Chapter Twenty-Two
After summoning the duke, they all assembled in the parlor. Tony paced in front of the fire, still wracking his mind for the right words.
“What I am about to impart may shock some of you,” he began. “I am afraid that bringing Lucinda back into society has caused a chain reaction that we can no longer ignore.”
Audible gasps filled the room.
“I have been told that Lord Foxton, your father, sent you to those schools for a reason. It was not to punish you. It was to protect you.”
They all looked at each other their mouths open.
Lucinda frowned. “Protect me? From what?”
“You know your father was murdered.”
“Foxton was murdered?” his mother asked, her eyes wide.
“Unfortunately, yes. This information is not to leave this room.” He waited for them all to nod. “Lucinda’s father stole something very important to the Prussians while stationed there as ambassador.”
“So not a gambling debt,” Lucinda muttered.
“No. This document that he stole must have been of national importance for him to risk not only his life but Lucinda’s as well.
I believe it was some sort of coded message, perhaps military in nature.
” He ran a hand through his hair. “He knew the Prussians were after him, so he placed Lucinda somewhere no one would think to look. A girls’ school for merchants’ daughters.
He could have left her with her grandfather, but that would not have been safe either.
He entrusted his good friend, Admiral Markham, to make sure she stayed hidden, but the reason must have died with him.
I am sure that Captain Markham would have ensured the message was passed on had he known.
Or he figured enough time had passed for the risk to be less. Obviously, this is not the case.”
“Do you think the Prussians are after Lucinda now?”
“All I know is that now the ton knows who she is and who her father is, it will only be a matter of time before they come looking for her.”
Lucinda started to cry, fidgeting with her ring and he kneeled down in front of her. “None of this is your fault. You could not have known what your father did.”
“I am at fault. I have put you all in danger because I so selfishly wanted to find a husband. I am so very sorry I have put you all in this position.”
“That is not true, my dear. Why should you not have a husband if that is what you desired? Do tell us, though, do you have what your father sacrificed his life for, and you are not telling us?”
“I swear I do not know anything. He left me no letter, nothing like that at all. He left me with a kiss and this ring and that is all.”
“It is just as well he did not leave you anything, but it seems it is of no matter whether you have it or not. The Prussians will assume you do or have hidden it somewhere. You are not safe.”
“Edward, what should we do?” his mother asked her eldest son.
The duke put a comforting hand on his mother’s shoulder. “You cannot go to Ashtonvale; that is the first place they would look.”
“What about my grandfather? Will they harm him also? I was to visit him tomorrow.”
“I don’t think so, but you cannot go to him either just in case. Edward will make sure some runners are sent to guard him so he will be safe. We need to find a place no one would think to look.”
“I have just acquired a hunting lodge in Dorset. I am not sure what state it is in as I have not had a chance to go and see it myself, but no one knows I own it, other than the man I bought it from, and he would not be saying why it came to be mine.”
Tony gave Lucinda’s hands a squeeze before turning towards his brother. “That may be our only option, but I must tell Stafford first. I will go and see him now. I need you all to go and pack. No ball gowns, just serviceable dresses suitable for traveling.”
“Can I bring Sasha?”
“I don’t think it will be a good idea. If we have to hide for any reason she could give us away. I’m sorry, Marianne.”
Marianne, visibly upset, hugged the dog to her chest.
“I’ll look after her,” the duke said.
The dowager stood up to announce, “I shall inform the kitchen we will need food for a long journey.”
Tony nodded. “Do not tell them the destination. Perhaps a house party. They do not need to know the details.”
Marianne glanced at her eldest brother. “What about Max?”
“I will ensure arrangements are made. She will be safe.”
“Who is Max?” Lucinda asked, looking overwhelmed.
Tony turned towards her, his heart squeezing at the sight of her misery. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her and tell her he would protect her with his life, but now was not the time. “I’ll tell you all about her once we are on our way. Now, ladies, please go and pack.”
“What about May?” Marianne asked as she scooped up Sasha to go upstairs.
“We will need someone who knows how to boil water and make a bed. She must come too but do not tell her why we are going. It is better the servants know nothing.”
“I can make a bed,” Lucinda said in a far-off tone as his mother and sister led Lucinda out of the room.
“What a bloody mess,” the duke said once the women were out of the room.
“I am sorry, Edward. I had no idea all this would blow up.”
“But you did know about her father having been murdered, and the fact that he stole something.”
“I did not know the particulars until tonight. He was killed over a decade ago. I did not think they would come looking for Lucinda after all this time.”
His brother took a seat near the fire. “Some grudges are worth holding on to, for some. Tell me what you know.”
Tony paced the rug. “I hardly know where to start.”
“Start with how much Stafford knows,” Edward said in a banal tone.
Tony whirled to face him. “Why would he know anything?”
“Because he is your spy master, is he not? You really must think me a simpleton, Anthony.”
Tony was sure his mouth was open. He knew? “How long have you known?”
“As long as you have known him.”
“And all this time you said nothing.”
He waved a dismissive hand in the air. “You were so enjoying your secret life, who was I to spoil it for you?”
“That did not stop you before.” He referred to Edward cashing in Tony’s commission in the army. Tony stared hard at his brother, who simply raised a brow.
“When you were nearly killed, you mean? That was different.”
“How so?”
“I know you are itching to hit something right now. I can see you are wound tight but now is not the time to discuss old regrets. We have to protect Lucinda, Marianne, and our mother. Let us focus on that.”
Tony did want to hit something, and Edward looked like a good target right now, but he was right.
Old grievances aside, he needed to make sure that his brother was armed with the information he needed.
Oh, but it galled him to know all this time he knew what he had been doing and did nothing but give him grief as if he had no idea.
He proceeded to tell him everything he knew.
At the end Tony slumped in a chair, exhausted.
His brother rose with the grace that was inbred in him and started to walk towards the door.
“So what now?” Tony asked.
His brother turned back to face him. “Now you do the job you were given and protect those you love. Leave the rest to me. Go and see Stafford then come home and pack, Anthony. You have a long journey ahead.”
Tony sat for a few moments, digesting all that he had to do, arranging it in his mind. Those you love. Lucinda had captured his heart and mind, and despite his efforts to resist, he knew he had lost. He loved her.
Stafford’s frown was like a thunder cloud, but he ushered Tony into his office.
“I assume Beckett has told you?” Tony began.
The old man nodded and took his seat behind his desk.
“You need to take them to the safe house on Bridge Street.” He wrote the address on a piece of paper.
“Tell the landlady I sent you. The house is fully equipped, but it is small and not what I think your mother will be used to,” he said. “Prepare her.”
“I will. They are packing right now, and we have told the servants they are attending a house party.”
“Excellent. The duke remains?”
“Yes. Why did you not tell me you knew him, that he knew about my position here?”
“You did not need to know.”
“You did not trust me?”
“Espionage, my dear boy, is never about trust. I will have Beckett and his men keep an eye on the house. He will recognize any Prussian operatives, though I doubt they will send any of their own.”
“Thank you, but we cannot hide forever.”
“I have eyes and ears on the job, and we know how to start a rumor or two. I only wish I knew the contents of the message.”
“As do I. Do you think this business could have anything to do with Markham’s disappearance?”
“We cannot rule it out; he was connected to Foxton via his guardianship. If they think Markam has the document, that gives us time.”
“If that is true, then Markham is out of time.”
“I am afraid that may be the case. It made no sense before and now it does.” He handed Tony the address and shook his hand. “If there is anything else you need go through Beckett.”
“I will.” As he walked out of Stafford’s office and down the hall, he realized that he knew nothing that was truly helpful.
He could not help Markham, but he could help Lucinda by being there for her.
Supporting her through this. He hated to see her so downcast. He ached to take her in his arms, to kiss away her fears, but that would be an admittance to feelings that were all too new to him.