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I turned to see the man in question pause mid-escape. Was he escaping us—no, me?
Slowly, he turned around, and once more silence prevailed as everyone turned to watch this drama unfold. When Sir Grisham finally reached the table, he bowed his head.
“Offend me, your lordship? Why would you ever?”
“Well, last we spoke, you seemed disgruntled by my choice of guests. I wished to ask if you still felt this way and if there was anything that could be done to accommodate you better?” the marquess questioned.
Sir Grisham’s grip on his cane tightened, and he would not look at me. “No, my lord, I believe everything to be fine.”
“Brilliant,” the marquess replied, lifting his cards again.
I watched Sir Grisham go. But the silence continued. The crowd parted for another who walked into the room, with three others behind him, dressed nearly as finely as the dukes already present.
“Is that not the prime minister?” Henry whispered behind me.
I did not know the prime minister from Adam, so I could not answer, but as he walked up to the table, greeting a few men on his way, I had a strange feeling this was the whole purpose of my visit.
“Do not stand,” the marquess whispered to me just before the man reached us.
“Lord Monthermer, I see you are still robbing men blind.”
“On the contrary. It is I who have been robbed, Prime Minister,” the marquess replied, which made the rest of them laugh.
“You? By whom? I dare say I wish to shake that man’s hand.”
“That would be the famed Dr. Darrington, sir.” Lord Hardinge nodded to him. “He apparently wishes to be known throughout England.”
“I merely wish to keep my bank accounts healthy,” I said and nodded to the man before me. “Prime Minister.”
“Ah, Dr. Theodore Darrington, it seems I cannot escape your name of late. I thought you to be some grand figure, but you are about the same age as my son, if not younger. How does one garner such a reputation so quickly? I wish to know for the next election.” There were a few chuckles as they waited for my answer, but I knew not what to say in reply.
“Modistes,” I finally said, lifting the cards. “I hear they are quite the storytellers. I believe that next, they shall say I slew a dragon in Derbyshire.”
There was silence, and I was sure I had made a mistake until the prime minister laughed, which caused the others to laugh as well.
“I shall leave you to your game, gentlemen. Lord Monthermer.”
“Prime Minister.” The marquess nodded in return, and the prime minister went on his way.
I glanced at Lord Monthermer, confused. I leaned in and whispered, “Did I pass that test or fail it?”
“Passed,” he muttered back. “He detests those who put on airs.”
“So what now?”
“Now you wait.”
I tried not to be discouraged but waiting and not seeing Verity made me rather on edge.
“Patience is a virtue needed the most in marriage,” the marquess said aloud for the rest of the table.
“And marriage is needed the most for a gentleman, is that not what I always tell you, Henry?” Lord Fancot pressed.
“Is that what you are always saying? Strange, it seems I always miss it. Theodore, I do believe I might need my ears checked later. Until then, excuse me, gentlemen.” Henry quickly made his escape.
Lord Fancot sighed so heavily that his gut shook the table, causing the rest of them to laugh.
“Theodore, as his friend you ought to advise him, as he clearly shall not listen to me,” Lord Fancot said to me.
“I believe that wise men ought to advise from a position of safety, my lord, and I have yet to arrive there, so I shall remain silent for now.” Though one day, I would hope to find out the identity of the woman who held his heart in such a bind. I wished for him to find the happiness I had discovered with Verity.
Even now, I wished to write to her.
I prayed she was not doing anything dangerous.
Verity
“Did I not tell you to stay in the carriage?” Evander snapped at me when he noticed I had entered the jailhouse. The smell was horrid, and the darkness far worse, as it made every cry, cough, and scream seem much more haunting.
“I could not wait,” I whispered, staying close to him.
“I have noticed this to be a new trait of yours.” He sighed and then looked at the cell behind him, which was all stone but for the small door of iron bars.
“Is she in there?”
“Yes, she is to be kept here and not farther inside.”
“Is it worse farther inside?”
“There are—it does not matter. You shall see her, and we will leave immediately,” he said as he took my hand to help guide me so that I did not step into any of the pools of water gathered.
