“I supposed it is not even largely untrue. But what about how I came to be a convalescent to begin with? Are we any closer to finding out who hit me in the head?”
“No, but I am hoping your presence at home again will lure him out. I have not told your mother this, but Owen and I hired a fellow he knows to guard your house. He is a former royal guard and is very good at hiding in plain sight.”
“A royal guard? Aren’t those the fellows with the red uniforms?”
Lark grinned. “You remember that?”
“Apparently.”
“Owen assures me this man will be discreet. He should be arriving at any moment. Oh, here he is.”
A man on horseback stopped in front of Hugh and slid off his horse. Lark snapped his fingers and a groom appeared.
“Michael, would you please see to Mr. Sedgwick’s horse?”
The groom nodded and led the horse away. Mr. Sedgwick, a man about Hugh’s age with thick brown hair and drab, nondescript clothing, shook hands with Lark.
“Your Grace, may I present you with John Sedgwick, the man I was just telling you about. Mr. Sedgwick, this is Hugh Baxter, the Duke of Swynford.”
Hugh shook Sedgwick’s hand.
“Sedgwick, you may go inside and let Hodges know who you are. I’ve asked the duchess to order a room prepared for you if you need it.”
“That is not necessary,” said Sedgwick. “Does this gate lead to the garden?” He pointed at a wrought iron gate next to the house that Hugh had not noticed before.
“Yes,” said Lark.
“I shall be fine.”
Hugh found this behavior puzzling, but then he did not know how a guard did his job.
“His Grace and I are going for a quick walk in the square. We shall return shortly.”
“Not a problem.”
Hugh shook his head and focused forward as Lark led him toward the square. There was a fence around a massive garden full of colorful flowers. Men and women walked slowly through the square in groups of two or three.
Something about the fence was familiar. It was…
It was the last thing Hugh had seen before being hit on the head.
“Oh, god.”
“What?” asked Lark.
“The Rutherford ball. I was walking home from the ball, and it was right here.” Hugh took a few steps forward and stood where Upper Brook Street met the edge of the square. “I was thinking about how Mayfair couldn’t really be very dangerous atnight since the only people on the street were likely to be drunk aristocrats when a red rose caught my eye through the fence. As I looked at it, I thought I heard someone call my name, but I wasn’t certain so I didn’t look. Then someone I did not see hit me in the head.”
Lark leaned forward. “Can you recall anything else?”
Hugh closed his eyes. “I can picture it clearly, but I did not see the man coming. I just recall pain at the back of my head and then waking up at the Sweeney House.”
“I supposed your recalling the man’s identity would have been too easy. But you heard someone call your name. Did you recognize the voice?”
“I’m afraid I didn’t. I was certain I’d imagined it, but I wonder in retrospect if I did not.”
A woman appeared then. “Your Grace! It is wonderful to see you in good health!”
This woman was… no, Hugh could not recall her. Suppressing a sigh of frustration, he said, “I thank you. I am nearly recovered.”
