Silence filled the room for a long time, as each of those present considered this. Sebastian recognized that there was a danger in such a suggestion, for to speak to Lady Madeline openly, they would have to inform her of what they now suspected. This might lead to a good many questions about why they had such an involvement in that particular matter, or how they had come to know of Lord Chesterfield’s involvement. Lady Madeline, given that she was well known to be rather outspoken for a lady of quality, would not hesitate to demand certain answers to things!
“I could speak to her, certainly,” Lady Callander said, shattering the silence, although there was a slight hesitation to her words. “I am not certain, however, that she will simply do so without some sort of explanation.”
“That is my concern also,” Sebastian agreed, quickly, seeing the flash of relief in Lady Callander’s eyes. “We do not want to involve her too deeply.”
Lord Watt took in a long breath and nodded slowly. “Do you think, Lady Callander, that you could speak to Lady Madeline and beg of her to entertain Lord Chesterfield’s intentions for a little longer?”
Lady Callander held Lord Watt’s gaze. “I think I could, yes,” she said, softly. “But I will have to give her some sort of explanation as to why.”
“Then do so,” Lord Watt said, calmly. “We trust your discernment, Lady Callander.”
“I greatly appreciate your considerations,” Lady Callander replied. “I —”
She was interrupted by a knock at the door. Sebastian rose to open it, a little wary just in case it was something or someone untoward.
It was no-one more than the butler.
“I do apologize,” the butler said, coming into the room and making directly for Lady Callander. “Lady Callander, an urgent note came for you.”
Lady Callander took it at once with a murmur of thanks, popping open the seal. She read it quickly, and then rose at once. Her eyes fixed straight to his, and Sebastian felt his breath catch, his worry rising almost at once.
“It is from the nurse I hired to take care of Miss Sarah,” she said, softly. “The doctor has been. He thinks she is worse.” Her skirts rustled as she turned to glance at Lord Watt. “I must go to her at once.”
“But of course.” Lord Watt looked at Sebastian, who nodded in understanding, coming to the door with Lady Callander.
“I will come with you,” he said, quietly, as Lady Callander looked up at him, her beautiful eyes whispering with concern. “If, that is, you would wish for my company?”
She nodded, her lips pressed together. “I thank you,” she said, turning back for just a moment to bob a curtsy, before hurrying out of the door. Sebastian went with her at once, growing more and more anxious with every moment. If Miss Sarah was to die, then whatever she had been so afraid of would die with her. Lord Hazelton’s death might never be solved. It all might become a terrible muddle with no clear way out.
&n
bsp; “I fear our prayers are yet to be answered, Lady Callander,” he murmured, as they hurried to the front door. “What are we do to?”
She glanced up at him, a small, sad smile on her face. “We should pray a little more,” she said, with a heavy sigh. “For what else is there for us to do?”
It was very late indeed before Sebastian felt himself able to close his eyes and rest. Miss Sarah had been tossing and turning in the depths of a fever for a good many hours and Lady Callander, being quite exhausted, had been sent to bed by both himself and by the nurse, with a promise that he would remain by Miss Sarah’s side and alert her should things change. He had not done anything particular to help, for the nurse appeared to know precisely what she was doing, but it had been a comfort to Lady Callander for him to be within her house at Miss Sarah’s bed, and so he had been glad to stay.
He could not say what it was that woke him. The house was quiet and the nurse was dozing next to Miss Sarah. For a moment, he thought that Miss Sarah had stopped breathing, his hands grasping the arms of the chair as he pushed his stiff frame out from the chair, only to see her take in a deep breath. Was it the fact that she was no longer in the depths of delirium that had woken him? Sebastian let out a long breath, dropping his head for a moment and letting his sore neck stretch out a little more. It had been awkward to fall asleep where he sat but for the sake of Lady Callander, as well as for Miss Sarah, he had been contented to do so.
A small creak caught his ears and he froze where he stood, his heart pounding furiously as he waited to hear what might come next. Something within him was telling him that there was something wrong. Something that he could not quite fathom nor fully understand, but something that he fully intended to listen to.
His feet made very little sound as he moved to the window, looking out at the dimly lit scene before him. There was nothing there, nothing to be seen — but he knew that the two gentlemen from the League would be watching and waiting outside the house.
So where had that noise come from?
Chapter Nine
“My lady.”
Bridgette let out a small shriek, only for her mouth to be covered by something large, just as a gentleman’s face came into view. Even in the dim candlelight, she knew it to be Lord Millerton.
“There is someone within the house,” he said, lifting his hand from her mouth. “I am sure of it.”
Her eyes flared wide and she stared at him, her heart beginning to pound. “But there are two gentlemen from the League outside, are there not?”
He nodded. “There are, yes,” he answered, his expression grave. “Which makes me all the more concerned.”
Bridgette felt her stomach turn over, looking up into Lord Millerton’s face and realizing what he meant. If there was someone within the house, then they must have managed to either slip past the gentlemen of the League outside or have overcome them in some way.