Page 34 of Inconvenient Honor
“Has Glenaire had news of my father?” she blurted to Heaton, her escort du jour. She had no sympathy with his stricken look nor respect for his inarticulate reply.
“Come, come. You know we should have heard by now. What does the marquess say?”
“We continue to hope that no news means all is well. Repairs can drag on,” Heaton said.
Lily knew that to be true. Once they had put up on Malta for four months waiting for repairs so they could complete a journey to Rome. Her mother had been alive then, and the time had been happily spent. Not this time.
“Waiting batters one’s spirits,” she sighed.
“I know. Your desire to see your father is natural,” Heaton said.
Do you know how frightened I am? Has he told you what Volkov threatens?
Every passing week put her in greater jeopardy of discovery. Discovery of her condition by the gossips would ruin her socially. Discovery by Glenaire would destroy her freedom.
They finished their ices in awkward silence. Heaton helped her to her feet and walked her to their waiting carriage.
“Don’t worry about your father, Miss Thornton,” he told her. “If you know we are watching for Volkov, then you know we will take care of you.” He said it with smug confidence. Lily didn’t share it.
“Thank you, Mr. Heaton. You’re doing your best, I am sure.” Her escort preened.
Glenaire assumes his good intentions are enough also.If Papa suffers, I hope the marquess finds the well-known end point on the road of good intentions. I hope he rests in hell.
That thought steeled her nerves all the way home. When the pompous young man handed her from the carriage in front of her Aunt’s townhouse, a worse thought struck her.
If Glenaire’s efforts don’t bear fruit soon, I may be forced to leave London before Papa arrives. Where will I go then?
Chapter Thirteen
Convivial company spilled out of Richard’s sister’s house and out into the street shouting their good nights and continuing their obscure academic arguments in pairs and threes as they dispersed to the their own homes. Lily wasn’t among them.
The hour loomed late, too late for a newcomer, but Richard believed he had timed his arrival perfectly. He waved the butler aside and climbed the stairs.
“You’re late, brother,” Georgiana said. She made no effort to hide her amusement at his appearance. Richard never attended her salons. “Did you have an earlier engagement?”
His eyes found Lily and held. Her color appeared better; she sat straight, not as weary as before. He traced the slope of her neck and followed the garland of forget-me-not and ivy embroidered on the neckline of her muslin dress with his eyes. He felt his body react to the sight and frowned at Lily. That dress is too damned transparent by far.
“Stop glowering at my guests!” his sister snapped. “Sit before you frighten us all.”
Get a grip, man. Stewart does his duty. All is well.
“Sit down and stop towering over us,” Georgiana went on.
He spotted a sturdy chair, half hidden by the bookshelves. No footman leapt to assist.Typical. Georgiana’s household management has gone ramshackle since she married Andrew Mallet.
He pushed it toward the group clustered by the open window and peered at Stewart.Does he have to lean so close to her?
“As you see, Mr. Stewart obeys his orders,” Lily pointed out tartly. She smiled at the younger man. “And he held his own against Professor Appleton on the importance of our presence in Malta.”
Walter Stewart colored; he did not speak.
“Good work, Stewart,” Richard grumbled. He sounded grudging even to his own ears. “The hour grows late, and you have committee work tomorrow. I will see Miss Thornton home.”
Stewart hesitated momentarily, glancing at Lily and back at Richard.
I said leave, damn it.Richard held Stewart’s eyes until the man looked away and rose to make a courteous goodbye to his hosts.
“Well, at least one member of the Foreign Office has manners,” Georgiana drawled, bringing a grin to her husband’s face. “That was not well done of you.”
