“It has been a difficult year,” he said slowly, looking at Matthew in the knowledge that he understood. “There has been a good deal going on within the League, and we have had to undertake a good deal of investigation.”
Matthew nodded slowly. Last Season, he had been in London in order to help the League with a very difficult situation. It had been resolved, of course, but not before a good deal of trouble had been uncovered within the League itself. He had done his best to ensure it was entirely rooted out, whilst maintaining a calm and steadfast façade throughout. Of course, his heart and mind had been troubled with not only what was going on, but also with the knowledge that Lord Harrogate, one of the League’s men, had been killed in his own townhouse in the middle of London. On top of which, he had been desperately waiting to hear from Daisy, Lord Harrogate’s daughter with whom he had been in love but had heard nothing from her whatsoever.
It had been, as Lord Templeton had said, a very difficult year.
“Therefore,” Lord Templeton finished, with a regretful look, “I confess that I have not managed to achieve very much at all. Lord Harrogate was trying to infiltrate himself within a small group of high society gentlemen, in the knowledge that one of them, we were sure, was working with the French. I believe that he knew which of them it was, and that this gentleman, in turn, chose to silence Lord Harrogate in the only way he could.”
“And do you know the names of these men?” Matthew asked, feeling a fierce spirit begin to burn in his heart. “Surely you have sent others to investigate them?”
Lord Templeton drew in a long breath. “I have done so,” he said slowly, “only to discover that they have all gone from England to another part of the world. One has gone to inspect his holdings on the continent, whilst two others are gone to America. And the final one decided to undertake the Grand Tour and has been away for some time. I have sent two men from the League to America in search of them, of course, but have not heard anything as yet.”
Matthew rubbed one hand over his eyes, feeling a good deal of frustration. He had wanted to involve himself in the investigation into Lord Harrogate’s death, but had been unable to, given the ongoing situation that had taken over every part of his life last Season. And now to discover that very little had been done only added to his irritation.
“You may have the investigation now, if you wish,” Lord Templeton continued, evidently aware of Matthew’s frustration. “I am getting a little too old to continue with the League at any rate.” He sighed and accepted the glass of brandy from the footman’s tray. “I can still advise, of course, but I do not think that I am up to much else.”
Matthew’s frustrations died away at once. Lord Templeton was an excellent ally and had done a great deal for the League. He did not want the gentleman to think that just because this investigation had not gone particularly well thus far that Matthew laid the blame at his feet!
“Surely not!” he exclaimed at once. “You must not think so little of your own abilities, Lord Templeton. You have worked for the King for many years, and there are many of us who look up to you in that regard. Please, do not feel as though this fai
lure is anything to do with you.” He spoke eagerly, leaning a little forward in his chair but saw the older man shake his head.
“I am tired,” Lord Templeton said quietly. “I think I shall see this investigation through – and by that, I mean, I shall give you whatever help you require so long as I can give it – but thereafter, I think I shall retire.” He smiled, and Matthew saw the glimmer of relief in the older man’s eyes. It was, it seemed, the right time for Lord Templeton to step back. “Besides which, I am quite certain that there are a good many others to take my place.”
“None as good as you,” Matthew answered firmly. “I shall be sorry to see you go from amongst us, Lord Templeton.”
Lord Templeton waved a hand at this remark, then sat up a little straighter. “Now, I must inform you that I have heard a rumor that the daughter of Lord Harrogate has also passed away.”
Matthew swallowed hard, his whole body seeming to freeze with cold for a moment or two. No one had mentioned Miss Williams to him for some time, and even those within the League knew not to speak of her to him. He had tried his best to put her from his mind, believing that she needed time and space to come to terms with what had occurred, but now — two years after the death of Lord Harrogate — he feared that she would never return to him.
“I do not know if such a rumor is true,” Lord Templeton continued, clearly unaware of just how this was affecting Matthew, “but it is important that you are aware of it.”
“I-I do not understand why,” Matthew stammered, trying not to believe that such a rumor held any truth whatsoever. “Why should such a thing matter?”
Lord Templeton looked at him in surprise then frowned hard. “I would have thought such a thing was obvious,” he muttered, running one hand over his thinning hair. “If the girl has died, then is there not the suggestion that she also has been killed by whoever took her father?”
It felt as though a hand had clasped tight around Matthew’s throat and was slowly squeezing the breath from his body. “Why?” he said hoarsely, trying not to allow an image of Miss Williams lying prone on the floor into his mind. “Why should such a thing happen?”
Lord Templeton sighed heavily. “Because she came to me a few days after her father’s death and then again last Season. She is determined to find out the truth about her father’s death and who is behind it. I had very little to tell her but it seems that her father mentioned the League to her the very night he died. Therefore, she knows a little of it but does not fully understand everything.”
“And you think that she might have come to some sort of understanding as to those who killed her father, and therefore she too has been silenced,” Matthew murmured, leaning his head back against the chair and trying not to panic. “That is an understandable conclusion.”
“I would suggest that you confirm whether or not such a story is the truth, just as soon as you can,” Lord Templeton said firmly. “It is gravely important. If it is that she has been killed over something she has discovered, then we must know what it was.”
Matthew took in a long breath, before blowing it out slowly. “Of course,” he answered, as steadily as he could. “I understand.”
“And I, meanwhile, will locate the whereabouts of the four men that Lord Harrogate had befriended,” Lord Templeton continued, as though he were merely speaking of the weather rather than four men who might be working for the French. “We can meet together again soon in order to share what we have uncovered.”
Matthew said nothing but threw back his brandy and drank the rest in three large gulps. He waited until the brandy had begun to spread warmth through his veins before he answered, hoping that the liquor would take away some of the shock that now poured through him. “Very good, Lord Templeton,” he muttered, as the older man clicked his fingers at a nearby footman, gesturing to his empty glass. “That sounds very good to me.”
“And you shall have to make something of an appearance within society, of course,” Lord Templeton continued calmly. “For if any of these four gentlemen have returned, then you will need to acquaint yourself with them, and it is best that you have been already seen within society rather than simply appearing at the very time they also choose to return.”
Seeing the wisdom in this, Matthew nodded in agreement and gestured for the footman to bring him another brandy also. “Of course.”
“And the League is due to meet soon also, is it not?” Lord Templeton finished, getting to his feet and picking up his newly filled brandy glass from the table. “In a few days’ time, I think.”
“Yes, that is so,” Matthew replied, somewhat relieved that he would now be left alone for a time. “I will tell everyone there what our plans are.”
“I thank you,” Lord Templeton said, putting one hand on Matthew’s shoulder as he passed. “Until then, Lord Watt.”