Hearing this plan, their three gentlemen escorts shrugged, nodded and took themselves off to engage in the equivalent male endeavours, which included a bit of shooting while the weather held, then a fast and furiously competitive tournament around the billiards table.
Followed by brandy and cigars.
Thus both sexes were kept busy and relatively content, although Finn couldn’t help worrying about this damn plan of Hecate’s. He still wasn’t sure it would work.
He said as much to Hecate when he quietly slid into her bedchamber that night. Letitia, with great and subtle foresight, had placed them across from each other, so it was only one step from his door to hers.
“I’m worried, love.” He frowned at her. “Really worried about this.”
“I know.” She reached for his face and cupped it in her hands. “All I can do is ask you to trust me.”
“And I do. With my life, you know that.” He drew her close. “But I’m afraid for you. That it will take too much out of you.”
“And you’re not sure it will even work, are you,” she added gently.
“I want to believe, Hecate. And if you tell me it will work, then I will accept that as truth.”
“But…”
He sighed. “You have to admit…it’s completely out of the realm of my experiences…”
She kissed him lightly on the nose, then pointed at the bureau. “Finn…do you see that ewer on top there?”
“Yes?”
“Watch.”
*~~*~~*
Hecate awoke with the knowledge that the day was going to be a momentous one. Today they would unmask an unscrupulous man and show the world the villain lurking beneath his aristocratic exterior.
Last night they’d received the final confirmation that the gathering had been set.
Perry had assembled a guest list that made everyone raise their eyebrows as they read the names of two generals, several Right Honourables, an Earl and Colonel Lord Seymour Chittenden, who had been one of the Iron Duke’s Aides-de-Camp. And, of course, Lieutenant Colonel Lord Aubrey Faversill, formerly DeWitt.
Everyone had accepted. It seemed that an evening discussing the role of horse-breeding with a view to the future needs of the military appealed to this select group of attendees.
James had procured a copy of an old newspaper which featured a pencil portrait of Johnny Marchville. He was a handsome lad, with wide set eyes and a slightly crooked nose. The artist had captured something of the man he had been, and Hecate’s heart ached a little bit every time she studied it. But his features were becoming familiar to her.
The stage had indeed been set.
She’d seen James’s library, and judged it perfect, if a little overwhelming for her tastes. She could certainly curl up and read in there. But so could thirty other people at the same time. However, to judge from Letitia’s face when she showed it off, Hecate guessed that for Letitia, it was the next best thing to Heaven in the house. Ask a writer where they’d like to be, and odds were excellent they’d answer “a library”. Other than her time with her husband and baby, Hecate was prepared to believe that Letitia spent more than a few happy hours right here.
Finn was now a believer in the plan.
He was doing his part on schedule, although he was quieter than usual. Her demonstration had shocked him, but satisfied his curiosity and reassured him that their plan did indeed stand a very good chance of working. He’d managed to obtain all that he needed from friends still around his old barracks.
There had, however, been another unexpected result from her experiment.
She had discovered that her proposed actions might well drain her energies further than she’d anticipated. And Finn, who seemed to be developing a strong awareness of her well-being, declared himself to be worried about that particular part of the plan.
“Finn, I have to do this. For you, for myself, and most of all for the Marchvilles.” They were dressing for the evening when once again he voiced his concern.
“None of us matter next to you, Hecate. Can you understand that? You matter more to me than life itself. And although you won’t admit it, this night will be damn near dangerous to you.”
“I can do it, Finn. I must.”
“I know, love,” he walked to her and held her tightly. “But I’m afraid of what you’re risking. If you’re doing it for me, then don’t. I’ll find another way to deal with Faversill.”
