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“Mary.” He said her name with warning in his voice. Turning to meet his eyes, Mary appeared aghast, surprised he was not on her side. Truthfully, he wanted to be, but he also had some sympathy for Stuart’s position. “He is her uncle. He loves her and wants her safe.”
Sighing, Mary softened just a touch.
“She is somewhere in London, and shewasdoing some housekeeping for Lucas’ butler while he searched for Lucas. I assume that is now over with.”
“Yes, the earl is going to be going to France, I believe,” Stuart said mildly, surprising Rex. Lucas? In France? The way Stuart spoke, it sounded as though he was the one sending Lucas there. Hmm... maybe this would not be an entirely bad thing. Having a real mission might be good for Lucas.
Mary
Doing her best to ignore the growing throbbing of her sore bottom from sitting so long, Mary tried to focus on the conversation. Though she was determined not to betray Evie, there was one thing she wanted to know, she was hoping Oliver would be able to tell her.
“Before Evie left, she said ‘he’ was here and could not see her. I thought she must have meant Elijah, but he was not there. Do you know who she was talking about? Does she know Captain Jones or Browne?”
Elijah shook his head, Oliver following only a moment behind. Mary narrowed her eyes. Clearly, Evie’s uncledidknow, but his son did not, and he did not want Elijah to know. Interesting.
“What is going to happen to Collins now?” Rex asked.
Mary could have kissed him, even though a moment ago, she had wanted to throw something at his head when he had taken Oliver’s side. Now he was diverting the other man’s attention from Evie. She doubted this would be the end of it, but she truly did not know where Evie had ended up. That she would likely find out when she next saw Evie in Hyde Park was something the Stuarts did not need to know.
“Collins is currently enjoying the hospitality of the Crown,” Oliver said, his eyes shuttering. Sometimes, Mary forgot he was not just Evie’s happily indulgent and overprotective Uncle Oliver, but at this moment, she was swiftly reminded. There was a coldness to his voice she had never heard before. “Unfortunately, it turns out, he was not working alone.”
“Not Carlisle!” Rex looked shocked, then relieved when Oliver shook his head.
“No, not Carlisle. We do not know who he was working with. Or, should I say, being blackmailed by?”
“Blackmail?” Mary’s brow furrowed. “Was he not a true villain then?”
“Oh, no. Hedidorganize the Duke of York’s assassination attempt but at another’s direction,” Oliver said grimly. “Someone found out about his activities smuggling spies across the Channel during the war and blackmailed him with that information into continuing his traitorous deeds. As he had lost a fair bit of his income once the war was over, he was open to making more money.”
“Bloody hell,” Rex cursed before glancing at her. “Sorry, petal. I…” He was frustrated, knowing a snake had been harbored in his Society. Mary reached out to take his hand, soothing him. There was no way he could have known. Rex turned his attention back to Oliver. “Who was the puppet master then?”
Oliver’s countenance grew even grimmer, though Mary had not thought that possible.
“He never knew the identity of his blackmailer. Do not worry. We will find him.” The last words rang out, full of determined conviction.
Mary bit her lip before she could blurt out an offer to help. Evie and the others would want to, but she knew Oliver would never accept such an offer, and making it would only put him on guard.
“Could there be someone else in my Society?” Rex asked, frowning. Oliver hesitated, and Mary was glad he had been the one to ask. If she had, Oliver would have likely metaphorically patted her on the head and told her to run along, the way he often did to Evie. Despite all Evie had done to prove herself to her uncle, he still did not think women were as capable as men.
“It is possible,” Oliver admitted almost apologetically. “I cannot tell you for sure. To that end, I would like Elijah and Jones to continue in the current positions. Warwick as well.”
“As long as it is clear, Julian Mitchell is still unwelcome.”
“Of course.” Oliver nodded.
Mary wanted to scream in frustration at how little they knew, but she supposed she had to be content with the knowledge Collins would immediately be facing justice and believe they would find his puppet master in the future. Oliver and his men would not rest, and neither would she and her friends.
Leaving Stuart House, seated in the carriage next to her husband, Mary sighed and leaned into his shoulder. The extra cushion he had provided for her to sit on during the ride was very much appreciated as she was still noticeably sore. On the other hand, she did rather like the physical reminder of the prior evening’s activities. She even felt a bit proud, having endured the punishment. Rex’s large hand came to rest on her thigh, protective and comforting.
“Thank you for not telling him about our Sunday meetings with Evie,” she murmured. She felt, more than heard, his soft chuckle, then his sigh.
“I should have, you know.”
“She can, and has, taken care of herself in far more dangerous situations. Her uncle used her skills in the past when the necessity arose, before trying to tuck her back into her safe little corner.” Mary snorted. “It is in her blood, just as it is in his and Elijah’s. He would do better to make use of her. If he did, she would follow his orders, but all he does is exclude her.”
Mary knew how it felt to be excluded by family. Not so much anymore, though.
Rex had not only included her in every part of his life, he had accepted every part of hers.
