The butler inclined his head. “The carriage is ready, my lord.”
“Ah.” Sebastian rose from his chair, glancing at his reflection in the mirror on the wall, then to the note he set down at his writing desk. He would reply to Lady Callander the moment he returned from his meeting with the other gentlemen in the League. Making his way to the front door, he put on his hat and gloves and hurried to the carriage, feeling himself almost a little nervous as he sat down. There was nothing to be anxious about, of course, for the gentlemen of the League were, for the most part, equal in status and certainly those he would consider to be friends. It was the very same feeling that had come upon him when he had first seen Lady Callander; that tightening of his stomach, the tugging of his heart, the sweat that had formed on his brow. Would he be reminded of all that had gone before? Or would he finally be able to set his mind to what was before him now rather than what was past?
“Good afternoon, Lord Millerton!”
Sebastian let out a long, slow breath as he shook hands firmly with Lord Rushton, seeing the man grin as he did so.
“You look to be well recovered,” Lord Rushton continued, as though he had previously thought Sebastian to look pale and wane. “How long have you been back in London?”
A few trivialities were exchanged, including Sebastian expressing his congratulations at Lord Rushton’s recent nuptials and, as he did so, Sebastian slowly felt himself relax. Looking at each and every gentleman in turn, he allowed himself a moment or two to simply breathe and observe. He was back where he belonged, he told himself. Back where he knew all that was occurring, understood his role in things and accepted such things willingly.
“Ah, Lord Millerton!”
The familiar voice of Lord Franks caught Sebastian’s ears and he turned his head slowly, as if he wanted to give himself a moment or two longer before greeting the gentleman that had been with him last Season, when all had been so difficult and so painful.
“How are you, old boy?” Lord Franks slapped him hard on the arm as he shook his head, his eyes grave as he looked steadily into Sebastian’s eyes. “You are recovered, I hope?”
Sebastian waited for the memories to come back to him, to hit him hard, to pound back into his mind with force, but none came. Instead, all he saw was Lord Franks, hale and hearty, and with that came a sense of relief.
“I am well,” he answered, as Lord Franks nodded in understanding. “Although it has taken some time.”
“As has my recovery,” Lord Franks admitted. “Although marrying Miss Hemmingway helped a great deal.”
Sebastian could not help but smile at this, the last of his angst dying away. “I know that Lady Callander was hoping to see Lady Franks last evening,” he said, as Lord Franks lifted his brows. “But you were not in attendance, I think?”
Lord Franks hesitated, then shook his head. “My dear lady was unwell,” he said, slowly, although there was a glimmer in his eyes that Sebastian understood at once. “I am sure that, once she feels well enough to go out into society again, she will make certain to call upon Lady Callander almost at once. In fact,” he continued, with a small smile, “I know that my wife is very eager indeed to see her dear friend. It simply has not been possible as yet as Lady Franks has been unable to leave the townhouse.”
“And when is to be the momentous occasion?” Sebastian asked, seeing the surprise jump into Lord Franks’ eyes and finding himself laughing. “Come now, Lord Franks!” he chuckled, “I am a gentleman of the League! You cannot surely expect me not to know what it is that you speak of.”
Lord Franks relaxed and grinned back at him in response. “In six months or so,” he said, beaming delightedly. “Lady Franks is just as delighted as I that we shall soon be furnished with a child of our own, although I know she wishes she felt a little better!”
“Most understandable,” Sebastian agreed, shaking Lord Franks’ hand again. “Then might I congratulate you, sir. I am sure you will make an excellent father.”
Lord Franks winced. “One must hope so,” he said, as Lord Watt began to speak, ending their conversation quickly as they drew near to hear what was being said.
“As many of you will now know,” Lord Watt began, as the gentlemen all listened carefully, “we have discovered that there are spies being brought to London by ship.” He shook his head. “The only reason we have found this out is due to a confession by a spy that was captured, given to us in exchange for his life.” He shrugged, his face set and Sebastian felt the weight of responsibility begin to settle down on his soul again. This was why he had returned to London, this was why he had come again to the League. So that he might find purpose in his life, so that he might play a part in protecting the King and the Prince Regent from those who sought to bring them low.
“Needless to say, we do not know anything other than this,” Lord Monteforte added, as Lord Watt nodded. “Those who come on the ship depart from it as crewmen and given the number of ships that arrive on the docks each day, we simply do not have the resources to detain and question everyone that sets foot on land.”
“And our spy could not give us any further details,” Lord Watt added, ruefully. “He himself had not come to England in such a way but rather heard of it from another.”
Sebastian frowned, recalling what had been said of Lord Chesterfield by the two gentlemen in Whites.
“I would look for any suggestions now as to what might be done in order to discover the truth.”
Sebastian bit his lip. He could not very well suggest that they investigate Lord Chesterfield, just because he was involved in shipping and trading. That made no discernible sense, particularly because he had no other reason to suspect Lord Chesterfield.
He cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Might we consider those we know of who are involved in such things?” he asked, speaking slowly as his thoughts quickly set themselves in order. “What I mean to say is, there are gentlemen who are involved in shipping. Might it not be best to look into each one, so that we might then strike their names from any suggestion of involvement?”
Some gentlemen exchanged a glance with another, whilst others frowned or looked away, considering what had been suggested.
“There will be a good number of gentlemen involved in such things, will there not be?” someone asked, sending doubt spiraling through Sebastian. “There might be too many for us to consider!”
“No, I do not think there will be too many,” Lord Franks interjected, looking at Sebastian. “Certainly it would give us somewhere to begin.”
“But it might not be a gentleman of high standing who is involved in this matter!” someone else protested. “In which case, it is nothing more than futile.”
Lord Fitzherbert twisted his lips but gestured towards Sebastian. “I think that it is a wise suggestion,” he stated, as Lord Eldridge, who stood beside him, nodded. “It would take a good deal of influence and wealth in order to set up such a situation as this.”