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“I am sure you can.” She was now glaring at him. “With lawmen at your side.”

“They will be there, Your Grace,” Alexander said. “I shall make sure of it.”

Rosalind gave the earl a grateful nod; Jonas gave him a glower. His friend was brave enough to enter the fray but obviously not courageous enough to go against the duchess. Had he even considered the extra time it would take to mobilize Bow Street runners for such an endeavor?

“What of Mother?” Jonas said. “I had originally planned to have her travel to London with Miss Doyle and return to Langton Manor with me after a few days in the city. If I leave for Kent with Alexander and the runners, she will be there alone until this venture is behind us.”

“She shall stay here,” Rosalind said.

“Absolutely,” the duke concurred. “It will be a pleasure to have her here a little longer.”

Directing a grateful smile at her husband, Rosalind slipped her hand into his. “There. You see, Jonas, all will be well. Everything is falling into place.”

Numbly, Jonas stared out the window. Such platitudes were easy for Rosalind to say while seated beside the man she loved. Regardless of whatever success lay ahead in Kent, he would be leaving Miss Doyle at Alexander’s house the next day, and no matter how many times he told himself that it was for the best, he had yet to believe that all would be well in his life afterward.

He thought back on the quizzical looks and whispers Miss Spencer and Lady Chesterton had shared when Miss Spencer had all but removed him from Miss Doyle’s company at the garden party. It had been a painful reminder of how vicious women’s tongues could be. Jonas clenched his fists at the unfairness of it all. He’d had at least three gentlemen approach him, asking for an introduction to his mother’s beautiful companion. Each time, he’d somehow managed to avoid following through on the request, but he was still unsure as to whether his greatest motivation had been to protect Miss Doyle or pure selfishness.

He’d likely disgruntled those gentlemen by his discourtesy, but he didn’t care. If it weren’t for what it would do for her reputation, he would single out Miss Doyle at every opportunity. She had more intelligence, kindness, and bravery than all the other females of his acquaintance combined. And if his response to her appearance today was any measure of his growing feelings for her, he was already in over his head. Despite their differing stations in life, he had come to care deeply for her, and no matter how hard he tried, he could see no way out of their current situation with his heart intact. They were still under the same roof, and already, he ached at the thought of letting her go.

“Is there anything else before I start for London?” Alexander said, coming to his feet as a knock sounded at the door.

“Enter,” the duke called.

A footman walked in carrying a letter on a silver salver. The duke raised his eyebrows expectantly, but the footman stopped before he reached him.

“A message has come for Lord Langton, Your Grace.”

“Then, by all means, give it to him,” the duke said.

The footman bowed and moved toward the fireplace. Baffled by the appearance of this unexpected missive, Jonas reached for the paper and turned it over. It looked like Hancock’s handwriting. As soon as his valet had discharged his duties ahead of the garden party, Jonas had sent him on to London to ready the servants for his and his mother’s arrival there. Turning the paper over, Jonas broke the wax seal and read the short note within.

A message arrived this afternoon for Reynard. He’s requested in Little Tilbury two nights from now. A large shipment is expected. Hancock

Jonas looked up from the note to discover all eyes on him. “It seems that we have no further need to search for Forwood,” he said. “He will be at The Fox and Hare Inn on Monday night.”

***

The sun had been up for only an hour. Under normal circumstances, it was far too early to visit Lady Langton’s bedchamber, but the Langton carriage was parked in the driveway and Elizabeth knew she had very little time left before she must leave. Hesitating for only a moment, she knocked on the door. Clara answered immediately, and when she saw Elizabeth, she opened the door wider.

“Miss Doyle is here to see you, my lady,” she said.

From her chair in front of the dressing table, Lady Langton looked up. “Thank you Clara.”

The maid ushered Elizabeth inside, then she bobbed a curtsy and slipped out, closing the door behind her.

“Forgive me for disturbing you at this hour,” Elizabeth said.

“I should have been most put out if you had not,” Lady Langton said. She extended her hand to Elizabeth. Elizabeth stepped forward and took it. The viscountess’s skin was soft and warm. “You are leaving?”

“Yes, my lady.”

The older lady nodded sadly. “I would have you know that should you find yourself unhappy in the earl’s household, there will always be a place for you at Langton Manor.”

Elizabeth attempted to swallow past the lump in her throat. “Thank you, my lady. You have shown me more kindness than I deserve.”

“Nonsense,” the viscountess said. “Quite apart from the fact that I can never fully repay you for the care you offered my son when he was injured, you have brought music back into our home and introduced me to countless feathered friends.”

Elizabeth managed a weak smile. “Perhaps Lord Langton would be willing to accompany you to the rose garden after I’m gone.”