have the courage to push back when he tries to manipulate you. That takes a strength most men in England arelacking, and it makes me think you could assist me in a most vital matter.”
“How?”
He stepped closer to me and continued in a low, gravelly voice. “I should like to continue this conversation in private. Will you follow me?”
I walked with him to a small chamber that could only be reached through the billiard room and appeared to have been commandeered for political purposes. A heavy table that must have dated from the medieval period filled much of the space, neatly stacked piles of paper sitting at each place. A map of continental Europe was pinned to the wall, and the air hung heavy with the lingering odor of cigars.
“How much do you know about why Fortescue has gathered us here?” he asked after he’d pulled the door partially closed behind us.
“Virtually nothing,” I said.
“We haven’t much time, so I can’t give you full details at the moment. Fortescue is in possession of some papers that are crucial to my cause. I need you to engage him in conversation and keep him occupied long enough that I can locate them in his room.”
“What sort of papers?”
“Ah, I can’t share that,” he said. “They are highly sensitive and political in nature…” He let his voice trail to silence. I waited for a moment, but he said nothing further, preferring, I suppose, to leave the rest to my imagination.
“Won’t he notice if they are missing?” I asked.
“Eventually, yes. He keeps two copies of everything, storing the duplicates in a file somewhere in his dressing room, but they’re just records. He doesn’t use them, if that makes sense. The primary copy of the documents in question is in the sheath of papers he’s refused to part with since we arrived here.”
“And what is this cause you speak of?” I asked.
“To preserve the empire.”
“Isn’t that Lord Fortescue’s cause as well?”
“Theoretically, yes. But I can’t always agree with the strategies he uses to achieve that goal. There’s a threat that has materialized in the past few weeks—a threat more nefarious than any you can conceive—and Fortescue has refused out of hand to take action against it.”
“He must have his reasons,” I said.
“Tell me, Lady Ashton, do you trust Fortescue? Do you think he’s the best man to protect all that is dear to you? Have you faith in him?”
“Well.” I paused. “Faith, Mr. Harrison, is a strong word.” I tried to squelch my smile, but was unsuccessful.
“I’ve already complimented your intelligence. Can we agree that Lord Fortescue’s is lacking?”
“I’m no supporter of his,” I said.
“I suspected as much.” He leaned against the table. “Your fiancé’s work is dangerous. Fortescue’s policies make it even more so. I’m asking a very small thing of you. A simple after-dinner conversation.” Now he smiled. “Although I perhaps ought to acknowledge that the mere act of speaking to him is a dreadful chore.”
“Yes, it is.” Our eyes met, and I tried to hold back my laughter. It was more than a bit tempting to meddle with Lord Fortescue, particularly in a situation that didn’t seem like much of a risk. Providing a distraction would be easy enough, and even if the rest of the plan imploded, no one would connect me to it. Furthermore, if Mr. Harrison was correct, I’d be helping Colin. “I suppose there’s no harm in it. My part, at least. Any trouble you find is your own.”
“Of course,” he said. “You won’t regret it, Lady Ashton.”
“I don’t do things I’ll regret.”
“I guessed as much. I have a great admiration for people who act with decisive purpose.” He stared at me hard for a momentbefore continuing. “The timing of this is critical. I need the papers before the political discussions at this party begin in earnest.”
“Tonight, then?”
“Yes. I think, Lady Ashton, that you and I could be very useful to
“How?”
He stepped closer to me and continued in a low, gravelly voice. “I should like to continue this conversation in private. Will you follow me?”
I walked with him to a small chamber that could only be reached through the billiard room and appeared to have been commandeered for political purposes. A heavy table that must have dated from the medieval period filled much of the space, neatly stacked piles of paper sitting at each place. A map of continental Europe was pinned to the wall, and the air hung heavy with the lingering odor of cigars.
“How much do you know about why Fortescue has gathered us here?” he asked after he’d pulled the door partially closed behind us.
“Virtually nothing,” I said.
“We haven’t much time, so I can’t give you full details at the moment. Fortescue is in possession of some papers that are crucial to my cause. I need you to engage him in conversation and keep him occupied long enough that I can locate them in his room.”
“What sort of papers?”
“Ah, I can’t share that,” he said. “They are highly sensitive and political in nature…” He let his voice trail to silence. I waited for a moment, but he said nothing further, preferring, I suppose, to leave the rest to my imagination.
“Won’t he notice if they are missing?” I asked.
“Eventually, yes. He keeps two copies of everything, storing the duplicates in a file somewhere in his dressing room, but they’re just records. He doesn’t use them, if that makes sense. The primary copy of the documents in question is in the sheath of papers he’s refused to part with since we arrived here.”
“And what is this cause you speak of?” I asked.
“To preserve the empire.”
“Isn’t that Lord Fortescue’s cause as well?”
“Theoretically, yes. But I can’t always agree with the strategies he uses to achieve that goal. There’s a threat that has materialized in the past few weeks—a threat more nefarious than any you can conceive—and Fortescue has refused out of hand to take action against it.”
“He must have his reasons,” I said.
“Tell me, Lady Ashton, do you trust Fortescue? Do you think he’s the best man to protect all that is dear to you? Have you faith in him?”
“Well.” I paused. “Faith, Mr. Harrison, is a strong word.” I tried to squelch my smile, but was unsuccessful.
“I’ve already complimented your intelligence. Can we agree that Lord Fortescue’s is lacking?”
“I’m no supporter of his,” I said.
“I suspected as much.” He leaned against the table. “Your fiancé’s work is dangerous. Fortescue’s policies make it even more so. I’m asking a very small thing of you. A simple after-dinner conversation.” Now he smiled. “Although I perhaps ought to acknowledge that the mere act of speaking to him is a dreadful chore.”
“Yes, it is.” Our eyes met, and I tried to hold back my laughter. It was more than a bit tempting to meddle with Lord Fortescue, particularly in a situation that didn’t seem like much of a risk. Providing a distraction would be easy enough, and even if the rest of the plan imploded, no one would connect me to it. Furthermore, if Mr. Harrison was correct, I’d be helping Colin. “I suppose there’s no harm in it. My part, at least. Any trouble you find is your own.”
“Of course,” he said. “You won’t regret it, Lady Ashton.”
“I don’t do things I’ll regret.”
“I guessed as much. I have a great admiration for people who act with decisive purpose.” He stared at me hard for a momentbefore continuing. “The timing of this is critical. I need the papers before the political discussions at this party begin in earnest.”
“Tonight, then?”
“Yes. I think, Lady Ashton, that you and I could be very useful to