“Maybe so, but I have to deal with it.” She looked him squarely in the face, deliberately hardening her voice. “Liam, I’m sorry. It’s not like I have any other options. I’ll write you an excellent letter, make sure you find work with another family...”

Jessie trailed off as Liam held a hand up.

“You’ll do no such thing. I don’t intend to be going anywhere.”

Jessie stared at him, not sure where he was going with this. “Liam, aren’t you listening? I can’t pay you.”

Liam was shaking his head. “Tell me, Lady Jessamy, are you afraid of hard work?”

He’s lost his mind. That was the only explanation Jessie could think of. “Excuse me?” She injected her voice with every aristocratic shard of ice she could manage, which wasn’t inconsiderable. She was a Cumberland, after all.

“I’m just saying, Lady, that you must have worked incredibly hard to become a Marine. Doesn’t seem like you shy away from what’s difficult.”

Jessie gasped. “How did you know that?” She’d been so careful, not even her family knew she’d been at Parris Island.

Liam relaxed once more, crossing his arms again and smiling at her. “I know, dearie, because I work for MI6.”

* * * *

Her life changed during that conversation. Liam had known—heaven knows how—that when Jessie was supposed to have been attending Cambridge getting a degree in something utterly useless, she’d actually been living in the United States training to be a Marine. It was the only thing she’d ever done just for herself, and it was a secret she kept close to her heart that she savored when things were tough. At least, she’d thought grimly to herself, at least I’ll be able to protect myself if my brother’s bookies come knocking.

Liam had revealed himself to be a handler for MI6. Jessie remembered how her mouth had fallen open and she’d goggled at him shamelessly. The perverse thought had crossed her mind that she was in the middle of firing James Bond.

Liam explained that he handled an agent who lived close by, and that his position as butler and groom to the Cumberlands gave him a perfect reason to be in the area without attracting suspicion. He’d informed her—he certainly wasn’t asking her permission—that he was going to stay on in the role of general manservant so he wouldn’t attract attention. And then he’d given her the shock of a lifetime.

Apparently, Liam’s employers had been aware of her activities with the Marines and they’d had an eye on her for some time. Liam offered her the opportunity to work for MI6, explaining that he’d become her handler as well.

Jessie had jumped at the chance, not batting an eye before saying yes. From that perspective, keeping Liam on as her manservant had been the best decision she’d ever made.

Chapter 2

Jessie’s breath caught as she entered the small but well-kept stable. And this is why retaining Liam was the worst decision I’ve ever made.

He was brushing his horse, crooning softly to the big animal. Jessie could hear his lilting accent as he murmured to the gelding, his deep voice as mesmerizing as his hands that ran the brush over the horse’s chestnut coat.

Jessie practically melted. Liam hadn’t seen her yet, and she stood silently in the shadow of the doorway so she could watch him. Her eyes caressed his big body, taking in the faded T-shirt he wore that clung lovingly to his broad shoulders. The thin material rode up on his back as the muscles beneath bunched and flexed, and Jessie was treated to a delicious inch of skin that appeared above the band of his jeans. The jeans rode low where his broad back tapered to narrow hips, and Jessie almost drooled over his tight butt.

She realized that while he had his back to her now, he’d be moving around the horse in the next couple of moments and she’d be caught staring at him. She took a silent step back out the door and moved forward, this time making enough noise to ensure he heard her approach. He turned when she entered the stable, making her heart skip a beat with his slow smile, his killer dimples on display.

“Good morning, Your Ladyship.”

Jessie sighed. “Liam, we’ve talked about this.