“To be perfectly honest, I think she became sick of Society during her debut season. Better to lock herself in her room with her books than to spend her life paying calls and going to balls. The doctors said something about fragile nerves. She gets a lot of headaches, apparently.” He quirked an eyebrow and added, “Especially around people she doesn’t like.”

We reached the top of the stairs, and he bade me good night without further conversation. After checking that Olive was sound asleep, I went to my room, took Lizzie’s notebook out of its hiding place, and frantically wrote down everything I’d heard from the general and the governor.

*   *   *

The next morning, I was barely able to focus on Olive’s lessons and I let her get away with far more chatter than I usually allowed in the schoolroom. When the music teacher and drawing master arrived that afternoon, I almost ran over them in my haste to get out to the park. I hoped that someone would be looking for me the day after the party to see if I’d come through with a story. I walked my usual route and encountered Alec near the spot where he’d rescued me from the carriage. “I knew you’d come around,” he said with a smile when he saw me.

Grabbing his arm more fiercely than I intended, I whispered, “I have no gossip for you about how richly the governor lives.” He raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to speak, but I rushed ahead. “However, I do need to warn you.” Barely stopping to catch my breath, I spilled out everything I’d overheard from the governor and the general. “I thought I should let you know,” I finished.

He patted me on the shoulder. “Easy, Verity. Come, you should sit down.” He got me settled on the nearest bench and sat next to me, holding my hand. With a grin, he said, “That’s intelligence, not news. My dearest Verity, you’ve just become the most valuable spy in our organization.”

“A spy?” I squeaked, startled enough by what he said that I barely noticed him holding my hand. “I’m not a spy. I was just warning you so you’d know to stay out of their way.”

“You’ve brought us intelligence from within the enemy camp. That makes you a spy.”