1812
Britain’s war against Napoleon continues.
Will Fraser and Duncan Armstrong have served their country well as spies, exposing traitors and rescuing betrayed royalists.
Now they are asked to support military operations in the Peninsular War. The French are using a new code which is proving impossible to decipher. Will and Armstrong must work with Spanish guerrillas to intercept messages between French Commanders and pass them to Wellington’s codebreakers.
Will is reluctant, however. Portugal was where he was falsely accused of cowardice and desertion and forced to leave the army. And Captain Harcourt-Browne, the jealous and vengeful officer who caused his downfall, is still serving there.
But Will is given a compelling – and personal – reason to carry out the operation. If he does so, there’s a slim chance he could be reinstated.
Enemy agents are soon on their trail; agents who want them dead. Somehow Will and Armstrong must evade them and join the guerrillas in a daring attempt to uncover Napoleon’s battle plans.
But Will’s troubled past catches up with him. Four years ago he lied to protect the woman he loved. Now he must own up to that lie to save himself.
Praise for Rosemary Hayes:
‘Rosemary Hayes' Soldier Spy is a first-rate historical thriller, full of period detail, fascinating characters, unexpected twists, mystery, intrigue and action. It reminds me of Berrnard Cornwell's brilliant, Regency-set Gallows Thief. I am pleased to see that it is the first of a trilogy and look forward to reading more about the dashing Will Fraser.’ ~ Peter Tonkin, author of The Richard Mariner thrillers
‘One of the very best historical novels I have ever read.’ ~ Sandra Robinson, Huguenot Ancestry Expert
‘An absorbing tale told with sensitivity. The forgotten struggles of Huguenot refugees come to moving, heartrending life.’ ~ Steven Veerapen, author of A Dangerous Trade
‘You can trust me, Mademoiselle.’
She met his eyes. ‘Yes, Will Fraser,’ she said quietly. ‘I believe I can.’ Then she went on, speaking very quietly. ‘Last night I discovered more vital information.’ She grinned suddenly. ‘I have developed the art of lip reading and become quite expert at interpreting whispered conversations. De Menou revealed much when he was in close conversation with Fouché.’
‘You play a dangerous game, Mademoiselle.’
She nodded. ‘I pray that I shall soon be able to leave this place and return home in safety. She rose from her chair. ‘Now go back to your duties and make sure it is you who comes to fetch my tray. I will have a note ready and tell you where to take it.’
On impulse, Will took her hand and kissed it then he let it drop and strode to the door where he paused and looked back. She was still looking at him.
‘I am glad you are here, Will Fraser.’
He could not read the expression on her face.
Will ran down the stairs to the kitchen and resumed his duties but his mind was elsewhere.
My God, she must have steel nerves. If she is discovered, de Menou will show her no mercy.
He had not been in the kitchen more than fifteen minutes when he noticed that the butler was limping along the passage and heading for the stairs. Will jumped up and intercepted him. ‘Shall I save you a climb, sir? I can fetch the lady’s tray.’
‘Thank you, Etienne. Your legs are younger than mine.’
Will smiled and walked past him. He was aware that the butler was watching him from below so he paused at the top, straightened his clothes, put a hand through his hair and then turned left and knocked on the lady’s door.
‘Come!’ Her voice held a distinct note of irritation and Will was instantly alert. He turned the handle and entered, seeing at once that she was not alone. De Menou was in the room.
Catherine’s colour was heightened and they were staring at one another across the fireplace, de Menou’s arm resting on the mantelpiece as he leant towards her.
Keeping his expression neutral and subservient and his eyes downcast, Will coughed discreetly. ‘May I take your tray, Mademoiselle?’
It seemed she hardly noticed him. It was de Menou who replied. ‘Yes, take it away and be quick about it.’
In the silence that followed, Will picked up the tray and walked quietly to the door. He could feel de Menou’s eyes following his progress.
Once he was back in the kitchen he resumed polishing the silver but his hands were shaking. As casually as he could, he remarked to the butler that the Master had returned early from his dinner appointment.
‘Yes, and in a rare bad mood, too,’ he said. ‘It appears that the evening was not enjoyable.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
The butler shrugged. ‘He and his friends are jumpy now that Napoleon is in Paris. There’s always the worry that the royalists might be brewing some plot. It may be the Master’s heard some rumour or other.’
Will just nodded in response and continued with his work but his thoughts were focussed on how he could find a way of seeing Catherine and delivering her note. It would be foolhardy to go to her room again without a reason.
But he had reckoned without her ingenuity. Some time later, he heard de Menou descend the stairs, call for brandy and walk through the salon and towards the back of the house. And a few minutes later, Catherine came down the stairs holding a candelabra. The candles within it were worn down to stubs, though they had been tall and burning brightly when Will was in her room. She did not look at him but asked one of the other servants to replace the stubs and bring it back to her.
‘It could use a polish, too,’ she said.
Catherine turned on her heel and headed for the stairs. One of the maids busied herself replacing the candles. She was about to take it up when Will said. ‘Let me give that candelabra a polish for the lady; she’s right, the silver is badly tarnished.’
He took his time to give it a thorough polish and then stood up. He made to give it to the maid who was sitting on a stool, yawning, then he smiled at her. ‘You look all in. I’ll take it to the lady,’ he said.
When Catherine opened the door, she pulled him inside.
‘We must act fast. De Menou was in a fury just now. When I tried to calm him he spluttered something about damn royalists and a plot to assassinate the Emperor.’
Rosemary Hayes has written many books for children in a variety of genre, from edgy teenage fiction, historical fiction and middle grade fantasy to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books. Many of her books have won or been shortlisted for awards and several have been translated into different languages.
Rosemary has travelled widely but now lives in South Cambridgeshire. She has a background in publishing, having worked for Cambridge University Press before setting up her own company Anglia Young Books which she ran for some years. She has been a reader for a well-known authors’ advisory service, runs creative writing workshops for both children and adults and reviews for historical publications.
Rosemary has now turned her hand to writing adult fiction. Her historical novel ‘The King’s Command’ is about the terror and tragedy suffered by a French Huguenot family during the reign of Louis XIV.
Traitor’s Game is the first book in the Soldier Spy trilogy, set during the Napoleonic Wars. The King’s Agent is the second and the third, Code of Honour, has recently been published.
