Charles shook his head, surprising himself with his own lack of concern. “I must marry at some stage,” he said, repeating almost the very same words he had said to Lady Esther. “Lady Esther is a very suitable match, so I have no qualms about doing so, should it be required of me.”
“And Lord Leighton will grant you his blessing, no doubt, when all has been brought to an end,” Lord Watt added with another quick grin. “But we are becoming a little unfocused.” Clearing his throat, he spread his hands. “So, Lord Westbrook is to continue with his attentions towards Lady Esther, ensuring her safety as best he can, whilst carrying on with his search for the gentleman with the scar running down his cheek.”
“As shall I,” Lord Brandley interrupted, as Lord Riggerton also lifted a hand. “Lord Autry and Lord Breton are yet to be questioned as to any involvement they might have with the French, so mayhap Lord Riggerton can do so?”
Charles nodded. “Very good.”
“If I might help with that also,” added in Lord Hogarth, much to Charles’s satisfaction, for it seemed that every gentleman wanted to help progress the investigation as quickly as they could.
“And I shall go to Lord Leighton’s estate,” said Lord Huddersfield, as Lord Brandley nodded. “I know that we have sent a man, but he did not search for anything.”
“And I shall attend with you,” Lord Brandley said. “We must conduct a thorough search.”
“Good.” Charles felt his spirits lift as the other gentlemen in the room spoke of what they would do in order to aid the investigation, which included small matters such as speaking to the hackney driver whose hackney had been taken by the scarred man, to writing out yet more pages from the book before removing it to another secure location.
“And then we shall meet back here in ten days’ time with our reports,” Lord Watt finished, as the atmosphere in the room began to build to one of tense expectation. “Let us hope that we have either captured the scarred man or discovered the whereabouts of Lord Leighton.”
“Or both” Charles interrupted, making Lord Watt grin wryly. “And let us pray that Lord Leighton is safe.”
The group murmured their agreement, before Lord Watt stood, ready to dismiss them – only for there to come a knock at the door. The tension mounted furiously as Lord Watt crossed the room to open the door, only to reveal the man they had sent to Lord Leighton’s estate standing in the doorway.
“My lords,” the man said, inclining his head as he spoke. “I have news.”
Charles rose to his feet, gesturing for Mr. Peel to come into the room. Peel was one of many working-class men that The King’s League employed—as and when they were needed—and Mr. Peel was one of the most reliable.
“What is it you have discovered?” Charles asked, seeing the grim expression on Mr. Peel’s face and feeling his heart begin to thud with dread. “Tell us, please!”
Mr. Peel nodded, looking around the room. “The estate didn’t have Lord Leighton in it, my lord,” he said, in a low voice. “He wasn’t there. The staff hadn’t heard he was coming back and weren’t expecting him.”
Charles nodded, having expected as much. “I see.”
“But what was worse,” Mr. Peel continued gravely, “was that the estate had been broken into.”
Having turned away to make his way back to his seat, Charles now swung about and faced Mr. Peel again, his worries rising steadily. “What do you mean?”
“Just that.” Mr. Peel shrugged. “I was told that someone had broken into the house when everyone was abed. They didn’t appear to have taken anything, but it seems as though the lordship’s study had been ransacked.” He spread his hands wide. “The maid told me that almost everything had been overturned. Said there were papers everywhere and things left smashed all over the place.”
Charles drew in a quick breath as Lord Brandley muttered something under his breath. This was just as he had feared. Lord Leighton was not at his estate, as he had said, but had gone somewhere that no one yet knew. Now, more than ever, he was convinced that Sir Taylor had sent the cipher to Lord Leighton, which would account for the damage to Lord Leighton’s study. Someone had been searching for it, someone who had worked out that there might be a connection between Sir Taylor and Lord Leighton long before they had.
His stomach dropped, and he swallowed hard, realizing that he had no idea where Lord Leighton might be at present. He would have to speak to Lady Esther now, and he would have to tell her that her father was not at his estate and that he did not know where the gentleman was.
How would she react? She would not be pleased, that was for certain. Would she break down in tears? Or would she simply accept what had been said and quietly acknowledge that there was a good deal more to her father’s disappearance that had yet to be discovered? Would she continue to show that singular determination to find out the truth? He did not know, and he began to feel his heart ache for her. She had been foolish to go in search of him herself, but he could not even begin to imagine the fear that must have captured her heart when she began to think that her father had disappeared without reasonable explanation. There had been a good deal of bravery in her actions, even though he had been forced to come to her rescue thereafter, and that, he thought, said a good deal about her character. No, he would have no concern about his own future when it came to Lady Esther. Being practically minded, he had already considered what might be required of him and found no difficulty in accepting it. Lady Esther was more than suitable and that was all that he needed.
“It seems that your considerations have been correct then,” Lord Brandley said, interrupting Charles’s thoughts. “If Lord Leighton was in possession of the cipher, having been given it by Sir Taylor, then it makes sense that his study was overturned.”
“Whoever it was, knew to search there for it,” Lord Watt added quietly. “They knew he might have it with him.”
“Which means we must ensure that all of our efforts are solely centered on finding Lord Leighton and the cipher,” Charles said. “We each know what is required of us, do we not?” Seeing every man present nod, he cleared his throat and spread out his hands. “Then let us go to it, gentlemen. There is not a moment to be spared.”
Chapter Eight
“Good evening, Lady Esther.”
Esther curtsied beautifully as Lord Westbrook bowed in front of her, thinking him very handsome indeed this evening.
“Good evening, Lord Westbrook,” she said, finding herself rather glad to see him even though they had not been apart for more than a few hours. He had taken her walking in St James’s Park earlier that afternoon, and they had enjoyed both the company and the fine summer’s day. Her only regret was that they had not been able to speak of her father or of his consideration of such matters, given that Lady Ware had been present with them.
It had, however, forced them to converse about all other manner of things, which had, in its own way, brought her a little relief from her difficult circumstances. She had found Lord Westbrook to be an easy gentleman to talk to, and they had spoken of her home, his estate, and their shared love of riding. That had come as a pleasant surprise to her, and she had very much enjoyed his description of his newly purchased pair of greys, expressing a wish to see them one day.