“Here. I find myself repeating the words I spoke already once today. You will need this.” Harry sat down in his desk chair and faced the two men. “I apologize to you Smythe for having to witness this.”
The Runner looked amused. “I find myself needing a diversion from my own problems. No need to apologize.”
“Yes, well. Here’s goes. What I say to you, Wentworth, is confidential. It will put many peoples’ lives in danger, including Smythe’s, if you repeat anything I’m about to share with you. I work for the War Office. I am a close adviser to the prince. I work undercover, which is why I have two identities. I am the Duke of Newbury. Hugh Sinclair does not exist.”
He waited and watched Wentworth closely. The duke knew how to hide his genuine emotions. Quick as anything he jumped up and swung his fist. Harry saw it coming, reached out and deflected the punch. Wentworth swung with his other arm, landing a punch to his upper cheek. Not with enough force that Newbury’s head snapped back but hard enough that his eye stung and he could feel it swelling.
“For bloody sake, Wentworth, sit down.”
Shockingly, he did. “Damn Newbury. You made a bloody fool of my sister and me. Did you enjoy it? Have a good laugh at our expense? When were you going to reveal your true self to Penelope? After the vows were spoken and the marriage consummated, making her stuck with a liar for life? Do you honestly believe she would have forgiven you for deceiving her? I see the way she looks at you and Sinclair. She has feelings for both of them…you…and no doubt is having terrible guilt over it. You are causing her much stress and anxiety. I’ll not have it last another day. If you wish to wed Lady Penelope, you must end this deception today.” He paused, raked both his hands through his light hair, closed his eyes, and looked resigned. “I can’t believe I debated calling off the wedding and considered betrothing my sister to Sinclair?”
It was hard for Harry not to be stabbed with guilt for his deception. He couldn’t say he hadn’t thought about the repercussions when he finally told Penelope about his double life. He had. And he knew it would cause a rift between them for a time. He only hoped he could win back her favor when she realized they shared a love most married couples never found.
Love? Did he love her? He desired her beyond reason. Dreamed about her. Thought about her during the most inopportune times. Was it love? He believed so. Now, what to do about it?
“Smythe, do you mind giving Wentworth and me some privacy?” Wentworth, the man he thought silly for openly loving his wife, and here was Harry admitting to loving Penelope. Perhaps there was something to marriages based on love.
“No,” Wentworth barked. “I have no secrets from Smythe and trust him with my life and the lives of all those I care for.”
Harry sighed with resolve. “As you wish. But before I continue, you must know something. Smythe now works for the War Office directly under me. You will hear things about him today. About him being fired from the Runners and accused of murder. All false in order to set up his work with me. He left the Runners with an impeccable record and loyalty and is not accused of murdering anyone. Nothing said between us today can be divulged to anyone. Swear it and your elegance to the Crown.”
“I swear it.” He didn’t hesitate. Harry liked a man who knew his mind.
“Thank you.” He held up the decanter of whiskey. “Would either of you care for more drink?”
Smythe shook his head. “I cannot speak for Wentworth, but you have managed to dull my wits.”
“Not mine,” Wentworth said, “continue.”
Harry raised a brow on being ordered, not asked. Wentworth clearly had forgotten they held the same title. Since he didn’t go for formality or title most of the time, he ignored it. “The few who know of my dual personalities, the better. Actually, I have four. But the other two I will not share with you. Only those who work with me closely know them. If I want to live long enough to have a wife and family, it needs to stay that way. Also, no matter what is being said about Smythe, you may say nothing. I know it will be difficult, especially when your close circle of friends get together to discuss the issue.”
“Excuse me?” Wentworth eyed him defensively.
“Please. I know Spencer will seek out Bridgeton, who is his close cousin, and you, Myles and Amesbury for counsel. Spencer will want to kill Smythe with his bare hands, and you will convince him otherwise without giving away his secrets. Can I rely on you to do this?”
Unfortunately, Harry couldn’t get a read on Wentworth. But he knew he could trust him to do what was right.
“You can rely on me. If we have to lock Spencer up, we will to keep him from going after Smythe. Trust me when I say he saw first-hand what Newgate is like and what it did to Bridgeton.” He winced. “Not my proudest moment having Bridgeton thrown in the bowels of hell for attempting to kill my sister, Lady Amelia. Which of course, as we all know, he didn’t do. The blasted brother of his dead sister-in-law did. I’ll remind Spencer that going to prison for life, or worse, being hung for murder, is not worth killing Smythe for. I’ll convince him that within a month Smythe will be dead on the streets, anyway.”
“Jeez. Thanks for your concern, Wentworth,” Smythe drawled. “I thought you were a loyal friend.”
Wentworth chuckled. “You know I am. And I’ll watch your back anytime you need me to. Now that you have successfully diverted the subject away from my sister, Newbury, may we return to what you intend to do about her.”
“I still intend to marry her. There is a dire case I’m working on, which needs to be solved quickly. I can’t leave for even two days to get married.”
“I’ll make a deal,” Wentworth began. “Instead of the vows taking place at Stoney Cross Manor in a fortnight, they take place at Wentworth House in two days.”
“But…”
“Hear me out.” Wentworth held up his hand. “If you agree, I promise to help you smooth over the war, that will happen, when Penelope finds out about your deception.”
“Deal.” It was the best Harry could hope for. His marriage to Penelope would take place. He would worry about the rest when the time came. Saying the vows and consummating those vows were his priority as the Duke of Newbury.
Wentworth stood. “Then I think my time here is concluded.” He turned back to Smythe. “One more thing. Does Mary know? I would hate for her to be kept in the dark and her heart broken.”
“She knows. And we decided the best thing for her was to stay with Elizabeth and Amesbury for a time.”
“Good. Even with her knowing the truth, it won’t be easy for her. People are ruthless. I hope she intends to stay indoors until this settles. Which brings up something else? How will it be settled?”
