Page 80 of Romanced By the Orc

She was confident Albie’s mother would tell her to leave and never return. Instead, there was only silence until the Dowager broke it at last.

“You wear Orcan fashion,” she said, gesturing toward the now-wilted gown. “You are styling yourself as a Lady of the Hidden Realm, then? A true representative of the Higgins family?”

Diana grasped the brilliant Orcan sapphire Albie had gifted her, thinking how that moment between them seemed so long ago. Her mind was playing queer tricks like that, lack of sleep, lack of food, and abundant worry disrupting her equilibrium. But she knew exactly what to tell her mother-in-law.

“Not Higgins, your grace. Hooradech mak Teer.”

The Dowager’s clever eyes widened before she looked up at her son and gave a simple nod.

“We are family,” Duncan said in a low voice. “All of us, Daisy. And together, we will bring my brother home.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Though Duncan asked to accompany her, Diana insisted he would attract too much attention just when they could least afford it. She did not permit Izzie to come either. The journey ahead of her was too dangerous.

Initially, she had Isaac run a note to Edward Langley, begging for an audience as soon as possible. She had quickly received a reply. Unfortunately, it was from his butler, informing her that the young man was abroad and not expected back for several days.

Perhaps he was in Chamberly assisting her husband.

So poor Isaac had to make one more run that day, this time to Edward’s brother. And William Langley agreed to meet her at the Wayfarer’s Respite.

But he was not available until six in the evening. Diana’s heart raced at the wasted afternoon while Albie was in peril. She tried to put the wait to good use, rifling through the massive bureau in her bedchamber to pack for the trip across the Channel. Beforeleaving the townhouse, she found a voluminous cloak she had tucked around her now. It was too thick for the mild late spring weather, but she couldn’t risk anyone spotting her.Any concern for her reputation had long since crumbled to dust. However, word of her meeting with William Langley could reach Reginald Addington, and she would not risk that.

Diana needed to save Albion and Lillian. If she accomplished that much, she didn’t care what happened to her.

As the top of the appointed hour approached, she waited at a corner table in the Wayfarer’s Respite, grateful for the quiet so she might calm her body to face the tasks ahead. A passing of coins into his hands convinced the amenable Ollie to close the tavern early, granting Diana privacy.

She stared at the door. Though the sun would not set for a few hours more, charcoal gray skies accompanied a steady rain outside. Only flickering light from the candles Ollie had lit before retreating to a back room kept the tavern illuminated.

At last, William Langley strode inside, the brim of his top hat speckled with raindrops.When he spotted her, he rushed to the table and sat across from her.

“My lady,” he said hastily. “Deepest apologies for keeping you waiting.” William removed his hat and took the seat across from her. “Forgive me for jumping directly to the point, but your message indicated this was an urgent matter. And I find your choice of location puzzling.”

“I had hoped to speak to you alone, and this seemed like a safe place to avoid prying eyes. Thank you for meeting me.”

“Safe place? I confess to concern regarding what you might have to tell me. What has happened?”

“I am sorry to say you are right to be afeared.” A lump caught in Diana’s throat, and she forced it down, lowering her voice to a whisper. “The Phantom is in jeopardy. My husband.”

Whatever training Albie had provided to the men who worked with him was evident now. William paled but otherwise retained his composure.

“Madam, I am at your service, but you must be mistaken. You spoke of the Benevolent Phantom and then of Lord Albion.”

“Please. We don’t have time.” She let the cloak slip so he could make out her expression. He needed to bear witness to her earnestness. “I am well aware of who my husband is and what he is doing. I happened upon his private study and am now privy to his adventures. I believe your brother assists him in such. Perhaps you do as well?”

William Langley remained still, but she detected a tremor in his voice. “Even if that is so, how did you know about my brother? How would you know to contact me?”

She sighed and placed her hand flat on the table as though to prove she had nothing to hide.

“I have behaved most dishonorably. I only hope you can forgive me in the interest of doing everything to help Albie now.”

“I don’t understand—”

“Sir Reginald Addington holds a financial stake in the Duke of Rostin’s success. A rather substantial one as he has incurred a sizable debt to the man. Reginald held ... certain information over me as a threat. And then enlisted my help to uncover the identity of the Benevolent Phantom.”

“My lady!” William gasped. “You did not discuss the conundrum with your husband?”

“I wanted to. Desperately.” She shrugged helplessly. “You know as well as I how he played a certain character for the public eye. That of a buffoon.”

---