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“As you wish,” Leonard said, deflated.
* * *
Leonard stood up from his bed and reached for his pocket watch.
The time was eleven o’clock at night, one hour before he was scheduled to meet members of his group. He and Kenneth had long since retired for the night and he suspected that the Marquess was already fast asleep.
When Kenneth had changed his mind about letting him tag along for the meeting, he had sent a message and instructions ahead. His hopes had been that they were going to follow his instructions and assemble at midnight for them to fill him in on how it had progressed.
Talking to Kenneth earlier this evening, he realized that his instructions hadn’t been followed.
It had taken all of his self-control to keep his rage contained, even though Kenneth had noticed some emotion which he’d interpreted as shock and disbelief that the plan had actually worked.
In reality, it had been rage that his men hadn’t followed his instructions of refusing Kenneth’s demand. They were also supposed to have made a little ruckus for the benefit of the Bow Street Runner who was most certainly watching them.
The reason was simple. When the uprising finally started in two weeks, the detective would have interpreted the little play he’d witnessed as Kenneth giving morale to his troops.
Now the buffoons have gone and done the exact opposite. Who’s to say what impression the detective has formed of Kenneth now?
Kenneth had no idea that Leonard was the one pulling the strings of the uprising in the shadows. Kenneth also had no idea how close the uprising was to occurring and that at this very minute, all the muskets and weapons that were going to be used had already arrived in England and were safely stashed away.
Worst of all, Kenneth had no idea that at the end of it all, he was going to be framed for their actions and sent to the executioner for treason.
He dressed, then holding his hood in his hand he walked to his door and opened it. Shutting the door behind him, he began making his way toward the stables and the hole in the fence beyond.
He looked up as he walked by Kenneth’s window and saw nothing but darkness.
Sweet dreams, Prince Idealistic.
His walk into town had been uneventful. The majority of those about town at this time of the night was comprised of servants and lowlifes—the other world he’d told Kenneth about.
This was his world and he had nothing to fear.
He made his way toward London’s red light district and the room where his group normally met.
His hood was in place now, eliminating the possibility of anyone recognizing him. The reason that he’d been able to live a double life as a valet and leader of an uprising was the level of anonymity and cautiousness he’d put into his different activities.
It will all be over soon. I am so close.
Arriving at the dark alley, he made his way to the end and stood in front of the door.
Checking his pocket watch, he was satisfied he had made it in time, even after such a long walk. It was five minutes before midnight and he proceeded to knock on the dingy door.
The usual question and answer session to gain entry into the enclave occurred and the door was opened for him.
This time he didn’t ask any questions or wait for the burly doorkeeper to shut the door and secure the locks before he marched on in the darkness toward the room ahead.
“What in God’s name happened at the meeting today? I do not show up and everything falls apart?” He railed at the men seated all around the room as soon as he walked in.
There were murmurs and grunts as everyone turned to focus their attention on him.
“Who in their right mind decided it was all right to promise the Marquess that we will hold off on our plans so he can get his useless bill through parliament?” Leonard continued to rail.
Whispers went up all around the room but no one dared speak up.
“Now you all have made me spend more wasted hours working on that blasted bill, instead of putting my time to good use in preparation for our planned attack. Not to mention that you all have got the Marquess running on false hopes, thus complicating things for me and restricting my movements even further.”
This time, however, there was a response.
