Fanny cast Hetty a sympathetic glance. “I do hope you are enjoying your time in London. We must get together for a coze soon.”
Hetty returned the hug. “I’d like that, Fanny.”
After they left, Aunt Emily breathed a sigh of relief. “Mrs. Kemble is a spiteful woman.”
Hetty shrugged. “I fear she doesn’t like me.” It seemed unimportant now.
“That’s because you’re prettier and more intelligent than her daughter,” Aunt Emily said with a fond smile.
“Prettier than Fanny? Come now, Aunt.” Hetty kissed her cheek.
“You’ve had little chance to shine. When you become a baroness, you will come into your own, my dear. See if I’m not right.”
Her aunt clung to the idea that Guy meant to marry her. If only he was safe, she’d accept whatever happened, even if it meant losing him.
In the afternoon, a footman delivered a letter. Hetty pounced on it. It was from Guy. Her hands shaking, she sank into a chair in the entry hall to read it.
Guy’s note was appallingly brief. He was at Rosecroft Hall and would call on her when he returned to London. Exasperation fought with relief as she hurried upstairs to tell her aunt.
*
The morning after,Vincent was buried in the family crypt in the Digswell churchyard. Then Guy and John traveled to Whitechapel in Vincent’s curricle, John’s horse tied behind.
At Whitehall, Lord Parnham, a man in his fifties with thinning gray hair, put a plan to Guy. “You are in the enviable position of gaining these conspirators’ trust. You can lead us to them.”
“And just how might I do that?” Guy already had an inkling and dreaded to hear what Parnham would suggest. Bruised and saddened, he just wanted to be with Hetty. Lord Parnham’s grave voice broke into his thoughts.
“Your twin brother adopted the title while working to free Napoleon. We would like you to become him. No one could possibly suspect you.”
“But I don’t believe Vincent had any intention of joining them. He wished only to take my place at Rosecroft Hall.”
“They are not to know that,” Parnham said. “But it confirms the view that he has not been in contact with them.”
“But I neither know any of these conspirators nor what they plot.” Guy held out his hands, palms up. “This is madness! Vincent had a scar on his cheek. That would give me away immediately. Why do you need me?”
“Because we’ve lost our agent. One of Lord Castlereagh’s fellows got close enough to learn the secret code they go by. Unfortunately, he became too confident, and they grew suspicious. They slit his throat and threw his body in the river.”
Guy scrubbed his hands through his hair.“Nom de Dieu!”
Lord Parnham leaned forward in his chair. “This will work. Forney has seen you without a scar. It’s unlikely the rest of them have ever met Vincent. You are identical. They will not doubt you even if they have met him. It will give us the time we need to act. And it will draw out the rest of them. If you call one wolf, you invite the pack. Once you have entered their midst, we will pounce.”
“But they must suspect you’re on to them.”
Parnham shook his head. “No one has been arrested. They will be confident they’re safe.”
Guy eyed him. “I’m not trained in espionage.”
“We’ll help you with that.”
Guy’s eyebrows arched. “I cannot imagine how.”
“Lord Strathairn will assist you with the finer details.”
He’d had enough of the violence men do to one another. Guy huffed out a breath. He was spent. “I intend to visit my fiancée, Miss Cavendish. She will be concerned about me.”
Lord Parnham shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s impossible until this is over.”
Guy pushed back his chair and stood. “Then I won’t do it.”
