Hawthorne and Trey traded glances before they pushed away from the table and muttered excuses to the others. Trevor led them out of the room and into another more private.
“You are out of sorts again today, aren’t you?” Trey asked.
“Actually yes, but for different reasons this time.” Trevor walked to the window and glanced outside but didn’t really see anything. There was too much on his mind to concentrate on other things. “I need your help.” He looked back at the other two. “I need to find Louisa.”
Both men gaped—their eyes widened.
Trey shook his head. “You are not talking rationally, my brother. Are you not the one who told her to leave the other night?”
“Indeed, I did, but I was wrong. Dreadfully wrong.” He handed the letter to them and waited for them to read it. When they both looked up, surprise registered on their faces even more than before.
“She really is the Danvers’ daughter,” Hawthorne muttered.
“Yes, she is. But what is worse, is that Macgregor was stabbed in an alleyway last night.” Trevor shoved the newspaper at them. “I’m worried Louisa will get blamed for killing the man.”
“No, it could not have been her.” Trey skimmed the article. “She would not do that, but even if she did, I would not judge her.”
“Not me, either,” Dominic quickly added.
“Another thing that worries me is the witness who claims to have seen a woman running away from the stabbing.” Trevor pointed to the newspaper. “I don’t trust Miss Watson. Her actions the other night at Mother’s dinner party proved she is hiding something.”
Dominic grumbled and slammed his fist against a chair. “I feel the same frustration, Your Grace. What is it that you wish us to do?”
“Somehow we have to find her and protect her. She cannot go to the gaol for a crime she did not commit.”
Pushing his fingers through his black hair, Trey walked to a chair and sat. “What about her family? Should they know?”
“She does not wish them to know,” Dominic argued as he flipped his finger against the letter.
“I debated over this issue as well,” Trevor said. “I think I know why Louisa doesn’t want them to know—because of her criminal past.”
“A past she had no control over.” Dominic huffed.
“I agree, but she is not thinking that way.” Trevor shook his head. “I believe her family would want to know if she was in danger so they could help.”
“Will Louisa be put out with you for telling her family?” Trey asked.
Trevor shrugged. “That is a chance I will have to take. Right now, I fear for her safety.” He switched his attention between Trey and Dominic. “Are you with me?”
“Always.” Trey stood.
“Right beside you, Your Grace.” Dominic nodded. “I will do anything to help that poor woman.”
Trevor scowled and pointed his finger toward his brother’s best friend. “Do not think about charming her, do you understand?”
A grin stretched across Hawthorne’s mouth. “I promise not to seduce her, just as long as you admit you are in love with her.”
“Augh!” Trevor threw his hands in the air. He couldn’t count how many times he wanted to punch the insolent lord in the face but resisted. “Fine. I shall admit it now. I love her. I have loved her almost from the first day I brought her to my home. There. Are you satisfied?”
Trey chuckled and patted his brother’s back. “No need to get so upset, Trevor. Hawthorne and I knew you were in love with her all this time. We were just waiting for you to admit it.”
Mumbling curses, Trevor swung around and marched toward the front door. A smile tried to tug at his lips, but he refused to allow the other two lords to see how uncomfortable this made him. Admitting he had such feelings for a woman—since he’d never had them before—was new to him and he wished Hawthorne and his brother hadn’t witnessed his weakness.
Nonetheless, Trevor did love her and he’d do anything to help her.
Trey caught up to Trevor and tugged on his sleeve. He stopped and faced his youngest brother. A smirk played across Trey’s face. “Not to worry, my dear brother.” Trey grinned. “Hawthorne knows how to make the Worthington men confess things they don’t normally do. If not for Nic, I would not have admitted to loving Judith.”
Trevor arched a brow. “Indeed?”
