“He does,” Will Elliot confirmed.His distorted face crinkled.“And Lyndon was right in saying that he’s a wrong ’un.If you’re sending anything of any value, then you send it yourself, if you catch my drift.”
Kit’s lip curled in a small smile.“And does this Hart fellow also bring mail back from Norwich?”
Mr Elliot nodded.“From the coaching inn where the horses are swapped over.”
“In which case—” Kit and the earl exchanged guarded looks.“—the mystery of the missing letters has suddenly become less mysterious.”
“Quite possibly,” agreed Rollo’s papa.“Either he was intrigued by the smart paper and hoping they contained something of value, or he was seeking revenge on Fitzsimmons by humiliating him.Spite and envy can often be found living side by side.”
“What?You think Ralph Hart might have stolen my letters, preventing Fitz from knowing the extent of my love?”
“Prevented him having to read page after page of drivel, more like,” interjected Willoughby.
“He’s done far more than that,” screeched Rollo, throwing his brother a foul look.“He’s driven my poor, darling Fitz to despair.But…” He frowned, chewing his lip.“If that’s the case, how did this Hart chap know that stealing my letters would be Fitz’s undoing?”
Kit shrugged.“Perhaps he didn’t.For all we know, he’s pinched a whole bunch of correspondence, and your letters simply happened to be part of it.Though—” He hummed in thought.“—who can resist reading love letters?Once he’d smelled one and opened it up, he would have realised their importance.And enjoyed collecting them and seeing Lord Lyndon suffer.Goule’s a small place, isn’t it?Word will have got out that his lordship is plagued by poor health.”
Oh goodness, the thing couldn’t get any worse.How Rollo’s chest ached.If he lifted his shirt, he’d swear he’d find his heart bleeding through his flesh.
The earl’s attention returned to Mr Elliot.“You say the balance of Lord Lyndon’s mind is disturbed.”His voice softened.“My dear Rollo does have that effect on one.”
“It is,” agreed Elliot.“And I fear it will deteriorate further.I don’t wish to be melodramatic, but to put it bluntly, the man’s running out of reasons to give a damn.Coming here myself was my last hope.”
“Hmm.”The earl sighed.“Then there is only one thing for it.”
“Is there?”Rollo held his breath.Whilst he was fully prepared to travel to Goule under his own steam, one of his father’s well-sprung carriages, even with Dobson for company, would be far more comfortable.
“Of course.You must return to Goule at once and explain the events that have occurred.”The earl paused.“And I must accompany you.”
Swelling with joyous relief, Rollo’s heart beat faster, then almost stopped in horror.“You…you…” Papa was coming?To stay with Fitz?The two had barely exchanged a civil word.
“Ooh.Good.Then I must come along too,” announced a clear voice.
Everyone turned to stare at Willoughby, draped limply across the chaise like an exhausted gondolier after five tours of the Venetian canals.
“But…” Rollo felt suddenly dizzy.“But you are ill.”
“No, I’m not, Rolly.I’m much better.I just can’t walk very well, that’s all.And I’m so bored of being bored, I could weep.If I hadn’t tumbled from my damned horse, none of this would have happened.It’s only fair that I meet this paragon of virtue with whom you have fallen headlong into love, so that I can apologise to him and then tease you mercilessly before writing godawful poetry about you both.Seeing as I’ve stopped writing about Lavinia.”
“And Kit will come, too, obviously,” continued the earl with a fond smile at his beloved.“Then there is Pritchard, of course.And two footmen—Dobson can be one of them as he’s familiar with the route.”
Once more, the earl rang for Inglis, his sharp mind already corralling his household.“We’ll take the crested carriage, the larger barouche, and the landau, so that Willoughby may travel in utmost comfort.Three outriders should suffice.And the trunks shall follow behind with two grooms.From Goule, once this pesky mess is sorted out, I propose we travel onwards to London for the start of the season.”
As Inglis appeared, the earl cast his gaze around the room.“Anything I’ve forgotten?No?Good.Then we shall leave at first light.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ROLLO FIDGETED, FEELINGrestless and caged.Even sharing his father’s most spacious and comfiest landau, with only Willoughby for company, the journey was interminable.His father, Kit, and Mr Elliot travelled together in the crested carriage, whilst Pritchard had the pleasure of Dobson’s halitosis.If he hadn’t been so damned anxious, Rollo would have savoured this fact a lot more.
“Something is very wrong, Willoughby.”Since entering Norfolk County and its poorer roads, their progress slowed to a painful, bumpy walking pace.The dreary constancy of the landscape made Rollo feel as if he were travelling the same stretch over and over, as if the very earth under their horses’ hooves conspired to keep him from his anguished beloved.“I feel it in my bowels.”
“So do I,” answered his brother, suppressing a yawn.He rubbed his belly.“I told you that beef pasty at the coaching inn tasted odd.But at least the blessed rain has stopped.”
Rollo felt for his hand and squeezed it.“Cease teasing me, please.I’m too overwrought.I mean, about Fitz.He’s…he suffers from the blue devils.He denies it, of course.He’s too proud.And he has a vicious temper which gets the better of him.I fear when he runs out of pewter regiments, he will wield it against himself.”
Willoughby squeezed his hand back.“Then we must hope that old Bony and his Imperial Guard stand firm a little longer.”
Their father and Kit joined them for the last few miles.Rollo was grateful for their presence.
