Page 44 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

Aside from handling all the matters that had come up while he’d been at Wycliff’s estate, there was a delicate matter he wanted Mannerly to attend to that could only be delegated in person. Nothing in writing could come back to him.

“Before we get started on that, I want you to undertake a special assignment.”

Mannerly perked up. “Yes, my lord.”

“What I am about to tell you is of the utmost importance and must be held in the strictest confidence.”

“My lord, I would never breach your trust.” Mannerly sniffed.

“Yes, I trust you completely, but I wish to impress upon you that this is a very sensitive matter.” Hawk hoped that helped to soothe Mannerly’s ruffled feathers, but with the danger to Lizzie, he had to be diligent in his protection of her.

“Lady Elizabeth Munro is staying with us for a time. You most likely know of her father, Lord Loverly.”

Mannerly’s eyes grew wide. “The traitor?”

“Yes. The very same. I found Lady Elizabeth at my cousin’s estate, working as a governess.”

“My lord!”

“While I was there I received a missive from the Home Office that had been forwarded from my London townhouse, advising me that Lord Loverly’s daughter was at Wycliff estate, and I was to fetch her and bring her to London for questioning. Of course, I immediately confronted her.”

“What had she to say for herself?” he demanded.

“She was quite distraught at being found out. However, on another note, so far there have been two attempts on the woman’s life.”

Mannerly sucked in a deep breath. “Oh, my.”

Hawk leaned back in his chair and tapped his lips with a pencil. “I have reason to believe that someone in the Home Office is behind the attacks on Lady Elizabeth.”

“You say?”

“Yes.” Hawk stood and circled the desk, leaning against it. “We were both out riding one morning—before I discovered her true identity—when Lady Elizabeth was thrown from her horse because the girth on her saddle had been cut. Since that happened before I’d even received the note from the Home Office, that tells me someone in the Home Office learned her whereabouts and sent a man to kill her.”

“Oh, no.” Mannerly’s face paled.

“The only people who would have been privy to that information are at the Home Office. I immediately set off to bring her here where I can protect her.

“Then, on our way, she was attacked in her room at an inn. I managed to subdue the man and questioned him afterward. He would only confirm he’d been hired, and he was the one who had tampered with her saddle.” Hawk rested his hip on the desk and swung one leg. “That is the only theory that makes sense to me. I can’t imagine why anyone would be interested in killing a governess.”

“Do you have any idea why someone in the Home Office would want to cause Lady Elizabeth harm? Could it be a vengeance sort of thing because of what her father had done?”

“No. I believe whoever is trying to kill her is the other person who had been working with Lord Loverly.”

Mannerly frowned. “I thought the theory was a woman was Loverly’s assistant?”

“Yes, that is the current thought, which is why I am under orders to bring Lady Elizabeth to London to be questioned.”

“They think her ladyship is that woman?”

“She has been questioned before, which was what had precipitated her absconding to the country. It is certain they want to ask her for information. I have questioned her thoroughly myself and am of the opinion she knows nothing that would put someone in danger of being discovered.”

Mannerly straightened his shoulders. “I shall do whatever it is you want me to do, my lord. The poor girl must be terrified.”

“Thank you. What I want you to do is find out as much as you can about Lord Loverly’s townhouse in London. Lady Elizabeth tells me that was where her father spent the last years of his life before he left for America, which is the time when he was engaging in his treasonous acts. Once he was declared a traitor, the Crown took possession of the townhouse. I don’t know if they searched the premises, or not. I’m assuming if they had, they didn’t find anything, or they would not still have their focus on Lady Elizabeth.”

“Shall I travel to London to do this, my lord?”