by Lucy Adams
Doing so, Sebastian came to sit beside her. “If you would prefer to rest, then there is no need for you to sit with the League,” he told her, only for her eyes to snap to his, a frown pulling at her brow.
“I do not think that will be necessary,” she said, a little too forcefully. “I am quite all right, Lord Millerton.”
“I did not mean to suggest that you were not strong enough to do so,” he answered quickly, a little surprised at how severely she had spoken. “Forgive me, Lady Callander, I —”
She held up one hand, her eyes searching his. “I did not mean to speak harshly,” she said, her voice now gentle. “I am very tired indeed but I do not want to be absent from this discussion. After all, it still involves Lord Hazelton’s death and what it was he had to say about my late husband.”
Sebastian nodded slowly, his brow furrowing. In all that had been happening lately, he had quite forgotten that what Lord Hazelton had said to Lady Callander was the reason that he had become involved in this mystery in the first place. “Your late husband being of a very different description according to Lord Hazelton,” he said, slowly. “Of course.”
“I cannot help but feel as though the further this goes on, the more convoluted it becomes,” she said, lowering her eyes to the floor, her expression becoming a little distressed. “Lord Hazelton was to tell me something about my late husband, only for him to pass away. You spoke to Madame Bereford about the young lady that Lord Hazelton often spent time with, only for her to then be shot. In addition, the League has asked me to encourage Lady Madeline to keep in company with Lord Chesterfield, believing him to be involved in something to do with shipping and trading,” she said, rubbing the line that had formed between her brows as she frowned. “I confess, it has all become quite confusing and deeply upsetting,” she said, softly. “I want to discover the truth, of course, but….”
“But you wish for it to be at an end,” she said softly. “I quite understand.”
Her eyes lit with a gentleness that made him smile. “I thank you,” she said, the hardness gone from her expression now. “I do hope that Miss Sarah awakens soon so that we might find out the truth from her.”
“And might I hope that you have had a chance to write to Lady Madeline?” he asked, somewhat tentatively given that she had been very busy indeed in caring for Miss Sarah last evening. “It is quite all right if you have not, but —”
“I wrote to her yesterday afternoon and begged her not to say anything to Lord Chesterfield until I had the opportunity to speak to her again,” Lady Callander said, surprising him. “She has not sent me a note as yet, however.” She bit her lip, looking at him with a little concern. “I am not certain that she will have received my note in time, for I am sure that she had a ball last evening.”
Sebastian opened his mouth to tell her that she did not need to concern herself, only for there to come a gentle rap at the door. When Lady Callander called for them to enter, rather than a gentleman from the League coming into the room, in strode Lady Madeline, a maid trailing behind her.
“Good morning, Lady Madeline,” Lady Callander exclaimed, as Sebastian cleared his throat and rose, taking a small step back from Lady Callander. “I did not expect you to —”
“Your note last evening was most confusing,” Lady Madeline declared, looking pointedly at Sebastian. “I do not understand your reason for saying such a thing and thus, I decided to come to speak to you just as soon as I was able.” Her eyes drifted back towards Lady Callander, whose cheeks were now a deep scarlet. “Although I see you have company?”
It was a question rather than a statement, and Sebastian dropped his head, his hands behind his back as he felt a flush of embarrassment climb up his neck.
“There is a good deal that I must inform you of,” Lady Callander said, a firmness to her voice that surprised Sebastian. “Lady Madeline, please sit down and take tea with me.” She looked towards Sebastian, just as he lifted his head, her eyes sharp. “And might you ask the gentlemen who are to arrive soon to meet in the library? We will join you shortly.”
Sebastian, a little taken aback, nodded slowly, then turned to Lady Madeline.
“Do excuse me,” he said, snapping his heels together and bowing at the waist. Then, with one final glance back towards Lady Callander, he made his way to the door and closed it tightly after him.
“And the intruder did not know the name of the gentleman who approached him?”
Sebastian shook his head, as Lord Windsor spoke up.
“I believe Roberts — for that is evidently his name — is speaking the truth when he says he does not know the name of the gentleman who paid him,” he said, slowly. “He was given a handsome amount of money, but the mysterious gentleman seemed to know both his name, where he lived and where he might find him should Roberts fail.”
Lord Monteforte chewed his lip for a moment, his brow furrowed. “Then it must have been a little out of fear that Roberts did as he was told,” he said, slowly. “Although it begs the question as to how this gentleman supposedly knew who Roberts was.”
Sebastian held up one hand. “It would not be too difficult to find such a person,” he said, quickly. “All one would need to do would be to speak to some of those of the lower class, paying them whatever they asked for until such information was discovered.”
Shrugging one shoulder, Lord Monteforte silently agreed with what Sebastian had to say.
“So what are we now to do?” Lord Watt asked, leaving the question open to everyone to answer. “Lady Callander is speaking to Lady Madeline, from what I understand, but —”
Sebastian looked to the door as it opened to reveal both Lady Callander and Lady Madeline. Lady Madeline looked a little pale and certainly did not have the same spark of self confidence in either her gaze or her stance, looking about the room in an evident state of astonishment.
“Do excuse us,” Lady Callander said, quickly. “Lady Madeline is evidently to meet with Lord Chesterfield this afternoon for a short afternoon stroll about Hyde Park and I have informed her as to the suspicions that are laid against him.” She smiled tightly at Lord Watt. “In addition, I have been to visit Miss Sarah.”
“Oh?” Sebastian rose to his feet, finding himself moving towards Lady Callander without having any intention of doing so. “Has she awoken?”
“She has,” Lady Callander told him, as a sense of tension began to fill the room. “She was very confused as to where she was and who I was, but soon was reassured by both myself and the nurse.”
Sebastian held his breath, looking directly at Lady Callander and waiting for her to say something more.
“She told me that she was afraid of Madame Bereford,” Lady Callander said, softly, as Lady Madeline frowned, clearly uncertain as to what Lady Callander was speaking of. “And that Madame Bereford had instructed her to draw close to Lord Hazelton in any way she could. However,” she said, frowning. “This was some years ago that the instruction was given. Lord Hazelton was not always a regular client, but every time he appeared, the other ladies were kept away from him and thus, he became quite interested by her. He soon became a more regular client and as their intimacy grew, she began to speak to him and likewise, he to her.”
“I see,” Sebastian murmured, as Lord Watt rose, gesturing for the ladies to come and sit down. He waited until they had done so and then went to sit down himself also. “And what is it that she heard him speak of?”
Lady Callander drew in a long breath. “She was to tell Madame Bereford anything that Lord Hazelton said,” she continued, with a small, sad smile. “But when I asked her if she had done so, the poor lady began to cry.”
A little surprised, Sebastian glanced at the other gentlemen, who were all now looking just as confused.
“She apparently had begun to care for Lord Hazelton and so did not tell Madame Bereford everything,” Lady Callander continued. “She was terrified to keep such things from her mistress, but her loyalty to Lord Hazelton only grew.”
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“So, she said nothing to Madame Bereford, then?” Sebastian asked, as Lady Callander shook her head. “Did she tell you what Lord Hazelton spoke to her about?”
“She did,” Lady Callander replied, her eyes fixed to his and Sebastian found himself holding his breath with such a sense of anticipation that it coursed through him like a burning fire. “Once she discovered my name was Lady Callander, she began to speak at length.” Her lips curled into a sad smile. “She was quite exhausted but gave all of her strength into explaining it all to me.”
The whole room was listening to everything that Lady Callander had to say, every eye fixed upon her without any of them making a single sound. Sebastian forced himself not to press her, not to hurry her in her speaking, knowing that there was a good reason for her taking her time.
“Lord Hazelton spoke of Lord Callander,” she said, slowly. “He did not know him well enough but commented once to her that, whilst he was sorry to hear that Lord Callander had passed away, he was quite certain that he had seen him once or twice since then.”
A murmur of confusion ran around the room.
“He was quite certain that he had done so, even though he knew he was being very foolish to even speak of it,” Lady Callander continued, a slight catch to her voice. “That was, I think, perhaps why he said such a thing to Miss Sarah, because he knew that she would not repeat what he had said to anyone in the ton.”
“Might I ask,” Sebastian interrupted, holding up one hand in what was a gesture of apology for his interruption, “what he said of Lord Callander? How had he known him?”
Lady Callander nodded slowly, closing her eyes as she continued to speak. “Lord Callander apparently spoke to Lord Hazelton on many an occasion. He sought Lord Hazelton’s financial assistance.”
Sebastian frowned. “He wanted money?”
“I am certain it was not my husband who was doing such a thing,” Lady Callander protested, firmly. “He was not a gentlemen who was struggling with his funds and certainly never once mentioned to me that he intended to start investing money in shipping.”
In an instant, everyone in the room was on edge.
“Shipping?” Lord Lexington said, his words quick and his eyes sharp. “Lord Callander — or whoever was masquerading as Lord Callander — sought Lord Hazelton’s financial input in order to begin involving themselves in shipping?”
“Yes, that is it precisely,” Lady Callander confirmed. “What Lord Hazelton also said to Miss Sarah was that whilst he had refused Lord Callander’s offer, he knew that the gentleman had also approached others.”
A flicker of understanding came into Sebastian’s mind. “I see,” he murmured, slowly. “And so the suggestion is that Lord Chesterfield might now be involved in this scheme?”
Lady Callander shrugged. “Perhaps,” she said, softly. “I cannot be sure.” Pressing her lips together, she dropped her head and let out a long breath. “One thing Miss Sarah told me was that Lord Hazelton came to her one evening, shortly after he had called upon me. He was somewhat distressed, apparently certain that he had seen the gentleman he knew to be Lord Callander.”
“But he knew it could not be so, given that you were widowed these last two years and had given him a different description to the gentleman he knew,” Sebastian added, as Lady Callander lifted her head. “And he became afraid of what this meant. That is when, he received your note, he took great lengths to try and keep your meeting secret from anyone around him.”
“Indeed,” Lady Callander whispered, her face paling now. “Unfortunately, Miss Sarah stated that Madame Bereford came to her after Lord Hazelton had left and beat her until she confessed what he had told her.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as Sebastian felt his heart sink to the floor. “She did not tell her everything as regarded the ships and request for financial input, but simply that Lord Hazelton was sure he had seen someone who had already passed away.”
“And such a statement brought about Lord Hazelton’s death,” Lord Watt said, slowly. “Then Madame Bereford is involved in some way.”
“Although in what way, I could not even begin to suggest,” Lady Callander said, softly. “But I will state that now I think it is of an even greater concern that Lord Chesterfield be considered.”
Lady Madeline passed a hand over her eyes. “I do not understand all that has been said,” she said, slowly, “but I will do whatever is required.”
Silence ran around the room for a few minutes, with each gentleman thinking through what had been said. There now seemed to be a greater clarity to what had been going on, for evidently whoever had been pretending to be Lord Callander had been using the identity of the gentleman in order to set up a new shipping route.
“Might I ask why someone would use the Earl of Callander’s identity in order to pretend such a thing?” Lord Windsor asked, frowning hard. “Surely he was well known?”
Lady Callander shook her head sadly. “Indeed, he was not,” she said, quietly. “He was something of a recluse, I believe, and only came to London to seek a wife.” A rueful smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “And when he chose me, we wed within the month and returned to his estate. It was quiet, hasty and without any sort of importance.”
“Then someone pretended to be a gentleman that the ton would respect, in order to gain what they could not otherwise achieve,” Sebastian said, slowly. “So how do we discover who it is?”
“Lord Chesterfield might inform us,” Lady Callander said, quietly. “Although I do not know what to suggest when it comes to Madame Bereford.”
Lord Watt cleared his throat. “We shall leave Madame Bereford for the time being,” he said, firmly. “Let us continue with Lord Chesterfield.” He looked directly at Lady Madeline. “Perhaps Lady Callander might be willing to accompany you, Lady Madeline?”
“As shall I,” Sebastian said, quickly. “You may tell Lord Chesterfield that I am courting Lady Callander if you wish, as an explanation for our company.” He said this without even considering what Lady Callander herself would say and, his stomach swirling, he forced himself to look into her eyes.
Much to his relief, she was nodding and smiling, her eyes evidently holding a good deal of contentment.
“Very good,” Lord Watt said, decisively. “Then you must attempt to discover more about the ships that Lord Chesterfield has. Find out whatever you can about them, Lady Madeline. And Lady Callander,” he continued, with an encouraging smile, “mention Madame Bereford and Lord Millerton will watch how he reacts.” His smile grew. “And thereafter, we shall decide precisely what we are going to do next.”
Chapter Eleven
“And how do you fare this fine afternoon, Lady Callander?”
Bridgette resisted the urge to tell Lord Chesterfield that she found it rather interesting that his persona was now back to the outgoing, delightfully happy gentleman that she had been introduced to at the first, Bridgette put a small smile on her face and replied that she found the day to be quite lovely, if not a little warm.
“But you would do anything to be in the company of Lord Millerton, I presume?” Lord Chesterfield replied, with a chuckle. “I hear you are courting now, Lord Millerton! How exciting!”
Lord Millerton looked sideways at Lord Chesterfield, his lips twitching just a little.
“How very good of you to notice,” he said, dryly. “Yes, I am courting Lady Callander and find myself quite blessed to be able to do so.”
As much as Bridgette knew that Lord Millerton was speaking for Lord Chesterfield’s benefit, she could not help but smile at him, a little embarrassed and yet greatly delighted at his remark.
“I see,” Lord Chesterfield murmured, a look of interest in his eye, which then moved towards Lady Madeline. “How strange it is that, only a short time ago, I was begging for your help in finding an appropriate young lady for my bride, only now to discover that you have found someone quite lovely and I, at the very least, have been graced with the delightful Lady Madeline’s company for th
e afternoon.”
Lady Madeline simpered, although Bridgette noted that it did not reach her eyes.
“I confess that there are a good many gentlemen who come to seek out my company for nothing other than their own pleasure,” Lady Madeline sighed, looking a little pained. “I know full well that they only want my attentions in the hope of gaining the dowry that comes with my hand in marriage.”
Bridgette let out a long sigh and shook her head. “How ridiculous,” she said, looking fixedly at Lord Chesterfield, her arm still tight on Lord Millerton’s arm. “I do hope you are not as one of those, Lord Chesterfield, else I shall have to chase you away from my dear friend!” She laughed, aware of how Lord Chesterfield laughed along with her, although there was no smile in his eyes.
“Indeed, I am not,” he said, firmly, once the laughter had died away. “I swear to you now, Lady Madeline,” he continued, looking at Lady Madeline and then to Bridgette herself, “I am not a cad. I seek only your attentions and your company because I can think of no better young lady than you.”
“I must hope so,” Lady Madeline said, as Bridgette shook her head again, still trying to appear doleful.
“Indeed we must,” she said, putting an enquiring look in her eyes as she looked to her friend. “Did you not tell me recently, Lady Madeline, that when you were last pulled into the attentions of a gentleman, you discovered something quite dreadful about him? Something that shocked you terribly?”
Lady Madeline gasped, one hand to her heart and her eyes wide. “Indeed!” she exclaimed. “Indeed, it was truly awful.”
Lord Chesterfield frowned. “I am sorry to hear it,” he said, as Lord Millerton settled his free hand over Bridgette’s own as it rested on his arm, evidently aware that the moment was near. “Might I ask what it was that upset you so?”
Lady Madeline sighed heavily, her hand still pressed lightly to her heart, her eyes downcast.
