A book worth reading. I have wanted to read Adrian's story from the first time I met him in the 1st book, The Spymaster's Lady. He is a fascinating character, one you can't predict what he'll do next.Quotes I love:“Join us. Cummings is about to reveal why he’s graced me with his presence today. I’m . . . what’s the word I want?”“Intrigued.”“Exactly. I knew you would have the mot juste in your pocket. I am intrigued.”He drank again. “Last time you gave me brandy was outside Zurich.”“When you came to warn me, in a benevolent manner. You were exhausted that time as well.”“And on the run.”“We both were. It is remarkable how often we manage to annoy the same people.”“The Austrians are easily annoyed.”“C’est vrai.[...]"On his chest, high on the shoulder, a farthing-sized mark in the shape of a star. That was where she’d shot him, long ago, on the marble stairway of the Louvre. She touched it. “I did this.”“An accident.” He laughed, deep in his eyes. “I have that from an authoritative source.”“You think it is funny, that I shot at you.”“Not while it was happening, no. Looking back, it does have its humorous side.”No one else in the entire world would be amused by being shot. Only Hawker.He said, “Will you marry me?”“No.” She sat up.“Ah. That’s your considered reply, that is?” One might spend a week with a magnifying glass and not read one iota of expression upon that face. She tried to take her hand away, and he did not let go.“I mean, ‘No, what are you saying?’ ”“Then you shouldn’t make it sound so much like, ‘No, we can’t get married.’”“That is also true.” She paused. “Probably.” When he was silent, she said, “I have not thought this through.”“I must congratulate you.” Cummings said it the same way he’d say, “I must flay the flesh off your still-twitching bones.”“Thank you.”“You switched the knives at Bow Street.”“That would be clever of me.”Cummings developed a tight, white line around his mouth. He gripped his cane like they’d had an argument and it wanted to leave. “We both know what happened.”“Truth is so elastic. Within an hour, the polite world will talk of nothing but the Bonapartist plot.” He allowed himself to become very French, and shrug. It maddened Cummings when he acted French. “Who can contradict what the world knows so thoroughly?”
