“We have a problem,” Caleb announced.
Kendrick lifted his brow. “What is it?”
Caleb took a deep breath before sharing, “Lord Hungerton is a French spy and I do believe that they intend to blow up Lord Pendley’s ballroom with makeshift grenades.”
“Do you have any proof of this?”
“Simone informed me that Victor left behind a grenade in his bedchamber, but he hasn’t returned since this morning,” Caleb said.
Kendrick held his gaze. “And how is it that you confirmed Lord Hungerton is a French spy?”
“Lady Hungerton informed us of this,” Caleb replied. “She told us that he admitted to it when he was transporting her to Bedlam.”
“It is a good thing that I have sent agents to arrest them. Your time was up, anyways,” Kendrick said.
Caleb bobbed his head in approval. “With any luck, they haven’t left for the ball yet. That could complicate matters.”
“That it could. However, more importantly, we need to find Victor, and quickly,” Kendrick said. “I will send agents to scour the grounds of Lord Pendley’s townhouse and see if they can locate him.”
“Simone and I will go to the ball, as planned, and we will look for him as well,” Caleb stated. “Furthermore, I intend to tell General Merrell and members of the House of Lords of the impending threat on their lives and encourage them to leave at once.”
“If all those people did leave the ball, it would be a great insult to Lord Pendley,” Kendrick remarked.
“But by removing them, it could save hundreds of lives.”
Kendrick nodded in agreement. “I never said it was the wrong move, but it will be more difficult than you perceive.”
“That is why I am recruiting Fredrick and Roswell to help me round them all up,” Caleb said.
Kendrick grew silent. “I want you to be extra vigilant tonight,” he encouraged. “I keep asking myself why Juliette hasn’t told Lord Hungerton that his own daughter is a spy. It just seems unlikely, considering she is his mistress.”
“I have thought something similar.”
The spymaster reached up and hit the top of the coach. In response, it started to slow down. “I will be much happier when those three are locked away and we can interrogate them more fully.”
“I will be, too,” Caleb said.
After Kendrick departed from the coach, Caleb leaned back, lost in his thoughts. Doubts crept in- what if they were wrong? And even if they weren’t, one misstep could result in numerous casualties.
They had to stop Victor before he released the grenades. But where was he?
Caleb looked out the window and noticed that the coach was just about to pass Simone’s townhouse. He pounded on the roof and the coach gradually halted by the pavement.
Stepping out, Caleb walked to the main door and rapped on it. The butler opened the door, awaiting his arrival.
“Good evening, Mr. Bolingbroke,” the butler said, opening the door wide. “Do come in.”
“Would you inform Miss Delacourt that I need to speak to her?” he asked. “The matter is most urgent.”
Simone’s voice came from the top of the stairs. “Now you have me intrigued,” she said in a teasing voice.
Caleb watched as she descended the stairs and he knew, without a doubt, that Simone was his future. He would fight for her love, to the ends of the earth, if necessary. He had no choice. If he ignored his heart, it would be a betrayal that he could never live with.
Simone came to a stop in front of him and said, “Let us speak in the drawing room.” She lowered her voice. “We will only have a short time until my companion is sent in.”
“Then we best not waste a moment of our time together.”
“That is what I was thinking, as well,” Simone said before she waved him towards the drawing room.
