Page 26 of Lyon’s Obsession (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #91)
B y the time Theodora arrived at the church, she had managed to calm down enough to disguise her earlier fears of Lord Almano and her continued annoyance with Alexander from Emma. Unfortunately, Aaran Graham was not so easy to dissuade.
“What has you so distracted?” he asked in an undertone.
“Has it something to do with your arrival on Marksman’s arm?
Have you found your way back to each other or was there another argument?
I am betting on the second. What has Alexander executed against you now?
If you like, I can do away with him and bury his body where it will take several hundred years for anyone to find it.
We have very deep bogs in Scotland, and only a Scottish man and woman would think to search for a body there.
However, once said Scot found the body belonged to an ‘Englishman,’ they would dig the hole deeper and send him closer to Hell. ”
The fact Aaran said the last part with such seriousness had Dora smiling: He was always the most tenderhearted of her brothers. “Marksman simply assisted me in retrieving Richard’s telescope from the jewelers and then saw I arrived at the church on time.”
“Yet, it was difficult for you to attend a wedding, not yours, with the man you adore,” he corrected.
“Why could I not have fallen in love with you?” she asked softly.
“The heart wants what none of us expect, but we will make a pact. Give me your hand, my lady.” Theodora placed her gloved fingers in his.
Aaran immediately brought her gloved knuckles to his lips.
“I, Lord Aaran Graham, solemnly promise to marry Lady Theodora Duncan two years from this day, if neither of us has found true love before then.”
Dora fought back her tears, but she kissed his gloved hand and made the promise to marry him if neither of them found love in the near future.
Ironically, as she looked into the mischief marking his expression, she knew a marriage between them would be a satisfying one.
No crazy highs and lows, but Aaran would cherish her nonetheless, and she could do the same for him.
Moreover, for her personal sanity, he held a Scottish title and kept only a temporary home in London for the meeting of Parliament, which would be easier than constantly encountering Alexander in Derbyshire, for Marksman Abbey was her father’s nearest neighbor.
“Come, Theodora,” her father said. “The rector wishes us all in position before Emma’s entrance. Our Richard is eager to claim his bride.”
When Dora joined them at the front of the church, Richard caught her in a loose embrace. “Emma and I owe you for your assistance in aiding me in finding the woman I adore. My bride and I have decided we will name our first daughter ‘Theodora.’”
Dora had no words to express her love for this particular man: He would always be her eldest brother.
Instead, she rose on her toes to kiss his cheek.
A noise at the back of the church said Emma had entered on her father’s arm and was waiting to join them.
Dora watched with happiness as Richard turned to find his bride coming towards him. “Breathe,” she ordered teasingly.
“Magnificent,” Richard murmured.
“Perfect for you, my brother,” she said as she took her place as part of those celebrating the love of two lost souls who had finally found each other.
“I mean to speak to you before you depart.” Duncan summoned Alexander into his study as Alexander prepared to leave the reception for Richard and Emma, who were above stairs now changing into their traveling clothing.
“I do not approve of your being so close to being caught in Honfleur’s garden,” Duncan declared with a scowl marking his brow. “What were you thinking, boy?”
Alexander no longer considered himself a boy, but he allowed his protest to remain unspoken, for there were more important matters to consider.
“Lionel and I wanted to examine the so-called ‘root cellar,’” he explained.
“And we were glad we did. The passage does not serve as a root cellar, at all. Rather it appears to have been constructed so those in the homes along the street have access to the mews or, perhaps, it was an escape if an angry crowd was stirred up by the rabble. According to the small plate we found embedded in one of the walls, the passage seems to have been constructed following the events in France, embarked upon after 1791: The days of ‘ la gloire .’”
Duncan’s anger faded quickly. “You still should not place yourself so close to Honfleur. Your doing so could ruin all we have accomplished.”
Rather than argue, Alexander chose to practice contrition. “Such was never our purpose, but, at the very least, we learned something of importance.”
He and Lionel had decided it would not be best to inform Duncan of how Honfleur meant to leave Miss Moreau behind, for Duncan would anticipate Alexander’s temptation to seek out his sister, which was part of his plan as quickly as he assured himself Honfleur would not place Annalise under guard during the marquis’s absence.
He hoped she would be permitted to call on the bookseller or walk in the park in her uncle’s absence.
He still wished for an opportunity to speak of their parentage to the girl.
All Alexander knew with any confidence was that he could not lose her again.
He would not permit her to walk away without her knowing of their connection.
Moreover, he meant to remove her from Honfleur’s influence.
“Aye. We have placed Graham, in disguise, on the same ship as Honfleur,” Duncan explained.
“One of our men in France will sail with the marquis on the man’s return.
Perhaps Graham can woo Lady Caroline or one of Honfleur’s servants and learn more of what is planned.
Aaran possesses a quiet confidence women enjoy.
He was the only one who could reason with Lady Emma. ”
“My instincts say, whatever is being planned will know a quick end once Honfleur returns,” Alexander observed. “We should be prepared.”
Alexander entered the house the government used to observe Honfleur’s activities for the first time in several days.
Honfleur and Lady Caroline had departed England without Annalise in tow.
The anticipated new Prime Minister, Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl Lord Liverpool, had ordered many of Lord Duncan’s men to chase after those who had, of late, spent time with Yates.
Moreover, there were more and more rumblings from the Luddites.
Just as they had done in the late 1790s, these new conspirators met often at Furnival’s Inn in Holborn or in Soho Square.
Evidently, mutinous rumblings had increased, therefore, the need to be prepared had also escalated.
The government’s resources and men were being stretched in multiple directions.
The killing of Spencer Perceval had opened a window for sedition to slip in.
Despite the long hours Duncan’s men had spent trailing after first one suspect and then another, Liverpool had known frustration at their lack of learning anything new.
Lord Duncan had responded in a similar manner.
Anyone who cared to listen to the rumors knew it was only a matter of time before an uprising occurred, and, although Alexander worried for the fate of his nation, he was, first and foremost, concerned for what would happen to his sister Annalise.
If she were somehow involved with Honfleur and Yates, she could be hanged or transported. Alexander was determined not to allow her to assist Honfleur in whatever the “false” marquis had planned. Tonight, he meant to call upon Honfleur’s home and speak to Annalise of family—of her real family.
“Glad you arrived a bit early,” Justin Hartley said as Alexander entered the room of the third story from which they conducted their observations. “I promised my mother to make an appearance at her supper party this evening.”
“So Duncan explained,” Alexander responded, but his mind was elsewhere.
“Not much to see,” Hartley explained as he gathered his belongings.
“Occasionally, there is a light in one room or another. Still cannot believe Honfleur released all of his servants. Makes me wonder what he means for the future of the young lady left behind. How is she faring, all alone in that large house? I understand Lord Amgen sent a man around yesterday asking when Honfleur meant to return, but the girl did not respond to the man’s entreaty.
The knocker has been removed for the time being. ”
“Thank you for the update,” Alexander said, his attention already on the house where Annalise remained alone.
“If you have other obligations, I can return after my mother’s party,” his friend offered.
Alexander shook off the idea. “There is no need. You deserve a full night’s rest. God knows we will all soon be called upon to spend each waking hour chasing after those who wish to bring the British government to its knees.
Unlike some of our cohorts, I believe Honfleur will return, perhaps not for his niece, but rather because he appears as equally invested in the planned chaos as John Yates.
These forgeries are simply taking advantage of the chaos following Perceval’s death.
In fact, I suspect Honfleur will return quicker than many think, for he must strike while the iron is hot. ”
“Your logic makes perfect sense.” Hartley stopped again to look upon the house across the street. “In truth, I hope the marquis does return early, so we might be done with this craziness and concentrate more of our men on the Luddites and others meaning to replace the government.”
“We might argue these same theories all evening, but you have a supper to attend,” Alexander said with a grin.
“Do not remind me,” Hartley responded. “I love my parents, but…”