Page 94 of The Secret of Flirting

Hart! Damn. The man was supposed to leave at dawn. In a moment of panic, Gregory glanced at the clock, then let out a relieved breath. One a.m., thank God. He hadn’t sleptthatlate, at least.

Dressing hurriedly, he headed downstairs in search of Hart. He wasn’t surprised to find the fellow in the drawing room playing cards. Hewassurprised to find him playing cards with Mother, of all people.

“What are you doing up so late?” Gregory asked his mother.

“Keeping Lord Hartley company,” she said primly. “He said he’s leaving before dawn to go on some fool’s errand for you, and he saw no point in retiring to bed only to have to rise again in the wee hours of the morning.”

“Actually, I need him to go on that fool’s errand now,” Gregory said.

“Good heavens!” she cried. “You and your friends are all quite mad. First, Danworth has to rush off to London, and then—”

A chill swept over him. “Danworth is gone?”

“Yes. He left right after he finished his meeting with you in your study.”

“Bloody coward.” No doubt the arse had feared that Gregory might murder him in his sleep.

But it was just as well the chap had fled to town; it would make things simpler. And quite possibly mean the end of the attempts on Monique’s life. “Did Prince Leopold leave with him?”

Mother blinked. “No. Why would he?”

“No reason.” And that might be one more sign that Leopold wasn’t fully aware of what Danworth was up to. Or that he didn’t want anyone to guess that they were friends, in case Danworth’s machinations didn’t work. “Hart—”

“I know.” He stood. “You want me to go now. I’m packed and ready. I was just waiting for morning.”

“I need you to wait for one more thing. You and I must speak with Lady Ursula before you go.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, son,” Mother said. “She retired hours ago.”

“We’ll have to wake her, then. Actually, Mother, it’s a good thing you’re up. You can rouse her while I give Hart a few last-minute instructions.”

“Can’t it wait until morning?” she said.

So Monique could slip away with Hart? Not a chance in hell. “I’m afraid not. It’s more important than you can possibly know.” When his mother just stared at him, he added, “Now, Mother. Please go fetch Lady Ursula rightnow.”

Mother rolled her eyes, but rose to do his bidding. As she walked away, he thought of something.

“Oh, and Mother? Whatever you do, don’t wake up Mo— The princess. That’s crucial. She needs her sleep.”

His mother sniffed. “So do we all, thanks to you and your schemes.” Then she stalked off up the stairs.

As soon as she was gone, Gregory sat down to tell Hart what was going on. Although it was necessary to reveal his darkest secret to his most trusted ally, it still chafed him that he must do so.

To Gregory’s shock, Hart didn’t condemn him for what he had done in his youth. He only asked questions to clarify the facts. Gregory was grateful for that. Perhaps Hart might see a crack in Danworth’s scheme that Gregory had missed.

“Sounds like an accidental death to me,” Hart mused. “No one would probably even prosecute you for it.”

“They won’t have to. In Danworth’s hands, the tale will still ruin me.”

As he explained what the bastard wanted, Hart’s expression turned deadly. “That devil. I had no idea Danworth was so despicable.”

Gregory nodded grimly. “I always knew he was ambitious, but I never guessed he would doanythingfor his ambition, even blackmail a man.”

“Or commit murder?”

“That, too, quite possibly.”

“So what do you mean to do about it?”