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“But of course,” he said, making Lady Margaret’s eyes flick to his, a slightly hopeful look in her eyes. “I would be very grateful for your assistance, Lady Margaret, since I do not know where I am to go.” He shot a firm look in Lady Louisa’s direction, seeing how she made to turn. “Lady Louisa, you will accompany us too, I hope?” He smiled grimly to himself as he saw the two sisters exchange glances. Just because he had accepted Lady Margaret’s offer of help did not mean that he was willing to simply walk with her alone through Lord Lincolnshire’s house. That, he knew, was quite unacceptable and might very well give Lady Margaret the opportunity to do something to bind him to her forever. Given what he had already witnessed, Phillip felt quite certain that he had to remain on his guard when it came to Lady Margaret.
“I–I am afraid I cannot,” Lady Louisa stammered, her cheeks pink. “Mother has asked me to come to speak to Lady Lincolnshire about…the new gown I am to purchase, and I can see her speaking with the lady at this very moment.”
“Then I shall join you,” came a clear voice, which Phillip knew immediately was Lady Olivia. “You are to walk somewhere, I think?”
Phillip turned his head to see Lady Olivia standing just to his left, having clearly overheard the conversation. Her expression was one of sweetness, with a lilting smile on her face but no brightness to her eyes. Perhaps she was aware of Lady Margaret’s intentions.
“And you must not keep Lady Dayton waiting,” Lady Olivia said, when neither Lady Margaret nor Lady Louisa spoke. “Especially if she wishes you to garner the opinion of Lady Lincolnshire on whatever new gown you have now purchased.” She took a small sidestep and gestured for Lady Louisa to walk past her and towards Lady Dayton. “Have no fear,” she finished, as Lady Louisa was forced to do as she herself had suggested, “I shall ensure that there is no impropriety on anyone’s part.”
Despite what had passed between them before and despite his knowledge that Lady Olivia thought very poorly of him, Phillip could not help but smile his thanks, letting out his breath slowly as he saw Lady Olivia’s eyes flash as she turned them in the direction of Lady Margaret.
“Where is it we are to walk?” she asked plainly, as Lady Margaret’s face began to slowly flush with a deep crimson. “You cannot mean to the gardens, surely, for it has begun to rain by all accounts.”
Phillip waited for a moment or two for Lady Margaret to explain, only to see that she would not be saying a word and so, he stepped in.
“I am to be taken to the library, where a few gentlemen are playing cards,” he said, with a small shrug. “Lord Dayton has invited me to play, and I fear that, whilst I very much wish to play, I do not know where I am to go!”
“I see.” Lady Olivia’s jaw set firm, and she lifted one eyebrow in Lady Margaret’s direction. “Then shall we go, Lady Margaret? The sooner we deliver Lord Monteforte, the sooner we can return to this wonderful soiree.”
Lady Margaret said nothing but turned towards Phillip with a slightly hopeful look in her eye. One hand lifted as she looked at him expectantly, leaving Phillip wondering what she meant by it. It was only when an awkward moment had begun to crash down on him that he realized she wanted to take his arm.
“But of course,” he stammered, inclining his head and offering her his arm, which Lady Margaret took at once with a small smirk of triumph in Lady Olivia’s direction. “Thank you both for this kindness.”
“There is nothing to thank us for,” Lady Margaret cooed, pressing herself a little against his side and sending a shudder down his spine as she did so. “Come now, my father will be waiting, and I know he will be very glad to see I have managed to do as he instructed.”
Phillip threw a quick look behind him as he was led away by Lady Margaret, seeing the tight expression on Lady Olivia’s face and wondering at it. Was she jealous that her cousin had ma
naged to capture his attentions so quickly? Surely it could not be, given just how poor an impression he had made upon her? Why, then, was she behaving in such a protective manner now? She owed him nothing, and yet now she was walking only a step behind him, making certain that Lady Margaret could do nothing to force his hand in the direction of matrimony.
“I am so very glad there is no awkwardness between us, Lord Monteforte,” Lady Margaret said, leading him out of the drawing room and up a darkened hallway that he prayed would bring them to the library. “There was such a misunderstanding as regarded the necklace – you must think me quite foolish.”
“I am only glad that you found it again,” he assured her, bringing a sigh of relief from her lips. “There is nothing to be embarrassed about, Lady Margaret.”
She sighed again. “I am very glad,” she told him, pressing his arm with her other hand. “And now, here is the library. Allow me to bring you in to present you to father.”
Phillip turned his head to see Lady Olivia watching them both, a deep frown marring her brow. Clearly, she had very little understanding of what was going on within the library, which did not surprise Phillip in the least, given that she was something of an outsider within the family. For a moment, the question of where her own parents were and why she now resided with her aunt and uncle struck him, only for him to quickly dismiss it as Lady Margaret pushed the door open and stepped inside. The door stayed open, but Lady Olivia did not come inside.
“Ah, there you are,” Lord Dayton said, smiling affectionately at his daughter. “And Lord Monteforte, you have joined us also. Very good.” He gestured to the three other gentlemen that were sitting around the room, although none were smiling. “Might I present Viscount Hawley.” He pointed to a tall, thin man who did not smile but merely watched Phillip with sharp, dark eyes. “Then the Earl of Cammish, who has joined us all the way from Scotland.”
Phillip bowed respectfully, taking in each and every gentleman with a steady gaze. The earl appeared to be the oldest of the gentlemen, with Lord Hawley the youngest, given his boyish looks and unlined face.
“And finally, Viscount Oldfield and Baron Tullett,” Lord Dayton finished, with a broad smile, although his expression was the only welcoming one. “They are very glad to make your acquaintance, I’m sure.” He gave a small yet distinct wave towards Lady Margaret. “You are excused, my dear. Thank you for your willingness.”
Lady Margaret flushed just a little, curtsied, and then, with a long look towards Phillip, made to leave. Phillip did not allow himself to watch her depart but rather fixed his eyes on Lord Dayton, who was now on his feet and pouring some brandy into a glass.
“Please, make yourself comfortable,” he said, as though this house and this room belonged to him. “Lord Lincolnshire will join us soon, although he is busy with his guests, of course.”
“Of course,” Phillip echoed, hurriedly taking a seat and looking surreptitiously about him as though someone or something was about to reveal themselves in a surprising manner. He was still not quite certain what it was he had been invited into and was well aware of the sharpness of each gentleman’s gaze, as well as the hard look on one or two of their faces. It was not a particularly comfortable feeling, sitting here with them all, for he felt as though he was not welcome even though Lord Dayton had made it plain he was to feel quite at home.
Letting his gaze rest on each gentleman individually, Phillip felt something within him shift. He was quite sure that someone here was involved with the French, sending secrets to them about the English defenses. The first he had heard of it had been from a French spy who had been caught but allowed to return to his homeland once he had furnished them with every detail of his business here. The fellow had known no particular names—which both Phillip and the rest of The King’s League had not been surprised to hear, but he had mentioned a specific group of gentlemen that met to play cards. He could not say whether it was Lord Dayton himself who was involved in passing on such secrets or working against the Crown, but he was sure that someone here was.
He was lucky to have managed to infiltrate them this way, knowing full well that he had a long way to go to earn their trust. And from the looks on the gentlemen’s faces, it was not going to be a simple task.
“Well, gentlemen,” he said, a little more brusquely than he had intended. “First of all, I should thank you for permitting me to join you here this evening—although I confess I am still quite intrigued as to why such there is such secrecy.”
Lord Hawley unfolded himself from his chair, clearing his throat so as to catch Phillip’s attention. “We find, as Lord Dayton has expressed to you, that there are certain gentlemen who do nothing but lose themselves in drink and therefore are not decent company for anyone,” he said, as Phillip nodded. “We seek something a little more than that.”
“I see,” Phillip murmured, feeling a small kick of doubt in his heart as he wondered if he had just stumbled across a group that was nothing more than a few refined gentlemen seeking acquaintances with the very same. “I always look forward to excellent conversation, I must say.”
