Page 91 of Love Abandoned

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Richard said, echoing Walford’s earlier words. “I need another drink. Anyone?”

“A tall one,” Walford said. Laurence shook his head, declining.

Richard took Walford’s glass and his own and headed into the shadows where the cognac sat. He could hear the conversation behind him, hear the wonder and confusion in Walford’s voice.

“How did you come to be part of this…this…?”

“Squad,” Laurence replied, filling in the word. “My father. He knew I must leave Stratton Hall but would not have me across the world. I’ve always been good at ciphering, and he had connections at the Home Office. That’s why I could not let Miller see me tonight. He might recognize me from my short-lived time there, and I’d be no good to the squad anymore.”

“Why could Lord Stratton not tell us? Tell Catherine?” Walford asked, and Richard stopped, standing in the shadows, letting the two men work through Laurence’s deception.

“Originally the lie about going to the colonies was foryourfather’s benefit. My father did not trust him, was afraid he’d punish me for your brother’s…for Daniel’s death.” Laurence choked on the name, and the room grew silent for a moment. “But Lord Sidmouth recruited me when he discovered I had other skills.”

“What other skills?” Walford asked.

“A daring that comes with not caring if you live or die,” Laurence said so quietly Richard strained to hear him.

“Good God, man, you know the truth now. My brother would not want that to be his legacy. And Catherine. What about her? You have to care,” Walford sputtered, the emotion clear in his voice.

“I’m beginning to, Nic. I’m beginning to.”

Walford pulled Laurence into a bear of a hug. Richard waited until he let him go and sat back before entering the pool of light and handing Walford his drink. Richard resumed his seat.

“Catherine will be thrilled to see you,” Walford said after taking a drink of the cognac.

“She can’t know.”

Walford’s head snapped toward Laurence. “I don’t keep secrets from your sister, Laurence. And I’ll certainly not keep this. She has been worried sick. She believes you are over in the middle of a bloody war right now.”

“But you must. It’s a dangerous game I play, and there are people who would hurt me by hurting those I love. They don’t know who I am, and I pray they never find out.”

“But Catherine—”

“Is better off believing me to be in the colonies,” Laurence said, running a hand through his hair. “Father has agreed. He knows the peril she could be in were the connection to be made. There can be no slipups on her part if she does not know.”

“But you are asking me to lie when I can ease her worry. What am I to tell her when she shares her fears?”

“Tell her you can’t find me in the rosters. Tell her you’d know if something had happened to me. Tell her whatever you want, but for the love of God, don’t tell her I’m nearby. If not for the sake of her, for the sake of that little niece or nephew of mine she’s carrying.”

Walford looked kicked as emotion washed over his face. Richard bled for his friend’s worried confusion but recognized it was time for him to depart. He’d learned enough for the night, and neither man needed him standing witness to their pain any more than he already had.

“If you’ll excuse me, I believe I’ll head home,” he said, standing.

Walford cleared his throat. “Take my horse, if you’d like, Thornwood. I’ll be staying for a while, I hope?” He looked at Laurence, who nodded. “I’ll take the carriage when I’m done.”

Laurence stood and held out his hand. “Thank you, my lord. I know you stepped into this arrangement unwillingly, but you stayed the course. I’ll do my best to keep you from it from here on.”

“I’d appreciate it,” Richard said, shaking Laurence’s hand and then Walford’s before turning to the door.

“On your word, Nic, promise you will not tell Catherine I am here. I’ll not bring any more pain to my family…or yours.”

Richard closed the door on Laurence’s words, their voices reduced to murmurs as he stepped off the veranda. The cool night air refreshed his senses and reawakened his mind to thoughts of Elizabeth. He was grateful for Walford’s offer of his horse. He couldn’t get home fast enough.

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