Lyford shook his head, air hissing from between his clenched teeth. “You did not know him as I did,” he said, harshly, taking another step forward, the knife clutched in his hand. “I have enjoyed every moment of your suffering. I have watched you fail, watched you make mistakes and enjoyed your struggles.”
Looking up at Lyford, Robert felt his anger begin to burn in the pit of his stomach. “And what of Lord Caravel?” he asked, remembering the horror of seeing Lord Caravel lying in a bed from which he would never rise again. “What happened to him?”
Lyford smiled slowly, as though he knew that this truly broke Robert’s spirit. “Lord Caravel was something of an oversight,” he said, taking his time with each word. “It was not until a few days ago that I discovered he was working alongside you to discover the meaning of the emblem.” He shook his head. “Astor was sent to follow him. It turned out that Lord Caravel had many acquaintances and friends and one of them was able to tell him the meaning of the emblem.”
Robert closed his eyes. “And you knew he could not be permitted to inform me of the meaning of it, for fear that you would be revealed before your plan could be completed.”
“Astor was very swift in how he brought it all to an end,” Lyford said, with a small shrug. “And now, because of his actions, I can finally do as I have intended from the beginning. I will end your life, Lord Franks, just as you ended the life of my brother.”
Robert clamped his hands onto the arms of the chair, his eyes fl
aring wide just as Lyford pulled his arm back, ready to strike. There was nowhere for him to go. He did not have enough time to thrown himself from his chair, for then he would crash into Lyford’s arm and, no doubt, have the blade thrust into his chest. Lifting his legs, he made to kick out at the fellow, hearing Miss Hemmingway scream—only for Lyford to stumble backwards.
Miss Hemmingway had not screamed out of fear but rather, it seemed, out of sheer fury. She had leapt from her chair and was now hanging onto Lyford’s arm, the blade flashing wildly. Lord Monteforte, Lord Millerton and Lord Rushton poured into the room almost at once, just as Robert shot out of his chair and added his strength to that of Miss Hemmingway. Within moments, Lyford was under their complete control, the knife pulled from his hand by Lord Rushton as Miss Hemmingway remained clamped onto his arm, her eyes flashing and her chest heaving with exertion. Screams of fury ripped from Lyford’s mouth but he no longer held any sort of threat.
“We will take him,” Lord Rushton said, as Lord Millerton nodded, pulling Lyford’s arm behind his back. “We heard it all.” A look of admiration was sent towards Miss Hemmingway. “Well done, Miss Hemmingway. Well done indeed.”
Miss Hemmingway slowly let go of Lyford’s arm, stepping back and looking towards Robert with such a look of relief in her eyes that he could not help but go to her, his arms going about her waist as the three gentlemen led a vengeful, bitter Lyford from the room.
“Miss Hemmingway,” he breathed, resting his forehead against hers and closing his eyes tightly, feeling how she trembled, her hands pressed against his chest. “You are remarkable.”
She let out a shuddering breath. “I was very afraid for you,” she whispered, remaining precisely where she was. “I am so terribly sorry for all that my brother has done.”
Lifting his head, he looked into her eyes and smiled. There was such a feeling of relief, of overwhelming joy that it was all at an end and that both of them were safe and unharmed, that he could barely contain it. “There is nothing for you to apologize for, Miss Hemmingway,” he told her, gently. “Your brother has made some foolish choices and for that, he will have to face the consequences, but there is nothing for you to feel guilty about.”
Miss Hemmingway sniffed but when she looked up at him, her eyes were clear. “What will happen to him?”
Robert shook his head. “I cannot say precisely,” he said, honestly. “There will be consequences but it will not require the worst of punishments.” He felt her sag in relief and reached up to brush his fingers across her cheek. “You are a loving sister but loyal to the King and the Prince Regent. I have never had even a moment of regret when it came to putting my trust in you, Miss Hemmingway.”
“Please.” Her hand reached up and touched his, holding it fast against her cheek. “Will you not call me ‘Carolyn’?”
There was such a look in her eyes that it was all Robert could do not to reach down and kiss her as they stood together in the library. His throat constricted with all that he felt and he opened his mouth to tell her that it would be the greatest delight of his life to be able to call her so, only for the door to open and Lord Monteforte to stride in.
“Do excuse me,” he said, somewhat brusquely, as Miss Hemmingway stepped back out of Robert’s arms, flushing red. “But you are required, Miss Hemmingway. Your brother is desperately afraid for you and I have assured him that I will bring him to you at once so that he can see you are unharmed.”
Miss Hemmingway nodded, throwing a small, wry smile towards Robert, who felt very much as though Lord Monteforte had interrupted what could have been a life-changing moment.
“And my mother?” Miss Hemmingway asked, moving towards Lord Monteforte. “What of her?”
Lord Monteforte chuckled. “She is as entirely unaware of it all, just as she was before,” he said, as Robert began to follow after them both. “And Lady Callander has been searching all over for you—she went to find the powder room and when she returned, she found you absent.”
Miss Hemmingway sighed and shook her head. “I was just returning from the powder room when Lyford caught me,” she said, tightly. “I know that my brother would never have agreed to me being harmed.”
“And I am sorry that we did not watch you as closely as we ought,” Robert added, only for Miss Hemmingway to turn and catch his hand, standing close to him and looking up into his face with bright, shining eyes.
“You did not fail, Lord Franks,” she said firmly, as though she could see into his heart and see the guilt that already lingered there. “This was expected. We knew something was to happen and now all that matters is that it has been brought to a conclusion. Lyford no longer presents a threat, the League is safe and my brother is free from his difficulties—as foolish as he has been.” She smiled and Robert felt his heart lift with happiness. “And that, my dear Lord Franks, is all that matters.”
Epilogue
Carolyn had endured her brother’s profuse apologies multiple times over the last few days, until she had finally managed to explain to him that she was relieved he was unharmed and that, whilst she was still troubled over his actions, she was not about to hold it against him. Lady Hamilton had been in excellent spirits, entirely unaware of all that was going on about her but seemingly delighted that Lord Franks had been evidently very fervent in his regular visits to Carolyn. Carolyn herself found her own heart filling with all manner of affections whenever she even thought of him, which was why, when he asked if she would like to take a carriage ride one sunny afternoon some days after the soiree, she accepted with both pleasure and excited anticipation.
“How are you, Carolyn?”
Just hearing her name on his lips brought her a rush of pleasure, looking into his face and finding her heart quickening at the tender look in his eyes. They were sitting alone in the carriage, for whilst Lady Hamilton had attended with her daughter, she had asked them to stop for a time so that she could speak to a dear friend whom she had seen sitting on a wooden bench a short distance away. Given the time of day—a time when most of the ton would be making calls and taking tea together—Carolyn had wondered if her mother had arranged for such a thing to happen precisely so that Carolyn and Lord Franks could sit alone together for a short while.
“I am contented indeed,” she said, honestly. “My brother has sought my forgiveness on numerous occasions and whilst he will not speak to me about the consequences that have befallen him, I understand that he is willing to accept them without complaint.”
Lord Franks nodded, his gaze honest. “That is true,” he told her. “Your brother has admitted all and eagerly wishes to make amends. Although, I have told him that there is no need to make any particular amends to me.”