Good heavens! “I promise. Now what is going on?”
"Linthorpe received a letter yesterday," Cait told her.
James? “A letter?”
Her sister nodded. “From an old school friend with a regiment in France.”
Which meant absolutely nothing to Cori. She narrowed her eyes slightly on her sister who wasn’t making a bit of sense.
“The fellow mentioned seeing the Earl of Chopwell.”
Cori gasped at the name and a chill went through her. It was no wonder Cait wanted to keep this information from Cara. After what the fiend had done to their sister…
“He was in Valenciennes, a fortnight ago,” Cait continued.
The villain had fled across the Channel rather than face Reese on a field of honor some weeks ago. There had been no word of him, until now.
Cori clutched her hands together. “Goodness,” she muttered as the happenings that morning flashed in her mind. Reese stumbling upon them and not seeming at all himself. It made perfect sense now when reframed with this new information.
"Reese knows," she said. She would wager her last farthing on that fact.
Cait nodded in agreement. "Linthorpe shared the letter with him and Daniel this morning.”
Had he? She thought about James’ empty chair at breakfast.
Everything that had been sitting without explanation since she’d come down that morning rearranged itself in an instant. James’ absence wasn’t because of their kiss. He’d been in his study with Daniel and Reese, dealing with this unpleasant news.
She felt something loosen in her chest, relief that he hadn’t been avoiding her all day. “Well, what are they going to do? Why are we keeping this from Cara? She has a right to?—”
“Because Reese wants to sail to France and shoot the blackguard where he stands.”
“I wish him luck,” Cori said. After all, the man had attacked their sister. She’d like to shoot the villain herself if given the chance.
“And wind up on the gallows for murder?” Cait asked. “Leaving our sister a widow in the process?”
Well, when put that way… Cori blew out a frustrated breath. “What then? What do they plan to do?”
"Linthorpe knows someone," Cait told her. "If the fellow can confirm that Chopwell is still in Valenciennes before anyone does anything foolish, it will give them time to sort a plan.”
“And we’re just to keep Cara in the dark until then?” That didn’t seem terribly likely.
“I don’t want her hurt again.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then help me keep an eye on her,” Cait said. “I suppose one on Reese as well. Daniel says he’s in a right state.”
“He didn’t seem himself this morning,” Cori told her.
“If you notice something, tell Daniel. He and Linthorpe will manage Reese, and we should manage Cara.”
Cori turned something over in her mind. "Why is His Grace involved?" she asked. After all, James hadn’t even been present when Chopwell attempted to harm Cara.
Cait looked at her. "He's Daniel's brother. And Reese's friend." She paused slightly as though choosing her words carefully. "And he has connections that are useful."
There was something in that pause. Not a lie necessarily, but something Cait wasn’t saying. Cori didn’t press her. After all, pressing Cait never did anyone one bit of good.
Linthorpe Library
