highest government circles of many capital cities.”
“Also correct.” Lucius endorsed that one.
“And we know that Léonie was on her way to England to meet with her Papa when she was attacked.”
“Um…I think so.” Léonie thought about it. “I do think that’s why I was coming here. There is no possible other reason. At least not one I can recall.”
“Good.” Julia nodded. “Those are the facts. We can make assumptions based on these facts but we cannot go further and say anything for certain. So what this means is that there is no way we can accuse your father of being a spy for anyone, Léonie. The situation could indicate that, but until we learn more, or find out where he is, I believe we should simply proceed on our original course. We need to discover more about your presence here in England and who attacked you. Also why. Perhaps when we pursue these questions, we will find more answers to some of the others.”
Dev looked at Lucius. “She’s very smart, you know. I think I told you that before you married her.”
“You did. And I paid attention.”
“I’m sitting right here, gentlemen. I can hear every word you’re saying.” Julia glared at them both.
“We’re complimenting you, darling.” Lucius leaned over and took her hand. “You’ve put everything concisely and neatly into perspective.”
“Indeed. Thank you Julia.” Dev smiled at her. “I do have one more thing to add. I wasn’t sure that I should mention this because it is bad news, but it is relevant, I’m afraid.”
“What, Dev?”
Léonie’s heart fluttered at his expression. This was something that was going to be upsetting, she was certain.
“I learned that Lord Elwyn, the Elwyn of the note and the son of Margaret Wellstone, passed away earlier this week in his home in the country.”
“Oh no.”
Julia’s exclamation echoed Léonie’s thoughts. She had so hoped that Lord Elwyn could shed light on so many of her own questions.
She choked down her disappointment. “What happened, Dev? Do you know?”
He met her gaze, his eyes somber. “Unfortunately, he was murdered.”
The world turned fuzzy around Léonie, and clouds crossed her vision as the meaning of his words percolated through to the inner core of her brain.
“ Oh my God …”
Everything went dark.
*~~*~~*
Dev quietly closed the door. “She’s still out. I suppose the shock hit her harder than I could have expected. I swear I wouldn’t have told her otherwise.”
“She’ll be all right, Dev. Let her sleep.” Aunt Bertie touched his arm as they stood outside Léonie’s room.
Dev had carried her upstairs just as Bertie had returned from her evening’s engagement and it had been she who took over as Julia and Lucius took their leave.
All was soon settled, quiet and restful, except for Dev’s brain. He was furious with himself, regretting the moment he’d spoken of Elwyn’s death.
He said so to Bertie as they walked along the upstairs corridor to her rooms. “I am all kinds of a fool.”
“She had to know sometime. Might as well be now, when she’s safe here at Deverell House.”
“Part of me knows you’re right. The other part is kicking my brain up the arse.” He sighed. “Forgive my language.”
“Oh for God’s sake, boy. I’ve heard worse, said worse and if all you can come up with is that, I’m ashamed of you.” She stopped in front of her door and turned to face him. “Did you fuck up here? No. I don’t think you did. There. That’s putting it bluntly. So go chew on that. I’m going to bed.”
Dev couldn’t help a grin as the door closed in his face. He did as he was bid, but as he slipped into his dressing gown, his eyes fell on the portrait. She looked so… lost tonight. Adrift.
And he cursed when he remembered there was no maid with her.
That was all it took. He was out his door, down the corridor and going silently into her room before he quite realized where he was.
But the sigh of relief he
“Also correct.” Lucius endorsed that one.
“And we know that Léonie was on her way to England to meet with her Papa when she was attacked.”
“Um…I think so.” Léonie thought about it. “I do think that’s why I was coming here. There is no possible other reason. At least not one I can recall.”
“Good.” Julia nodded. “Those are the facts. We can make assumptions based on these facts but we cannot go further and say anything for certain. So what this means is that there is no way we can accuse your father of being a spy for anyone, Léonie. The situation could indicate that, but until we learn more, or find out where he is, I believe we should simply proceed on our original course. We need to discover more about your presence here in England and who attacked you. Also why. Perhaps when we pursue these questions, we will find more answers to some of the others.”
Dev looked at Lucius. “She’s very smart, you know. I think I told you that before you married her.”
“You did. And I paid attention.”
“I’m sitting right here, gentlemen. I can hear every word you’re saying.” Julia glared at them both.
“We’re complimenting you, darling.” Lucius leaned over and took her hand. “You’ve put everything concisely and neatly into perspective.”
“Indeed. Thank you Julia.” Dev smiled at her. “I do have one more thing to add. I wasn’t sure that I should mention this because it is bad news, but it is relevant, I’m afraid.”
“What, Dev?”
Léonie’s heart fluttered at his expression. This was something that was going to be upsetting, she was certain.
“I learned that Lord Elwyn, the Elwyn of the note and the son of Margaret Wellstone, passed away earlier this week in his home in the country.”
“Oh no.”
Julia’s exclamation echoed Léonie’s thoughts. She had so hoped that Lord Elwyn could shed light on so many of her own questions.
She choked down her disappointment. “What happened, Dev? Do you know?”
He met her gaze, his eyes somber. “Unfortunately, he was murdered.”
The world turned fuzzy around Léonie, and clouds crossed her vision as the meaning of his words percolated through to the inner core of her brain.
“ Oh my God …”
Everything went dark.
*~~*~~*
Dev quietly closed the door. “She’s still out. I suppose the shock hit her harder than I could have expected. I swear I wouldn’t have told her otherwise.”
“She’ll be all right, Dev. Let her sleep.” Aunt Bertie touched his arm as they stood outside Léonie’s room.
Dev had carried her upstairs just as Bertie had returned from her evening’s engagement and it had been she who took over as Julia and Lucius took their leave.
All was soon settled, quiet and restful, except for Dev’s brain. He was furious with himself, regretting the moment he’d spoken of Elwyn’s death.
He said so to Bertie as they walked along the upstairs corridor to her rooms. “I am all kinds of a fool.”
“She had to know sometime. Might as well be now, when she’s safe here at Deverell House.”
“Part of me knows you’re right. The other part is kicking my brain up the arse.” He sighed. “Forgive my language.”
“Oh for God’s sake, boy. I’ve heard worse, said worse and if all you can come up with is that, I’m ashamed of you.” She stopped in front of her door and turned to face him. “Did you fuck up here? No. I don’t think you did. There. That’s putting it bluntly. So go chew on that. I’m going to bed.”
Dev couldn’t help a grin as the door closed in his face. He did as he was bid, but as he slipped into his dressing gown, his eyes fell on the portrait. She looked so… lost tonight. Adrift.
And he cursed when he remembered there was no maid with her.
That was all it took. He was out his door, down the corridor and going silently into her room before he quite realized where he was.
But the sigh of relief he