. Jilted by her betrothed and socially ruined by untrue rumors, Winifred is tired of paying for crimes she didn't commit and decides to play the seductress London society claims she is. Thinking a night of passion shouldn't leave any lasting effects, she instead finds her heart marked forever.

Six years later, Alistair is working for the Regent as a spy. A search for Napoleon's English supporters leads him to the beguiling Winifred, recently widowed with a young son. He hasn't forgotten how the unconventional beauty warmed his bed, and the heat between them rekindles immediately. The spymaster is determined to uncover all of plucky Winifred's secrets. Especially the one regarding her son...

A Scandalous Novella

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Jul 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781622667444

Robyn DeHart

Robyn DeHart always knew she wanted to be a writer, but it took a while to discover precisely what she wanted to write. Reading Kathleen Woodiwiss's A Rose in Winter sealed the deal, and she's been reading and writing romance ever since. She should have realized she was destined for this career when her Barbies insisted on hosting elaborate masquerade parties, complete with stolen kisses in the moonlight. Researching her novels is always exciting, but when it involves eating chocolate, it's especially sweet. She lives in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, with her incredibly supportive husband and two very spoiled cats. She loves to hear from readers.

Book preview

He’ll never forget her, but can he ever forgive her?

England, 1814

When Winifred is rescued from her snow-stranded carriage by the notorious and reclusive Alistair, Marquess of Coventry, she is instantly drawn to him. Jilted by her betrothed and socially ruined by untrue rumors, Winifred is tired of paying for crimes she didn’t commit and decides to play the seductress London society claims she is. Thinking a night of passion shouldn’t leave any lasting effects, she instead finds her heart marked forever.

Six years later, Alistair is working for the Regent as a spy. A search for Napoleon’s English supporters leads him to the beguiling Winifred, recently widowed with a young son. He hasn’t forgotten how the unconventional beauty warmed his bed, and the heat between them rekindles immediately. The spymaster is determined to uncover all of plucky Winifred’s secrets. Especially the one regarding her son...

For Her

Spy Only

a Masquerading Mistresses novella

Robyn DeHart

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 by Robyn DeHart. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Entangled Publishing, LLC

2614 South Timberline Road

Suite 109

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.

Scandalous is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.

Edited by Kate Fall

Cover design by Heidi Stryker

ISBN 978-1-62266-744-4

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition July 2014

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

About the Author

Are you feeling… Scandalous?

Also by Robyn DeHart…

No Ordinary Mistress

A Little Bit Scandalous

A Little Bit Sinful

A Little Bit Wicked

The Affair

Romancing the Rumrunner

To my readers who have stuck with me from the beginning, this one is for you. Thank you for your loyalty and your enthusiasm.

And as always to my sweet husband, Paul. You are the love of my life and I wouldn’t want to be on this adventure with anyone but you.

Prologue

24

th

of December 1808, near the coastline of Sussex

Miss Winifred Wilmington pulled her green velvet cloak tighter around her. She exhaled and the puff of air was visible, so cold was it inside the carriage.

We are going to die in here, her maid, Polly, wailed.

Winifred rolled her eyes heavenward. I seriously doubt that, she said. It is rather cold, but I suspect someone will be along soon enough and rescue us.

I could remind you that it was my suggestion that we leave earlier in the day. Or yesterday, Polly grumbled. It is the eve of Christmas, who else is traveling?

The thought had crossed Winifred’s mind as well, but she certainly wouldn’t put voice to it. Holmes went to search for help. Certainly he will find someone to assist us.

There was no need to panic, as that would solve nothing. Therein lie the significant difference between herself and her longtime maid. Winifred was nothing if not practical. It was a skill she had learned out of necessity. One did not get jilted at the altar without adjusting one’s expectations of life and other people. In any case, she was somewhat concerned about being stranded in this frigid carriage all night, though she was hopeful that someone would come along to save them.

Polly sat up. Do you hear that?

Polly was so apt at creating drama, no doubt the woman thought she heard wolves outside. What? Winifred asked.

A carriage is coming, Polly said.

Winifred strained her ears, and certainly enough it did sound as if wheels were drawing nearer. Hope bloomed in her chest. The wheels rumbled and the horse hooves clattered louder and louder until they were upon them before they rolled to a stop.

As long as it’s not a highwayman, I suppose we can consider ourselves rescued, Winifred said.

Polly gasped, her hand going to her throat. A highwayman!

A male voice sounded outside the carriage, obviously speaking with his party unless Holmes had found this particular someone to salvage them.

There came a rap at the door. Winifred leaned forward and opened it.

A tall gentleman stood there in a great coat with a top hat perched upon his head. He held a cane in his hand. Madams, he said, the timber in his voice deep and rich.

A chill skirted over Winifred’s arms despite the cloak encasing her body. Good evening, sir, she said. I hope my driver, Holmes, didn’t get you out of bed to rescue us.

I beg your pardon, I know no such man. I came upon your rig by happenstance.

Well, then, I should thank you for stopping to assist us. Can our carriage be repaired?

I do not know, nor am I inclined to look, he said.

That wasn’t very gentlemanly of him. She opened her mouth to tell him precisely that—

I will offer you a ride, he said before she could comment.

Winifred considered his words. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it would do. Yes, my grandmother’s estate is not far from here. We would very much appreciate it.

No, he said.

She started to thank him for his hospitality and then his words sank in. I beg your pardon? Did you or did you not offer us a ride?

"To where I am going. I am not a coach for hire." He tapped his cane against his chest.

She had the childlike urge to mock him, but thought better of it. Her options for getting out of this predicament were rather limited, so she best mind her manners.

In the morning, you may have the carriage take you to your destination, he continued. But in this weather, I am going nowhere else.

And where is it that you’re going? Winifred asked.

Coventry Hall, he said.

Nerves prickled at her neck, standing the little hairs on end. You are? Winifred asked.

Alistair Devlin, Marquess of Coventry, he said with only a shadow of a bow.

Oh good heavens, Polly said, finally breaking her silence. She shook her head violently. Miss Wilmington, we mustn’t go with him. We can wait for Holmes.

Don’t be rude, Polly.

Yes, don’t be rude, Polly, he repeated. I don’t believe you’ll have any other options tonight. His shoulders rose in a slight shrug. Though you could certainly choose to stay here and freeze, he said. I have made the offer. He turned on his heel and walked away.

Miss Wilmington, you know what they say of him, Polly said once he was out of earshot. She gripped

Reviews for For Her Spy Only

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a novella. It told a very nice story in the hidden baby trope. Winifred is traveling and has carriage issues. She is rescued by the reclusive Marquess of Coventry. Since she has had a reputation irreparably damaged by her ex-fiance, and, since she finds the Marquess attractive, she invites him to "ravish" her. The man isn't a fool; he agrees.Fast forward six years, Winifred is the widow of an elderly mapmaker who married her when she found herself pregnant. The Marquess, who is a government agent who breaks codes, needs the maps to solve a cipher. He wants to resume the affair; she is afraid he will find out about his son.Of special interest is the both the father and the son have/had a learning disability that keeps/kept them from speaking. Winifred's son has his mother's loving support; the Marquess did not have the same support. In fact, his first wife killed herself when she found herself pregnant, fearing the baby would be like the father.There is a happy ending since Winifred has always loved the Marquess despite his differences. The story had a fast-moving plot, engaging characters, and crisp dialogue. Fans of historical romance will enjoy this one.