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Edward let out a breath, both horrified and relieved that Ravel’s plan, for the time being, had been foiled. “Then that is treason,” he murmured, knowing all too well what the four men’s fates would be. “Do we consider the royal family to be safe from Ravel for the moment then?”
The lieutenant considered this for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yes,” he said quietly. “I believe that they are safe from Ravel for the time being, although there is certainly not an end to the danger that Ravel poses. We must discover him, Carroway.”
Nodding, Edward rubbed his chin for a moment, thinking hard. “He will not be pleased that his plan has been discovered and the men removed,” he muttered, seeing the lieutenant’s eyes flare with a sudden awareness. “He could behave rashly.”
“Or he could attempt to remove you and any of the others who work under us,” the lieutenant replied, a dark frown on his face. “You had best be on your guard, Carroway.”
Feeling a slight twinge of worry in his heart, Edward thrust it aside at once. “Ravel has known who I am for some time,” he said, trying to remove his fear entirely. “He has always had the opportunity to remove me from the Earth should he wish to but, as yet, he has not made any attempt to do so.”
“He has left you those buttons,” the lieutenant countered swiftly. “He enjoys toying with you, Carroway. He enjoys proving himself to be the victor in all things. He likes to see you scurry about in an attempt to find him. I would state that Ravel, whoever he is, likes the chase that comes with your investigations. The enjoyment he finds is escaping from you and leaving you the button should not be forgotten. The man has a dark mind and an even darker spirit. I do not think that he will hesitate to remove your life from you if he is given the opportunity, not when you have foiled what has been a very large and important plan.”
What Lieutenant James said did make sense, Edward had to admit. He had often wondered why Ravel had never sent a man to kill him, but now that the lieutenant suggested that the fellow enjoyed watching Edward’s efforts come to nothing, he felt a sudden understanding crash into his mind. This time, Edward had not failed. With the help of Miss Wells, he had discovered the truth about Ravel’s plans and, in doing so, had put an end to them. The four men involved would be hung for treason and a much closer watch would be put on everyone who worked for the king. It was wise to expect that there might now come some form of retribution.
“You must be on your guard,” the lieutenant finished, as Edward’s frown deepened. “Even this evening, watch your step when you are in the midst of society. You cannot tell where this Ravel might appear from.”
“I shall,” Edward promised, realizing that it was time for him to call upon Miss Wells and her family so that they might attend the soiree together. “I am glad that the royal family is safe, Lieutenant. It is a relief to know that they are in no present danger and that our concerns as regards the French are, for the moment, at an end.” He got to his feet and shook the lieutenant’s hand firmly. “I shall ensure that Miss Wells remains out of Ravel’s clutches.”
“As you yourself must do also,” the lieutenant repeated firmly. “Good evening to you, Carroway. And take care.”
* * *
The evening was already beginning to draw in and Edward found himself quite enjoying the quietness of the London streets. He had hailed a hackney to take him to the townhouse but had realized that he was a trifle early and so had asked it to stop some streets away so that he might walk. The warnings of the lieutenant were still ringing in his ears as he began to make his way towards the house, knowing that he had to be on his guard.
Ravel might be anywhere.
The thought of seeing Miss Wells again, however, took some of his nervous anticipation from him. The moments they had shared after dinner last evening had taken his breath away and even now, just thinking of it had filled him with both shock and delight. Miss Wells had asked him to call her “Titania” and even that particular intimacy had left him astonished. The words he had spoken to her, confessing his feelings and his growing admiration of her had not ever meant to be said, for he had thought himself almost foolish in his desire to grow closer to her. However, something about Titania had forced those words from his lips, making him speak to her with such truthfulness that it had felt as though a great weight rolled from his shoulders as he did so.
Titania had, in turn, told him that she too was filled with emotions that she could not quite express. It was utterly astonishing that such a beautiful, vibrant young lady could ever be drawn towards a gentleman such as him, but he did not doubt her words, not even for a moment. The way she had spoken of Lord Huckleby, the way she had admitted to him that she had turned from the earl and towards him, had left him in no doubt that she spoke the truth.
A sudden sound had him freezing in place, realizing with a sudden sense of dread that he had quite lost all awareness of his surroundings. Having let his mind fill with thoughts of Titania, he had forgotten to pay close attention to his own surroundings. Cursing silently under his breath, he turned around – only for something hard to slam into one side of his face.
Staggering backwards, Edward tried to get his bearings, tried to grasp at something to help him stand up but found himself falling backwards. His back slammed into a set of iron railings, forcing him to stay upright. Another blow hit him hard on the other side of his face, and he let out a shout of pain, his fists flailing out around him as he tried to defend himself.
“You have gone too far this time, Carroway!”
The voice was familiar, but Edward could not quite place it.
“I was so very close, and you had to step in my way.”
Something warm was trickling down over his eyes and Edward wiped at it futilely, trying to make out the man in front of him, only to see that the man had covered his face with something, save only for his eyes.
“Ravel,” Edward breathed, trying to find the strength within himself to stand upright but still feeling disorientated and sick. “You shall not defeat us.”
The man did not deny the name but laughed harshly, mocking him loudly. Edward winced as he managed to grasp onto the iron railings, pushing himself up.
“This means nothing,” Ravel said, pulling something out from his waistband – and with horror, Edward realized that it was a knife. The warnings from Lieutenant James suddenly burst to life, making Edward aware that he was now about to fight for his life. “You shall not be permitted to continue getting in the way of my plans, old boy,” Ravel mocked, sounding every bit the English gentleman. “I am afraid that it is the end for you now. I have enjoyed our little game, but you have become a little too close and I will not let you continue on.” So saying, he lunged forward with his knife, but Edward, having regained a little strength, dodged out of the way and stood, breathing hard, on the pavement.
“Good gracious, we are going to have a little fun, are we not?” Ravel chuckled, advancing slowly upon Edward. “You do not think that you are going to be able to defeat me now, do you? Not when you have so little to defend yourself with and certainly no one to turn to – not even to that pretty little Miss Wells that you have taken a liking to.”
It was as though the sound of Titania’s name on Ravel’s lips sent a fresh fire bursting through Edward. His rage grew steadily as he hunkered down into a fighting stance, knowing that he had to do everything he could to both defend himself and attempt to capture Ravel. He would not be made a mockery of any longer.
“You have hidden yourself in plain sight, have you not?” he grated, as Ravel took another step. “But even still, you are nothing but a coward. You hide your face from someone you intend to put an end to.” He allowed his tone to become mocking. “Why is that, Ravel? Do you fear that I might succeed in defending myself? Do you think that you shall have to run from me, as you have before?”
Ravel’s eyes narrowed, and—without warning—he lunged forward, forcing Edward to dodge out of the way, only to feel pain slice through his shoulder as h
e did so. As hard as he could, he swung his fist in Ravel’s direction, hitting him squarely in the eye. Ravel staggered backwards, a shout of pain on his lips, and Edward did not hesitate but moved forward at once, ignoring the pain in his side and striking Ravel hard again. Ravel fell backwards, the knife spinning out of his hand and landing on the cobbled streets. The cloth covering the man’s face slipped, but before Edward could do any more, before he could reach for the cloth and grasp at it to reveal the man’s face in its entirety, a shout came from behind him.
“You there!” came an indignant voice. “What do you think you’re doing?”
