“You are a bit much to take in at first glance.” Andrew’s eyes twinkled, but she could see his sincerity there as well.

She was used to people doubting her. She relied on most of her disguises eliciting that very sentiment to save her life. “Oh, he will recover. It is decided. Let him in.”

Her butler nodded and turned from the room.

Lord Courtenay entered, his broad frame and commanding presence filling the small study. He bowed to them, eyes flitting from one to the other, obvious disappointment written in his lowered mouth and wrinkled brow.

Rising from her curtsy, Scarlet offered her hand. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” She smiled when embarrassment clouded his eyes.

He looked from Andrew to Simon, who offered only bland expressions, and then returned a helpless response to Scarlet. “I have come to call on you, my lady.”

Andrew raised both brows high on his forehead. “Have you?”

He scowled. “And to have a word with Simon here.”

Scarlet grinned. “Well, don’t let me stand in your way. Have at him.”

“Pardon me?”

“Have your word. He frustrates all and sundry at times. I too understand the need for a word with Simon now and again.”

Lord Courtenay cleared his throat, uncomfortable.

Scarlet almost had pity on him. “Come now, my lord. What is it you have to say? You did say you wished to call on me as well. Shall we have a bit of tea? Sit, I will pour.”

Lord Courtenay sat where she indicated and accepted tea from her hands. He cleared his throat again. “How have you been, Lady Cavendish?”

She bit her cheek. “Very well, and yourself? Have you been travelling of late? I heard of a recent voyage, I believe.”

He looked to Andrew again. “I—well, as you know—travelled on your ship back over from France.”

“Oh, too true! We were together, were we not? Though we did not converse much—seemed not the thing at the time; rescues going on and other such things.” She waved her hand about as if rescues were the ordinary topic over tea. “Do you often travel to France? Are you in league with my friends here, skitting about across the channel, risking lives and my ship?”

He returned his cup to its saucer. “I do enjoy a good game of cards with them, if that’s what you mean.” His eyes flashed.

She would have thought him handsome if he had not been so often a guest of her late husband. Much like a brother now, she could only tease. But she tired of niggling him and stood, walking to the other side of the room.

“Men, give him our next assignment.”

Simon turned to him. “We are to return to France tonight. We have only—”

“Wait, what are you doing, man?” Lord Courtenay looked meaningfully at Scarlet.

“Following orders. Now listen closely.”

Lord Courtenay’s eyes widened. He swallowed a couple of times.