Epilogue

Lord Macklin arrived at Frithgerd four days later with his valet but not Tom. “I’ve brought a confidant of Castlereagh’s with me,” he said when Daniel and Penelope greeted him. “He thought it best to stay at the inn until we’d spoken and he could dismiss those two agents who made such a mull of things.” The earl’s blue eyes glinted. “I understand they’ve been given a new posting at the very back of beyond. You won’t be seeing them again.” He turned to Daniel. “He’s also come to take charge of your mother’s notebooks.”

“On my terms?” Daniel asked.

“Yes. I’m sorry about the delay. It took some time to get in to see Castlereagh. He’s a busy man.”

“I appreciate your efforts in the matter,” Daniel said.

“What efforts?” asked Penelope. “What terms? Is this the plan you mentioned?”

Daniel nodded as Macklin turned to her. The earl held out a square of paper. Penelope looked at Daniel, who shrugged his ignorance. Taking the card, she scanned it and gasped. At Daniel’s inquiring look, she said, “This is an invitation to a ball in my honor. At the Castlereaghs’.”

“A token,” Macklin said. “Proof, if you require more than Castlereagh’s personal word and his promise as Foreign Secretary.”

“Those are certainly good enough,” Daniel said. “Though it’s good to have something tangible as well.”

Penelope stared at the bit of paper. Lady Castlereagh was a leader of the haut ton. Her stamp of approval guaranteed social success. Seeing her own name in such a context seemed like a dream to Penelope. “I don’t understand.”

“In exchange for me freely giving up the notebooks to the Foreign Office, I asked that the Castlereaghs…repair your social standing. With invitations to parties and a show of friendship and acceptance. Lady Castlereagh is perfectly suited to ease your way into society.”

Penelope stared at him, then at Macklin.

“I reviewed your circumstances with Castlereagh,” said the latter. “He was shocked at the way you’d been treated. He doesn’t always agree with Sidmouth, you know, though they are both in the government.”

“This was your doing?” Penelope said, still trying to take it in.

The older man shook his head. “I merely carried out your husband’s request. The idea was all his.”

She turned to Daniel.

“You worried so about society,” he said simply.

“You said you didn’t care.”

“But you did. And that Pratt creature made me mad as fire when she snubbed you. I hope she sees every moment of your success. From the outside.”

“I never expected anything like this,” murmured Penelope. She knew it was a silly comment, but she was feeling overwhelmed.

“The government rather owed you something after the way you were treated,” said Macklin.

She gazed at the older man. “I’m not sure you always thought so.”

“Once I got to know you, I saw that you were the just the woman to make Daniel happy.”

“Hear, hear,” said Daniel.

Penelope turned to him. Her eyes blazed with love, and she saw it reflected back with equal strength from her husband’s gaze.

With his customary tact, Lord Macklin slipped out of the room.