Sebastian cleared his throat, rose and clasped his hands behind his back. His heart was hammering a little too forcefully for his liking but try as he might, he could not quell it. Lady Callander was just about to step into his drawing room and the anticipation in his heart had sent a flutter of nervousness hurrying straight through him.
“Lady Callander, my lord.”
“Thank you, Merriweather.” Sebastian smiled brightly as Lady Callander walked into the room, noting that she brought a maid with her who immediately sat on a small chair in the corner of the room, facing the wall. “Good afternoon, Lady Callander.” He smiled at her brightly, only to notice that her face distinctly lacked any sort of smile or contentment. Rather, she looked distinctly troubled. “Is something the matter?”
Lady Callander sank into a chair, her light green eyes flickering with concern. “The matter that I was to speak to you about, Lord Millerton, the one that I considered too inconsequential to talk to you about before…..” She trailed off, looking at him, her lip caught between her teeth. “I think I should speak to you of it now.”
“Please.” He sat forward, only to be interrupted by the arrival of the maid with a tea tray. They were forced to wait as the maid set things out directly in front of Lady Callander, who smiled her thanks even though it did not quite linger in her eyes. He wanted to hurry the maid along but gritted his teeth and waited as patiently as he could, his heart beating at a quickened pace. The maid seemed to take an age, even though he knew it was most likely his eagerness rather than her lack of haste.
“My apologies, Lady Callander,” he said, the moment the door closed. “What is it that now concerns you?”
Lady Callander let out a slow breath, her face pinched. “It may very well be nothing of any consequence,” she said, reaching into her reticule and pulling out a folded piece of paper. “I had Lord Hazelton calling upon me some days ago and he told me the most extraordinary thing.”
“Oh?” His curiosity was piqued. “About what, might I ask?”
Lady Callander squared her shoulders and took a breath, as though what she was about to say would be considered quite ridiculous. “Lord Hazelton was convinced that the gentleman I described as my husband was not, in fact, my husband.”
Sebastian frowned, feeling rather puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“He described him as being gregarious and full of life,” she said, spreading her hands and shaking her head. “I must admit, I did laugh but Lord Hazelton was very upset with me for doing so.”
“He must be mistaken,” Sebastian replied, not understanding why Lady Callander seemed to be so confused. “Surely that is just a poor memory, or someone becoming mixed up with what actually occurred.”
Lady Callander nodded. “That is what I first thought,” she agreed, with a shrug. “But then he described him in such detail and with such firmness that I found it very difficult to disagree with him.”
“I see.”
“But,” Lady Callander continued, with another great breath, “what confused me the most was that he told me that my husband had green eyes, was tall and quite slim of figure.” Her lips twisted, her eyes darting away from him. “I did challenge him on this, of course, but he only became thoroughly confused and, I think, believed that I was teasing him by being obtuse.”
“That is a little odd, indeed,” Sebastian admitted. “And this now troubles you?”
Lady Callander nodded. “How can it not?” she asked, handing him the note. “Particularly when I have only just received this note from him?”
Holding her gaze for another moment, Sebastian then turned his attention to the note. Unfolding it, he read it quickly, his brow knotting as he took in what was said.
‘Lady Callander, I must inform you that there is something more about your late husband that I have discovered. It is not as it seems. I do not believe that the Earl you knew and the one that I was acquainted with were one and the same. Allow me to call upon you at your earliest convenience.’
“What am I to make of it?” she asked, looking at him with searching eyes. “I believed him to be mistaken at first but now to have received this…..” She trailed off, her lip clenched between her teeth again as he folded the note up carefully, his mind caught on Lord H
azelton’s name. He was a gentleman that appeared to be oft mentioned of late, given that the League were also investigating his connections to the lady at Madame Bereford’s. He hesitated before speaking, wanting to reassure Lady Callander but, at the same time, finding his mind beginning to whirl through the possibilities.
“I am sure that there is nothing to concern yourself with,” he began, slowly, “but I will inform you that there is something about Lord Hazelton that the League are also looking into. I do not think that there is anything that would connect him from one situation to the next but it is worth considering, at least.”
Lady Callander’s eyes had widened. “I see.”
“I would meet with him,” Sebastian continued, “and mayhap just as soon as you can. Hear what he has to say and consider it. Inform the League if there is anything that concerns you. I —”
“Would you not meet him with me?”
The question made him stop short. He had not even thought about doing such a thing, but now that she had asked him, he felt both an eagerness to aid her in whatever way she wished alongside a faint desire to protect her.
“Yes, of course,” he answered, gently. “If it would reassure you?”
She let out a long breath. “It would, very much,” she answered, looking a little less concerned. “I shall write to him this very afternoon and thereafter, let you know what is said.” Picking up her teacup, she allowed herself to take a small sip before setting it back down on the china plate. “I thank you for your willingness, Lord Millerton.”
“I would do anything I could to help you, Lady Callander,” before he could stop himself. “Truly, I —”
“You are very kind, Lord Millerton,” Lady Callander interrupted, before he could say more. “You do not know what a relief this is to me. I confess that I fear I have been a little overwrought over something that does not merit it!”