Agent kingdom of maidenh.., p.1
Agent: Kingdom of Maidenhead Book Two, page 1
Agent
Kingdom of Maidenhead Book Two
Dwayne Hawkins
Copyright © 2025 by Dwayne M Hawkins
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
Contents
1. An Enigma
2. Buying and Giving
3. More than I Expect
4. Planning Ahead
5. Fun Being Mercilessly Evil
6. Charlie Time
7. The Setup
8. Getting Myself Caught
9. Meeting Bit
10. Making an Impression
11. How?
12. Evidence
13. Dressing Up the Family
14. The Dazzle Affect
15. A Lunch Invitation
16. The Queen
17. Thievery
18. The Conspiracy Brief
19. A Royal Visit
20. Overnight Guests
21. Last Rewards and Early Mornings
22. A Reunion and Riches
23. Challenge’s Lost
24. Fixing Things
25. Trouble
26. Covered
27. Two Dreams Come True
28. Dressing
29. Dinner and Miss Millie
30. Dancing
31. Gold and Love
Chapter one
An Enigma
It started as a normal Wednesday in the Harcourt Market, but that soon changed. I never sensed someone putting the packet of papers on my bench. There is no address or label on it. It only takes a moment for my curiosity to get the better of me. When I pull back the flap, I see a handwritten note on the top sheet of paper. I pull it out to read it. It is addressed to ‘the nine,’ which confuses me for a moment until I realize there are nine of us.
I take a few moments to look at some of the included information. This packet is similar to the one that was slipped to Munsly a while back. I wonder if it is the same person. The information in the packet is all about nobles. Ones I’ve never heard anything good about. It looks like they are part of some sort of financial plot. I wonder if all this is part of the weirdness in the commodities market that seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue this week. I’d better get this to Mr. Stott.
I know that Denis and Bryce are roaming this market today, so I wait for one of them to come by. I see Bryce after a few minutes. When he looks in my direction, I give him a subtle hand signal. He meanders over to my bench and sits somewhat near me. I set the envelope between us.
“Get this to Stott ASAP,” I quietly say without noticeably moving my lips.
“I’ll take care of it, Murmur,” Bryce says just as covertly.
After a few moments, he gets up with all the appearance of someone whose rest is over, and then he wanders back into the main part of the market. Maybe a quarter hour later, someone else sits down on my bench. I look over and see a young boy. When I look closer, I see he isn’t so young, just small. He is cute, though. He is looking through his purchases, so I ignore him and start watching again. Really, I listen more than I watch, but doing both doesn’t hurt.
“Hi, I’m Bit,” I hear.
The boy is looking at me expectantly. I don’t have to answer him, but I find that I want to. Of course, I say my name too quietly, and he doesn’t hear me. He is very polite about it, blaming it on the noise from the market.
My next effort is better, and he hears me. I even shake his hand when he extends his out to me. His hand feels like silk over steel. As he talks to me, I even answer him out loud a few times. When he asks me if I want to get some treats with him, I almost say yes. Instead, I shake my head.
He leaves with a goodbye, and heads to the treats stall. I almost get up and hurry after him. Instead, I sit and watch as he makes his way through the market and leaves. I should be leaving with him. After a few minutes I realize that I’m not paying any attention to what is going on around me, so I head home. I can’t help thinking about Bit throughout the rest of the day, and into the night even.
At some point it occurs to me what is going on. I’ve never had an obsession over someone before. Well not counting Munsly, but this is the first time that the interest seems to be returned. I’ve never felt like this before. I have to not be so bashful with him. I vow to myself that if I do see him again, I’m going to be much more forceful.
I wander another market on Thursday. But I can’t stay away, I head back to Harcourt Market on Friday. I wander around looking for the boy. I’m disappointed when I don’t see him, but then realize it’s still early so I take a seat on a familiar bench. I may as well get some work done.
Suddenly, he’s on the bench next to me. I actually reply at full volume when he greets me. We talk for a few minutes, and he asks me to walk with him. This time, I don’t demure. He extends a hand to help me stand. He doesn’t let go of my hand as we walk. He stops at a stall and haggles for the purchase of a pretty silver necklace.
I wonder why he is buying it. My heart nearly stops when he clasps it around my neck. I wish he would kiss me. I’d let him. I’d even kiss him back. Instead, Bit takes me to lunch. After, when we walk, I entwine my fingers with his. He smiles at me. When we part in the early afternoon, I’m elated when he arranges to meet me for breakfast on Sunday.
When I get home later that day, I reflect on Bit. I don’t know that much about him, but I know that I like him. I wonder what he wants from me, from us. I hope there is an us. I muse about the heart, I like Munsly, but it seems he doesn’t care for me that way. Now I like Bit, and he does seem to care for me like that. Why one and not the other?
Maybe I did something wrong with Munsly. After all, it is Bit who is pursuing me. Why didn’t Munsly come after me? Is there something wrong with me? Is there something I did wrong with him, or is it all him? Couldn’t Munsly have looked past whatever it is that bothers him about me? Is there anything about me that bothers him, or is he just scared?
I thought I was the only one who is scared. He’s a big, strong man. What does he have to be scared about? Why do I still want him to do something, even with Bit seeming to be courting me? Maybe it’s time to stop thinking about that and get some sleep. Easier said than done. I still think about both of them until late into the night. The next morning when I wake, I’m still obsessing. Just to clear my mind I go to find some of my contacts and see if they have any information for me.
The only thing anyone is talking about is what has happened in the commodities markets and the fact that a group of nobles has been arrested. I wonder if they are the same ones that were in the packet of info I passed on.
I decide to go to Mr. Stott’s office to see if it is and if there is anything he wants me to pursue about that anymore. As I’m walking up the steps, I wonder what has happened to me. Unless there is something major going on that I don’t know about, Hedry will be there with nothing to do. I can’t remember the last time, if ever, that I voluntarily showed up at the office this time of day. I go through the door, and there he is. He immediately moves to intercept me.
“Looky at who is here,” Hedry says. “It’s Miss Hidey-Hair.”
That was weak, even for him. I snort derisively and walk straight ahead as if he isn’t there. He twists out of my way with a look of total surprise on his face. I notice that Munsly’s head pops up a bit, and his eyes widen some. I ignore him. If he wanted my attention, he should have been the one to give me this confidence. I step up in front of Mr. Stott’s desk.
“Sir, I’ve been hearing a lot about the commodities markets and a group of nobles who have been arrested,” I say. “I know that the packet of information that I sent to you also concerned nobles. I was wondering if any of those three were related.”
He looks at me in astonishment for a moment before regaining his composure.
“Details are sketchy, but it seems they are all directly related,” Mr. Stott admits. “The nobles who were arrested were originally arrested for bankruptcy, but it seems they were responsible for a conspiracy to control the commodities market that went topsy-turvy on them somehow. Now, with the information packet you sent, it seems that was all part of a foreign borne plot against our financial markets.
“Do you want me to try to find out more information about all of that?” I ask.
“Yes. As I said, the details are still somewhat sketchy. So, all the information you can gather may be critical at their trials.”
“Okay, I’ll get on it.”
With that said, I sail out of his office to the astonished stares of all three men.
When I get back to the markets, I start to get the word out to all of my contacts to let them know what information I’m looking for. Most of my informants are people who, like me, are all but unnoticed by most. They are usually happy to get the extra bit or two in their day if they have something that I think is usable. It takes most of the day to cover my areas.
The next day I only get a few tidbits of information and call it early. I doubt I’ll sleep tonight with my breakfast date in the morning. I wonder if Bit knows what he is doing to me. I hope I’m doing something to him. Morning comes around after far too long, and I leave in time to meet Bit near the restaurant. He has dressed up some, so I’m glad I did, too. He treats me quite like a lady. It is a unique feeling for me.
“So, Murmur, what do you do for a living,”
“I watch and gather information,” I say. “Both for the crown and privately.”
“What type of information are you looking for now?”
“At the moment, everyone seems to be talking about the trouble with the commodities market and the nobles who were arrested. We think they are related.”
“They are…” Bit then lays out the plot in detail and how it failed. It seems some thief thwarted everything. He must have been the same one who provided me with the packet. If I wasn’t sitting here with Bit, nothing would have delayed me from getting his information to Mr. Stott.
I’ve never enjoyed breakfast so much. At one point, he reaches over our table with a finger extended from each hand. He parts my hair and uncovers most of my face. I’m about to start panicking until I see the huge, happy smile on his face.
We stroll some after we eat. I can’t even begin to tell you where we go. When we part, I find myself in my local market. I head home and write up everything Bit told me. I’ll take this to Mr. Stott in the morning. If Bit knows where my local market is, he likely knows where my apartment is. I spend the rest of the day scrubbing it down and straightening it up. When did I become such a slob?
I see Bit twice more during the week. The first time is on Monday after I leave Stott’s office after dropping off my write-up of Bit’s information. All three of the usual occupants are extremely impressed with what I’ve gathered. Even Hedry forgets to be a total jerk. He does make a half-hearted attempt when I get ready to leave, but it doesn’t go over well at all. Bit is wandering around the closest market after I leave the boss’ office.
On Thursday, when I head to the market to buy food for breakfast, Bit is there.
“Hi, Bit,” I say with more enthusiasm than I thought I had in me.
“Hey, Murmur. What’s going on?” he asks with a friendly smile.
“I’m just getting stuff to make breakfast. Would you like to join me?”
“I’d love to.”
He insists on paying and carrying everything. I lead him up the four flights of stairs to my apartment.
“You have a very nice apartment, Murmur,” Bit says.
“Thank you, Bit,” I reply. “The rent is very reasonable for the neighborhood. I’m not sure what I’m going to do when they finally fully condemn this building.”
“Is there anyone else living here?”
“I think there are a few in the complex, but I believe I’m the only one in the building.”
“Should you lose this apartment, I’ll be able to find you a decent place for a decent rent.”
“I doubt you’ll be able to find one for two golds per month or less anywhere close by.”
“You’d be surprised.”
We stop talking much, and we both work together to make breakfast. It is a lot of fun. I’m beginning to see that having someone compatible to share life with has its advantages. After we eat, Bit, of course surprises me.
“If you could live in any apartment around here, which one would it be?” he asks.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I answer.
I do know, but which one it is embarrasses me.
“Come on, I know you have to have explored around,” Bit says in a cajoling tone. “Surely, you’ve found one that you want.”
“Okay, I’ll show you,” I agree much to my own surprise.
I take him up to the seventh floor of my building. Then I take him across a little catwalk that someone installed between my building and the one on the southeast corner of our quad. I’ve never understood why the owners called a group of eight buildings a quad, but they do.
There are six of these quads in a huge complex on River Road across from the Riverfront Park on the north side of the river. Central Creek runs through the complex before it goes under the road and through the park then empties into the river. We are now in the southernmost building along the river road.
I show Bit the penthouse on the southwest corner of the building. All of the apartments in the complex have a balcony. The penthouses all have a rooftop patio as well. The corner penthouses have two balconies and two patios.
“This is the one I would want,” I say.
“I can see why,” Bit says. “Even with the total disrepair it is currently in, the amenities of living here could be quite nice. And no one will be able to beat that view. This is one of the tallest residential buildings in the city. Let me see what I can do for you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
With that, as we get ready to leave the apartment, he turns to me. I don’t even remember that I moved the hair out of my face when we got to my apartment. Just before we leave the penthouse, he gently places his hands on either side of my face. He gets really close to me, then slowly leans in and kisses me.
It is my first kiss ever, and it’s perfect. He doesn’t try to get too passionate, nor does he try to keep it going too long. He smiles a happy smile at me when he slowly pulls back. I can feel my face echoing his happy smile.
“I need to go,” Bit tells me with clear reluctance. “Thank you for the great breakfast and for showing me your apartment.”
We meet a few times in the markets again, and then a couple of weeks after our first breakfast at my apartment, he takes me on an evening stroll that turns into a picnic. I surprise myself when, at one point, I lean over and kiss him. Bit seems so happy that I’m glad we’re not in my apartment. If we were, I might be taking my clothes off. Somehow, I know that isn’t something we need to be doing yet.
I also somehow know that is something we will be doing when the time is right. That knowledge sends tingles all through my mid-section, particularly down low. A feeling that hasn’t intruded on me much in the past. A feeling I do my best to fully explore, making me glad no one lives nearby after I get back home as my responses to my explorations are anything but quiet.
I know I should be embarrassed by the volume of my involuntary verbal response, but all I feel is a warm glow. A glow that encourages me to improve my efforts to rip even louder responses out of myself. If Bit doesn’t take me soon, I may just take Munsly myself right in the middle of one of our meetings. The forbidden thought of doing that there ends up almost making my windows rattle.
In my personal afterglow, I wonder how Bit is going to make me feel when he finally takes me. I can’t help looking forward to it. So much so that I consider repeating my recent performances but somehow convince myself that I really do need to get some sleep tonight.
A stray thought occurs to me about the penthouse apartment. If Bit really can get me in there, will he take me while the two of us are in there? So much for sleep until the sky starts to lighten outside my dirty window. I can’t help smiling through the day as I wonder what I’m going to do to myself tonight. All other thoughts I have that day are what is Bit going to do to me on other nights? Most importantly, how is he going to kiss me? Wait, he won’t kiss me down there, will he?
Chapter two
Buying and Giving
What a great breakfast I had with Murmur. When she shows me the penthouse apartment, I really want to get her into it. So I talk to Artemis, Dwier, and Marial at our Friday lunch where I’m Betsy again. I have a map of the neighborhood with me.
“Here’s the deal,” I say. “I’m interested in this group of buildings here. I want to build a community. The apartments aren’t exactly small, but they all seem to be one-bedroom, suitable for no more than a couple. The owner calls it a quad for some reason, even though there are eight buildings, two on each side of a center courtyard.
“Maybe it should be called a double quad. Maybe they call it that because it takes up the area of four blocks. Anyway, I know there are only a few people currently living in the entire complex. I want you to contact the owners and see if they’ll sell. If they’ll sell, I want to start refurbishing the apartments.
“The southwest corner penthouse in this building is the number one priority for refurbishment. I have a very good friend who lives one building over. I want her to be able to move in here as soon as possible. She is paying two golds per month rent in her apartment. That rent will stay the same for her.”
