It was a savvy suggestion. But it was also dangerous. Charlotte’s worries had put his own nerves on edge. “I appreciate the suggestion. But be very careful in how you do your probing. You’ve seen that Daggett is not a man with whom to trifle.”
“Don’t worry, Wrex. I’ve no desire to have my liver sliced into mincemeat.” Sheffield smiled. “I’ve actually learned a modicum of discretion since my wastrel days.”
“Be sure to use it.” The earl turned to the looking glass and began knotting his cravat. “If anything happens to you, Lady Cordelia will cut outmyliver.”
Sheffield let out a low laugh, which struck Wrexford as strangely at odds with the spasm of emotion that suddenly passed over his friend’s face. “No, no, you’re quite safe.” A careless shrug. “I don’t think she would even notice if I went missing.”
The earl heaved an inward sigh. “Given my own muddlings, I’m hardly one to offer advice—”
A warning flashed in Sheffield’s eyes that any counsel on vagaries of the heart wouldn’t be welcomed.
“But be that as it may . . .” Wrexford donned his evening coat and smoothed a wrinkle from his sleeve. He and Charlotte had assumed the relationship between Sheffield and Lady Cordelia was deepening. However, he knew from experience that love rarely chose to travel along a smooth and straight road. It seemed to take a malicious delight in twists and turns that led up steep peaks and dipped into plunging valleys.
“But be that as it may,” he repeated, “I’ll advise you again to be careful. I would rather you didn’t stick your spoon in the wall.”
“Let us both try to stay in the land of the living,” said Sheffield as the two of them turned and hurried for the stairs. “After all, we have an important wedding to attend in the near future.”
* * *
Charlotte tried to loosen the knot of dread in her chest. There was, she told herself, no cause to be worried. Her fears were unreasonable. Tyler and Hawk would make quick work of identifying and retrieving the specimen, while all she and Wrexford had to do was mingle with the other scholars who had come to attend the evening lecture and wait for the valet’s signal to approach Lord Bethany.
Hardly a scenario that should strike fear into her heart. She had faced far more dangerous situations without a qualm . . .
Wrexford curled his fingers around her hand and leaned closer. “Rest easy, my dear,” he murmured, the words just loud enough for her to hear. “If Daggett had any inkling of where Becton had hidden his precious plant, it would have disappeared long ago.”
“That makes perfect sense,” she replied.
“And yet?”
Athumprattled the carriage as the wheels hit a rut in the road.
How to articulate the nameless sharp-as-needles prickling at the nape of her neck? Charlotte sighed. “And yet, it seems that I can’t help acting like a flighty peagoose.”
“You are the least featherbrained lady I’ve ever known,” responded Wrexford. “If your intuition is telling you something, be assured I am listening as well.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “We will all exercise caution, and be on the alert for any trouble.”
Tyler must have heard the last exchange because he looked up quickly from Hawk’s sketchbook. “We’ve just been going over the location of the specimen. Hawk has drawn a diagram of exactly where it is, milady. Once we reach the Orangery, we’ll be in and out of the storage room in a flash. Add another few minutes for us to get it into Wrexford’s hands, and the danger will be over.”
“He’s right, my dear,” added the earl. “The fact that Becton’s plant and papers had gone missing was, as you know, kept a secret. But I will convince Bethany to make an immediate statement explaining that given the unexpected nature of Becton’s death, there was some question as to where his work had been kept. He’ll then announce that the Royal Society is delighted to report that the research and the special formula that Becton intended to reveal in his presentation have been found and locked away in a safe place—along with the plant specimen that is the key ingredient to the formula.”
Wrexford shifted, the fluttery lamplight threading sparks of gold through his dark hair. “That will put an end to any further threat of violence. Daggett and any co-conspirators will have no reason to continue their hunt. Indeed, their concern ought to be arranging their flight from Britain before they can be arrested for murder.”
Charlotte saw that Hawk was watching her intently. Softening her own misgivings with a smile—he had lapsed into an unnatural silence for the last few miles—she was about to say something, when yet another jolt of the wheels suddenly roused him.
Scooting closer to the window, Hawk angled a look out into the fast-fading light. “We’re here!” he exclaimed.
“An hour,” intoned Tyler. “Things will all be settled and we shall be back on the road within an hour, milady.”
“Unless, of course, you wish to stay for supper and champagne,” said the earl dryly.
The carriage rolled to a halt and one of the attendants waiting to assist the guests hurried to let down the step.
“Let us first make sure that we’re not going to have to eat our words,” murmured Charlotte as the door came open.
On that note, they all descended to the graveled walkway.
CHAPTER 20
“Let us circle around the main conservatory,” suggested Tyler as they moved out of earshot of the reception area. “Then we can split up. Hawk and I will head to the Orangery, while the two of you go stroll through the special exhibits set up in the display rooms.” He slanted a look at the earl. “Make your way to the area that opens onto the connecting corridor. As soon as I have the specimen, Hawk and I will pass through it, and that will be the signal that you should go ahead and find Lord Bethany and put the final part of the plan in motion. We’ll wait for you in the print study room.”
