“I do not know,” she said, half-truthfully.
“You were accompanying a patrol of excisemen to view a ship,” Blackwood said from a position he had taken up on the other side of the room, far enough away to give privacy but not so far that he would not hear himself summoned.
“Excisemen?” Lionel repeated wonderingly. “This must have something to do with what Lennox wanted to see me about. A ship, you say?”
“Yes, Your Grace. You had been taken to the excise headquarters at Broad Street. That is where I found you and brought you here. Mr. Lennox was also present.”
“This had something to do with Thorpe, didn’t it?” Lionel added grimly.
“I do not know, Your Grace. I was not brought into your confidence.”
“Where is Lennox, anyway?” Lionel asked.
“Not here, Your Grace,” Blackwood stated. “He did not inform me where he was lodging in town. You may have been waylaid by highwaymen on your way to this ship. By all accounts, it was moored downriver in not the most respectable of areas.”
Lionel looked at Cecilia and managed to look guilty. He took her hand, squeezing it.
“No matter,” he shook his head before wincing at the pain. “I do not need to know what went on. I clearly had a narrow escape and that has taught me a lesson. I will not come so close to losing you again.”
Cecilia smiled behind a sudden veil of tears. “I am relieved to hear that,” she whispered, “I would not lose you either.”
“It will not be easy. Thorpe is bound to be at court if he has heard that you are to be presented to the Regent. And he cannot help but hear of it if he is an advisor to the Prince. But, I will put it aside. You are my priority. We will begin now to create a legacy for our child to carry on. Will you forgive me for leaving you alone?”
“I have already forgiven it,” Cecilia broke down silently, pressing his fingers to her lips.
Lionel smiled, closing his eyes.
“Good. I don’t want to think of that blackguard anymore. I just want to sleep.”
“Then rest and sleep, my love. All is well and all will be well.”
“In the best of all possible worlds,” Lionel murmured sleepily, unknowingly echoing Cecilia’s earlier quotation.
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
She smiled through thick tears, smoothing his hair back from his temple. Soon, his breathing deepened and she quietly got up, gesturing to Blackwood.
Cecilia left the room and Blackwood followed. She led him along the corridor for a few yards before turning.
“How much do you actually know, Blackwood?” she asked, rounding on the man.
“Of your evening jaunt or the master’s?” Blackwood replied.
“My evening jaunt?”
“Flock told me that he took you to Regent’s Circle and there confronted the Count of Thorpe. Gave him a few stripes to remember you by. I don’t disapprove.”
Cecilia sighed in relief. “And the Duke?”
“Master Lennox told me that the raid was of a ship belonging to Lord Thorpe and his associates. That there were slaves aboard.”
“Why didn’t you tell Lionel?”
Blackwood looked uncomfortable, looking away from Cecilia towards the door of his master’s bedchamber.
“He is injured and it will do him no good to go chasing after Lord Thorpe. Which is what he would do if he knew what had happened. You saw Lord Thorpe before or after the raid?”
