Protecting Lady Esther (The King's League)

“And I am quite well, as you can see,?

?? she said, reassuring him. “Although I did fear for you.” Her smile dimmed. “Lord Hogarth is…?”

“He will face the gallows,” Charles said bluntly. “There is nothing that will keep him from it.”

“I see.” Esther let out a long breath, her shoulders tightening for a moment. “I will not say that I am sorry for him, for what he did was more than treacherous.”

Charles nodded. “He did nothing of worth,” he said, as Lady Ware rose to her feet. “He will face the consequences of what he has chosen to do, and we need not think of him again.”

Lady Esther nodded, her expression clearing once more. “And now all that remains is to find the location of the cipher,” she said, as Lady Ware touched Esther’s elbow and gestured for her to sit down. “Once my father has recovered enough to speak to us of it, I am certain that he—”

Her sentence was cut off by a hurried knock at the door. Before Lady Ware or Lady Esther could speak, the door opened and a footman came in, bowing quickly with an apologetic look on his face.

“Forgive me, Lady Ware, Lady Esther,” he said, quickly, stumbling over his words. “But it could not wait. The master is awake.”

Charles caught his breath, feeling Lady Esther’s hand tighten on his.

“He wishes to speak to you, Lady Esther,” the footman continued, with a quick smile in Lady Esther’s direction. “The doctor is present but will be finished with his examination very soon.”

“I will come at once,” Esther said, already beginning to walk towards the door. “This is wonderful news indeed.” She looked up at Charles, her face lit with a joyous smile that he felt light his very soul. Lord Leighton was recovered, it seemed, and very soon this entire matter would be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. And perhaps, soon, he might be able to speak to Lord Leighton about his daughter, Charles considered, as he followed Lady Esther from the room. For the only thing he desired was to ensure that Lady Esther would be promised to him for the rest of his days so that he might care for her and bring her such happiness that it would fill their every day together. That was the only wish of his heart, Charles realized, his spirits lifting with every step he took, and very soon, his wish might be fulfilled – and what a joy that would be.

His heart singing and his spirits lifting with happiness, he walked into Lord Leighton’s room behind Lady Esther and Lady Ware, filled with relief and contentment that the matter of the cipher was now, finally, drawing to a close.

Chapter Sixteen

“Papa!”

Esther rushed forward, her eyes filling with tears as her father held out one hand to her. He was propped up on pillows, his face still rather pale but his eyes fixed upon hers.

“My dear girl,” Lord Leighton whispered, seemingly struggling to speak with any force. “You are safe.”

“Oh, Papa,” Esther replied, sinking down into a seat beside the bed. “You cannot know the joy in my heart upon seeing you so recovered.” She knew that he still had a good deal of progress to make before he was entirely well, but the difference between seeing him feverish and delirious and now seeing him sitting up and lucid brought her overwhelming joy.

“How are you, brother?” Lady Ware murmured, coming to the other side of the bed whilst Lord Westbrook came to stand behind Esther, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. “You did give us quite a fright, I confess. You must not disappear in such a fashion again!” She tried to smile in a teasing manner, but Esther could see how her aunt’s eyes were filling with fresh tears, just as her own had done not moments before.

“I am sorry,” Lord Leighton replied hoarsely. “I thought I was doing the best thing for you both. I wanted to make sure you were safe and so I thought to disappear for a short time without any clear explanation as to where I intended to go.” His eyes roved towards Lord Westbrook for a moment, a slight frown flickering between his brows. “I did not succeed—unfortunately.”

“That is not your fault, Lord Leighton,” Lord Westbrook said, his hand squeezing lightly on Esther’s shoulder. “You had nothing to do with what occurred.”

Lord Leighton sighed heavily and closed his eyes tightly, his jaw tightening. Esther clutched his hand afresh, her heart aching for him. Her father was taking on a responsibility that was not his to take. He could not have known that Lord Hogarth had turned to work for the French; he could never have foreseen that such an event would occur.

“I presume you know everything then,” Lord Leighton said softly, his eyes still closed. “You know of the League?”

“I do,” Esther said quietly. “In case you do not know him, Papa, this is the Earl of Westbrook. He is a part of The King’s League and has been nothing but wonderful in his quest to discover the truth and aid me in finding you.” She looked up lovingly at Lord Westbrook, seeing how his eyes glowed with affection for her. “Both Lady Ware and I know the truth.”

“Then you will think that I should have sought out The King’s League at the very first,” Lord Leighton said heavily, his eyes opening wearily as he looked back at her. “I did not know where they gathered and only one or two names were known to me – one being Lord Hogarth and the other, a Lord Watt.”

“Indeed,” Lord Westbrook said quietly. “But we know of you, Lord Leighton. We have long been aware of your exploits of old and of the work you have done for the king.”

Lord Leighton shook his head, coughed, and then took a sip of water before lying back against his pillows again. Esther waited expectantly, having the feeling that her father wished to say more. Presently, he spoke again.

“When I received the cipher from Sir Taylor, I did not know what to do with it,” he said hoarsely. “We were to come to London, and so I thought to bring it here, to ensure that The King’s League would soon be given possession of it. I knew just how precious it was and did my utmost to hide it away amongst my possessions.”

Esther saw Lady Ware frown, knowing that her aunt must still be struggling with the shock of what had been revealed to her.

“I said nothing to my daughter or to my sister,” Lord Leighton continued, after a breath. “I thought merely to go about London as I had intended and, thereafter, to seek out either Lord Hogarth or Lord Watt so that the cipher might be handed over in as secretive a manner as possible. However…” He trailed off and began to cough again, covering his mouth with a large, white handkerchief.

“Here, brother,” Lady Ware said urgently, handing him his glass of water. “Drink this, I beg you.”