Mary
After church on Sunday, Mary made her way to Hyde Park with her maid in tow, ostensibly to watch over her since she could not go ‘wandering around London alone,’ according to Thomas. He had come with her last week and gone riding after passing her off to her friends, but this week, Arabella was demanding more of his attention. Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Henry were spending the afternoon together in the library, and Walter was making himself scarce as usual.
At some point, Mary was going to have to figure out how to talk to Walter about his role in Rex’s Society, but her cousin would have to actually be present for that to happen.
Dressed in a sensible blue pelisse over her favorite green walking gown, hair tucked up under a wide-brimmed, blue-and-white bonnet, Mary was relieved to feel as though she had faded back into obscurity. It was too early in the day for the park to be very crowded, but no one gave her a second glance, which she found far more comfortable than all the stares and whispers from the night before.
Making her way down to the Serpentine, she was relieved to see Evie and Lily already waiting for her under the willow overhanging the bank. While the spot did not offer complete privacy, it was as good as they could get under the circumstances.
“Wait here for me,” Mary told the maid accompanying her, pointing to a bench within viewing distance of the willow. “I wish to speak to my friends alone.”
“Yes, miss.” The maid looked bored but also relieved, taking to her seat with alacrity, already looking about the park to watch the other visitors. Satisfied, Mary continued to her friends.
“Good morning.” Mary pushed the wispy branches out of her way, moving to the blanket where Evie and Lily were sitting. Like her, Lily and Evie were both dressed fashionably but functionally in outfits not meant to draw attention.
“Is it?” Evie raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. “I heard you were the belle of the ball last night. I must admit, becoming the Marquess of Hartford’s intended was not how I expected you to go about your task. Lily makes it sound as though you did not have much choice, though.”
“No, I did not.” Arranging her skirts and legs to a comfortable position, Mary made a face. “Following him at the Richmond ball and sneaking around his house during his masquerade piqued his attention.”
“I do not understand how he even noticed you.” Evie grimaced as soon as she said the words, shooting Mary an apologetic look. “I do not mean… it is just that you are so very good at fading into the background and overhearing things when you want to.” Her eyes narrowed, a thought occurring to her. “Did you not want to with him?”
“I tried… but…” Mary pressed her lips together, one hand creeping up to touch the bonnet her hair was piled beneath. “He notices me. He even knew my hair color had changed from last Season.”
“Who noticed you?” Josie was out of breath as she hurried beneath the branches before flopping down next to Mary. Her cherry-red pelisse was eye catching, as was the matching hat perched atop her curls. She stood out among them like a bright rose stuck into a bouquet of daisies. Discretion was not one of her strong suits. “Why are we talking about your hair again?”
Mary rolled her eyes, Lily laughed, but Evie just shook her head, even though she could not stop a small smile from spreading on her lips, despite Josie’s tardiness. She tended to have that effect—charming people even when they wanted to be annoyed with her.
“Hartford noticed Mary’s hair color is different this Season,” Lily informed her before turning back to Mary. “You did not tell us that before.”
Shrugging, Mary truly did not have an answer for them. There were several things between herself and Rex she had been reluctant to disclose, but the others—like the spanking and the subsequent pleasure—made more sense to conceal. She did not know how her friends would react, and it was private. Why she kept his comment about her hair to herself… that was not as easy to explain.
“So, he noticed you last Season and remembered your hair,” Evie said, tapping her finger thoughtfully against her lower lip, the way she did when she was puzzling out something. “He is either extremely observant or…”
“Or he was already interested in you.” Josie grinned wickedly.
Blinking in surprise, Mary only took a moment to think about it before shaking her head.
“The one time I was close enough for him to notice me last Season, he was already courting Arabella.”
“That does not mean he did not notice you,” Lily pointed out thoughtfully. “He is a rake.”
It was all Mary could do not to make a face. She did not like the idea of Rex being so disloyal, but Lily was right, and she would do well to remember that.
“Reformed rakes are supposed to make the best husbands,” Josie argued. “Perhaps he was not ready to reform last Season.”
“And he is this Season?” Lily’s skepticism echoed Mary’s, though hers remained unspoken.
“Not the point,” Evie said, slashing her hand through the air to cut off their bickering. She gave Mary another apologetic look. “Not that your eventual choice of husband is not important, but…”
“No, no, please.” Mary nodded. “We should talk about how this changes things.”
“Are we even sure this plot is still afoot?” Josie asked almost plaintively. “We have heard nothing, seen nothing, to indicate it might be.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Evie’s expression darkened. “One of my uncle’s men was injured this past week when someone broke into the Duke of York’s home. They were unable to apprehend him, and he escaped.”
All three of her friends sucked in gasps for breath.
“They have not given up, then.” Josie had paled, her expression more somber. “Yet we barely know anything more than we did before. Unless… has your uncle uncovered anything?”
“No.”
The four of them sat in unhappy silence for a long moment. Finally, Lily stirred, speaking quietly as usual.
“The Russian delegation seems pleased with the trade agreements so far. One of my contacts says they look to be spending the remainder of the Season entertaining themselves. There was a fight between the French envoy and the Russian envoy earlier this week, though no one seems to know exactly what it was about. The French envoy, the Comte of Dreux, was overheard cursing after one of his meetings with the crown.”
“If the French are unhappy, perhaps that is why another attempt was made on the Duke this week,” Mary mused.
“Unlike the Russians, they are making an effort to mingle with Society.” Josie leaned back on her elbows. “They are really rather friendly.”
“And all already married,” Lily said dryly. “I do not think a willingness to flirt is any indication of innocence.”
“I am only pointing out, they are making an effort.”
“Which might be a deliberate deception on their part.”
“Is there any indication they are working with an English counterpart?” That was what Mary really wanted to know. She did not like to think Rex, or any of his friends, might be tied to the assassination attempts. The activities of the Society could put them all in danger with the law as it was.
“That is what I want us to focus on,” Evie said grimly. “My uncle and his men have connections with the envoys we do not.” She looked at Lily. “Although, if you could keep up with your contacts, that would be appreciated.” Lily nodded. “Josie, my understanding is you are in a good position to gather gossip, especially for anyone connected to the envoys.”
“The French are very sociable, but I will do my best,” Josie said with a sigh. “There will be a very large amount of gossip from them. At least the Russians’ introversion should make things easier on that count. They hardly talk to anyone outside of their own group, which makes anyone they do talk to stand out.”
“Just do your best. Lily, anything more you can find out about negotiations and the argument between the French and the Russians. I am sure my Uncle is working on that as well, but I am just as sure he will not share that knowledge.” Evie’s expression was full of frustration over her uncle’s protectiveness, even though his sentiments were demonstrably legitimate. “Mary, keep looking into Hartford. In particular, focus on his friend, the Earl of Devon. He was recently seen gambling with the Russian envoy in a particularly notorious gaming hell.”
“How do you know that?” Josie asked curiously. They often took for granted Evie would know things they did not—could not—but Josie usually wanted to know how Evie knew. Sometimes, Evie was forthcoming, but today did not appear to be one of those days.
“Never you mind,” Evie said a bit too severely, getting to her feet. She glanced at the sky. “I have to go. I only had a bit of time off this morning.”
“Time off from what?” Josie murmured at Evie’s back as their friend hurried away. Pursing her lips, Josie turned to look at Mary and Lily. “What do you think she is not telling us?”
“I am certain there is a whole host of things she is not telling us,” Mary admitted.
“I think she must be working in a household somewhere in London,” Lily said, still watching Evie’s form disappear down the length of the river. When no one responded, she finally turned to look at the other two, surprise tingeing her expression when they stared back at her in bewilderment. “It makes sense. We know she is not going about in Society, she is only able to get away on Sundays, and her hands appeared chapped.”
“You would make a good detective.” Mary had not noticed Evie’s hands, nor had she made that conjecture. Lily was right; it did make sense, though astounding. She thought Evie was likely the only one of them who could manage such a disguise, especially for such a long period of time. It had been weeks since the Season had started. How had Evie gone about attaining employment? She would have needed references, a wardrobe, and all sorts of things.
“Look out, here comes trouble,” Josie said suddenly, sitting bolt upright. Lily and Mary’s heads came up, turning to see where she was looking. A rider on a fine horse was approaching, but it took a few more long seconds before Mary recognized Evie’s cousin, Elijah.
“How did you know…” Lily’s muttered.
“Recognized the horse, of course.” Only Josie.
Mary turned her smile at Josie’s confession into a smile for Elijah as he rode close to the edges of the tree branches, his piercing blue eyes full of suspicion.
“What are you three doing here?” he barked out, and Mary almost jumped. Elijah could be abrupt, but he was rarely rude. “Where are your chaperones?”
“My maid is on that bench, just beyond you,” Mary said, nodding her head in the direction.
“And mine is over there.”
“My groom is walking our horses about,” Josie said airily, waving her hand. Mary did not believe for one moment Josie did not know exactly where her horse was being walked, but Josie did love to get under Elijah’s skin when he was bossy.
Elijah’s mouth tightened, the suspicion not dropping one iota from his expression. For once, though, he did not rise to Josie’s bait.
“Evie is missing.” He watched them carefully as he made the pronouncement. All three of them gasped. Josie put her hand over her heart.
“Missing?” Mary asked, stepping forward and drawing his attention, giving Lily and Josie a moment to catch up. Out of the three of them, she was the best liar. “You mean she’s not back home? I thought she wanted to spend this Season on the estate.”
“That is what she said, but my father sent Adam back home to… pick up something for him, and Evie was not there. Mrs. Jamison told him Evie told her she was bored and had decided to spend the Season in London after all. Apparently, she left weeks ago, even sent Mrs. Jamison a letter telling her she had arrived safely, but she is not here.” His agitation was so great, the large bay horse he was sitting upon danced beneath him for a moment.
“I am sure she is fine,” Josie announced from behind Mary, and Mary barely bit back a groan. Elijah refocused his attention, eyes narrowing. Even when Josie was telling the truth, the two of them got along like cats and dogs.
“You are not worried?” he asked, the question coming out as a challenge.
“You must admit, Elijah,” Mary hastily interjected before Josie could respond. “Evie often disappears to do… things. We have become rather used to it. The last we spoke to her, she said she thought you and your father were keeping something from her. Is it possible she has decided to act on her own?”
Relief suffused her when Elijah frowned, his gaze turning inward. “She… dammit.”
Without another word, he turned his horse’s head and nudged it into a canter, taking him swiftly away from them. Worry rose in Mary’s chest, sharp and sweeping. She had only meant to prick Elijah, seeing as he, his father, and brothers often left Evie out in an effort to protect her, but he would not behave so boorishly if he were not truly distressed.
“Perfect, now he is going to think Evie is hiding from them as retribution,” Josie said, cackling. Mary turned back to face her. Josie stopped laughing when she saw the expression on Mary’s face, her own smile turning to a frown. “What is it?”
“He might think that, but more likely, he will think she is doing exactly what she is doing—investigating on her own.” It would hardly be the first time.
“Which begs the question, why did he react that way?” Lily said, concern filling her voice as well. “What does he know that we do not?”
“More importantly, does he know something Evie does not?” Mary bit her lip, but there was nothing they could do. They did not even know where Evie was staying or how to contact her other than these weekly meetings.
A pall hung over them. Evie was so confident, so determined, not a one of them had questioned her. How could they when it came to protecting their country? The situation had not seemed personally dangerous to anything other than her reputation until this very moment—Elijah would not be acting that way unless he felt it was his cousin’s life in danger.
“We will ask her next week,” Josie said stoutly, a little paler. “Until then, we will have to do as she asked.”
“And be very careful about what we are doing.” Lily exchanged a worried glance with each of them. They parted much more somberly than they had come together, each hurrying homeward, lost in her own thoughts.
Rex
The pounding on his front door drew Rex to the foyer before Cormack could fetch him. It was the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday in Mayfair—no one would be hammering at his door like that unless it was an emergency.
“Let me in!” Lucas’ familiar voice rang through the room just as Rex reached it, his friend pushing past Cormack. Turning, Cormack’s confliction was clear, although it slid away from his expression, turning to relief as soon as he saw Rex.
“The Earl of Devon has come calling, m’lord.” Cormack’s censorious tone made it clear he would be happy to remove Lucas if Rex so desired, forcibly if necessary. One look at Lucas’ sweaty, flushed face and any small temptation Rex had to accept Cormack’s inclination melted away.
Lucas was deep in his cups again. Throwing him out would likely end in him, causing a scene and disturbing Rex’s neighbors, two things he had no wish to do. While he was rapidly tiring of Lucas’ vices and growing selfishness, he knew anything Lucas did outside of Hartford House would reflect just as badly on Rex. They’d been friends for too long, often paired in people’s minds, and if Lucas was three sheets to the wind on Rex’s own lawn… With how drunk he was, Lucas would not care. Hell, he might not care even if he was sober.
Bone-deep tiredness flowed through Rex. When had their friendship turned to this? When had Lucas become this kind of man? He had not always been this way. It used to be that Rex depended on Lucas even more than the other way round. He supposed he’d always felt in debt to the man because of that. Lucas was the one who had encouraged Rex to embrace himself as he was, the one he had turned to whenever he needed a shoulder or a helping hand. Now the roles had not only changed, but Lucas asked far more of Rex than Rex ever had of him.
Rex was uncomfortably aware he shouldered some of the blame in enabling Lucas’ slow slide into dissolution. While he had only meant to help by paying Lucas’ debts and smoothing his paths, he had shielded Lucas from the consequences of his own actions. Unfortunately, the guilt of knowing he’d enabled Lucas had pushed him to do so even more.
That had to end now. Lucas was no longer a callow youth, responsibility thrust upon him at too young an age, and Rex had his own responsibilities now.
“Come in,” Rex said, turning to lead Lucas back to his study.
“No.” Lucas swayed toward Rex, eyes bright with some kind of emotion, making him appear almost manic. “I need… I need… I just need some money from you.”
Of course, he did. When was the last time Lucas had not needed money from him?
Rex shook his head, half in denial and half in disgust at himself for letting this situation endure for so long. To his surprise, Lucas grabbed him by the arms, fingers digging in.
“You have to, Rex! You have to help me!” Spittle flew from Lucas’ mouth, and Rex jerked back, throwing Lucas off balance. He fell to his knees at Rex’s feet, but it barely slowed him. Throwing his head back, he stared up at Rex, eyes wild. “Please, Rex… I owe… I owe…”
“How much?” Rex’s voice was heavy, stern, and he backed away another step from his friend. “How much do you owe this time, Lucas? And how much do you owe me by now?”
Anger flashed across Lucas’ face, followed by a sneer. He pushed himself to his feet, still swaying.
“You are not going to help, are you? You do not care at all.”
“I have always cared, Lucas.” Rex kept his voice low, fierce. He would not allow Lucas to pretend Rex had done nothing for him. “I have always helped in the past. That is the problem. You have become reliant on my help, and you need to stand on your own two feet.” He held out his hands in supplication. “Let me actually help you. We can go over your books, find ways you can save some money, and if you just stay away from the card table—”
“Go to hell, Rex!” Lucas whirled around, shouting over his shoulder as he stumbled to the door. “You and your bloody judgment, always thinking you know what is right. I don’ need you, anyway!”
His words slurred, then he was out the door, slamming it behind him, and stumbling down the street. Pressing his lips together, Rex watched him go from the window, already wondering if he was doing the right thing.
Considering Rex had recently paid off Lucas’ debts only a few weeks ago, how much trouble could he really be in?