Page 67 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

His face as white as new snow and his jaw muscles working, Hawk jumped from his seat and loomed over the Home Secretary’s startled, upturned face. “No. Absolutely not. Never. I will not allow her to do that. You must be demented.” He lunged toward the man and pointed his finger in his face. “Am I making myself clear?”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Hawk could not believe his ears. Sidmouth would put Lizzie in harm’s way so they could catch this culprit? He wanted to get his hands on the man behind the murder attempts himself for hurting Lizzie, but there was no question about her being involved in this fool plan.

Lizzie scrambled from her seat and took his hand, interlacing their fingers. “Hawk, please. This is the Home Secretary.”

Lizzie’s plea finally cut through the blood-red rage that had overtaken him at the Home Secretary’s suggestion. All he could see in his mind was Monica’s broken, muddy body as he laid her on her bed in front of their mother. He could not allow that to happen to the woman he loved.

She could be taken from him, leaving him with a hole in his heart, and life, so large he would never recover.

With Lizzie’s pleas in his ears, he dropped his hand and stepped back, his breath coming in gasps. He shook his head, trying to get himself under control. “I am sorry, my lord. Please forgive me.”

As Lizzie returned to her seat, he made his way across the room, his head down, fists resting on his hips, taking deep breaths. With shaky hands, he filled two glasses with brandy. He returned and handed one to the Home Secretary, who looked in dire need of the fortification.

After taking a rather large gulp, and rearranging his cravat, Sidmouth said, “Will you please allow me to lay out the entire matter?”

Hawk sipped his drink, the knots in his stomach tightening again. “The only plan I want to hear from you is the one where you capture your man without involving my countess.”

“Can we at least hear what his lordship has in mind?” Lizzie swung her head to the Home Secretary. “There is more to your proposal, is there not?”

The Home Secretary cleared his throat. “Yes, it has been well thought out, I assure you. As I said, we will put the word out about Lady Hawkins having the papers and willing to turn them over. We will set the meeting up at the Home Office, so her ladyship will be safe. When our man sees the exchange, which will be blank documents, of course, he will most likely attempt to steal them from my office. The office will be kept under surveillance and he will be caught red-handed. I will make sure men from Scotland Yard meet the countess at the Home Office when she arrives and later escort her safely home.”

Hawk took the last swallow of his drink and placed the glass on the table with a thud. “This is by far the worst plan I have ever heard. There are so many holes in this scheme of yours I could drive my phaeton through it.

“She could be abducted somewhere between here and your office. She could be shot while entering the building. Bloody hell, an urchin could be hired to snatch the false papers from her and run faster than my best mare, which in the confusion could result in my wife being run down in the street for the knowledge the culprit assumes she possesses. No. She is not doing this.”

“This is our best chance to catch the man who betrayed his country and got away with it. And the man who has threatened your wife. This is for her safety.”

“My wife and her safety is my responsibility. We will travel the continent for a while if we need to keep her safe. She will not—I repeat, not—set up a meeting and give this person who wants to kill her a clear shot.” He stood, indicating the meeting had come to an end. “If you will excuse me, my lord, I have other matters to attend to.”

Lizzie came to her feet and approached Hawk. “I want to do this.”

“No.”

She clutched his arm, staring into his eyes. “Don’t you understand? This is an opportunity to redeem my name.”

“There is nothing wrong with the name Hawkins.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t become you, my lord.”

“And death doesn’t become you, my lady.”

“But you can come with me.” Lizzie turned to Sidmouth. “Can’t he, my lord?”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

He and Lizzie stared at each other, until Hawk turned to Sidmouth. “If you will excuse us, my lord, as I mentioned, I have matters which require my attention.” As if to make his point he grasped Lizzie by the elbow and moved her forward. “My butler will see you out,” he tossed over his shoulder.

Lizzie pulled her elbow free once they left the house. “That was exceptionally rude, Hawk. Lord Sidmouth is the Home Secretary.”

“I don’t care if he is the Prince Regent. No one—and I mean no one—should put you in that kind of danger.”

It was a quiet walk back to Cam’s townhouse. Most likely Lizzie was upset with him for being so high-handed, but he had no intention of changing his mind. He would begin immediately to arrange transport for the two of them to travel to the Continent. Italy would be nice to visit for a while.

Once they arrived at their destination, Lizzie turned to him. “I believe I will take a dinner tray in my room. I feel the beginning of a megrim.”

He bowed. “As you wish, madam. I will send one of the maids up to assist you and have Cook fix a tisane.”