“If Fish is implicated for being in my bedchamber,” Charles calmly stated, “then it has to be my sister-in-law, Millicent, who perpetrated this debacle.”
“You blame her?” Falcon said. “I was with her at Roland when this began, and she conveniently claimed you had arranged it. According to her, it’s all your fault.”
Charles sighed. “It wasn’t me. I went to the newspaper office in London and simply asked them not to print the story. I was aware of the chaos it would stir, but I wouldn’t have harmed Libby over it. I wasn’t livid. I was . . . flummoxed more than anything.”
“Your name and seal are on the legal documents,” Falcon said.
“Oh, no.” Charles sighed again. “Millicent had to have forged my signature and used my seal when she shouldn’t have.”
Luke shook his head with disgust. “It sounds as if you have some trouble to deal with at Roland.”
“Millicent is very protective of our family,” Charles said. “By ridding us of Libby, she would view herself as helping me.”
Luke scoffed. “If she would have Libby jailed, then she’s a bit beyond supplying you with help. She’s mad as a hatter.”
“I can understand her wrath against Libby,” Falcon said, “but why pick on Fish? What did she ever do to Miss Pendleton?”
Charles and Luke shared a grimace, with Charles silently begging Luke to change the subject. It appeared that plain old female jealousy might have played a part in Millicent’s decisions.
“Millicent doesn’t like Fish very much,” Luke said. “Let’s just leave it at that.”
Falcon was very cunning, and he scowled at Charles and said, “You seduced Fish? Gad, I ought to kill you for that alone! I’d have expected her to have better sense.”
Charles bristled and started to rise—as if he’d had enough of Falcon’s uncouth remarks— and Luke cut off a confrontation by saying, “Here is how we will proceed.”
Falcon’s retort was very snide. “I am absolutely on pins and needles waiting to hear.”
“You and I,” Luke told Falcon, “will ride to London and get Libby and Fish released.”
“How will we?” Falcon caustically inquired. “There’s been a denial of bail!”
“We’ll take a letter from Charles, asking that the prohibition be lifted, and don’t forget: I am a lord too. They wouldn’t dare tell me I can’t walk out with her.”
At the comment, Falcon’s temper visibly waned. He looked younger, less cocky, and quite relieved. “Can we depart immediately? I don’t want them to spend an extra minute in that foul place.”
“Yes, we can go at once.” Luke was warming to the notion of saving the two damsels in distress.
“I’ll accompany you,” Charles said. “I’m anxious to inform them that I wasn’t responsible for their incarceration. I’m bereft that they would believe I was.”
“You’re not coming,” Luke said to him. “First of all, if scandal is swirling in town, you can’t show your face there. Your presence would only stir more gossip, and if you were observed with Libby, imagine the frenzy that would erupt.”
“Gad, I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Second of all, you and Mr. Falcon can’t travel to London together. I’d have to constantly keep him from pummeling you.”
Charles huffed with indignation. “I’m not the decrepit codger you assume I am. I’m betting I could match him blow for blow, and if he doesn’t shut his mouth and mind his manners, he’s about to find out how hard of a punch I can throw.”
“No one is throwing any punches.” Luke sounded like a fussy tutor struggling to discipline some recalcitrant boys. “You have to head to Roland and rein in Millicent. I’m in no mood to discover she’s plotted further mischief. You have to ensure that Falcon and I won’t receive any other surprises.”
Charles glared, pondered, glared some more, then said, “Yes, I suppose that’s a big worry. Who can predict what else she might have instigated? I’m stunned by what she’s managed so far. I wouldn’t have guessed she had it in her to be this devious.”
Charles stood then, and he peered over at Falcon. “When you see Fish and Libby, please tell them I’m not culpable. It’s important to me that they understand.”
Falcon fumed, clearly not keen to accept Charles’s olive branch, but in the end, he said, “I will tell them.”
Charles added, “Send a fast messenger to Roland as soon as you’ve won their release and they’re safe.”
“I will,” Luke said. “Now why don’t you hurry on to Roland? Falcon and I have to get going to London. We’ll rescue them; I swear it to you.”
“Thank you.” Charles stared at Falcon and said, “And I swear to you that Millicent will answer for what she’s done.”
“Good,” Falcon replied.
Charles nodded, then left.
Luke turned to Falcon and said, “Are you ready?”
“I was born ready.”
“Vain ass,” Luke muttered.
He and Falcon marched out too, with Luke calling for Mr. Hobbs, calling for his horse to be saddled, calling for a bag to be packed.
For days, he’d dawdled at Barrett, frozen with inaction and out of ideas as to how he should proceed with Libby. It felt so bloody grand to finally have a plan. He would pry her out of the jail, and she’d be so grateful for his assistance that he’d be able to apologize and they’d start over. It would have to conclude that way. Wouldn’t it?
He refused to envision any other conclusion.
“It ain’t right, Miss Carstairs! It just ain’t right!”
The complaint was voiced over and over as Libby and Fish crossed the courtyard at the prison. A guard had come to fetch them to the warden’s office, so something positive was about to happen. As she walked by the other inmates, they parted like the Red Sea to let her through.
Prisoners of all ages were crammed together, and they were reaching out to her—as if she could perform miracles. She nodded and waved, sauntering slowly, like a benevolent queen bestowing favors.
“Henrietta! Little Henrietta! Bless me, would
