Anette pressed her lips together, clearly displeased by her father’s remark. “I am not some weak-willed young woman. I can handle the truth.”
Caleb spoke up. “You are right, but now is not the time to tell you. I promise I will once this is over.”
“Perhaps I can help?” Anette asked.
With a swipe of his hand, Lord Oxley replied, “Absolutely not! This is not your responsibility and I would hope that Caleb had enough sense to keep you out of it.”
“It is a little late for that, Father,” Caleb remarked dryly.
Roswell watched Anette closely as she glanced between her father and brother. He understood her need for the truth, and he was beginning to question if keeping her in the dark was the right thing to do. Was it really protecting her?
Caleb addressed Anette, his voice calm and collected. “Go back to the drawing room and we will talk later.”
Anette slowly nodded. “I can agree to that,” she said.
Once Anette departed the study, Caleb closed the door and turned back to face his father. “This ends now. Tell us everything or else we will take you to Newgate.”
Lord Oxley’s eyes grew wide. “You wouldn’t dare. I am your father!”
“I would, without any hesitation, if you don’t cooperate,” Caleb said firmly. “I am tired of being lied to by my own father. We know you were giving Lord Chester large deposits for his treachery and we know that you are more involved than you have previously claimed.”
The viscount walked over to the settee and dropped down. “You must believe me that everything I have done has been to protect this family.”
“You keep saying that, but I am beginning to question if that is even true. I think you have been protecting yourself,” Caleb stated.
“I was told to give Lord Chester money for his cooperation, but I have not given the French what they have asked for,” Lord Oxley said. “Not yet, at least. I wanted assurance that no one in my family would be harmed.”
“Do you truly think their word would mean anything?” Roswell asked. “You are putting your faith in the wrong side.”
Caleb walked over to sit across from his father and he had a solemn look on his face. “Your involvement ends now. Tell me where you are to meet to turn over the book.”
“Caleb, I appreciate what you are trying to do but—” Lord Oxley started.
In a stern voice, Caleb spoke over him. “You have betrayed the Crown and this family. If you are lucky, your life will be spared once the truth comes out, but only if you help us stop these people. That is your only chance at redemption.”
“It is too late,” Lord Oxley responded sadly. “Besides, even if I could, I don’t know how to help you.”
“Tell us how to find the man that is threatening you. You said that he left notes on your desk but that isn’t entirely true, is it?” Caleb asked.
Lord Oxley lowered his gaze as he avoided his son’s knowing gaze. “No, I leave a sign that I have to speak to him.”
“What is that sign?” Roswell inquired.
“I leave my study window partway open and I place a book on the windowsill,” Lord Oxley revealed. “Once the book has been removed, I know that the message was received. Then the man usually shows up shortly thereafter.”
Roswell sat next to Caleb and said, “You are going to do that tomorrow and we are going to draw this man out.”
“But I have nothing to give him,” Lord Oxley said. “He will kill Anette.”
“We won’t let that happen, but you need to trust us,” Roswell responded.
Lord Oxley heaved a heavy sigh. “Do I have a choice in the matter?” he asked.
Caleb rose from his seat. “Not if you don’t want to spend the rest of your life behind bars,” he informed him. “You owe this to us, to your country.”
“Very well, then,” Lord Oxley said.
Roswell could hear the strain in Lord Oxley’s voice and wasn’t sure if this was a good idea. The viscount wasn’t entirely on board with their plan and that could pose a problem. However, he was sure about one thing- he would die before he let anything bad happen to Anette.
