Harlan tucked the gun out of sight when he heard Lucas’s voice, but that didn’t ease his mind as he looked about at the chaos around him. Papers were strewn about, porcelain vases, plates, and anything else that could be shattered were littered across the floor.
He would like to say his furniture was spared, but the wood was either splintered or the cushions ripped, as if someone with a grudge had taken their knife and enjoyed emptying the contents. Possibly pretending that they were skewering Harlan instead.
“We were notified of a disturbance about an hour ago,” came a voice from the bedchamber as one of the uniformed Peelers walked into the open. “We got here too late, as you might have guessed.” Lucas looked at him in consideration. “I’m starting to wonder if there isn’t a grudge against you, as well as the queen. This place is an absolute mess. It’s one thing to try to search for something, but this is blatant aggression.”
Harlan was thinking the same thing. “I’m sure if it was Mr. Bernard, he didn’t take too kind to our dealings in Gravesend and Birmingham. But as to any deeper loathing…” He shrugged. “That could just be due to my overwhelming charm as an agent.”
Lucas looked hard at Harlan. “If Bernard is responsible for this, you should watch your back closely.”
Harlan clenched his jaw. “You seem to forget that Mr. Bernard does not yet know what I’m capable of.”
Leah enteredthe queen’s sitting room the following afternoon when she was invited to tea with her and Wellington. Once the formalities had been observed, the duke addressed the sovereign. “Mr. Mathis and I have devised a plan that we intend to enact at the earliest opportunity. By the end of the week, if possible.”
As he explained what was to be done, Leah’s mouth curved upward. She was glad that Harlan trusted her enough to accomplish the task.
Once Wellington had explained everything to the monarch’s satisfaction, he stood and bowed to the queen, and then turned to Leah. “I shall be in touch soon.”
Once he was gone, Victoria eyed her with a touch more respect in her gaze. “You are loyal to the Crown and I greatly appreciate your willingness to act on our behalf.”
Leah bowed her head. “The honor is mine, Your Majesty. I intend to rejoice at a woman’s stern hand upon the throne for many years to come.”
The queen’s mouth lifted slightly at the corners. “I have the same hope.”
As Leah departed the chamber, she pressed a hand to her pounding heart.
The end of the week…She prayed she hadn’t just signed her own death warrant, but if so, at least she would have done it in service to her country. She was grateful to be back on her home soil and perhaps this was the sacrifice she had to make in order to atone for such a lengthy absence. She knew Harlan would protect her, with his own life if necessary, and if she had to make a choice, she wouldn’t hesitate to do the same.
It was useless to pretend that she hadn’t fallen completely in love with him. She had certainly been infatuated since the first moment they’d met on that desolate stretch of road from Dover to Gravesend. Although she had been a bit disorientated from her injury, the sight of Harlan’s hazel eyes peering at her through that dark, highwayman mask had swept into her very soul, stealing the breath from her lungs and sneaking into her heart. But it was when he’d caught her trying to pry the lock open at the cottage that had secured her to him for all time. She might not have accepted it then, had definitely fought against the attraction, but the night they had lain together everything had been as it was meant to be.
Perfection.
She knew that her place was by his side, but he’d needed a bit more persuasion to see the same. It wasn’t until he’d saved her from Mr. Bernard that she had felt his true devotion to her. The possession in Harlan’s remarkable eyes had proven what words failed. She had no doubt that he would speak them in time, when he was ready, and had been sure he’d been close to confessing them the night before she’d gone to the palace. It was understandable that he didn’t want to make any romantic overtures about the future when they were so uncertain of the present. Until the queen was safe, neither of them were free to pursue their deepest desires.
But afterward…
Entering her bedchamber, Leah undressed for the evening with the help of her maid. She tried to tell herself not to become accustomed to such luxuries. She didn’t know what sort of income Harlan retained, but she didn’t care. She would gladly be poor, struggling to make ends meet, if they were happy. She wasn’t a member of the gentry, so she had learned not to expect any more than what limited means would allow. The only reason her father had been able to travel as extensively as he had was because he had been a successful shipping merchant. By the time of his death, the money had run out, leaving Leah completely dependent on her relation.
She hadn’t been bitter or resentful of her circumstances. Instead, she’d always tried to make the best of them. She had done the same with Harlan when she wasn’t sure if he was someone she could trust. Now, she had no doubt of it.
Leah blew out her lamp and was about to climb under the covers when she heard the sound of hushed footsteps in the hall. She stopped, a shiver of apprehension traveling up her spine. It might be one of the servants doing a sweep of the palace, but she had never ignored her instincts before, so she wasn’t going to start now.
Padding to the door, she opened it just enough for her to peer out. She was grateful that the hinges didn’t make any noise, because she spied two shadows standing together some distance away. She couldn’t quite make out what was being said, or who it was, but something told her they weren’t discussing polishing the silver.
They ended their brief conversation and headed in two separate directions. The taller one was a footman, the other a woman wearing the uniform of a maid. Debating on which one to follow, Leah quickly grabbed her robe and belted it around her waist as she set off with bare feet in pursuit of the maid .
Her quarry turned a corner at the end of the hall just as Leah rushed to catch up to her. Thankfully, her eyes had adjusted to the dim light of the moon shining through the windows, offering the slightest illumination, but enough where she caught sight of the moving shadow ahead.
Leah continued crossing room after room, some of which were part of the servant’s wing that she’d never been to before. Her steps led her to a winding staircase that led to the back entrance of the palace.
Leah ended up in the kitchen, but when she would have turned a corner to find out where the maid had taken off to next, a knife was set against her throat. “Why are you following me?”
She didn’t recognize the voice, but it was no surprise as the palace was filled with so many servants she would never hope to know. “Why are you sneaking about in the middle of the night?” Leah countered.
Rather than reply, the girl gave an unladylike snort. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” The tip of the metal set into her neck and actually started to hurt. “I could slit your throat right now and no one would have any idea it was me who ended your life. Quick and clean.”
“Except for the mess,” Leah noted calmly. “Or are you not aware that cutting a main artery can result in spewing blood? You would be covered in it.”
Leah waited, and then she felt the slight tension, the hesitation in the woman’s arm. It was enough for her to act.
