Loving an American Spy: Marsden Descendants Book Three Read online

  Loving an American Spy Copyright © 2019 by Dawn Brower

  All rights reserved.

  Cover art and edits by Victoria Miller

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  “Our doubts are traitors,

  and make us lose the good we oft might win,

  by fearing to attempt.”

  William Shakespeare

  Loving an American Spy

  Marsden Descendants Book Three

  Dawn Brower

  Monarchal Glenn Press

  Contents

  I. War

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  II. Post War

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  About The Author

  Also by Dawn Brower

  Afterword

  Dawn Brower

  Excerpt: How to Kiss a Debutante

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Dawn Brower

  Excerpt: Confessions of a Hellion

  Prologue

  Part I

  War

  Chapter 1

  January 1915

  The whistle from the train echoed through the terminal. Victoria Grant glanced up from a nearby bench as the sound brought her from her thoughts. She’d arrived at the train station early so she wouldn’t miss her train taking her to a small town in France. From there, she’d travel with a regiment to a field hospital where she’d been assigned to work as a nurse.

  Her train rolled into the station and came to a halt near the platform. Steam rolled from the chimney at the top of the engine. Passengers began to disembark in quick succession. Victoria couldn’t board for several more minutes. The train attendant would signal when they were able to board. Porters were already unloading luggage for leaving passengers. Soon they’d start putting the new bags in place of them.

  Victoria stood and paced near the station. She didn’t have much in the way of belongings. As a nurse, she didn’t need much. She had one trunk with her uniforms and what little personal items she had left. Growing up as the daughter of a vicar, she’d been taught to denounce anything that led to avariciousness. She took those lessons to heart and carved out a life that would help those in need. With the Great War ravaging the world, women like her were a necessity. She’d use her nursing skills to save those she could, and she couldn’t wait to be of service to the cause.

  She continued to pace and walked straight into a hard, male chest. Victoria glanced up and met the man’s gaze. His blue eyes were so dark they were almost black, and his hair shimmered like caramel drizzled with honey. “My apologies,” she said and stepped back

  “It’s my fault,” he said in an American accent—Southern if she was not mistaken. That took her a bit by surprise. There were not a lot of Americans in France since the war had broken out. The last she’d heard, they were trying to stay neutral regarding the massive conflict. “I should have been paying better attention.” His lips tilted upward into a blinding smile. It knocked the senses out of her, momentarily stunning her.

  Victoria shook her head, briefly regaining her equilibrium. “Are you bound for Northern France?” That seemed like a normal enough question but she still felt silly asking it.

  He glanced past her at the train and then back at her. “I am.” He lifted a brow. “Are you?”

  She nodded quickly. This conversation was strange. Victoria had never been good at talking with, well, anyone. A man though… That was a feat that often proved nearly impossible. She didn’t know why but men always flummoxed her, and she made a bumbling mess of any conversation or interaction. “Yes, um, yes.” She sounded like a bloody fool. He would make an excuse to leave the conversation soon. Most men had trouble talking to her as much as she found it difficult to discuss anything with them other than important medical matters.

  He chuckled softly. “Then I look forward to making the journey with you.” Was he serious? She scrunched her eyebrows together and studied him. Perhaps he found it entertaining to mock people. She didn’t want to question it much. She wasn’t acquainted with this man, and she probably never would be.

  One of the train attendants stepped out and yelled, “All aboard.”

  Passengers moved forward and started boarding. Victoria headed toward the train and followed behind another group of people. She didn’t have a private car or even a sleeping car to hide in from the crowd. Victoria was stuck sitting with everyone else on the passenger car. At least the trip shouldn’t be too long. She moved down the aisle and found a seat near the window. That should give her something to distract herself with on the journey.

  “We meet again,” the man said as he sat next to her. “You must forgive my horrible manners.” He held his hand to his chest. “I should have introduced myself. I’m William.”

  Victoria stared at him, uncertain what she should do next… He was a charmer. Victoria couldn’t help returning his welcoming grin. “Victoria,” she said after a few moments of awkward silence.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Miss Victoria. I’m glad I’ll get the pleasure of spending this trip with you.” He sounded sincere, but she had a hard time imaging he actually wanted to hold a conversation with her.

  Perhaps she’d enjoy his company. She hated traveling, and having someone interesting to help her forget for a little while might do her good. Besides, having William to keep her company might prove interesting. “What shall we discuss?”

  “Whatever we want to,” William replied as he settled back into his seat. “Tell me a little about yourself.”

  There wasn’t much to tell, and her life was boring. “I’d much rather hear about you…” She didn’t want to put him to sleep with the tediousness of her life.

  “That’s what all the pretty ladies say,” he murmured the statement and then winked at her. Her heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t accustomed to attention from a man, and it flustered her a little that this one bothered. “How about something neutral? Tell me what your favorite flower is.”

  Victoria leaned back in her seat and thought about his question. No one had ever asked her what her favorite anything was. Flowers were beautiful, and she liked them all. “I suppose, if I have to pick a favorite, I’d say violets. They’re resilient and have wonderful healing properties.”

  He shook his head. “You’re no ordinary lady, are you?”

  “I like to think I’m unremarkable,” she said. The more they talked, she started to wonder if he was flirting with her. No man had ever bothered before, and she wasn’t certain how to tell. Surely she was reading him wrong… “I have a purpose and a duty. Everything else doesn’t matter.”

  “That’s a little…serious,” he said in a somber tone that didn’t reflect back in his eyes. “I suppose that is where we are in the world now. We all are forced to adapt because of the tone a war sets.”

  “Yes,” she agreed. “It is unfortunate, but we must do our best with what life throws our way.”

  Victoria liked William. He was nice and unpretentious. She couldn’t help wishing she’d met him at a different juncture in her life. One that wasn’t about to be overtaken by the destruction of war… She was deluding herself though. In another time and place, it wouldn’t matter one iota. W
illiam probably would not have noticed her, and it was far more likely they’d never have met in the first place.

  “I suppose that is true,” he agreed. “War is very unfortunate. It’s too bad that the higher-ups couldn’t have found a better way to resolve their differences. But here we are…” He smiled softly. “I can’t help being glad for one thing at least.”

  “What’s that?” she asked, almost afraid of the answer.

  “It led me to you.”

  He was smooth. Victoria would give him that much. She returned his smile. “I find I cannot argue with your logic.” She sat back in her seat and relaxed. “Let’s not waste this opportunity then. We may never have the chance to become more acquainted. Do you feel up to opening yourself to me?”

  “If you’re brave enough, then who am I to cower in fear.” He grinned. “Do your worst, my dear.”

  They talked for the entire trip as if they’d known each other their whole lives. William was the first man she’d met that she felt completely comfortable with. It saddened her that, after they reached the train station, they’d go their separate ways and never see each other again. She longed for something more than the banal existence she’d lived. Meeting William had altered her in ways she never thought possible. Excitement and joy seemed possible where it had seemed nothing but fantasy before. Perhaps she was being a little absurd, but she felt as if she might have something more now. Maybe not with William, but with someone… Though, in her heart of hearts, she hoped William would be in her life forever. There was something special about him that she wanted to hold on to.

  A month later…

  A letter arrived for Victoria, and she barely held back the urge to tear it open. William had agreed to write her when he could, but she hadn’t actually believed he would. Now that a letter from him had arrived, she was terrified to read it. What if the man she remembered wasn’t the one who expressed himself in the letter? What if he didn’t really want anything to do with her and only wrote to her as a kindness?

  What if he was everything she recalled?

  Victoria held the letter to her chest and walked to the nurse’s tent. She sat down slowly and stared at it. Her hand shook a little as she ran her fingers over her name scrawled over the envelope.

  “Do ye have a sweetheart?” Aisling Walsh’s strong Irish lilt echoed around Victoria. She was a young nurse with startling bright red hair and olive green eyes. “What’s holding ye back? Open it.”

  Victoria hadn’t bothered to get close to the other nurses, but Aisling had other ideas. She refused to let Victoria remain aloof and constantly talked to her. Victoria would never admit it aloud but she was grateful for Aisling. She would be lonely without the other nurse. Victoria skimmed her fingers over the seal. “I don’t know…”

  “We don’t know how many days we’ll be granted. Days are meant to be lived in to find whatever shred of happiness we’re blessed with.” She reached over and placed her hand on Victoria’s. “Don’t waste it by ignoring a gift, no matter how small. Read his words to ye.”

  With a deep breath, she tore open the envelope and pulled the letter free. She flipped open the folded pages and started reading.

  Victoria,

  I trust this letter finds you well. Any other outcome is unacceptable… This war leaves scars on a man’s soul—my soul—and having someone like you in my life is a salve over the worst of my wounds. It’s been barely a month, and it feels as if the time and distance separating us is tremendous. I must see you again. Please say you will agree, and I’ll find a way to come to your side.

  My life changed irrevocably the day I met you. I don’t know how to explain it other than I cannot forget even if I wanted to. Please say you feel the same. I’ll wait forever for you if need be, but I pray it doesn’t come to that.

  Many apologies for the short missive... If I had more time, I’d write more, but alas, danger doesn’t allow a man time to prose poetic. Departing any news on the battlefront wouldn’t leave you with much hope, so I’ll refrain from giving out that particular misery. Know that you’re in my thoughts always.

  Much regard,

  William

  * * *

  Victoria closed her eyes and swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. He wanted to see her again. Should she give in and tell him how much she wanted that too?

  “By that smile on yer face, I trust it was a good letter,” Aisling said.

  She lifted her hand to her face. Victoria hadn’t realized she’d given in and smiled. Happiness was something new to her. She didn’t answer Aisling but went to her chest and pulled out her writing supplies. After she jotted down a few lines, she went to have her letter posted. Hopefully, it would find William where he’d last been stationed. Sometimes men were moved around in war and it could take weeks for a letter to find them. She wouldn’t dwell on it. William wanted to see her again. That was all that mattered to her in this moment.

  Chapter 2

  Spring 1915

  Heavy rain fell for hours on end. The earth beneath Victoria Grant’s feet turned to mud. With each step, her feet sank into the wet dirt and covered her boots in muck and grime. She was so tired of having wet feet. At this rate, she might find herself in a similar predicament as the soldiers with trench foot. She trudged forward, having to take big steps to get through the area as fast as possible. When she reached the tent where the field hospital was set up, Victoria pushed the flaps aside and stepped inside.

  “Nurse Grant, come here now.” A doctor motioned at her. “We got a rush of new patients in, and they’re not looking good.”

  She wanted to tell him she was aware of the situation. It was the entire reason she’d made her way to the hospital instead of getting some much-needed sleep. Every day brought new challenges. Soon, the hospital would be overflowing, and they wouldn’t have anywhere to put some of the patients. “Right away, doctor.”

  Victoria wrapped an apron around her dress. It would probably get messy, and she’d like to at least attempt to protect her clothing. She had little with her, and there were no shops or dressmakers around to replace anything. The doctor had a man on his operating table, and the poor sap had lost consciousness. That was probably for the best. She stepped beside the doctor to aid him.

  The man had golden brown hair that was stained with his blood. A sheet covered most of his body. Not that she would have gained many clues from seeing his naked form, but something about him made her curious. Her lifted her gaze and focused on his face. She sucked in a breath when she recognized him. William.

  She’d thought she would never see him again, and she certainly hoped it wouldn’t be like this. He wore a French uniform. That was confusing in itself. She worked feverishly beside the doctor to stop the bleeding. After over an hour of working, they finally finished, and the doctor stitched his wound.

  William was moved to a bed. Thankfully, they still had some available. Victoria took a moment to wash and then returned to his side. Sleep wouldn’t come while she fretted over his safety. He had to survive. He had to. This was not how she’d envisioned her next meeting with him. Had he received her letter? She had been fretting every since she posted it and then waited forever for his reply. Now here he was, injured. Victoria refused to believe this was how their story ended. He’d come to mean so much to her in such a short amount of time…mere months. Her heart felt heavy inside her chest as she held back tears. They wouldn’t help either one of them, and she refused to give into something so useless.

  “You’ll be fine.” She said it more for herself than him. Victoria needed something to believe in and she chose to hold on to hope. It was the only thing she could do. Anything else was inconceivable. She leaned her head down on the side of his bed and closed her eyes. Victoria meant for it to be a moment, but her exhaustion got the better of her.

  “Sleeping beauty,” a man said. His voice was hoarse but held a hint of humor. “I’d kiss you to wake you, but I’m afraid I don’t have the strength to move.”<
br />
  Victoria sat up and stretched. Every muscle in her body ached. “I didn’t mean to sleep.”

  “I didn’t mean to get shot,” he countered. “But sometimes there are things we can’t avoid no matter how hard we try.”

  She frowned. “That isn’t funny.”

  He chuckled and then wheezed from the effort. “You’re right, it isn’t, but I had to at least attempt to lighten the mood.” William’s smile faded as he met her gaze. “I missed you.”

  She glanced away. Why did she have to go and get attached to this man? “Why are you wearing a French uniform?” They’d had to cut a good portion of it off of him. All he had left was his trousers.

  He sighed. “It’s complicated.”

  Victoria feared she knew exactly what he wasn’t saying with those words. William was a spy. It seemed a little fantastical, but it was the one thing that made any sense. Why else would an American be in the war when he had no real reason to be? “I see.” He was either very brave or incredibly foolish. Somehow she believed it might be a little of both. Either way she respected him for his efforts. This was a horrible senseless war. Well, all wars were senseless, but that was neither here or there. This was the war they had to live through and the others didn’t mean anything to her. They were history and unreal. William played a part that might help them see the end sooner rather than later. She understood the reasoning behind having spies. While she hated war she didn’t hate him. Every person had a part to play and she wouldn’t disparage him for the one he had to do.