Promo: Code of Honour / Soldier Spy Series by Rosemary Hayes
Today, I'm delighted to welcome back author Rosemary Hayes. As we're celebrating her brand new release, Code of Honour – the latest instalment in her riveting adventure series, Soldier Spy – we're sharing an enticing excerpt from book #1, Traitor's Game.
Code of Honour / Soldier Spy Series is currently on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. Find other intriguing excerpts, fascinating guest posts, and fabulous reviews HERE!
Code of Honour
'A first-rate historical thriller, full of period detail, fascinating characters, unexpected twists, mystery, intrigue and action.’
~ Peter Tonkin
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.
Rosemary Hayes has written over forty books across different genres, from historical fiction to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books.
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
Excerpt from Traitor's Game:
As Will climbed out of the phaeton, James Montagu leant down and pressed a purse into his hand. ‘Take it,’ he whispered. ‘If you find your brother, you will be furthering the work of the Government and believe me, there will be many who will be in your debt.’
‘I cannot repay you.’
‘I understand that.’ He handed Will an embossed card. ‘Be sure to contact me if you have news of him.’
And then he was gone, driving his horse through the muddle of hawkers, drunks, thieves and prostitutes that made up the population of Seven Dials, some ragged boys running after his phaeton, offering him their services, their goods, their mothers or sisters.
Will shoved the card and the purse of coin deep into his coat pocket, hoping that no one had witnessed the exchange, but instead of entering his lodgings, he turned down the street that led to The Haycart. He felt a strong urge to speak to someone he trusted about this strange turn of events.
Sergeant Armstrong was not at the tavern so Will spent some time speaking with the motley collection of men there. At first they were suspicious of him but when one of the ex-soldiers let slip that he knew of Will’s disgrace, they began to warm to him. A disgraced officer was no better than a thief or a drunk, after all. He was one of them. Nonetheless, Will was relieved when Armstrong appeared, scowling, with his head bent, until he saw Will and greeted him as he shrugged off his coat and sat down beside him.
‘You look downcast, Sergeant,’ said Will.
‘I’m a man of action, sir. I can’t sit on my bum all day quaffing beer, waiting for my pension, but it seems there’s precious little work to be had round here – and none for a cripple like me.’
Will frowned. ‘You’re worth ten men, Sergeant, even with one arm.’
‘You’re the only man I know who’d say that.’
Will ordered them ale and then leant forward. ‘I would talk to you in private, Sergeant. Is there some quiet place we can go?’
Armstrong raised his eyes to the ceiling. ‘Quiet! You’d be lucky to find any quiet round here!’ Then he narrowed his eyes. ‘Have you some intelligence about your brother?’
‘Not exactly,’ said Will. ‘But there has been a development.’ He cast his eyes round the crowded room. ‘It’s getting dark and I’d rather not walk outside. Would the landlord let us use his back parlour for a time?’
Armstrong shrugged. ‘That grubby little foxhole! I suppose he might, but he’d expect payment.’
‘I have coin,’ said Will quietly.
Armstrong looked up sharply. ‘But this morning you were down to your last penny. How…?
‘Never mind.’
After some haggling, the landlord pleading that it was inconvenient and Will offering a little more coin, they secured the room for an hour and the man promised to leave them undisturbed.
‘Well,’ said Armstrong, sitting down on the hard chair in the dark little room and stretching his legs under the table. ‘This is all very strange, sir.’
But when Will related all that had happened, Armstrong gave him his full attention.
‘Bugger me, you could have been killed!’
Will nodded. ‘Those villains clearly thought I was my brother and I fear he is in grave danger.’
‘And do you trust this man Montagu?’
‘Yes, I think he’s true. He’s as anxious to find Jack as I am.’
‘And you say this Montagu fellow and your brother work for the Government?’
Will met Armstrong’s eyes and there was a beat of silence.
‘Yes,’ said Will slowly.
‘A Government man who disappears suddenly and who is being sought by his quality friend and some murdering thugs.’
‘Yes,’ said Will again.
‘Are you thinking what I am thinking?’
‘Possibly,’ said Will, not taking his eyes from Armstrong’s face. He took a deep breath and glanced toward the door, then leant nearer.
‘If Jack is working for the Government,’ he said very quietly, ‘it is possible, I suppose, that he may have crossed those who are working against it.’
‘Frenchies?’
‘Possibly,’ said Will. ‘Though in truth I know nothing of the machinations of Government. It is merely the vaguest suspicion.’
‘You think your brother is a spy? A spy for the Government?’
‘As I say, it is only the vaguest notion.’
‘But a solid notion. And if that is so, then with your resemblance to him …’
Will nodded. ‘Then I, too, may be in danger and that is one of many reasons why I must find him.’ He frowned. ‘And there’s something else.’
‘Yes?’
‘A woman has been looking for him and she says she is his wife.’
‘Your brother is married?’
Will shook his head. ‘Not as far as I know.’
‘This is a curious business, sir.’
‘Curious indeed.’
Will dug the purse from his coat pocket and counted out the money on the table. Armstrong’s eyes widened. ‘Your brother’s friend Montagu is mighty anxious for you to find him. That’s a good haul of coin there.’
Will, too, was surprised at how much the purse contained. ‘If Montagu is paying me to search for Jack, then I must not disappoint.’ He put the purse away. ‘But I shall need help, Sergeant.’
Armstrong grinned. ‘Indeed you will, sir.’
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