John, Elise and Stenfax all moved on the couple, offering their congratulations with hugs and handshakes. Asher stood aside, happy for them, but still wrapped up more in Felicity’s well-being.
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” Elise asked.
“With everything going on, we didn’t think it the time. Were we wrong, Felicity?” As he said her name, Gray looked around the room. Asher did the same and his heart sank. She was not there.
Rosalinde’s hand came to cover her belly. “Did our news drive her away?”
Asher stepped forward. “I’m certain not! She would be nothing but happy for you. But she was very upset by news that her secret has been sold. We should look for her.”
“Yes,” Stenfax said, leading the way out of the parlor. They were met in the foyer by his butler. “Stevens, have you seen my sister?”
The gentleman blinked. “She asked for the carriage a short time ago.”
Asher jolted forward. “The carriage? She left?”
The servant shifted at his tone. “Yes, sir.”
“Did she say where she was going?” Stenfax asked.
“Not to me, I’m afraid. Can I get you anything, my lord?”
Asher turned toward Gray and Stenfax. “You two should go with the ladies and see if Felicity went to your mother’s. John and I will go to Fitzgilbert’s and deal with that situation.”
Gray lunged toward him. “We bloody well won’t go to our mother’s. Fitzgilbert is more my problem than yours, Asher. And Felicity ismysister.”
“Which is why she needs you at her side,” Asher said softly. “Rather than you and Stenfax losing your heads with Fitzgilbert. There is no time to argue it. Go with Stenfax and the ladies and try to comfort your sister.”
Stenfax met Asher’s gaze for a moment, then the earl took Gray’s arm gently. “He is right. We will do more good for Felicity at her side. Stevens, call for the carriage. We’re going to my mother’s.”
The butler had been standing by, disappearing into the woodwork until his name was spoken. Now he hurried to do as he was told while the ladies went to gather shawls and reticules. Quickly they were loaded into the vehicle and Stenfax leaned out the open window with a stern look for Dane and Asher.
“Do what you can,” he said. “Dane, you know the kind of man Fitzgilbert is. Whatever you need to do, whatever he wants, if we can provide it, do it. For her.”
“For her,” Asher repeated, his heart aching for Felicity.
The carriage pulled away then and horses were brought up behind it. Dane smiled as he swung up on his mount. “You handled that well.”
Asher sighed heavily. “I know Gray. He’s loyal to a fault. If he came with us, we might end up with another murder on our hands and that would be good for no one. But if he stays with Felicity, it will help her. She needs that strength and support now.”
“And you didn’t want to go with them? To her?” Dane said softly as they rode out of the gate and into the street.
Asher shook his head, hardly seeing the path before him as they weaved in and out of traffic. “Of course I want to go with her. But if I come empty handed, with no hope, all I’ll be providing is empty platitudes. I owe her more than that. My place is here, my place is to convince this bastard, by any means necessary, to set her free.”
“Well, I may have some leverage for that,” Dane said with a grim press of his lips. “I got more information from Beckford than I told everyone else. Information that might help us turn Fitzgilbert to our way of thinking.”
“And what is that?” Asher asked.
“He’s been war profiteering,” Dane said, his voice angry and low. “How I didn’t realize it a few months ago, I don’t know. He was very good at laying lines of others between us. Very good at covering his tracks. Butthatis part of the secret he bought from Beckford, not just the identity of Celia and Rosalinde’s father.”
“Bastard,” Asher spat, understanding the hatred that all his friends seemed to have for the man. “But at least we’re riding in with the upper hand. At least we know we’re the ones with all the surprises. And if we’re lucky, we can end this today. Before Felicity suffers any further.”
Felicity had been offered a chair in Gregory Fitzgilbert’s parlor, but she couldn’t stay in it. Instead, she paced the room, questioning herself about the prudence of this action. Was she being a fool? After all, she knew this man had once physically attacked Rosalinde in a fit of rage.
Which only went to show that the man was emotionally compromised by the secrets he had recently purchased. And since she had no role in those secrets, she had to believe he could be reasoned with.
Or at least she hoped he could be.
The door to the parlor opened and she turned to face Fitzgilbert as he entered. She couldn’t help but catch her breath. When she’d met the man a year ago, he’d been heavier, healthier. Now he was thin, gaunt even. He had a shock of white hair, and bright blue eyes that matched those of Rosalinde and Celia to perfection.
