“May I escort you inside?” he asked, extending his arm.
“Yes, thank you,” Simone replied.
As she accepted his arm, Caleb shifted his gaze towardsMrs. Fernsby. “I shall see to Miss Delacourt this evening.” His tone was firm, unwavering.
Looking unsure, Mrs. Fernsby replied, “Lord Hungerton has tasked me to watch over Miss Delacourt.”
“Yes, but she is my fiancée now and I am responsible for her welfare,” Caleb stated. “You may return home for the evening.”
Mrs. Fernby pursed her lips before saying, “I believe I shall wait in the ballroom for my charge so I can at least escort her home.”
“Very well.” Caleb started to lead her away from her companion as he said in a hushed voice, “There is no sign of Victor.”
“Where could he be?” Simone asked.
Caleb shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know, but we will find him,” he said. “But your father and Juliette are here.”
“I suspected as much, but why did they come, knowing that we were on to them?” Simone asked.
“I suppose to see Victor’s handiwork,” Caleb suggested.
Simone frowned. “Something isn’t right, but I am not sure what it is,” she admitted. “Regardless, we need to convince General Merrell and the other lords to leave the ball at once. It isn’t safe for them here.”
They arrived in the entry hall of the grand townhouse and bypassed the receiving line. Once they arrived in the ballroom, Simone went on her tiptoes and her eyes roamed over the hall, trying to decide their next course of action.
Caleb pointed towards the rear of the ballroom. “I see General Merrell. Let’s start with him,” he said before he started leading her through the crowds of people.
Simone’s gaze fell upon the tall general, resplendent in his military uniform. Contrary to her expectations, he appeared younger, though his dark hair bore distinguished streaks of white. His very presence exuded authority, casting an imposing aura that commanded attention.
“How do you want to handle this?” Caleb asked.
“We tell him the truth, all of it,” Simone replied.
Caleb lifted his brow. “Are you sure?”
Simone nodded. “It is the only way,” she said, squaring her shoulders. She didn’t want to admit that she was an agent of the Crown, but time was of the essence.
The general’s eyes watched her as she approached him. They were kind, but they had an alertness about them.
Simone came to a stop in front of him and decided to dispense with the pleasantries. “You need to leave the ball at once. Your life is in danger,” she said.
He smiled. “My dear, my life is always in danger,” he remarked.
Caleb spoke up. “It would be best if we introduced ourselves,” he said. “My name is Mr. Bolingbroke.” He patted Simone’s hand. “And this is Miss Delacourt, my fiancée.”
The general bowed. “Miss Delacourt, a pleasure,” he said. “Now, why do you think my life is in danger?”
This was it. It was time to reveal the truth and hope that he had enough sense to believe her. “We have reason to suspect that a French spy is going to release grenades in the ballroom to kill you and the members of the House of Lords,” she revealed.
Growing serious, the general asked, “How did you come by this information?”
She held his gaze. “I am an agent of the Crown.”
The general didn’t look surprised by her admission. “I see,” he said. “And I must assume that Mr. Bolingbroke is a spy, as well.”
“I am,” Caleb confirmed. “If you don’t leave, hundreds of people could be killed, including you.”
With a glance at his guards that were standing a few feet back, the general said, “I understand your concern, but if I retreated every time someone threatened my life, I would never have accomplished all that I have.”
