Page 24 of Crash Landing
He reached over and covered them with one of his own. “What is the matter?”
“If it is so well known that she has had affairs with other men, then why are they so worried about those letters?”
“It is all about how one plays thesetongames,” he explained. “They all have affairs, husbandsandwives. They cheat because these are not love marriages but business alliances, and love is to be sought elsewhere once the wife has produced the necessary heirs.”
“All right, this I understand. But it still does not explain the frantic need to retrieve those letters.”
“There is a protocol to these affairs. One does not put one’s sordid liaisons in writing. That is the true sacrilege, not the cheating itself. This is because letters are hard, solid proof that can be produced in a court of law, or in the House of Lords, or given to a newspaper to publish.” He released her hands and eased back in his chair. “Love letters are nuggets of gold, capable of inflicting ridicule, embarrassment, and destruction of one’s power and position.”
“But these are letters to Lady Simmons. Would not Lord Simmons be viewed upon with pity and admired for his forbearance? Why would those letters destroy his career?”
“You are assuming he is the one to be brought down. What if he is not?”
Her eyes widened. “Are you suggesting Frampton wishes to destroy the man who wrote her those letters?”
“Yes, in all likelihood. Do you have any idea who wrote them?”
She shook her head. “No, not an inkling. All I was told is they were quite…er…um, descriptive, and now they are in Lord Frampton’s possession. I just assumed he would use them to make Lord Simmons a laughingstock, if ever Lord Simmons dares challenge him for the position of prime minister.”
“That is among the possibilities, but not the only one. No, Florence. I think Frampton not only finds them convenient to curtail any threat to his ambitions from Lord Simmons, but to another he views as a more serious threat. The man he is most likely after is the one foolish enough to have put his sexual exploits with Lady Simmons into those letters in explicit detail. I wonder…”
Florence edged forward in her seat. “Who are you thinking it is?”
“I don’t know. Any number of men, possibly even Lord Liverpool.”
She gasped. “But he is our current prime minister. Is he one to have affairs? Or be so idiotic as to set down his most intimate thoughts on paper? Could this scandal unseat him?”
“Possibly, who knows? It would certainly weaken him for a time.”
“I hope not. He is a good and steady leader. We are all capable of errors in judgment.”
“Yes, for certain. But his peers and the public might not be as forgiving, especially if they are of a mind to see his downfall. Scandals, especially involving other men’s wives, are the best way to unseat a man as capable and respected as Lord Liverpool. But I am only tossing his name out as a possibility. I have no reason to believe he is in any way involved. In fact, I have a lot of respect for him and would be surprised if he turned out to be the correspondent.”
“Then who do you think wrote those letters to Lady Simmons?”
“It could be anyone of prominence.”
“Such as Wellington? Or Robinson?”
“Or any number of other men who are much respected and admired. No one is immune to scandal, whether commoner or nobleman. They are all targets to a weaker man who seeks a position of power.”
“Or who hopes to hold on to a position he currently holds.”
“Yes,” Trajan said. “But clearly, Frampton is aiming for high office. He wishes to position himself as next in line for prime minister. So, he is either trying to knock out Liverpool or a likely successor. There are several powerful men vying to be next in line. Lord Simmons is the least likely among them to succeed to those heights.”
“I could ask Lady Frampton when she joins me and Aunt Hermia for tea. Is this not a natural topic of conversation, a general discussion of who might lead our government if Lord Liverpool is not able? Let’s see what names she tosses out. Or if she makes some cryptic comment.”
“Such as?”
“Oh, maybe saying something about Lord Liverpool not being likely to remain in power very long. Or maybe she will give a disparaging snort at the mention of Wellington or another candidate. Idon’t know. Something.Anything.Although Her Royal Highness made it clear it is not my business to read those letters or try to guess who wrote them. I am only tasked with getting them back for her friend.”
“Who should immediately burn them if she has a lick of sense.”
“Obviously, neither she nor her paramour were thinking clearly.”
They said no more as Timmons rolled in a cart bearing a pot of cocoa, cups, and some fruit and tarts. “Thank you, Timmons. I’ll take care of it from here,” Trajan said.
“Of course, Your Grace.” The butler nodded and quietly left the library, closing the door after himself.
