“Who is paying ‘K’?” Iona asked.
“I don’t know. The English Government as likely as not. But here’s where it concerns you. It’s the very next entry after July 5th.
‘July 6th, Met “K” who tells me that some days ago Colonel Brett visited a milliner in the Rue de St. Honore and talked for some time with a girl called Iona Ward, known to be a Jacobite. “K” suggests Colonel B. may be procuring I.W. for the Prince in which case it is worth keeping a watch on her.’”
Iona put her hands to her cheeks.
“How dare they think such things?” she cried angrily.
“It doesn’t matter what swine like that think,” Hector said soothingly. “What is important is that if, as the man had intended, he had taken this book to the Duchess, the game would have been up as far as you were concerned.”
“But, of course
