Although William was too much of a good friend to ask him to reveal his secret, Henry could see the naked curiosity on the other man’s face.
William leaned forward, lowering his voice so that only Henry could hear, just in case any eavesdroppers potentially lurked outside. “You don’t have any suspicions at all? Not a name, nor a hint?”
“Not with any certainty. It makes absolutely no sense. No one in our set, except for my mother and I, should possibly know a thing. I even considered—just for a moment—the possibility that Mother might be involved, but then I dismissed it. She would never put our family in such jeopardy.”
A long silence stretched between them as they both nursed their glasses. Finally, William broke the quiet. “Henry, you once mentioned that the secret your dukedom holds is something so perilous that you’d never allow it to see the light. Assuming the messenger refers to this same secret—are the consequences of it being revealed so very catastrophic? Is it not simply a scandal you could weather with time?”
Henry’s jaw tightened. “I fear not. If it were simply that, you know I would confide in you, William. No, it would be catastrophic indeed.” His voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “I dare not mention it further, but you know how precarious my situation is.”
William’s expression grew grave as he set his glass down. “Have you any thus far unconscious inkling of who might know? Think hard. Have there been no strange looks or murmured slights? Could it be one of your own staff who has access to your private affairs, or perhaps a guest who has been watching you with unusual interest?”
Henry’s eyes darkened as he considered the possibilities. “I’ve observed a few suspicious glances among the servants this morning. There were murmured conversations among the guests as well—discreet, but enough to set me on edge. Yet I cannot say for certain. Guests will gossip, after all. They are likely talking about no more than the usual. I have been scouring my memory for anything strange, but…. Oh.”
William sat up straighter. “There is something, then?”
“I doubt it is in any way related—he doesn’t have the connections to discover such intrigue—but I saw Sir Roger in town this morning. He apologized to Charlotte, who was most unsettled.”
That was an understatement, he thought, recalling her distress at the sight of the man.
William frowned, and his eyes darkened with barely concealed anger. “Sir Roger in town? That is indeed strange. What business does he have here?”
Henry took a swig of his drink. “Yes, we saw him in the high street, unaccountably far from his usual haunts. None of his family hold property here, yet there he was, as if summoned. He mentioned an errand but was incredibly vague about it. Ittroubles me, especially since he still seems keen on getting close to Charlotte.”
William bristled visibly. “After he tried to dishonor her! He’s lucky I didn’t challenge him to a duel, the odious little fool. You think he came here seeking her?”
Henry grimaced at the thought. “He was most keen to apologize to her—as he should. But his sincerity was a sham. He had the cheek to hint at an invitation to Arundel Park as well.”
“The windbag! How dare he? You don’t think he has anything to do with these messages?”
“I doubt it,” Henry admitted. “He has no access to the grounds, and I doubt he is well-liked enough—or rich enough—to convince a servant to betray me or to draw another of thetoninto an intrigue. No, I think Leonard is a separate matter.”
“Still, his presence adds another layer of complication. At least for Charlotte.”
Henry nodded. “I cannot fathom any other genuine reason for his presence. It appears to me that he might be maneuvering for some advantage with her. And if he intends to target Charlotte, then we must take steps to ensure she is never left alone in his path—”
Henry cut himself off as he saw that William was watching him keenly, perhaps intrigued by his display of protectiveness. He wondered what William might think if he knew that Henry harbored increasingly less than brotherly sentiments toward his friend’s dear sister.
It was something he must ensure did not become obvious—not just because of William, but also because the last thing he needed was for the blackmailer to suspect that he cared more for her than his duty. He had no idea how dangerous this person may be.
A heavy silence fell, during which Henry felt increasingly agitated over the events of the day.
William, ever the steady presence, finally spoke. “Henry, we must keep our eyes and ears open. Help me protect Charlotte—she must not be left alone if Leonard remains in the vicinity—and I will watch to see if anyone is behaving suspiciously. We can assist each other.”
“Thank you.” Henry was grateful to have such a stalwart friend.
They drank without speaking for a time, both pondering the problems and mysteries now in front of them. Henry’s head was pounding, and his shoulders were heavy with the weight of the day’s cares.
“Tell me,” he said as a thought struck him. “You have heard nothing untoward about me? No hint of gossip?”
William cocked his head. “I have heard nothing about you, and of course I would have told you if I had. Don’t let this make you overly suspicious; jumping at shadows in every corner.” His voice lowered further. “I trust you have measures in place to guard this secret and that nothing has happened that could have allowed it to come out?”
Henry shook his head and sighed heavily. “I believe I have done all that is required. And yet, I cannot shake the feeling that I’ve missed something.” He looked at William with a pained expression. “I’m mistrustful, you’re right—but only because I do not know what I will do if they succeed in exposing me.”
William reached across the desk and clasped Henry’s hand in a gesture of solidarity. “We will face it together, as we always have. I know you don’t wish to confide in me, for reasons I do not know, but I am here to support you, nonetheless. Whatever the outcome, I will ensure you aren’t left to bear the burden alone.”
Henry swallowed, his throat tight. “I am grateful, William. Truly, your friendship means more to me than words can express.” His eyes lingered for a moment on his friend’s face before he forced himself to look away as he felt a pang of guilt.Guilt for the secrets he had kept for so long, and for his ever-complicated feelings about Charlotte.
A long, heavy silence settled in the office. The only sound was the ticking clock and the occasional sip of brandy.
