A knock on his door interrupted him, and both he and Mrs. York turned to it.
“Who is it?” Constantine demanded, instantly annoyed at the interruption.
“Your steward, Stephen Cottle, Your Grace,” a man’s voice stated from the other side of the door. “I believe I have found some more information regarding Mr. Harcourt.”
Constantine’s thoughts shifted immediately to Augustus.
“Enter,” he said hurriedly, taking a few steps toward the door as it opened.
“Your Grace,” Stephen greeted, bowing. “How do you do?”
“Enough pleasantries, what have you found about my brother?” Constantine demanded.
“I conducted another search of your brother’s apartments as you requested, Your Grace, and discovered the name of a man who books passages on ships. A Mr. Merlot. It took a few days, but I finally discovered who he was, and I reached out to him. He claims that he does indeed have information on Mr. Harcourt. He has requested you meet him this evening at midnight in the rose beds of Vauxhall Gardens.”
“Vauxhall Gardens?” Constantine echoed. “Strange place for a meeting.”
“Oh, another clue!” Mrs. York said excitedly, her eagerness alarming Constantine. “Her Grace is going to be most happy to hear about this!”
“You are going to tell her?” Constantine asked as Mrs. York hurried—quite fast for her age—to the door.
She paused at the doorway and gave him an odd look. Suddenly, he understood. Mrs. York was still loyal to him, yes—but now her blind loyalty was directed toward Elara.
“Of course I am,” Mrs. York replied with a dry chuckle. “She will need plenty of time to get ready. If you are meeting in Vauxhall Gardens, shemustlook exquisite.”
“I never said she was coming with me,” Constantine stated, taking a step toward her.
Mrs. York let out a cackling laugh, the sound taking him by surprise.
“I would like to see you try and stop her, Your Grace,” Mrs. York said, shaking her head as she grinned. “It would be quite thespectacle. I will have her ready by half-past six. You may receive her at the bottom of the stairs.”
“You have turned into a traitor, Mrs. York,” Constantine called after her as she hurried into the hall. “I am disappointed in you!”
“You are not!” Mrs. York called back, and Constantine chuckled as he shook his head.
“Thank you for the information, Stephen,” Constantine stated as he turned back to his steward. “It is greatly appreciated. Please go back and continue to look for another piece of information that might... what are you grinning like that for?”
Stephen’s grin widened, and he swept into a bow.
“Forgive me, Your Grace,” the steward offered. “It has just been ages since I have seen you so lighthearted. It is a good sight to see indeed.”
Constantine’s brows furrowed in confusion, questioning if what the man had just said was true. Moreover, if it was, it was undeniable that Elara, the sister of the man who had ruined his brother, had somehow brightened his heart.
“Right,” he murmured, gesturing for Stephen to leave.
With another bow, Stephen left his room, leaving Constantine alone with not just his person but his thoughts. As his mind churned, he walked back to the window to look for Elara. He saw her just as Mrs. York approached, and his blood warmed as the two women suddenly took hands and began to bounce excitedly on the balls of their feet. William, sitting on Elara’s hip, laughed again, and although the baby had no idea what was happening, he seemed happy to celebrate with them.
Constantine watched them for a long moment, his hands clasped behind his back.
Mrs. York is a meddler and a traitor, he told himself.An absolute traitor.
And yet, as Elara threw her head back and laughed, he found he could not bring himself to mean it. At least, he was glad he would not have to invite her himself.
Chapter 21
“Mrs. York!” Constantine bellowed as he paced the marble floor at the bottom of the grand staircase. “You said you would have Her Grace ready by half-past six; it is now verging on seven! Must I remind you that we are on a schedule?”
“Apologies, Your Grace,” Elara’s soft voice called from the top of the stairs. “Beauty takes time.”
