Alister glanced at Drayven with a wince. “Heaven forbid you would have had to perform surgery.”
The marquess chuckled. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’d had to stitch up a fellow agent.”
With a snort, Alister had to admit he was right. Suddenly, his memory came back and he struggled to sit up. “Lyra—”
Drayven pushed him back down. “She’s fine. She’s over there getting some much needed sleep.”
Alister looked to where the marquess was pointing and felt his chest constrict at the sight of her slumped head in the chair.
“I think the shock of the day finally caught up with her. Nothing short of collapsing would have pulled her away from your side.”
Alister was silent for several moments, then he said, “The sun’s starting to set. We should have been back at Harville Manor hours ago.”
“No doubt her mother will be organizing a search party at this point,” the marquess said evenly.
“Indeed.”
A brief pause. “It seems you have quite a bit to think about, Albright.”
“That I do,” Alister concurred softly before changing the subject. “Did you see what was in that chest?”
Drayven went to gather the item in question and handed it to Alister. “I was waiting for you to do the honors.”
“How magnanimous of you,” Alister mocked. He lifted the lid. “Dear God. This is a map of Carlton House.” He studied the drawings. “Apparently, there were secret tunnels dug beneath the foundation. The main entrance looks to be just inside the gardens—” He lowered the map, falling silent.
Drayven was able to fill in the blanks. “—in which Humphry Repton just happened to design.” He shook his head. “Who would have thought that such a respected landscape artist would have been embroiled in such treasonous activities?”
“Or that he would have conspired with the likes of Roger Coventry,” Alister murmured. “But I have a feeling he wasn’t the mastermind behind it all.” He pressed the map into Drayven’s hands. “We need to get this information to Lord Liverpool as soon as possible. The entrance needs to be sealed off and the tunnels explored. It’s the only way we can significantly decrease any threat against the Prince Regent.”
“I can make it to London shortly after nightfall,” Drayven said. “I’ll take it directly to his townhouse. What about her?”
Alister looked at Lyra. “Send a carriage back for us as soon as you’re able.”
Drayven nodded. He handed the pistol to Alister. “You might need this.” With that, he tucked the map inside his inner coat pocket and then he was gone.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“What do you mean they know everything now?”
Richard had been pacing the length of his room at Grenier’s, but he stopped to face his wife with a mix of annoyance. He’d just returned to the hotel where Elise had been waiting for his return from Weston Manor.
“Must I spell it out for you?” he snarled.
Elise calmly crossed her arms. “Perhaps you do.”
For a split second, red haze crossed his vision, until he forced himself to calm. He didn’t know why he continued to allow her to keep her miserable life when she enjoyed baiting him like this. Oh yes, his dear, loving wife might pretend ignorance so for now, he would play her little game, but when the soldiers came knocking at the door, he damned well wasn’t going to face the noose alone.
“They have the map!” he practically shouted.
Her placid expression never changed. “The one Mr. Repton drew up for Roger?”
“Who else?”
“Hmm. That does present a problem.” she murmured.
“Damned right, it does! This was supposed to bemytime to shine. Roger always garnered the credit when all he ever did was swiveyou.Iwas the one doing all the work to gain the crowds’ awareness for reform. Even the poet Shelley is more renowned for his radical political views that I am. I refuse to stand by any longer—”
His wife sighed heavily. “I’ve heard enough of this twaddle.”
