To be involved in such a plot could not have been her idea. Certainly not. She was only a pawn, being used by more powerful people. But who? And how?
Her father. It must be so. Who else could prevail upon a young lady to carry out such a dangerous scheme? Who else would have the means and the leverage to do it?
Jasper did not know Baron Manley and put little stock in the recommendation that he was a distant cousin. Every villain was a distant cousin to plenty of other reasonable people. Still, it was unlikely that an obscure baron had been drawn into such a conspiracy unless he had no choice. And under what circumstances did a gentleman find he had no choice? Either blackmail over an embarrassment or a gambling debt that could not be met. Though, if either of those possibilities were at play, the baron should have taken the honorable route and blown his brains out.
Unless, perhaps, ithadbeen gambling and Manley had been presented with an opportunity to save his estate. After all, Lady Mendleton had taken on Miss Wilcox because her father had not the means to launch her or provide a dowry. Add to that a gambling debt and, well, it might have been more honorable for the gentleman to do a violence to himself but that honor would do nothing for the prospects of his family. They would find themselves on the street either by debt, mortgage, or entail.
Further, a clever person wishing to put another under his power looked for those who were already weakened and preyed upon them—the perpetrator might act the rube at a tavern and lose a few hands of cards, then when the victim had plenty to drink, up the stakes and take everything he had. Perhaps that was what had happened to Manley. Then, the proposal, the lifeline was thrown to pull the old man out of his sea of calamitous debt.
How had his mother come upon Miss Wilcox anyway? Had the Stuart got wind of that society the ladies had put together and maneuvered it somehow? Or more likely, the scheme had been enacted after it was known that Miss Wilcox would come?
What was he to do? He could not bear to imagine Miss Wilcox convicted of treason. Though, when the queen became aware of the report, she would know from where it sprang.
Jasper’s mind worked at a furious pace, looking for some way out for Miss Wilcox, and he supposed, her unfortunate father too. If the father were convicted of high treason, the daughter would be just as finished as if she herself had been. He also held out hope that Manley had never been told the extent of the plot. It was likely he had not, being only one cog in the wheel. He might have just understood that a political faction wished to poke at the monarchy with a little bit of gossip. It would have seemed simple enough, as all answers to prayers tended to do.
As the minutes ticked by, and then an hour, and then more, Jasper could only see one slim path that might be threaded to pull Miss Wilcox out of the mire she’d got herself into. He must convince the queen that the most effective way to defeat the Stuart was to quietly unravel his operation. There should be no public reports, no debates amongst politicians, no accusations thrown nor charges entered, no opinions voiced in public houses, and no speeches on street corners. Miss Wilcox would be sent home, a letter from the palace would be delivered to Manley that he was to remain within the confines of his estate, and a watch would be set on his house. All communication with the Stuart would be cut off.
That done, Jasper would arrange an interview with Manley to determine if he knew who else was involved, though he thought it unlikely Manley would have come into contact with the Stuart. Those that operated in the shadows kept their minions far away from one another on the off chance that somebody was caught out. Manley would know some other man, and that man was unlikely to have used his real name.
As he thought through the steps of everything that must be done, and done perfectly if it were to work, the clatter of the carriage brought the arrival of Miss Wilcox from her ride in the park.
Good God, the eccentric notion of riding out early took on another meaning now. Had she met someone there? If he had seen the report earlier, he might have followed her and put eyes on one of her contacts.
For all that, was she not lovely, descending from the carriage? Her looks were blooming from the exercise and she appeared as if she did not have a care in the world.
Jasper let the drapery fall closed again. He must put all that out of his mind now. He was ashamed to admit it, but whatever feelings he’d thought, or hoped, Miss Wilcox might have for him might be just part of the game. How could he have been such a fool?
He went back to his desk and put his mind to the plan. First, he would inform his mother that Miss Wilcox must leave the house before the sun had set. Then, he would see the queen. No. He would see the queen first. There was the remotest chance that she would not agree to his plan and he could not be seen abetting the departure of a lady who the queen had decided ought to be questioned—as much as he’dliketo abet the lady. If she were to be questioned, it would be far better to quietly leave this house than to be collected from the countryside. London could be an anonymous sort of place—in her home county, everybody who laid eyes on her would know who she was, and wonder where she was going with an escort from the queen’s guards.
Further, his mother could be obstinate and would be loath to part with Miss Wilcox, especially since Jasper would not tell her the real reason the lady must go. He could not, or it would only be a matter of time before she told somebody else and it would spread like a forest fire.
However, Lady Mendleton would not defy her own queen no matter how much she disagreed with an opinion. He would propose to the queen that he simply tell his mother that the queen had revised her opinion and wished Miss Wilcox to depart the Town. There would be no reason given, and that just might work, as the queen could be capricious with her favor and irritated for often mysterious reasons. It would be a blow, but he was certain his mother would never, in a thousand years, tell her friends of the queen’s disfavor. She would find it a personal humiliation. Rather, she would tell them that Miss Wilcox’s father had been taken ill, or some other likely excuse.
Perry knocked and came in to clear the coffee tray. Jasper stood up. “Perry, never mind the trays. Tell Carstares I need my horse this instant. I know he’s busy unhitching the carriage and stabling the horses that have just been out, but I requiremyhorse this instant!”
Perry came forward, his eyes on the tray, then retreated in confusion, seeming thrown off by this interruption of the usual morning routine.
“Yes, my lord,” he said, “at once.”
The butler turned on his heel and hurried out.
Jasper paced the room, waiting for his horse to be brought round. He felt an anger begin to burn in him. If only she had confided in him! If only she was not what she was!
Miss Wilcox might never know it, but she ought to be exceedingly grateful that he was in love with her. Her very neck ought to be grateful for it.
*
Georgiana had changedout of her riding habit and into a day dress without the help of Jenny. She did not want to wait until Jenny turned up and so asked one of the housemaids to come in and do the buttons she could not reach herself.
The poor girl seemed both surprised and nervous but did as she was bid. Georgiana was well-aware it was an unusual thing to do in such a house, but she did not want to waste a minute above stairs. The air in the park had cheered her no end and perhaps infused her with more bravery than she’d begun the day with. She was determined to be in the drawing room in case Lord Langley wished to discover her. And say something to her.
Now, she sat with a book in hand, pretending to read.Zastrozziwas as dreadful as she had imagined it would be, but it was a useful prop to pretend she was doing something other than wondering if Lord Langley might make an appearance.
She knew very well he was in the library just now. The door was closed, and in any case, that’s where he was every morning with his pile of newspapers.
She wished the two rooms were not separated by the great hall. If they had been side by side, she might hear him moving around.
As it was, she stayed very still and quiet, listening for whatever she might be able to hear.
