They were nearing Trippman Hall’s area when they heard voices up ahead. “Shush,” Alexander warned as he caught Lionel’s arm to prevent his friend’s progress.
Lionel’s eyes grew large. He pointed to the door leading to Trippman’s home, but when Alexander attempted to turn the latch, it would not give. “Locked from the inside,” he breathed the words.
The sound of people talking carried to them. “We must hide somewhere outside of Honfleur’s house or make it to the main street,” Lionel encouraged. They turned without a question or a squawk of resistance, attempting to silence their steps as they hurried across the distance between Trippman’s property and the residence Honfleur had let for the Season.
Reaching the door, thankfully, this time, it turned. As they stepped through the opening, Lionel blew out the candle.
“The garden,” Alexander whispered. “Find some place to hide.”
His friend nodded and disappeared into the blackness. Alexander turned to the left to conceal himself behind a large elm along the brick wall between the properties. He had barely settled his breathing when the door to the unusual passageway opened. He quickly sucked in another steadying breath and prayed the lantern Honfleur carried would not permit the light to create a shadow on the wall to indicate where Alexander crouched down to hide. He was thankful for his forethought ofdonning the dark scarf, though. Such would assist in disguising his presence, and so he glanced at his coat to know confidence none of his shirt showed.
“I do not wish to leave Audrey behind,” Lady Caroline declared, causing Alexander to strain to hear Honfleur’s response. The marquis and his daughter paused in the midst of the garden to continue their conversation.
“We will only be away from England for a matter of weeks. Perhaps less depending on my negotiations,” Lord Honfleur stated with a hard emphasis on assuaging his daughter’s qualms.
“Nevertheless, Audrey will think we mean toabandonnéeher,” Lady Caroline argued. “You know such is Audrey’sla plus grande peur. To be left alone in the world.”
Alexander noted how Honfleur had abandoned his supposed French accent, using English exclusively, while Lady Caroline’s speech was peppered with French phrases. Thankfully, Alexander had studied French in school and was more than a little proficient in the language. Duncan had demanded Alexander’s proficiency.
“I will explain the necessity of Audrey remaining behind to my niece,” Honfleur assured.
“If you wouldpermisit, I could stay…” Lady Caroline began another protest.
“You will do nothing of the sort. I will not have you so far from my side. We are family,” Honfleur declared.
“Audrey isfamille assui,” Lady Caroline protested, but her argument had lost its hopes of agreement.
“Perhaps Audrey requires a reminder of the meaning of ‘family,’” Honfleur surmised. “Remaining behind will provide your cousin time to reclaim her loyalty to those who have cared for her for more than a decade.”
“Audrey is as loyal as I,” Lady Caroline countered. “If you trusted her more… If you permitted Audrey to prove herself to you…”
“Enough!” Honfleur barked. From what Alexander could observe with only the limited moonlight to illuminate the scene, Lady Caroline dropped her chin in a submissive gesture. “You and I will depart for France late Tuesday afternoon. Audrey will remain behind to know assurance Lord Amgen’s man of business does not remove us from the property.”
Alexander wondered if Honfleur was behind in his payments to let the house. He would have someone learn more of the agreement between Amgen and Honfleur. It might also be a good idea to become more aware if there were additional debts among the merchants, tailors, and such. Perhaps their investigation might discover something to use against the man. Could Honfleur be returning to France to print more bank notes to cover his additional debts?”
Honfleur continued, “Now, you are to bed. Keep in mind, I forbid you to speak of our plans with Audrey. Such is my domain.”
“Yes, Father,” Lady Caroline said obediently.
Honfleur caught his daughter’s arm. “Come along. It is late, and I have much of which I must attend on the morrow.”
Neither Alexander nor Lionel moved for a good quarter hour—not until the lights on the lower level were extinguished and those in the two windows on what would likely be the family wing appeared. By shared, but silent, assent, they circled the house and exited through the open gate onto the street to turn and walk away from Amgen House for two streets before they spoke a word to each other.
“Promise me,” Lionel huffed, “either you or I will break Honfleur. I wish to view him with his eyes downcast in fear.”
“I will gladly allow you the pleasure, but if he harms Miss Moreau, I shan’t be responsible for the man’s health,” Alexander growled. He had forgotten everything but his sister.
“You be confident you’re not sweet on the gal?” Lionel asked.
Alexander stopped his friend’s progress. It was time he took another into his confidence, and he knew Lionel could be trusted. “I have something to confess, for I suspect I will require your assistance to keep me sane in this matter.”
“I’ve already promised to protect the girl, Axe,” Lionel said in obvious embarrassment: They rarely discussed women. “What you do with her afterwards will be your business.”
Alexander said in quiet tones, keeping his voice low, as if releasing his secret upon the world would bring about a disaster. “Miss Moreau is not an ‘Audrey.’ She is my sister ‘Annalise.’ If I am unable to do the deed myself, I am begging you to protect the last of my family with your life.”
“It is noproblem,” Theodora told Emma, whose sensibility had disappeared, for today was Richard and Emma’s wedding day.
“I cannot believe I forgot to retrieve Richard’s telescope,” Emma bemoaned.
