Page 54 of Choosing Her Earl at Last
“I will give you some time to think it over. Take my request to the marchioness and see what she has to say regarding the matter. I will be in London for the week, but my patience is not infinite. If I do not get what I want by this exchange, then I will take more drastic actions.”
A cold chill rippled down Michael’s spine at the stone-cold, hard glare of the man before him. His tone and expression left no doubt that he meant what he said, and he had no problems taking a life in the process.
“If you lay a hand on either of the Frampton sisters, I will kill you,” Michael promised him. “Upon that, you have my word.”
Mr. G laughed, a hollow sound, his eyes glittering in challenge. “Oh, you and I will dance Ravenshollow, but it will not be today.”
His men stepped forward, their weapons at the ready to deal with any fight that might break out. “If you speak of this meeting to anyone, including the authorities, other than to the marchioness herself, I will see to it that Rebecca Frampton never sees her family again.”
Seeing that there was nothing short of violence and possibly death for them if they remained and pressed any harder, Michael and Colin left the room and made their way back down the corridor to the main tavern room.
Nodding discreetly at Mr. Hardy, Michael made a hand motion for the butler to remain where he was. After leaving the tavern, the cousins ducked into the doorway of a nearby building to make certain that they were not being followed. As they suspected, two of the men from the back room had followed them out onto the street. Upon not seeing them, the men grumbled amongst themselves for a brief moment, then returned inside the tavern.
Michael and Colin walked to the carriage that they had left several streets away and waited for Mr. Hardy to join them. Several minutes later, Ezra Hardy climbed into the carriage. His demeanor was sober, nearly ominous in its intensity.
“I recognized Mr. G,” he wasted no time in telling them.
“Who is he? How do you know him?” Michael and Colin spoke as one, blurting out their questions in unison.
Mr. Hardy shook his head. “I do not mean that I remember his name or know him personally. I simply remember having seen him before. It is odd, but I have the distinct impression that behind the beard, I have seen and interacted with that man before.”
“In another tavern?” Michael asked.
“No.” He shook his head again. “I have seen him at a social gathering with the Frampton family.” His frown deepened, concern wrinkling his forehead. “He has disguised himself well, but there is no hiding the nobility of his birth. I just cannot quite place him at the moment. The moment that it comes to me, I will send word to you immediately.”
Mr. Hardy rose to crawl out of the carriage once more, but Michael stopped him with a hand to his arm.
“If you recognized him, it is possible that he recognized you. If you go back in there, you could be risking your life and Miss Rebecca’s life.”
The butler paused. “I did not think of that.” He sighed, sitting back down on the bench seat.
“We need to speak with Emmeline,” Colin insisted. “Whether you like it or not, Michael, she has a right to know what was said.”
Michael gritted his teeth, but he knew that Colin was right. “I will not allow her to be served up to that dastardly fiend like a calling card on a silver tray.”
“Nor will I,” Colin reassured him, “but for Rebecca’s sake, we must come up with a plan that will not get her killed.” His eyes begged for Michael to understand. “I know that you love Emmeline, but I love Rebecca. I would not have anything bad happen to either of the sisters. I know that there is a way to get what we want and still keep Emmeline safe.”
“I will not allow Emmaline to meet with that man alone,” Michael insisted.
“She will not be alone,” Mr. Hardy intoned, the meaning in his words all too clear. “If he did recognize me, let us put that to some use. I will go with her. No man will touch her, or they will die in the trying.”
Pulling forth a pistol and blade from beneath his jacket, the butler swore the ultimate oath. “Upon this sacred iron I pledge my life in the service of my lady, and should it be my fate to die in her defense, so be it.” It was the vow of a liege man to his lady, a vow to his queen.
Chapter 23
Emmeline paced back and forth in her mother’s drawing room, fury warring with worry. When she had awakened to find Michael returned to London without telling her of Colin’s missive, she had immediately summoned a carriage and returned to London with Louisa in tow.
With the rain interfering with their plans, they had not been able to dig up her father’s treasure. When Mr. Hardy returned home from his excursion to the Green Dragon Tavern, Emmeline cornered him.
“What happened?” she demanded.
“I was not in the room with the gentlemen in question, but I did see Mr. G after the earl and Mr. Barrington left the tavern. He looks strangely familiar to me, my lady. It is my belief that he is someone known to this family,” Mr. Hardy confessed.
“Known to us?” Emmeline murmured in confusion. “One of Father’s associates, perhaps?”
Mr. Hardy shook his head. “I do not know, my lady, but he has been here in this house for one of the family social gatherings. Of that, I am almost certain.”
Emmeline’s frown deepened. “That is most unsettling. Mother only ever invited members of thetonto her social gatherings. That means that he is one of us.”
