Lord Millerton gave her a nod. “Leave this wretch to me,” he said, showing no sign of weakness now. “Go and make your plans, Lord Franks. It is time that this was all brought to an end.”
Lord Franks nodded sternly, took Lord Hamilton’s arm and practically threw him from the room. Carolyn followed silently, with Lady Callander indicating that she would remain with Lord Millerton. Everything in her life had changed in the last few minutes and she was not quite certain when she would get over the shock. She felt warnings of danger ringing all around her, her eyes fixed on Lord Franks as he walked a little behind Lord Hamilton. What would happen to her brother? What would happen to Lord Franks? And what, at the end of all things, would happen to her?
Chapter Thirteen
It had been a week since Lord Hamilton’s revelation and the soiree was now in full swing. Lord Hamilton had done as he had been ordered by Robert, clearly a little relieved that there was to be no immediate repercussions as to what he had done regarding Miss Swift. The instigator, the man whose name they did not yet know, had given barely any instructions to Lord Hamilton, save to inform him that the gardens were to be opened up to the guests for the evening. Robert felt very much as though he were trying to find something of great importance in a vat filled with clay. He did not know what this man intended for the evening, what his intentions were towards Robert himself nor what he would do with Lord Hamilton should matters come to a conclusion. Lifting his chin, he walked into Lord Hamilton’s drawing room, putting a small smile on his face and praying that Lord Hamilton himself would act with propriety, not giving anything away.
“Ah, good evening Lord Franks.”
Lord Hamilton’s tone was welcoming, his eyes darting away for just a moment as Robert bowed. “Good evening, Lord Hamilton,” he replied. “I thank you for the invitation for this evening.”
Lord Hamilton inclined his head. “But of course,” he said, with a small smile and no indication that he was fearful of anything that might occur. “My sister, I am sure, will be glad to see you.”
Miss Hemmingway, who was standing beside Lord Hamilton, blushed furiously, her cheeks now a deep pink as she sank into a curtsy. Despite the severity of the situation, Robert could not help but grin.
“Good evening, Miss Hemmingway,” he murmured, seeing how she sank into a perfect curtsy. “Might I say just how beautiful you look this evening?” He meant every word. Miss Hemmingway was wearing a gown of deep blue, the color vivid and striking, but bringing his attention, in turn, to her eyes. How he could ever have thought her plain, he did not know, for he found himself reveling in her now. When all this came to a close, Robert knew that he would have to examine his own heart and decide what he was to do with all that he felt for this lady.
“I thank you, Lord Franks,” she replied, quietly. “And whilst you have embarrassed me a little by speaking so bluntly, I must confess that I am very glad indeed that you were able to join us this evening.”
He smiled at her, once more finding that the honest, open manner that had struck him on their first meeting was just as refreshing now. “I hope I might converse with you a little later, Miss Hemmingway,” he told her, seeing how the light in her eyes seemed to grow as she returned his smile. “Until then, I shall allow you to continue to greet the rest of your guests.”
Taking his leave, he wandered into the drawing room and casually looked around before making his way towards Lord Monteforte, who greeted him warmly. They talked of inane things, laughing at certain points and giving the appearance of general conversation, making quite certain that there was no-one within the room watching them.
Lord Monteforte cleared his throat, tilting his head just a fraction. “No-one is watching us at present,” he said, quietly, as Robert took a glass from the tray offered by a nearby footman. “Tell me, have you had any further thoughts as to why this man, whoever he might be, has chosen to pursue you?”
Robert shook his head. It had been dogging his mind ever since Lord Hamilton had revealed such a thing to him. “I do not,” he said, quietly. “I am relieved that the ‘League’ does not seem to be either known or important to this fellow, but I cannot think why –”
“My lord?”
Turning, Robert saw a footman standing just to his left, who was already inclining his head in evident apology for interrupting his conversation.
“My lord, you are requested to join Miss Hemmingway in the library.”
Robert blinked in surprise, hearing Lord Monteforte’s small exclamation of astonishment. “I beg your pardon?” he asked, as the footman looked away. “To join Miss Hemmingway alone in the library?”
The footman shook his head. “Forgive me, my lord, I mean to say that Lady Callander is also present but that Miss Hemmingway is the one who has requested your company.”
“I see.” Robert glanced towards Lord Monteforte, who gave him the tiniest of nods. “Then I should be glad to join her.” He took his leave of Lord Monteforte, knowing that his friend was already summoning a few other gentlemen from the League to make their way to the library also. As he quit the room, he threw a quick glance over his shoulder and saw Lord Hamilton staring after him, his face white and his eyes very large indeed. Robert frowned. Miss Hemmingway had been standing beside her brother only a few minutes ago. What had been the reason for her departure?
Walking smartly along the passageway, Robert felt his heart begin to thud with an ominous sense of foreboding. Something was wrong here, he knew, for whilst Miss Hemmingway was certainly a little unconventional, she would not have sent a footman to invite him to come to join her in the library. Had he not been prepared, had he thought that this was nothing more than a soiree, then he might simply have walked into the library without any consideration whatsoever, but as it was, he knew very well that he had to be very careful indeed.
Rapping lightly on the library door, he turned the handle and pushed it a little ajar. “Miss Hemmingway?” he called, not stepping any closer or pushing the door open further. “Are you within?”
There was a momentary pause. Robert struggled to keep his breathing steady, closing his eyes as he listened hard.
“I—I am.” Miss Hemmingway’s voice was tight and wound with fear. “Please, do come in, Lord Franks.” He knew already that she was in danger but certainly could not remain behind the door indefinitely. “I have been waiting for you.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lord Monteforte, Lord Millerton and one other slowly padding down the hallway towards him. Taking in a steadying breath, he pushed the door further open but did not step inside. The door creaked as it moved slowly, revealing the scene before him inch by inch.
“Do come in, Lord Franks.”
The voice that reached him now was not that of Miss Hemmingway. Rather, it came from the man standing over behind a chair by the fireplace. With one hand, he beckoned Robert in and, with the other, he held a knife to Miss Hemmingway’s throat. She was sitting in the chair, her back straight, her hands grasping the arms of the chair and her eyes wide with fright.
“As you can see, it is not Miss Hemmingway who requires you here this evening,” the man continued, as Robert began to walk further into the room, making sure to leave the door open, “but she was useful to me in forcing you to attend here. I do hope you have enjoyed the little games we have been playing.” He chuckled as Robert narrowed his eyes. “I hope they have made you realize just what a failure you are.”
“What do you want?” Robert glared at the man, taking in his thin frame, his grey, thinning hair and the silvery eyes that held so m
uch hatred. “Why have you been playing such games?”