Their conversation was interrupted by the butler appearing at the end of the drawing room. 'Excuse me, my lord, Miss Brotherton, but a gentleman called Mr Haven wishes to see you. He says the matter is urgent otherwise I wouldn't have bothered you, my lord, so late at night.'
James was on his feet at once. 'He's my man of affairs, show him in at once. Mr Smithers, my secretary, is also expected here tomorrow evening. Have a room prepared for Mr Haven. Bring whatever's available in the kitchen plus a pot of coffee here immediately.'
Sofia was up and stood beside him. Whatever news Michael was bringing so urgently having her standing close would make things easier.
Michael strode in, his boots dirty, his breeches mud stained. It wasn't him being so dishevelled that concerned James, it was his expression.
'I'm sorry to arrive so late and unannounced, my lord, but this wouldn't wait.'
'I appreciate you coming. Take a seat, Michael. I'll pour you a brandy – you look as though you need one.'
'No, I need to tell you what I've learned first. I think you've guessed from my demeanour that none of it's good news.'
Michael collapsed into an armchair and closed his eyes apparently asleep but he knew he wasn't. James and Sofia resumed their seats on the sofa which was opposite. There was no point in talking until after the refreshments had been brought as what was going to be said wouldn't be anything he wanted his staff to hear.
Less than ten minutes after Michael arrived two footmen hurried in and put the laden trays down on the bureau. Sofia thanked them, told them to leave, that she would take care of serving.
She cut the bread into smaller pieces, placed meat and cheese upon them, before putting the food on a plate and taking it across to Michael.
'Here you are, I'll put the napkin on your lap, I'm going to fetch you coffee to wash it down.'
His eyes opened slowly. He nodded his thanks and took the food and devoured it in moments. She had a second plate ready and swapped the empty one with it. Not until she was sure he was replete, had drunk three cups of coffee, did she sit down again and nod that James could now ask him questions.
*
Sofia waited for Michael to explain why he'd come so urgently but he remained slumped in the chair seemingly unable to tell them. The news must be dire indeed for him to be so unwilling to speak.
James seemed relaxed considering the circumstances, his long booted legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles while she was sitting tense, her hands clasped in her lap, beside him. She was becoming a trifle irritated by the delay but it wasn't her place to speak.
Then finally James lost patience with his man of business. 'Michael, I need to know what happened and why you felt it necessary to disturb us at this unconscionable hour.'
'I beg your pardon, my lord, I was trying to gather my thoughts so that I could tell you what I've learned.' He sat up and looked more alert than he had before, less upset. 'I've spent all day to-ing and fro-ing from Bath, to the squire, and back again.'
He paused again and this time James wasn't so polite.
'For God's sake, man, get on with it. I haven't got all night to sit here and wait for you to give us the news. It doesn't matter how bad it is, just tell me.'
'The squire took the two who attacked you and had them imprisoned in the city jail. They're bound for the gallows unless it's commuted to transportation. In order to obtain this leniency, they were only too willing to tell him everything.
'Mr Brotherton, your cousin's working with your erstwhile London lawyers and assisted by Foster and Bedford and their followers. Those two men were sent to fire stones at Lucifer, to make him bolt and cause you to fall and hopefully break your neck.'
'They didn't realise it was me riding him. They weren't trying to harm me but James. Why would they think he would be unseated?' Sofia said.
'I told you, sweetheart, Lucifer's only kind to you. If I'd been in the saddle he'd have reared and bucked before he bolted and probably thrown me.' James looked at Michael and nodded.
'I assume there's more.'
'Yes, my lord, it would appear that these conspirators intend to try again. They don't consider you the legitimate heir and are convinced that your father sent you away because you were not his son.'
James gave a snort of laughter. 'Good God, how could they be so stupid? My sister looks like my father, like everybody else in the family, but I am the image of my mother.'
'That doesn't prove that you are your father's son, my lord, looking like your mother could prove their suspicions.'
'You need to tread carefully, I'm not impressed by the way you're relaying this information, Haven,' James said, his tone arctic.
The man's colour drained when he realised what he'd seemed to be implying. 'I beg your pardon, my lord, I wasn't suggesting… of course you're the legitimate heir. Your father never suggested for one minute that you weren't his son – he just didn't like you because your mother died when you were born.'
'Actually, Sofia, in case you're wondering, I can prove my provenance. All the earls have a birthmark on their anatomy that resembles a pistol.' His smile was wicked as he continued. 'I'll be able to show you that tomorrow night but not before then.'
