“Well, as to that, he got away, fast and sly he was, but Lord Gray’s boys managed to nab the two toughs and dragged them in to see Lord Gray so’s he could rattle their brains, which he did, and they told him it was ye the young feller we were after, and he were offering buckets of groats to help him kill ye.” Ollie paused, then frowned, a habit of such long-standing that his brow seemed furrowed through and through. “Lord Gray says he believes yer right. This is revenge, my lord. Revenge, through and through, and this young ’un ain’t going to stop until we stops him. Lord Gray is sending two more lads from London to help us keep ye safe. Northcliffe is a mighty big place, even bigger than Ravensworth, so’s we gots to find scores of hidey holes.”
Alexandra said as she slowly rose, “Thank you, Ollie. Lord Gray wrote nothing else?”
Ollie Trunk blushed. “Actually, my lady, the note is fer his lordship here. I was jest so-”
“I appreciate your attention,” Douglas said, and held out his hand. Ollie gave him a twisted-up piece of paper. “Do you wish two more men, Ollie?”
“Yes, my lord. We’ll nab this man, this son of Georges Cadoudal. Aye, it’s revenge. That can make a young man’s blood hot.” And with that, Ollie nodded, blushed again when he looked at Alexandra, and backed out of the dining room.
“But why,” Douglas said slowly, “is the young man’s blood hot?”
At that moment Hollis sailed through the door, cleared his throat, and said, “Some years ago, the earl of Ravensworth used Mr. Ollie Trunk’s services. All worked out well.”
“I wonder what trouble Burke had,” Alex said. “So you approve of him, Hollis?”
“As to that, my lord, we will see. The proof of his abilities will be obvious to all, in due course.”
That was for certain, Douglas thought, aware of the small derringer in his jacket pocket. Then he looked at his butler, really looked.
Hollis glowed, no other word for it. He was standing so straight, Douglas thought he must have gained at least three inches of his younger height back. “May I inquire as to your progress with your lady, Hollis?”
“She is very near to the sticking point, my lord. I dare say that another day or two in my company will have her yelling yes.”
Alexandra said, “I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t be singing hallelujahs at the thought of being your wife, Hollis. You are magnificent, any woman would bless her stars to marry you.”
“Just so, my lady, just so. As you may remember, Annabelle knew my precious Miss Plimpton. Her present hesitation is because she is concerned that my feelings for Miss Plimpton may still be too strong.”
“Good God, Hollis,” Douglas said. “Miss Plimpton has been dead these forty years!”
“Forty-two years and six and one months, my lord.”
Alexandra said, “That is surely enough time to cleanse out all residual feelings you cherished for Miss Plimpton.”
“That’s as may be, my lady,” Hollis said. “But Annabelle frets. She wants my heart whole.”
“And will she have your heart whole, Hollis?” Alex asked.
“As you said, my lady, forty years have passed. I have told Annabelle that an old heart has more free space in it than a young heart, more room to take into itself the most profound of feelings and sentiments.”
“When will we meet her, Hollis?”
“She, my lord, has consented to have tea with you and your ladyship this very afternoon. Actually, I am here to inform you of this felicitous news. Ollie’s news was perhaps a bit more important, so I allowed him to precede me.”
“Er, that is quite splendid, Hollis. Have Cook make her lemon seed cakes.”
“It is done, my lord. Annabelle will be here at precisely four o’clock. I, myself, will fetch her from that lovely quaint village of Abington, where she has resided now for nearly four months.”
“Abington is a charming village,” Alex said. “Does Miss Trelawny have relatives there, Hollis?”
“It is Mrs. Trelawny, my lady. Annabelle has been widowed for many years now. She’s all alone, but her husband left her a neat competence so she is quite comfortable. I, naturally, will make her more comfortable than she is now.”
“Why did she select Abington to live?” Douglas asked. “It is lovely, to be sure, but not the center of anything I can think of.”
“I much enjoy Abington myself, my lord, indeed I have spent a good deal of time there over the years, going through the church records. They extend well back into the thirteenth century, if you can believe that. It turns out, my lord, that Annabelle also admires the church, and indeed, that is how I met her, walking to the rectory.”
Douglas nodded, thinking of the sheaf of ancient church records he’d bought from Noddington Abbey, and given to Hollis years before.