The man shook his head regretfully. “I am afraid not, Gabe. I will let you know the moment I hear anything.”
Colin cursed.
“Ta.” Gabe nodded.
They fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
Hydra clapped his hands together, the loudcrackreverberating off the walls of the morning room.
“Tell me what news you have.” Hydra leaned back in his chair, his coffee in his hands. “Did you learn the identity of any other traitors? Did the rendezvous go as planned?”
“Not precisely…” Mary began, and Colin and Gabe joined in, the three of them recounting the events of the previous night and early that morning.
Hydra listened with an attentive ear, seemingly absorbing every bit of information they imparted upon him.
When they concluded, Hydra sat, tapping his chin, his lips pursed. “Sir Wycliff, you say? Damn. The man’s been knighted for God’s sake. Whatever would possess a man to turn traitor?”
“Money? Greed? Any number of things, I suppose,” Mary said. “But I am absolutely certain it was him. I would recognize his voice anywhere and I saw his face clear as day. He was introduced to me at the ball, but I’ve seen him several times before, visiting the other actresses backstage.”
Hydra nodded. “Very well. Thank you. You have done an excellent job. Truly superior. I received notice from our man, Callum, this morning that he had concluded his recent assignment. I will put him on it right away.”
“I could follow him, sir,” Colin offered.
Hydra shook his head. “I have an assignment in mind for you once your current one is complete.”
“Of course, sir.”
Hydra cleared his throat and turned a solemn gaze on Gabriel. “My sincerest condolences to you in the loss of your cousin. And to have been there but not able to intervene…” he shook his head. “I cannot fathom…”
“Ta,” Gabe grunted, sorrow touching his beautiful blue eyes. “I didnae like the man, but he was still my cousin. It…pains me tha’ he is gone, most particularly because of a bloody foolish mistake.”
They sat in silence for another moment while they sipped at their steaming drinks.
“‘Mr. Spencer’ boarded the ship to the Americas this morning,” Hydra spoke into the silence.
Apparently grateful for the distraction, Gabe leaned forward eagerly. “Who did you put in my place?”
Hydra swallowed a mouthful of his coffee. “As a matter of fact, Gabe, I found a man bound for the hangman’s noose that has a startling resemblance to you. I offered him freedom with a very large stipend and one stipulation—that he take your name upon boarding—and he gratefully accepted.”
“Good morning, my darling.” A very pregnant Lady Bridget Bradley entered the morning room and greeted her husband in a warm embrace.
Gabe, Colin, and Mary stood to greet her.
Before she could be seated, the rest of Hydra’s family members and the doctor entered behind Lady Bradley and the group jovially greeting one another, as well as Mary, Gabe, and Colin, before taking their seats around the table.
Soon they were settled with plates of food, cups of tea, and pleased expressions upon their faces.
Bridget sat across from Colin and smiled at Mary. “It has been some time since I last saw you, Mary. You look well.”
“You gaze upon her with happiness clouding your sight, Bridget,” Dr. Simon Claridge, the Earl of Merrington, said. “Not that anyone could blame you, in your own happy state.” He turned his sky-blue gaze on Mary with a note of concern. “Once you have broken your fast, if you should like me to perform an examination, I would gladly do so.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
He smiled broadly, and Mary could not help but return it with one of her own.
The conversation turned to the warming weather, plays, Kat’s tailoring and modiste shops, and all of their newly adopted animals.
Colin leaned close to Mary’s ear and whispered, “Might I speak privately with you later about Isobel?”
“Of course,” she whispered back. “Is your sister well?”
His lips thinned. “Not particularly.”
Mary nodded. “I would be happy to help in any way that I can.”
With a small grin, Colin said in a low voice, “I never congratulated you on your happiness with Gabe. You two make a charming couple.”
Mary caught Gabe’s eye and a pleasing quiver fluttered low in her stomach. “Thank you. You are right, Colin,” she said quietly, turning back to Colin. “He is my Prince Sebastian.”
