The Other Miss Bridgerton

Have they thought of a name?” Poppy asked. Her cousin Edmund had married quite young—he was barely nineteen at his wedding. But he and his bride were wildly happy by all accounts and currently expecting their second child. They lived quite close to Aubrey Hall, in a charming manor house given to them as a wedding gift from Edmund’s parents.

“Benedict if it’s a boy,” Lady Bridgerton said. “Beatrice for a girl.”

You are related to the viscount?”

“He is my uncle

“My job—no, my duty—is to transport documents and carry messages. Why do you think I could not delay our departure for Portugal? It wasn’t about me .

“My job—no, my duty—is to transport documents and carry messages. Why do you think I could not delay our departure for Portugal? It wasn’t about me . It was never about me.”

He had to deliver a message. He was working for the government. Poppy’s brain was spinning. Everything was starting to make sense.

“This is how I serve my country,” he said. “It is what you must do, as well.”

shot her a glance over his shoulder. “Do you think I know what was in the packet of papers I gave to the British envoy yesterday

shot her a glance over his shoulder. “Do you think I know what was in the packet of papers I gave to the British envoy yesterday

His name is Mr. Walpole. You must go alone and tell him I sent you.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “You know the British envoy

She ignored this. “My cousin Billie is married, and—”

He fought the urge to howl with bitter, inappropriate laughter. He knew Billie Bridgerton—Billie Rokesby now. She was his sister-in-law and one of his oldest friends.

She ignored this. “My cousin Billie is married, and—”

He fought the urge to howl with bitter, inappropriate laughter. He knew Billie Bridgerton—Billie Rokesby now. She was his sister-in-law and one of his oldest friends.

”
To that she responded with a one-shouldered shrug. “So you say.”
He supposed she had a point there, but it wasn’t as if he could explain himself to her. His own parents didn’t even know that he had spent the last seven years in secret service to the crown