“I am glad you understand, Northgate,” Miss Williams answered softly. “This evening will continue to go just as was planned, but with a confrontation that should lead to Lord Fitzherbert being taken away to face the consequences of what has done.”
Lady Northgate sighed heavily, looking down at her brandy glass. “There will be a scandal.”
“There will be the truth,” Matthew corrected. “The ton may whisper of it, Lady Northgate, but they will know the truth of what happened to your father.” He watched as Lady Northgate considered this, looking from himself to her sister and then to her husband before she sighed and nodded.
“I have tried to put my father’s death to the back of my mind,” she confessed. “It has been much too difficult an issue to continue considering, and whilst I have been afraid and frustrated over the difficulties his death brought, I have not pursued them like my sister has done.” A quick smile was sent in Miss Williams’ direction. “I am shocked, yes, but I understand, Daisy. I am glad – grateful, in fact, for what you have done and for your dedication to it.” A slight anger brushed the edge of her words. “And pleased that Lord Fitzherbert will face the consequences of his actions.”
Matthew got to his feet. “I will leave you now so that preparations might continue for this evening.” He smiled at Lady Northgate and then bowed. “Thank you for taking the time to listen to all I had to say. Until this evening.” Making to turn around and walk to the door, he was surprised to hear Miss Williams speak.
“I will accompany you, Lord Watt, if I may,” she said, getting up quickly from her chair. “I think my sister will need a little more time before we can continue with preparations.”
Matthew glanced at Lady Northgate but saw that she was now murmuring something to her husband and not even listening to what her sister had to say. Smiling at Miss Williams, he waited for her to walk towards the door before following her, a step or two behind.
His breath quickened as though in anticipation. He did not know why he felt such a thing, not when there was nothing of importance between them as yet – but mayhap he felt something more there now. Something that had to be opened up and spread out so that they both might learn to consider it again.
“I want to thank you, Lord Watt.”
He looked at her in surprise as she closed the door gently behind them both, leaving them alone in the passageway. “To thank me?” he repeated, confused. “For what, specifically?”
Her eyes were alight with a joy he had not seen in some time. “For allowing me to remain a part of this,” she said, with a small shrug. “I am aware that you had some reservations, but you did not push me aside because of them.” Turning away just a little, she began to walk slowly along the hallway towards the front door. “You have allowed my plan to go ahead even though you were uncertain as to whether or not it was the right one. You listened to me. You have helped me. And now we are only a few hours away from revealing what we know to Lord Fitzherbert.” A glance back at him told him that she was close to tears. “You do not know what this means to me, Lord Watt. To know that my father’s death will no longer be considered to be something of a mystery and to have the certainty that the person who killed him will be brought to justice…it means more than I can ever express.”
He swallowed hard, feeling his own emotions beginning to rise steadily within him. “There is nothing to thank me for,” he said softly. “I am only happy that we have found our way here together.”
She smiled at him then reached out and touched his hand. “I want to talk further, Lord Watt, but mayhap this is not the time.”
He wanted to tell her that now was exactly the right time for them to speak but could see from how she glanced about the hallway that she did not feel entirely comfortable at present, which he could well understand. Her sister could emerge from the drawing room at any moment, and given that this evening was yet to come, he had to admit that he too felt a good deal of tension running through him.
“Perhaps later this evening?” he suggested, seeing how she nodded at once. “When all is at an end?”
“When I am free of my burden,” she whispered, still holding his hand. “Thank you, Lord Watt. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
“Until tonight,” he said, bowing over her hand and kissing the back of it gently. He looked deeply into her eyes, lingering for just a moment longer, before bowing, stepping back and then turning to quit the house.
“Everything is going well thus far, I think.”
Matthew nodded, still aware of the undercurrent of tension that was running through the house. Everyone here this evening was a part of The King’s League—save for a few ladies that Lady Northgate had insisted on inviting before she had known of the true reason for the gathering this evening. The extra guests would not present any particular difficulty, however, for Lady Northgate had already promised to have them entertained in another part of the house with mayhap one or two single gentlemen who could be spared from the League to keep a watch over them. When Matthew gave the signal, Lady Northgate would begin to usher in those particular guests with the promise of a “very special” evening of entertainment.
“Lord Fitzherbert shows no signs of having any awareness of this situation at all,” Lord Templeton continued, as Matthew nodded fervent
ly. “He is behaving just as usual.”
“He is arrogant,” Matthew answered, grimacing. “That comes as little surprise to me.”
Lord Templeton sighed heavily, an angry glint in his eye. “I will be glad to see that fellow taken aside for what he has done,” he muttered, allowing Matthew a small glimpse into the truth of what he felt. “It will be a blessed relief for the family, I know.”
“And for the League also,” Matthew added, although fully aware it would not be with the same intensity. “We will have uncovered and apprehended another spy.”
“Two years later,” Lord Templeton muttered, shaking his head. “But yes, I am glad it will be brought to an end. Perhaps then you and Miss Williams will be able to talk about the other matter that weighs so heavily on your hearts.”
Matthew felt a flush creeping up his face as he cleared his throat, making Lord Templeton chuckle despite the severity of their present circumstance.
“You cannot hide such things from a man who has served in the League for so long,” he stated, as Matthew’s embarrassment continued to mount. “I only hope that there will be a happiness there for you both in the end.”
“As do I,” Matthew agreed, knowing there was no reason to pretend. “Thank you for all you have done, Lord Templeton. Without you, Miss Williams might never have become involved and we might now be no closer to finding the truth.”
Lord Templeton said nothing, only nodded, looked about him and then caught someone else’s eye, seeing the gentleman nod.
“Lord Fitzherbert is well on his way to a drunken state, it seems,” Matthew muttered, seeing the nod from Lord Fraser also. “I must speak to Lady Northgate.”