“You are causing trouble, Josiah,” Francis warned. “Is not this situation troubling enough as it is without such jests?”
“Perhaps so,” Josiah said with a shrug, “it is merely that I have never seen you so engaged with a young lady before.”
“We have become friends whilst she has been in my house, that is all,” Francis said, wanting to believe it. He focused back on the brandy and gulped it, trying to distract himself from Josiah’s words. His liking for Lady Ridlington was troubling enough without someone else having noticed it.
“That is all? You are simply Lady Ridlington’s friend now?”
“Yes, that is all,” Francis said, pushing back your chair. “And if you continue to cause such trouble with your words, then maybe we should follow the ladies into the drawing room to put an end to the conversation.”
Josiah laughed heartily as he too stood to his feet and followed Francis out of the dining room.
“I think you are a little touchy on the subject,” Josiah whispered as they neared the drawing room.
“I am not,” Francis said, keeping his gaze averted. “I am merely…”
“Avoiding the topic entirely?” Josiah teased.
“That is enough,” Francis warned, earning another small laugh from Josiah. As the two of them walked into the drawing room, Francis could see Diana and Lady Ridlington look up in surprise at them being joined so soon.
“You have left dinner very quickly,” Diana said, looking up from the card table where she and Lady Ridlington were playing a game.
“Conversation wasn’t interesting without you two,” Francis jested, relieved to see more laughter and put an end to Josiah’s teasing for good.
“This is the most important part of our conversation for the entire evening, in truth,” Josiah said as he delved a hand into a pocket and pulled out a closed letter. He took a seat on a settee nearby, proffering the letter in one hand and balancing his brandy glass in the other.
“What is it?” Francis asked as he sat down on the settee as well. He lowered his brandy glass down to a table nearby and took the letter from his brother-in-law’s fingers.
“I have written to a solicitor in town that specializes inthese matters,” Josiah said and gestured toward Lady Ridlington in the room. She clearly heard the words as she broke off from where she and Diana had been playing cribbage and looked their way, hurriedly placing down her hand of cards.
“He has replied? Already?” Francis asked, turning the letter over.
“Yes,” Josiah said, returning his focus to the brandy. “He has addressed his reply to you. He is the only one I have told that this is where our friend is staying.”
Francis could see Lady Ridlington stand to her feet and cross the room, with Diana following closely behind. Hurriedly, Francis jumped to his feet and retrieving a letter opener from a nearby drawer, pulling open the parchment and the wax, to reveal the letter beneath.
To His Grace, the Duke of Hayward,
I understand that you wish to employ me to act on the behalf of Lady Phoebe Ridlington, who is currently residing in your house at this present time. From the few particulars I know, I understand there is much secrecy involved in this case. Bearing this in mind, we must proceed with caution.
I wish to meet Lady Ridlington so that we may discuss the particulars of her wishes. I know to see my arrival at your estate would no doubt cause a stir in your household, and we do not wish for tongues to gossip at this present time! In which case, I bid you to bring Lady Ridlington to my office on Fleet Street in the city in two days’ time, at six in the evening. Most of my normal business will be concluded by this time and we can then be certain that Lady Ridlington will not be seen.
Please see the particulars regarding my rates of payment enclosed.
Write back at your earliest convenience.
Yours, et cetera,
Mr Norman Preston
“What does it say?” Lady Ridlington’s voice urged Francis to look up from the letter.
“He wishes us to take you into town.”
“What? Into the city?” Lady Ridlington asked, walking around the furniture and coming increasingly closer to him, the panic evident in her eyes that darted to and fro. “I would be seen! Graham has many friends in the city. Many men who work for him too. If I go there, it would be walking back into his clutches.”
“I agree,” Diana said as she took a seat beside Josiah.
“It cannot be done,” Lady Ridlington said, taking another step toward Francis.
