“Thank you.” Sebastian made his way to the study, where he found Constable Stephens standing near the window.
Mr. Hale sat in one of the leather chairs but stood when Sebastian entered the room.
Sebastian closed the door behind him. “Mrs. Blythe said you needed to speak with us urgently. I hope there’s no trouble—today of all days.”
“No trouble for you, Lord Ashford.” Stephens turned from the window. “Quite the opposite, in fact. I have news that I felt couldn’t wait until after your wedding.”
Sebastian took a seat beside Hale, who looked as if he might be holding his breath. “What news?”
“We’ve found Hargrave.”
Hale made a sound somewhere between a gasp and a sob.
“Found him?” Sebastian leaned forward. “Where?”
“Dover,” Stephens said. “Trying to board a ship bound for Calais. We’d been watching the ports, and one of my contacts recognized him from the description we’d circulated.”
“And?” Hale’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Stephens’s expression grew grave. “We attempted to arrest him quietly, but he panicked. Ran toward the docks, pushing through crowds, knocking people down. My men gave chase.”
Sebastian felt his chest tighten. “What happened?”
“He reached the end of a pier and found himself trapped. When we called for him to surrender, he drew a pistol. We couldn’t tell if he meant to use it on us or himself, but he was waving it about wildly, shouting about how he wouldn’t hang for what he’d done at the bidding of his employer.”
Hale’s face had gone pale and he appeared to be holding his breath.
“My sergeant ordered him to drop the weapon. Instead, Hargrave aimed it at us.” Stephens’s voice grew heavier. “We had no choice. My men fired to protect the innocent.”
“Is he dead?” Sebastian began.
Stephens nodded. “Instantly.”
Hale covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking.
Sebastian reached over to place a comforting hand on the older man’s arm.
When Hale looked up, his eyes were wet with tears, but his expression was one of profound relief. “It’s over. After all these years, it’s finally over. Justice for Lizzie.”
“Indeed it is,” Stephens said gently.
Hale nodded, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. “I’d begun to believe he might escape consequence entirely.”
“Evil men often think they’re clever enough to evade justice,” Stephens replied. “But the truth has a way of catching up with them eventually.”
Sebastian felt a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Were there any other casualties? Innocent people hurt?”
“None, thankfully. A few scrapes and bruises from when he knocked people down in his flight, but nothing serious.” Stephens’s expression softened. “I wanted you both to know before the ceremony. Felt you deserved to start your new life, Lord Ashford, with this chapter truly closed.”
“Thank you,” Sebastian said, meaning it deeply. “This news is everything we could have hoped for.”
“Aye,” Hale agreed, his voice steadier now. “To know that Lizzie can finally rest in peace? There’s no greater gift you could have given me.”
Stephens nodded. “She deserved justice. Still, I’m sorry for your grief.”
“This lightens it very much, sir.” Hale looked between Sebastian and the constable. “Now we can all move forward without looking over our shoulders, worried to see him lurking in the shadows.”
Stephens checked his pocket watch. “I should let you gentlemen get to the church. Can’t have Lord Ashford keeping his bride waiting on account of police business.”
