“Is everything going all right?” Mrs. Haywood said.
“Yes, madam. Your daughter learnt the sequence rather quickly.” He pretended to be busy straightening his jacket.
“I had no doubts. Angeline has always been brilliant.”
Angeline stood up as well. Her flush was still there. “Excuse me. My lord.” She curtsied.
He watched her leave in a hurry. Perhaps he’d troubled her. Well, the bench hadn’t been his peak moment.
“Many thanks for your help, my lord.”
The maid entered the room and bobbed a curtsy. “My lord.” She turned to her mistress. “Sorry to disturb you, madam, but…” The woman pointed a finger in the direction of the rear of the house. “There’s someone asking to see you very urgently. Very urgently.”
“My lord.” Mrs. Haywood dropped a quick curtsy before she left in a flutter of skirts.
The urgency with which she left teased his curiosity. He opened the French window at the end of the room and quietly stepped outside, searching the garden. Once he rounded the corner, he paused.
Mr. Wright paced nervously in front of the back door, running a hand through his hair. The noise of the door being opened came.
“Madam,” Mr. Wright said in an agitated tone.
“What are you doing here?” Mrs. Haywood hissed. “You can’t come here whenever it pleases you.”
“It’s about the money. You must understand. I can’t pay it.” Mr. Wright lowered his voice to an inaudible sound.
Royston couldn’t hear anything else, though, since Mrs. Haywood must have let him inside. He returned to the sitting room and closed the French window, cursing under his breath.
