“And it would require someone to make the arrangements on the gentleman’s behalf,” Lord Lexington added, as Sebastian nodded. “For surely whoever is doing such a thing would not willingly pass on their true identity to our enemies for fear that they might then use that knowledge against him.”
“Then it is settled, I think,” Lord Monteforte said, as the other gentlemen nodded. “We shall each discover the names of those in the beau monde who are involved in such affairs and then seek to discover what we can about their arrangements.” He gav
e Sebastian a tight smile. “It is a start at least.”
“Indeed,” Sebastian murmured, a little relieved that his idea had not been thrust aside.
Lord Watt cleared his throat. “There is also the matter of Lord Hazelton,” he continued, speaking of an affair with a lady of questionable heritage. “Has anyone been able to discover the lady’s connections with France?”
It was not a matter that Sebastian himself was involved with, although he was a little surprised to hear that a gentleman such as Lord Hazelton — whom he was acquainted with but certainly did not know well at all — was so indiscreet as to have the beau monde know of his attentions towards a questionable lady. He rolled his eyes at Lord Hearst, who chuckled.
“You have not heard of this matter, I think,” Lord Hearst said, as Sebastian shook his head. “Lord Hazelton — a gentleman who is a little foolish and quite indiscreet — has seemed to form some sort of attachment to a lady of questionable means.”
“Questionable, in what sense?” Sebastian asked, as Lord Hearst grinned. “She is not a lady with a title?”
“No, indeed she is not!” Lord Hearst replied, with such feeling that Sebastian frowned. “She is a lady of the night, working under Madame Bereford.”
Sebastian’s mouth dropped open and he stared at Lord Hearst in shock, who only chuckled in response. For a gentleman to form any sort of attachment with such a lady was more than a little foolish, especially if he was as indiscreet as to permit others to see him to do so.
“We know very little about this lady, of course,” Lord Hearst replied, with a lift of one eyebrow. “Lord Berkshire and Lord Windsor have been charged with discovering what they can about her, which includes calling upon the lady in question.”
Sebastian could not help but laugh, seeing the way Lord Hearst’ grin broadened. “A difficult task, then?”
“They have been most discreet,” Lord Hearst replied, with a shake of his head. “But neither of them have discovered very much about the lady at all. She does not like to speak of herself, it seems.”
“They are trained to keep such things to themselves,” Sebastian replied, with a shake of his head. “They do not speak of their past. They do not give their real names to a gentleman.” He cocked his head. “By what name does she call herself?”
“She is merely ‘Sarah’,” Lord Hearst replied, with a shake of his head. “That is all we know of her, save for the fact that she speaks with a slight accent to her words, which, of course, makes us consider that she is not from England.”
Sebastian bit his lip, his brows knotting together as he considered. “And has someone attempted to ply Madame Bereford with a little more coin?” he asked, as Lord Hearst frowned. “She may be more willing to speak to us about her girl if we offered her some more money.”
“That has been considered, yes.”
Sebastian turned to see Lord Eldridge approaching, greeting the gentleman quickly.
“It has been considered, you say?”
“But not taken forward as yet,” Lord Eldridge answered, with a small sigh. “We do not want to give the lady in question any sort of fright, make her aware that there are those seeking to know her better.”
Sebastian hesitated before he spoke again, letting his thoughts wind through his mind for a moment or two longer. “Then might we not come to her as a friend of Lord Hazelton’s?” he suggested, as the other two gentlemen looked at him steadily. “State that we are a little concerned by his attachment to the girl and seeking Madame Bereford’s reassurance? It might be that she will tell us more about the lady if she fears that her income from Lord Hazelton’s visits will soon be disappearing.”
Lord Eldridge nodded slowly, his thumb rubbing across his chin as he thought. “That is a wise consideration,” he said, as Sebastian allowed himself a small smile. “Are you acquainted with Lord Hazelton?”
Sebastian nodded, not thinking about what such a question might mean. “I am.”
“Then might you be willing to do as you have suggested, Lord Millerton?”
His smile dropped away at once as he saw Lord Eldridge looking at him expectantly. He had not expected to be the one involved in such things so quickly, biting his lip for a moment before he answered. “I — I suppose I could — ”
“Capital,” Lord Hearst said quickly. “And I can attend with you, should you require it?”
Considering for a moment, Sebastian nodded. “That would certainly give the impression to Madame Bereford that I am arrived not to seek any sort of meeting with any of her ladies, but rather simply to speak to her about my acquaintance,” he said, firmly. “Yes, Lord Hearst, that would be very helpful, I am sure.”
Lord Hearst grinned, his fingers pushing back his fair hair as a flicker of excitement entered his hazel eyes. “Excellent,” he said, with a good deal more enthusiasm than Sebastian himself felt. “When shall we first call upon her?”
Sebastian shrugged. “I should reacquaint myself with Lord Hazelton first, I think,” he said, no eagerness to go to Madame Bereford’s house. “I shall see if I can encourage him to speak to me of this young lady before I thereafter call upon Lady Bereford. That way, if he discovers that I have spoken to her, he will have no reason not to think that my motives are genuine.”
Lord Eldridge smiled his agreement. “A wise consideration,” he said, firmly. “Then I shall inform the other two gentlemen of your intentions, so that they are both aware of it.” His lips quirked. “Let us hope that, at our next meeting, we have something a little more substantial to speak of when it comes to this lady of the night!”