He watched as Lady Callander’s eyes widened, her astonishment apparent.
Lady Callander blinked rapidly, her color fading to white.
“We cannot quite understand who is involved or why such things are occurring, only that —” Lord Franks went on.
“The cargo.”
Sebastian stared at Lady Callander, the room going so quiet that Sebastian could hear nothing but his own breathing. Lady Callander was staring at him directly, as though he ought to know precisely what she was speaking of.
“I’m sorry,” he said, carefu
lly. “What do you mean, Lady Callander. What cargo?”
She took in a long breath, closing her eyes and tilting her head back just a little as though such an action would help her recall exactly what she had seen and heard.
“Lord Chesterfield was talking to another gentleman,” she began, slowly. “I did not see his face and only heard his voice a little. Both he and Lord Chesterfield were speaking privately and very quietly but I certainly heard them mention the words ‘cargo’.”
A flurry of anticipation whirled around Sebastian’s chest. “What exactly do you remember, Lady Callander?” he asked, eager to put his hand out on her arm to encourage her to speak, but resisting the urge. “What did you hear from Lord Chesterfield? I tell you the truth when I say that it may very well be pertinent to what we are discussing.”
Lady Callander nodded, pressing her lips together for a moment, her eyes open. “The gentleman with Lord Chesterfield was worried about his cargo,” she said, slowly. “Lord Chesterfield reassured him, stating that it was not the first time he had been asked to bring such previous cargo. The gentlemen then said something about being anxious over a missing piece of cargo, which Lord Chesterfield reassured him that it would not linger for long.”
Sebastian frowned hard, letting the words wrap around his mind and considering them carefully.
“And you think that this ‘cargo’ might refer to our enemies being smuggled into the county?” Sebastian asked, before anyone else could speak. “And that the one that is being worried over might be — ”
“Miss Sarah, yes!” Lady Callander interjected before she could stop herself. “I am a little concerned for her safety.”
As am I for yours, Sebastian thought to himself, grimly. He looked around at the other gentlemen, who were now all glancing at each other with equal looks of concern, the very same concern that was building in his own heart.
“We shall have to find proof,” one gentleman said, although Sebastian did not look up from where he had pinned his gaze to the floor, trying to focus his thoughts. “We must know whether or not Lord Chesterfield is the gentleman responsible.”
Lord Windsor nodded. “We cannot simply board his boat whenever it arrives, however,” he said, bluntly. “We may be many but there are more ruffians and the like at the docks. We are easily outnumbered.”
“And brute force will not win us that battle,” Sebastian agreed, still frowning hard. “Then we must find another way to do so.”
Lady Callander cleared her throat lightly and everyone looked up. “I do not want to use her ill but my friend, Lady Madeline, is being pursued by Lord Chesterfield,” she said, “even though she has decided to refuse his attentions.”
Every single eye was on her in a moment and Sebastian could not help but smile at the way she blushed.
“Lady Madeline?” Lord Lexington murmured, rubbing his chin with one long finger. “She is daughter to the Earl of Hamilton, no?”
“Yes, she is,” Lady Callander replied, her cheeks still a little flushed. “I will confess to you that she and I have had much of the same feeling as regards gentlemen pursuing her simply because of her fortune and title, and whilst she appeared to be entirely against Lord Chesterfield initially, she did want me to converse with him so that I might give my opinion of him to her.”
Sebastian lifted one eyebrow, a little surprised that Lady Madeline had asked such a thing of Lady Callander, only to realize that given her wisdom, her quiet grace and her gentle consideration, she was the perfect person to do such a thing. Little wonder that Lady Madeline had gone to her! There was something about Lady Callander that made those about her want to go to her, to speak to her, to open their vulnerable hearts to her, and perhaps in this case, it would prove to be to the League’s advantage.
“Might we ask what your opinion was?”
Lady Callander let out a small breath, squaring her shoulders as she did so. “I do not want to insult anyone, if they are well acquainted with Lord Chesterfield, but I will be truthful and state that I found him quite changeable indeed.” Her lips flattened for a moment. “He appears flirtatious, jolly and quite likeable, but when he spoke to me — after he had finished speaking to this other gentleman — he was rude and obnoxious. Thus, I told Lady Madeline my honest opinion and she has since decided against him.”
Sebastian frowned hard, feeling himself a little regretful at such a decision. Whilst he well understood it, it meant that the League would not be able to use the relationship to their advantage.
“Might I ask,” Lady Watt asked, “if Lady Madeline has informed Lord Chesterfield of such a thing as yet?”
“No, she has not,” Lady Callander answered, looking at her. “Although I am sure she will give him quite a set down when the time comes.”
A quiet ripple of laughter ran around the group and Lady Callander’s cheeks flushed red again.
“Then might we not request Lady Madeline’s assistance?” Lady Watt suggested, looking around the group. “She may not be best pleased to do so, but it might provide us with the information that we require.”