Page 113
ELIZA
London
It took all Robert Ellice’s patience and restraint not to shake the Marquess of Hartington, the bloody fool.
‘Are you absolutely, unequivocally sure that it is Lord Granville who was shot? Were you there? Did you see it?’
‘No, I was told. I was told,’ he croaked, tears shimmering in his eyes as he beheld his sister’s grief and shock.
Christ. Robert put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. ‘Is there any possibility that it might not be Lord Granville? Only your sister is very fond of him, and she is extremely distressed right now.’
Hartington looked over at Lady Harriet, and his face crumpled. He went to speak to her, but Lady Harriet was sitting staring at nothing, chalk white with blank eyes. Eliza was by her side, weeping silently. Robert ached to go to her, but it was more important that he find an accurate picture. If the boy had not seen Granville, only heard reports, it needed verifying. The idiot should have verified it before telling his damned sister.
‘Tell me everything you know.’
Hartington pulled himself together and painted a picture of absolute mayhem. Some fellow from Russia, grievances against Leveson-Gower… He could barely get any sense from him.
‘Who told you?’
‘Ah… Byng. Poodle Byng told me.’
Robert shook his head. He moved to where Eliza was trying to comfort Lady Harriet. She stood up to speak to him, but he took her into his arms and held her for a moment. She clung to him.
‘What happened?’ she whispered into his chest. ‘What happened?’
‘We don’t know for certain, yet. Young Hartington is in too much of a state. Someone told him the news, but he didn’t see it and it sounds like there was considerable confusion. Someone needs to find out what actually happened.’
Eliza nodded and looked around, then back at him.
‘Very well. I’ll go.’
‘Oh, Robert, would you? If it is true, I don’t know what Haryo will do,’ she choked. ‘Look at her.’
He looked and shivered.
He held Eliza tightly for a moment and pressed a kiss to her temple. ‘Stay with her and let me find out more.’
He pulled away, and the door opened to admit the duke. Lady Harriet’s father strode over to his daughter, hesitated, then put an arm out to her. She stood, leaned into him, lay her head on his shoulder, and accepted his embrace. She made no sound.
The duchess was calling for a doctor, someone to give her a draught, someone to help, and servants scrambled to do her bidding, shock colouring their every move. The whole household was stunned.
Robert pulled Eliza to him one last time and kissed her. He was beyond caring what anyone thought, and she must have been too, because she kissed him back.
‘Go now,’ she whispered. ‘Find out what happened.’
He nodded and reluctantly let her go.
Before he could leave, another commotion set up, and moments later the door bounced open yet again.
It was Lord Granville. Bloodied, dishevelled, but very much alive.
Chapter 56
HARYO
London
Granville took in the scene before him. Lady Liz screamed at his appearance, and Eliza Courtney pressed her hands to her mouth as tears ran down her face. Robert Ellice closed his eyes momentarily in what looked like relief. Hart looked fit to drop.
