Chapter Twenty-Five
Two days after the Talbot ball, Toby woke feeling a great deal better.
His manservant had taken one look at him that night and asked what was wrong.
After he’d told Joseph, he had gone to speak with his cook, who was excellent at healing, something else he’d not known.
He’d returned with something for his head that had made him thankfully fall into a deep dreamless sleep.
Pushing himself upright, Toby leaned on the headboard and thought about Liberty and that kiss. He wanted that woman with a desperation he’d never felt with another. A simple kiss and he’d lost the ability to think rationally. For years he’d ignored her, but no more.
He remembered what he’d overheard at that warehouse. Liberty wasn’t safe, and he had to make sure she understood that. Make sure she didn’t take any further risks.
“Enter,” he responded to a tap on the door. What surprised him was that it was Florence and Barnaby standing there when it opened. She was still wearing her dressing gown and slippers.
“What’s happened? Are you all right?” He’d taken to wearing a nightshirt to bed since she’d entered his household in case she needed him.
She came in with one hand on the dog, and the other clutching a book, to stand beside his bed looking up at him with those big eyes that would always get her whatever she asked for.
“You did not read to me yesterday.”
“I’m sorry about that, Florence. I was unwell.”
“Miss Haigh told me that.”
“So you came here with your book to ask me to read to you now?” She nodded solemnly.
“Have you had your morning meal?” Florence shook her head.
“Good morning, my lord.” Joseph appeared in the doorway behind the little girl. “And Miss Florence and Barnaby,” he added.
“Good morning, Joseph.”
Barnaby jumped onto the bed and draped himself across Tobias’s legs.
“Ah, it appears we need a tray of food, as Miss Florence has yet to eat her morning meal,” Toby said. “Also, could you just check on Miss Haigh, please?” Clearly, the slight tinge of panic in his words resonated, and his manservant fled.
“I like this book.”
“Well then, perhaps we should read it.”
Florence rarely came right out and asked for anything. She wasn’t outspoken yet, but he was sure that, given time and confidence in her surroundings, that would come. But she did like to spend time with Tobias.
“But you’ll have to come up here with Barnaby,” he added.
She held out her arms, and Toby lifted her up to settle beside him.
“Don’t mind me,” he muttered to the dog who made a sound in his throat as he moved his legs.
Toby took the book and began to read. When her little head rested on his shoulder, his heart felt like it was too big for his chest. He often thought about his cousin, and what their life had been like. A life where Florence had her mother and her father.
I will keep her safe and happy, cousin.
“Good morning, my lord.” His butler appeared in the doorway carrying a large tray, as if it was entirely normal to see his employer, Florence, and Barnaby in his bed, dressed in nightwear.
“Good morning, Chadders.” He then looked at Florence. “What do you say to Chadders?”
“Good morning.”
His butler beamed at the child. He then laid the tray over Tobias’s legs above the slumbering Barnaby.
“How do you feel this morning, my lord?”
“Much improved, thank you.”
Taking the mug of steaming black coffee, he inhaled the scent and then gulped. Florence took a finger of toast smeared with jam and bit into it.
“A note arrived at the rear door early this morning, Lord Corbyn,” Chadders said, producing a piece of paper from his pocket and handing it to Toby. “Also, yesterday Lords Stafford and Hamilton called. When I explained you were sleeping, they said they’d return today.”
“Thank you.”
He’d told his housekeeper yesterday morning that her behavior was not acceptable, and things would need to change.
She’d not looked happy about this, so he’d added that Toby could always hire a new housekeeper, to which she’d replied that would not be necessary in a tight voice.
He didn’t think peace would reign immediately, and would have to keep an eye on things until it did.
While Florence ate her toast in small precise bites and looked at the pictures in the book he’d been reading, Toby opened the note.
Be warned that if you or Lady Liberty continue to meddle in what doesn’t concern you, the consequences will be dire for someone you love.
Toby folded the note and placed it under his pillow. He then took the book from his ward and began to read once more. When Chadders returned, he gave him the tray. Getting out of bed he pulled on his dressing gown.
“I will be back shortly, Florence. Don’t eat all the toast.”
She nodded, jam smeared on her chin, which would no doubt end up on his bedding, but right then he didn’t care.
Reaching his study, he wrote three notes. One to Liberty, the other two to his friends. Finding his butler once more, he handed them to him.
“I need these taken at once to the recipients, Chadders. Then I want to leave for Hawthorne tomorrow morning with Miss Florence early, as the sun rises. Could you please notify the staff and have the preparations for our departure brought forward.”
“I will see to things at once, my lord.”
“Thank you. I understand this will cause everyone a great deal more work, but it is important.”
“Of course.” His butler bowed and then left.
Retrieving Florence, he took her back to the nursery, where Miss Haigh now was. He could see the nanny was surprised to see him wearing his dressing gown, but she didn’t mention the fact.
“My Lord, forgive me, I didn’t realize Miss Florence had come to see you.”
“All is well, Miss Haigh. We just had breakfast together. We are leaving for my estate Hawthorne early tomorrow morning now. If you will ensure everything is sorted for our departure, please.”
“Of course.”
“Please do not leave the house today, Miss Haigh. This is very important.”
The woman looked confused but nodded.
After kissing Florence’s cheek, Toby went back to his rooms and changed. He had to keep them safe… all of them. He cared about people now, and not just his friends, and he would let no one hurt them.
“You can’t loll about on my bed all day, you hopeless animal,” he said to Barnaby when he retrieved the note he’d put under his pillow. The dog ignored him and closed his eyes. Seconds later, he was snoring.
*
Toby was seated in the parlor he used to greet guests, going through his plan while drinking his second cup of coffee, when Anthony and Evie arrived, with Jamie on their heels.
“What the hell is going on?” Anthony demanded stomping into the room.
“It’s early,” Jamie muttered, heading for the large tray of refreshments Toby had ensured was ready for his guests’ arrival.
“Good morning, and all will be revealed as soon as Lady Liberty has arrived.”
“I told them you would not have asked us here so early without reason, Toby,” Evie said coming forward to kiss his cheek.
“Sit, eat and drink, and I hope—”
“Lady Liberty is here, my lord,” Chadders said, appearing in the doorway.
“I will return shortly,” Toby said.
“Take your time, and we will enjoy the tea tray,” Jamie added with his mouth full.
She was standing in his front entrance, staring up at a painting. Bonnet swinging from her fingers, looking so sweet he felt his heart sigh. Mine, he thought instinctively, and did nothing to squash that need. With her were Edward and Helen.
“Good morning.”
She spun to look at him, and he was pleased to see she wore her glasses. Edward and Helen both smiled, and Liberty glared.
“What is the meaning of this, Lord Corbyn? Your note said, ‘I believe you and your family could be in danger. Come to my townhouse at once.’”
“And here you are. Lovely to see you again, Edward. You also, Helen, and I am pleased you followed my advice, Lady Liberty, and did not travel alone.”
“Actually, I caught my sister trying to slip out of the house in a sneaky manner.”
“It was not sneaky, Edward. I was leaving by the front door with my maid,” Liberty protested.
“Sneaky. When I asked where she was going, she gave me a vague explanation that made no sense,” Edward continued, clearly enjoying needling his older sister.
“I said I was going for a walk,” Liberty snapped.
“So I pressed her, and she did that thing she does where her lips appear stuck together.”
“Ah yes,” Tobias said. “I remember what that looks like.”
“No, you do not,” Liberty protested, looking from Edward to Toby.
“I demanded to know what was going on, and she said as this could include me, I could accompany her, but I was to refrain from annoying her by asking questions she couldn’t answer.”
Toby had a feeling Edward had perfected the art of getting under his sister’s skin. She bared her teeth at them, and he wanted to grab her and kiss her until she slumped against him as she had the night of the ball.
“How is your head, Lord Corbyn?” It was more a demand than a polite enquiry.
“Better, thank you, my lady. If you will come this way, we have much to discuss before we leave for Bidham in the morning,” Toby said.
“Are we?” Edward asked. “Wonderful.”
“We are not going for two days,” Liberty said.
“Your plans have changed.”
She was still arguing with him when they reached the parlor his friends sat in. With them now were Florence and Barnaby, who seemed happy to see Edward, because she waved, before going back to the book Evie was reading to her in a chair by the window.
Keeping his voice down so the child did not hear, Toby explained about what had happened to him the night of the Talbot ball.
“And you are just telling us now?” Jamie demanded. “What possessed you to go there alone?” His friend looked angry now.
“Exactly, especially as I got told off for doing the same in daylight hours with Helen,” Liberty said looking a little smug now.
“You are a woman,” Toby said holding onto his composure.
“And yet, no one struck me on the head,” Liberty added.
He wanted to grab her and kiss that smug look off her face.
“If you will be quiet, I will tell you what else has occurred,” Toby said.
“There is more?” Anthony demanded.
“I received a note this morning, which is why I sent word I needed to see you all. This note,” he added, holding it out to his friend. The others huddled around to read it.
“Dear Lord,” Edward whispered.
“Quite,” Jamie added.
“But whoever sent that note will surely be there in Bidham also, as that is where the barrels are being smuggled in,” Liberty said.
“It will be easier to keep everyone safe there. London is too busy, and there are too many possibilities for someone to harm one of you,” Toby said. “It is best to leave as soon as possible.”
“But how will we know who is behind this?” Edward asked.
“I will leave two men in London to investigate and am hiring a further four to go on to Bidham,” Toby said. “They will watch over you when you leave the house.”
“But my parents?” Liberty said. “How will I get them to leave when they have engagements and had not planned to travel to Bidham yet?”
“I will pretend I have a chest inflammation and need the country air,” Edward said. “They will come on in a few days and stop at Lord and Lady Haversham’s on the way, and so will be safe.”
“We will all travel together,” Anthony said, looking at Evie, who still sat with Florence. “If we are together, no one will stop us.”
“Agreed,” both Jamie and Toby said.
“Is it really necessary to take such extreme measures?” Liberty asked.
“Yes,” Toby said, looking at her. He could allow nothing to happen to this woman. Now wasn’t the time to think of the future, but one day soon, Toby thought.