She handed over the folded sheets before she moved to Aurora’s wardrobe and began to choose a few selections for supper. As she did so, Aurora broke the seal and gasped.
“It’s from Imogen,” she murmured, heart suddenly throbbing faster as she skimmed the words from her missing friend. The more she read, the more nervous she became. “It doesn’t matter which dress,” she said. “We must hurry, I need to speak to the others.”
“Of course, my lady,” Jeanette said, and swiftly chose a dress. Aurora hardly noticed which one as she grabbed for hair pins that were scattered on the floor. She began stabbing them through her hair, forming it into a loose, messy bun as her maid buttoned her.
“Oh, my lady, couldn’t I just—” Jeanette said, reaching for Aurora’s bed-mussed hair.
“I’ll come back and you can fix it later!” Aurora called as she hurried for the door. “I’m sorry!”
She clutched the letter in her hand as she all but ran through the halls and down the stairs. A footman was at the bottom. “Do you know where Mr. Huntington or the duke are?” she asked. She didn’t ask after Nicholas. She didn’t want to involve him and threaten his goals.
“I believe they’re together the duke’s study,” the young man said with a quick glance at Aurora’s hair.
“Thank you,” she said, and hustled that way. The door was closed and she began to open it when she realized Nicholas was speaking inside. Softly, so she could only hear a few words.
“…always been…”
She peeked into the room to find Nicholas standing facing the door, though his view of it was likely blocked by Derrick Huntington and the Duke of Roseford, who each had their backs to her.
Huntington spoke, his deep voice laced with emotion. “You know you might not be given the title if you pursue her. Some are looking for an excuse to fight against it, and her scandal could offer that.”
She froze, the letter in her hand forgotten for a flash of a moment. They were talking about…her. That was obvious from the words. Obvious from Nicholas’s expression. He looked torn as he pursed his lips.
She stepped away from the door, leaning against the wall beside it to catch her breath. There it was. The truth at the heart of the matter. She and Nicholas might want each other. They might still love each other. He might even want a future with her. But if he pursued any of it right now, he might and probablywouldlose the title of marquess. And it would be entirely her fault.Shewould be the excuse men like Sweeting or Roddenbury whispered in the Prince’s ear that Nicholas wasn’t worth the reward. Even though he was worth a dozen of them, a hundred, a thousand.
It wouldn’t matter. Merit rarely came into play in the ranks he aspired to. They would crush him as quickly as they would embrace him.
But she could change that. She could give him the future he wanted to make up for the past her father had destroyed. The past their own hesitations and uncertainty had crushed. She would do it. Even if it hurt her.
She forced a smile to her face, smoothed her skirts and turned back to the door.
“Your Grace,” she called out so that the men would know she was entering the room and stop talking about her. “Jenner said you and Mr. Huntington were in—” She cut herself off and feigned surprise. “Oh, and Nicholas.”
“Aurora,” Nicholas said softly as his gaze flitted over her. All of them stared, truth be told. She was certain they all marked her mussed hair, her flushed cheeks. Would they guess what had made her so undone?
Did it matter?
“I didn’t expect to see you…right now. Are you well?” he asked, his brow wrinkling as he crossed to her a few long steps.
She nodded. “I am, but I received a message from Imogen and I hoped the duke and Mr. Huntington might be able to help me.” She stepped past him and handed out the note to Derrick.
“I’ll let you read it, of course, but the summary is that Imogen has been in hiding the past few weeks,” she said with a shiver. “Apparently she saw something in one of those brothels that put her in danger. But she is alive and unharmed thus far.”
“She wants to meet with you,” Derrick said, his eyes darting up from the letter.
“Yes, I think she must have sensed the desperation in my messages once she received them,” Aurora said. “So I must return to London. I hoped perhaps His Grace could help me connect with his friend in the War Department.”
“Of course,” Robert said, coming around the desk. “I’ll write to Willowby right away with instructions he meet us at my home in a few days.”
“The Duke of Willowby?” she and Nicholas said together.
Robert’s brow lowered. “Both the duke and his duchess are master spies. I believe she’s in line to take over the running of that entire part of the War Department.”
“I appreciate your offer to introduce us,” Aurora said. “But you all still have a few days planned for your party. I would need to leave tomorrow at the latest.”
“We’ll all go,” Robert said. “A young woman is in danger, we’re not all going to stay here and kick up our heels while you hurtle yourself into an investigation. At any rate, I think I shall lose half my party if you depart. Obviously Nicholas would follow, and I think Huntington and Selina would also want to depart with you.”
Derrick nodded. “The moment I understood what was happening, I wrote to my partner, Barber. He has been working alongside Willowby. I’m going and Selina will want to help too.”
