She lifted her head sharply from where she sat speaking with Miss Bennet.
“I believe it might be time for us to depart, my dear.”
“No, William, Elizabeth will need us. And, forgive me for being selfish, but we never did finish the discussion over the man watching us. Although, perhaps he is related to this?” Her hand waved in a circular motion.
“Perhaps. If you are sure this is not too overwhelming?”
“It is overwhelming, to be sure,” she sat tall, “But our friends may require our help. Yours, at the very least. Oh, William, I fear theTonwill not be very welcoming to Elizabeth, despite Alex’s new situation. Her background will be a mark against her,” she whispered.
Darcy stood beside the settee, his mind racing, his eyes unseeing, his thumb rubbed the side of his index finger rapidly. Then he gave a shallow bow, “Pray excuse me,” and rejoined Mr Gardiner speaking with the solicitors.
“Mr Graham, when the babe is confirmed as heir to the Carrington line, what happens then?”
“Mainly paperwork. The estate and its holdings are not in good repair.” He made a moue of distaste. “Considering Carrington’s reputation, that should come as no surprise. Though, speaking of reputations, yours, Mr Darcy, precedes you. Mrs Carrington could use someone of your experience to help her restore what the former earl has ruined. She should also give thought to appointing a guardian of good standing in theTon.”
A movement caught their attention. Mrs Carrington stood in the doorway holding her son.
Elizabeth stood facing the room. One step forward alters her son’s life forever. She sighed looking down at his beautiful, sleeping face. His life was already altered.
She straightened her shoulders and approached the men.
Mr Graham bowed. “Madam, may we see the child?”
Elizabeth moved towards the settee and smiled at Jane and Georgiana. “Will one of you kindly hold him?”
Jane lifted her arms to take Alex, laying him down on her lap. Elizabeth peeled away the blanket and lifted his gown to reveal his clout. She felt the two men standing close, hovering over her shoulder, so she untied it and after a moment’s hesitation folded the front down, so his gender was revealed.
“Ahh, very good. Lord Carrington, Earl of Carrington and Viscount Wendover.” Mr Graham bowed, seeming pleased and Mr Seymour grunted.
She quickly swaddled Alex again, before he surprised them all with a spray of water. The blanket was wrapped back up and she asked Jane to continue holding him.
Facing the solicitors, her chin rose, “You have seen my son. Now what happens?”
“There is much to discuss. It will be impossible to address everything today. The first step is to confirm a male child of the body from the direct line of Carrington. In this we are successful. I knew both the earl and the viscount from their visits to our offices. Though the earl is rather young, there is a resemblance to his parentage.”
“Yes. He has a strong likeness to Gregory.”
Elizabeth felt Georgiana place a comforting hand on her back. She appreciated the support.
Mr Darcy stepped closer, “You mentioned paperwork, but what of Mrs Carrington’s and her son’s safety and well-being? It is clear there is someone out there with a personal agenda in regard to the title. It may even be the man who has been watching them.”
“What is this?” Mr Seymour responded sharply. “A man watching?”
~ / ~
“Damn you, fool! I hired you to finish them off.” A man’s voice hissed.
The second man’s nostrils flared, “Technically, I did. And you have not yet paid me.”
“Because you did not get it right!” The first man shoved his face closer to the man he was snarling at.
“Lower your voice. Are you trying to get us trapped in the noose?”
“If you ever wish to get paid, you will do the job I hired you for.” His speech came out somewhat garbled through gritted teeth. “If you wait much longer, it will be nearly impossible to get close to them.”
“One need not get close to start a fire.” The man shrugged insouciantly. “Two men down, only one to go.”
As harsh as the first man was, the silky way the second man uttered the last sentence chilled him and gave him gooseflesh. “Just see you finish it, this time.”
