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Phillip threw back the rest of his port, as the other gentlemen nodded their agreement.
“We will send Lord Lincolnshire to speak to the Prince,” said Lord Tullett firmly, as Lord Lincolnshire bowed his head as though accepting such a task. “He will ask the Prince what the gentlemen of London might do to assist him, in the hope that the Prince will listen to those who are wise and that he might turn from his foolish behavior and act in a manner more worthy of his title.”
“A very detailed plan indeed,” said another of the gentleman, whilst Phillip shot a look towards Lord Dayton. The man was quiet this evening, his expression giving nothing away. “When do we intend to carry it out?”
Lord Dayton roused himself. “As soon as possible,” he said, without hesitation. “We must ensure that Prinny is pulled from his current state of affairs just as soon as we can. The fate of our country may rest on our shoulders. We must act at once.”
A murmur of agreement ran around the room, and Phillip made sure that he, too, nodded. There seemed to be very little to disagree with, in truth, for they had good reason to desire that the Prince behave in a manner worthy of his title. And yet, as he saw one gentleman share a look with another, he felt his stomach roil furiously for a moment. Lord Dayton and Lord Cammish, he was sure, had another intention altogether.
“Then let us meet again in a sennight,” declared Lord Lincolnshire, clearly quite settled with what had been agreed. “I shall have had opportunity to speak to Prinny by then, and I must hope that he will be favorable towards my intentions.”
“Let us hope so,” Phillip answered, aware of how Lord Cammish glanced at him, one eyebrow a little lifted. It came as no surprise when Lord Dayton murmured for him to remain when it came time for the other gentlemen to depart. Lord Cammish also stayed precisely where he was, lifting his glass of brandy in a small toast as the final gentleman quit the room.
Phillip gave the fellow a tight smile, feeling his stomach begin to twist with knots of both anticipation and worry. He had to pretend that he would agree with whatever Lord Dayton and Lord Cammish had planned, whilst ensuring that he kept every single detail firmly in his mind. He would need to share it all with the League, and that meant ensuring he had extensive knowledge of all that was planned.
“I am sorry to hear that your daughter is unwell, Lord Dayton,” he said, as Lord Dayton closed the door and came back to sit down in a seat adjacent to Phillip’s. “Is she any better?”
Lord Dayton’s eyes narrowed just a little, and he looked back at Phillip, making him wonder what he had done to upset the man so.
“You are aware of her illness?”
“Almost everyone in the ton is aware of your daughter’s ill health, Dayton,” Lord Cammish interrupted, with a wave of his hand and a roll of his eyes. “You need not be so suspicious.”
Phillip blinked in surprise, wondering why Lord Dayton felt it so necessary to keep his daughter’s illness a secret. “That is true, of course, but I spoke to Lady Olivia, and it was she who told me of Lady Margaret’s ill health. I must hope that there has been some improvement.”
“There has not,” Lord Dayton answered tightly, his brows knotting and his eyes taking on a faraway look as he turned to gaze into the fire opposite to him. “She is not at all recovered, as I had hoped.”
“I am sorry to hear it.”
“But it shall not distract me from my intention,” Lord Dayton continued, his voice suddenly fierce as he lifted his head again and looked directly back at Phillip. “We have a plan to engage Prinny, yes, but I believe that it will fail.”
Phillip caught his breath but said nothing. Lord Cammish harrumphed as if to say he had expected this, but he too said nothing.
“I must know what you think, Lord Monteforte,” Lord Dayton continued, a little more quietly although his gaze became severe. “You agreed with Lord Lincolnshire, did you not?”
Nodding, Phillip spread his hands. “Of course I did,” he said firmly. “I can see no difficulties in what they intend.”
“They will fail, of course,” Lord Cammish said, with a lift of his shoulders. “They will not succeed. You know that, do you not?”
Phillip let his brows knot together, his breath coming out in a long, pained sigh as he pretended to consider what Lord Cammish had said. “I would prefer to remain hopeful,” he answered, as Lord Cammish snorted in derision. “But I can see that you are astute in your observations.” He watched Lord Cammish carefully, seeing how his eyes shot towards Lord Dayton, who did not react at all. Now was the moment for him to reveal precisely what their intentions were, Phillip knew, and yet he felt a reluctance there on Lord Dayton’s part. What more could he say to convince Lord Dayton that he was true in his desires to do what was required? That he saw the value in what Lord Cammish was only just beginning to suggest?
Taking in a long breath, Phillip looked from one gentleman to the other. “I feel that there is a great deal at stake when it comes to this situation,” he said softly, trying his best to look a little ill at ease. “I fear for our country, Lord Cammish. The Prince does not fulfil the role he has been given, for he is selfish, arrogant, and entirely preoccupied with his own pleasures rather than matters of state. He weakens England, makes his own people disinclined towards him, and makes fools of us all by his own lack of integrity.” He spread his hands, aware that, thus far, he had spoken the truth. “I can hope that Lord Lincolnshire will do well, and I can pray that the Prince will listen to him, but in my heart, I fear that it will not be so. Which leaves me wondering what else can be done in order to help this…stain…to be removed from our country.”
There was a moment or two of silence. A moment when Phillip feared that he had said too much, that he had spoken out of turn. He watched Lord Cammish turn his head just a little towards the fire, looking into the flames as though they would give him the answers that he sought.
“You speak well, Lord Monteforte.”
A swell of relief rose in Phillip’s chest. “I speak only as I feel,” he answered Lord Dayton, who was still watching him with a slightly narrowed gaze. “It may not be wise to speak as I have done, but I can only be honest.”
“Then here is what I suggest,” Lord Cammish said slowly, interrupting Phillip and Lord Dayton. “We must come up with an alternate plan. One that will swing into action the moment Lord Lincolnshire fails.”
Phillip sat forward, hoping his keen interest showed itself. “In what way?” he asked quickly, as Lord Dayton got up to pour himself another glass of brandy, handing one to Phillip and then picking up Lord Cammish’s glass so as it refill it. “What can we do?”
Lord Cammish licked his lips, looking a trifle uncertain for a moment before he spoke again. “We can remove the Prince from his role,” he said quietly, sending a tremor down Phillip’s spine. “It may not be the best solution, I grant you, but it is one that will bring us the desired outcome.”
Phillip could not help but catch his breath, knowing that it would be visible in his expression to Lord Cammish and Lord Dayton but being quite unable to help himself.
“I know it is a severe matter,” Lord Cammish continued, lifting his hands in an expressive gesture, as if to claim innocence for himself, “but it is one that we must consider, surely.”
