by C. J. Archer
Enderby looked genuinely afraid. Leo’s anger dissolved instantly. He was wrong. Enderby hadn’t told Walsingham about the letter. His shock was too genuine and his fear too palpable.
So if Enderby hadn’t told Walsingham, who…?
Grayshaw. Bloody Charles Grayshaw. Leo clenched his fists at his sides. So much for friendship. The arse licker was going to pay for this.
“Let’s go,” Leo said. “We’re wasting our time.”
Beside him, Blake seethed with anger. “It might not have been him, but he started this by using that letter against Hawkesbury.” He rested his hand on his sword hilt. “Your actions have upset our sister greatly and we don’t like seeing her upset.”
Leo rolled his eyes. Blake could be dramatic when he wanted to be. That was the problem with being around players and playwrights so much.
“Your sister?” Enderby frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“The letter implicating the late Earl of Hawkesbury is now in my possession,” Leo said, getting to the point.
“I, I…” Enderby’s jowls began to shake and the ruddiness in his cheeks slowly faded.
“Check if you like,” Leo said. “We can wait.”
Enderby hesitated, glanced from one sword to the other, then stood. He removed the key from the chair cushion and unlocked the coffer. He rifled through the papers twice before sitting back on his haunches. “How did you get in here?”
Blake glanced at Leo. “We’re wasting our time,” he said.
Leo nodded. “He’s no use to us.”
“Shall we kill him?”
Leo tapped his finger on his sword hilt, enjoying the look on Enderby’s face. He’d gone completely white and his eyes had grown huge, much like the rest of him. “There might be reprisals.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Blake said. “The queen can’t possibly like him more than she likes me. She’d have to put us in the Tower as a show of authority, but not for long, and we’d be treated well. What do you say? Would you like to have first go?”
A strangled gurgle bubbled inside Enderby’s throat. “You wouldn’t,” he whispered. Leo shrugged. Blake chuckled. “Pearson!” Enderby shouted. “Pearson, here, now!”
The elderly steward flung the door open and took in the scene. His eyes widened and his hands began to shake. “Be easy,” Leo said to him. “We were just having a little fun at your master’s expense.”
“Father? Is everything—” Patience ran into the study but halted in the doorway when she saw Leo and Blake. “Oh, good day to you, my lord, Mr. Blakewell.”
Close behind her stood Alice, peering over Patience’s shoulder as if she were watching a play. What the bloody hell was she doing here?
“You,” said Enderby, frowning at Alice. He must have been paying attention last night. “I thought you left…” His face cleared. The color flooded back into his cheeks and he blinked over and over. “You stole the letter. You…you bitch!”
Bright red light exploded behind Leo’s eyes. Blood rushed between his ears, pounding out an erratic beat. He felt a hand on his arm, steadying—Blake’s. He tried to step closer to Enderby but was held back. He was going to thump his brother, right after he made Enderby eat his words. “You do not speak to her like that,” Leo ground out through his tight jaw. “Apologize.”
Enderby snorted.
Blake’s grip tightened. “This is nothing to do with Alice,” he said quietly to Enderby.
“Nothing to do with her!” Enderby spluttered, sending spittle over the rushes. “She robbed me!” He turned on his daughter. “Explain yourself.”
Panic seized Leo’s heart where before it had been gripped by pure rage. This was all about to unravel and he had no control over it. He glanced at Alice. She looked remarkably composed as she watched Enderby square up to his daughter. Patience didn’t back down, surprisingly.
“I had to do something, Father. I don’t want to marry Lord Hawkesbury.”
“Shut up, child! You’ll do as I say.” He lifted his hand and Patience flinched. Leo and Blake both grabbed Enderby’s arm and forced it back to his side.
“You hit anyone here and I’ll hit you twice as hard,” Leo said.
Enderby stretched out his fingers but kept them at his side. “Explain yourselves. Who is she really?” He nodded at Alice.
“I’m Alice Croft,” she said, stiffly. “I’m nobody.” She held herself very erect, still almost, and she hadn’t once looked in his direction.
“Not nobody,” Leo said, watching her and not Enderby. He thought he saw her wince but he couldn’t be sure. The only thing he could be sure about was that Alice was in deep trouble. Enderby would not let her make a fool of him.
“She is my bride-to-be.” It tumbled out but as soon as Leo said it, he knew it was right. He needed to help Alice as she had helped him. He could always extricate himself from the proposal later. A seamstress could be punished for entering a gentleman’s house using trickery, but a seamstress betrothed to a nobleman could not. Enderby wouldn’t dare touch her.
Leo tried to meet Alice’s gaze but she wasn’t looking at him. Her lips were parted in a slight O of surprise, but her eyes were as hard and clear as ice.
Patience took Alice’s hand. “Congratulations,” she said. “I knew it.”
Her words were almost drowned out by Enderby’s raucous laughter. “Married? To her? And don’t try to tell me she’s your wealthy friend from Essex, Patience. She might have fooled me last night but not today. She really is a nobody, isn’t she?” He turned his shining eyes on Leo. “Congratulations, Warhurst, you’ve surpassed your father for foolishness. At least he married well.”
Maybe the queen really would be lenient if Leo killed him. The realm would be a far better place without Enderby in it.
“Steady,” Blake murmured in his ear. “He’s not worth it.”
He was right. All jokes aside, Her Majesty could not afford to overlook the murder of a peer. Pity.
“Thank you,” Enderby said. “Thank you, thank you for making me laugh today, Alice Croft. Tell me, what does your father do?”
Alice lifted her chin. “He’s tiring house manager for—”
“Tiring house manager! He works for a theatre company? Oh, that’s perfect,” he said, laughing.
Leo grabbed Enderby’s doublet and landed a punch right on all three of his chins, making them wobble more. It wasn’t a hard punch, just enough to wipe the smile off Enderby’s face.
“Do not insult my betrothed again,” Leo said, “or her family. They’re good people. Better by far than you.”
Enderby tried to shake himself free. In the end, Leo just let him go. “Are you going to do that to everyone who laughs at you?” he said, rubbing his chin. “Well? Because if you think I’m being cruel, just wait until the rest of the court hears about this.”
“I don’t care what they think.”
“No? You don’t care that you’ll be compared to your father with his cheap whore of a mistress?”
Alice watched Leo carefully out of the corner of her eye but he made no move to hit Enderby again. She released her breath slowly and concentrated on settling her nerves. They’d been shredded to pieces upon hearing Leo’s declaration. Until she’d realized why he’d said it—to save her. So there was kindness in him after all.
“You’re just the same as him,” Enderby went on. Did the man not have enough sense to stop? Couldn’t he see the black temper Leo was in? “You’re just as selfish as he was. He didn’t care what his actions did to his wife, his child, or his tenants. He was a hopeless husband, hopeless father, and no better than a common vagabond, stealing from those of us who funded him. His people almost starved because of his foolishness.”
Leo’s chest rose and fell with his hard breathing, and his jaw could have been hewn from rock but he didn’t attack Enderby. He took everything the horrible man said in his stride.
“Father, please,” Patience said.
Enderby didn’t acknowledge her
, didn’t seem to hear her. Alice wasn’t sure why she’d come to her for help anymore. She’d hoped Patience could convince her father to end her betrothal to Hawkesbury now the letter was no longer in his possession but it was clear that would’ve been a fruitless endeavor.
“Enough of this,” Alice said. “Leo is not at all like his father. Everything he’s done, he’s done with his tenants at the forefront of his mind. A kinder landlord, a kinder gentleman, you could not find. You are the scoundrel here. You’ve kept two couples apart for your own gain. Nobody is happy, your daughter especially—”
“My daughter is a dutiful creature,” he growled. “She’ll do as she’s told.”
Patience bowed her head but not before Alice saw her tears.
“Let’s go,” Blake said. He gripped Leo’s shoulders and steered him toward the door. Alice squeezed Patience’s hand and tried to give her a look of hope. She doubted she’d succeeded because she felt nothing but a sense of hopelessness for all involved. Especially for Leo. His public declaration of his intention to marry her would cause him even more trouble. Perhaps the only thing more scandalous about having a seamstress for a mistress was having one for a wife.
Tears stung the backs of her eyes. She glanced at Leo. He was watching her, his expression dark and dangerous, his eyes shining like polished emeralds.
Outside on the forecourt, Blake strode ahead in the direction of the stables. Leo remained with Alice but he was no longer looking at her. A small muscle pulsed high in his cheek and his fists were closed at his sides, the knuckles white.
“Leo,” she whispered. She wanted to touch him. Hold him. Tell him everything would be all right, that the scandal wouldn’t be too bad. But she said nothing. There was only one way she could help him.
Ensure there was no chance his throwaway proposal became real.
CHAPTER 23
A summons came from court the next morning. Reluctantly Leo joined Blake, Lilly, and Lady Warhurst on the ride to the palace. He was tired after a sleepless night. Burning anger had kept him awake. Anger at Enderby for his senseless words, and anger at Grayshaw for betraying him and for not being at home when Leo paid him a visit.
There was worry too, over Alice. After the confrontation with Enderby, she’d uttered an excuse about helping her father, then left before Leo could stop her. It was clear she was still deeply hurt by his parting speech and that she wanted nothing more to do with him.
Had she guessed his proposal in Enderby’s office wasn’t real? Probably. She was much too clever not to. Perhaps in time she would forgive him everything. He hoped so. Knowing she hated him felt worse than any wound he’d ever endured.
As usual the queen’s audience chamber was packed with people waiting for their moment to beg a favor from their sovereign. The queen herself sat on her throne, her advisers flanking her, listening patiently to a gentleman plead for something or other.
As Leo and his family moved through the crowd, whispers followed them like drifts of smoke on the breeze.
“…Hawkesbury’s lover…” he heard one courtier say to another.
“…scandalous…” said a young woman.
“A seamstress!” yet another snorted. “She’s got him wrapped around her finger.”
“Just like his father,” said an elderly gentleman with a curl of his lip. Leo recognized him as one of his father’s creditors he’d paid off years earlier.
“She’ll lead him astray too,” said the man’s companion.
The whispers became murmurs then open discussion. The voices echoed around the audience chamber, filled his head, made it throb. All faces swiveled toward them, even the queen’s. Leo stared straight ahead, concentrating on keeping his fists at his sides and not showing any emotion. He dared not glance at his brother, sister, or mother lest he see their pain. He couldn’t risk anything shattering the thin veneer of composure he’d wrapped around himself. He suspected his brother was just as frustrated that he couldn’t challenge every man in that room to a duel. Their mother should not have to listen to such horseshit.
Leo stopped still. Lilly almost bumped into him. She looped her hand through his arm and gave him a pleading look.
“Not here, Leo,” she muttered.
He kept walking, drawing her gently along with him. “It’s all right, Lil, I won’t make a scene. I’ve just realized I’m not as angry as I should be. Not for myself, anyway, only for you and Mother.”
She gave him a smile that might have been weak but was heartfelt nevertheless. “You just called me Lil. Only Robert calls me that.”
He patted her hand. “Let me know if you need to escape and I’ll get you out. Blake and Mother can make your excuses to the queen.”
“I’m well enough, Leo. But I’ll be much better once I know Hawkesbury will be released.”
He winked at her. “He will be.”
She squeezed his arm and whispered, “Thank you.”
The queen signaled them to approach. Leo bowed low to her, as did his brother. Their mother and sister curtsied. Leo then nodded to Sir Francis Walsingham sitting on the queen’s right. Her old adviser looked frail, his thin frame swallowed up by the black gown with its fur collar. He leaned forward on his walking stick, his long gray beard pooling in his lap, and regarded Leo with eyes as sharp as ever. He might be weak of body but only a fool would think his mind had diminished.
“Lady Warhurst, we are so pleased to have your company,” the queen said, holding out her hand. His mother kissed the royal ring. “It’s been too long. And your pretty daughter.” She smiled at Lilly, who curtsied again and kept her head bowed. “Such a jewel in your family’s crown.”
“She is, Your Majesty, and my greatest comfort.”
The queen leaned forward and clasped Lady Warhurst’s hand. The two women, once much closer, exchanged a meaningful glance before the queen let go and leaned back.
She crooked her finger at Leo. He stepped forward, bowed again. “Welcome back, Lord Warhurst. Two visits to court in such a short time, we are truly blessed!”
He felt the color rise to his cheeks. “I could not remain away from Your Majesty’s—”
“Spare us your pretty sentiments today, my lord.” Her voice was clear and commanding and drew the attention of her audience as was no doubt intended. “We are informed that you have evidence that may help or hinder the case of Lord Hawkesbury.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. My brother and I believe your advisers have been misinformed as to Lord Hawkesbury’s situation.”
“Misinformed?” She half turned to Walsingham, who inclined his head. Someone stepped out of the group of men standing to one side.
Grayshaw.
He didn’t look at Leo but bowed to the queen, lower than Leo or Blake had, with the addition of a flourish. Peacock. He rose and gave her a broad smile with a hint of intimacy in it. The same sort of smile Grayshaw had bestowed on Alice. It was lost on the queen, however, since she wasn’t looking at him.
She lifted a finger and Grayshaw spoke. “Lord Warhurst asked me to decipher a letter for him,” he said. “I did. It clearly pointed to the previous Earl of Hawkesbury being involved in treason, Your Majesty. I thought it prudent to bring it to Sir Francis Walsingham’s attention immediately. I would deeply regret any harm being done to—” He stopped when the queen held up her hand.
“Where did you find this letter, Lord Warhurst?” she asked.
“It was in Lord Enderby’s possession,” Leo said. Behind him, several eavesdroppers gasped.
“Enderby?” The queen glanced over Leo’s head. “Is his lordship here?”
“He just arrived, Your Majesty,” Walsingham said. He crooked a finger at the crowd. The short barrel that was Enderby made his way to the throne. He bowed and paid his respects.
The queen rose. “Let us adjourn somewhere more private.” Her ladies descended upon her like a flock of pigeons but she waved them off. She led the party through to another chamber and sat behind a large desk of polished oak. Leo, B
lake, Lady Warhurst, and Lilly stood to one side, Lord Enderby a little separate. Walsingham came in behind them all, limping and leaning on his stick. He shut the door in Grayshaw’s face.
“We wish to resolve this today,” the queen said. “If there is insufficient evidence of the late Earl of Hawkesbury’s involvement in any plot then we shall release the present Lord Hawkesbury. However, if there is sufficient evidence of guilt then we must detain him until we can ascertain what he knows of it. He was certainly of an age to have been kept informed by his father.”
Enderby glanced at Leo. Leo gave him a smile. Beside him, Blake drew himself up to his full height. It felt good to have him there, sharing the family’s burden.
“Well, Lord Enderby? Do you or did you possess such a letter?”
Enderby seemed unsurprised by the question. He must have come prepared with an answer. “I did, Your Majesty. The missive came into my hands barely a day ago and I was about to pass it on to Sir Francis. Unfortunately it was stolen from me before I could.” He inclined his head at Leo. “Lord Warhurst here was the thief.”
The queen’s painted eyebrows rose. “That is quite an accusation, Lord Enderby.”
“He was with a wench, a common seamstress who duped me and inveigled herself into my home. The two of them colluded—”
“Your Majesty,” Lady Warhurst said sharply, cutting him off, “I believe you’ll find my son’s betrothed is a friend of Lord Enderby’s daughter, Patience. She’s no common wench, nor did she dupe anyone. Patience invited her to stay with the express purpose of finding the letter. The letter which Lord Enderby had in his possession for several weeks and was using to blackmail Lord Hawkesbury.”
Blake must have told her everything he knew. She tilted her chin at Leo as if to say he should have kept her informed of the situation all along.
“Blackmail?” The queen frowned but it quickly cleared. “Ah, the marriage to the Enderby girl?”
No one could have failed to hear Lilly’s intake of breath. Leo willed her to be strong, remain calm, when he felt anything but calm himself. This could all still unravel in the most dramatic way.
