That confounds me.“Someone would have had to have threatened me. But that is not so. Unless only she knew? But that seems so illogical that I cannot imagine it. She has done nothing. Nothing. We have been happily married for many weeks. Why suddenly would she move to the upstairs servants’ quarters?”
Scarlett locked her eyes on Carlton. “There is one more aspect to her life that you should know.”
Carlton faced him. “Her brother Luc is in La Force. Taken there by order of Vaillancourt.”
“She has asked us to get Corsini to get him out,” Scarlett said. “He has tried. Twice. And failed.”
Evan put a hand to his forehead. “Could she be blackmailed for something her brother did?”
“Anything is possible,” Scarlett added. “What else would they want from her? Money?”
“She has not asked me for any.”
“She has a stipend from us,” Scarlett added. “But it is not an amount that would serve her well if someone wished to ransom the brother or blackmail her.”
Evan thought on that. “She does not meet anyone at odd hours. She does do many of the household errands and… Do you suppose someone has made contact with her?”
“Ah.” Carlton raised a finger in the air. “What does your man guarding her say?”
“I saw him an hour ago. He has seen nothing unusual.”
“HasLa Mère found her?” Scarlett asked, her gaze sweeping to Carlton. “Or Faucon?”
Evan felt ice flow through his veins. “I would hope she would tell me. Let me help her…” He knew not what to do, where to go. “I must leave. Return to her and try to talk her from this precipice.”
“One more thing before you go. Please.” Scarlett put up a hand.
“Anything.”
“Have you heard from Putney Green that Pitt is very low in his bed with fatigue and stomach complaints?”
“Yes, I had a note from Durham, who is with him at his bedside, hours ago.” He swallowed his fears for the man who had led them all for eighteen months. The prime minister’s dedication was killing him. “The physicians say they are not worried. Durham? Well, you know Durham. He thinks our man is on his deathbed.”
“Is he?” Scarlett was pale with apprehension.
“I pray not.”
“We will know soon enough,” Carlton said, and went to Scarlett to take her hands in his. “Go. Save your wife and your marriage.”
Chapter Twenty-One
January 22, 1806
Halsey House
16 South Audley Street
Mayfair, London
Davis took Evan’s hat and coat at the door, his butler’s face drawn tight. “The dowager countess and your sisters are in the small salon awaiting your return.”
“I must go up to see my wife.” It was hours since he’d talked with her.
“Please see your family first, sir.” Davis never asked anything of him, so Evan was irritated to do as he wished.
“Why is that?”
“Sir, they were very emphatic about seeing you when first you arrived home.”
