Chapter 10

10

A lbright was flummoxed. There was no other word for it. But he reached for his cloak even as he tried to sort out why he was being summoned to run out into this wicked storm.

He eyed the uncharacteristically unkempt Lord Marlin in his doorway with a puzzled frown. “I beg your pardon?”

Lord Marlin thrust a hand through his hair, pushing the wet locks out of his way. Again, very uncharacteristic.

Albright couldn’t claim to know the Earl well as he’d only just started to spend time with him now that he and his fiancé Jane had become…

Well, infatuated was the only word he could think to describe their mooning state.

But in this short time he’d known the Earl, he’d never seen him look anything but put together nor act anything less than stiff.

And yet, he’d just shown up on Albright’s doorstep soaked from the rain, out of breath, and telling him he had to come with him now if he wanted to catch Everson in the act.

“In the act how?” Albright asked for the second time, and for the second time Everson said, “I…don’t know exactly. I’ll tell you all I do know on the way.”

“On the way where?”

He named a warehouse Albright was already familiar with. Albright paused only long enough to call for a footman and give orders to send a message. After that he darted out and followed Marlin, who led the way back to his coach.

Marlin was talking as he walked, but through the wind and the harsh rain, Albright only made out one word, and that word sent fear spiking through his veins and set his body into motion.

Felicity.

He overtook the Earl. “What about Felicity?”

They climbed into the coach and it set off promptly. Marlin, it turned out, truly did not know much. Only that Jane had relayed a message from Felicity and it was frustratingly brief.

If you wish to catch Everson, be at the warehouse. The time and date was today, in…

Albright consulted his pocket watch. In mere minutes.

“What is she planning?” He wasn’t actually asking Marlin. It was clear the Earl was just as in the dark as he was. He was talking to himself and trying his best not to panic. But all he could remember was that look in her eyes as she’d backed away from him the other night.

That look held fear and panic and…

And desperation.

And he’d done nothing to stop her, nothing to calm her. He’d done nothing but stare, lost behind a fiery wall of emotions he’d been unable to conquer.

Not until it was too late, at least.

He’d come back the very next day. And every day after. He’d done his best to talk to her. Because while her proposal had seemed to be in jest, there was more to it than that.

And she deserved to know why he’d acted the way he had. Why he’d been so callous and curt.

But right now all that mattered was getting to Felicity before she got herself hurt. He turned to Marlin as the coach seemed to crawl through the crowded streets of London. “Did Jane know anything more?”

Marlin shook his head with a frown. “She only relayed the message. But she did say Felicity was…out of sorts.”

Albright’s heart pounded. He hated the idea of Felicity upset, and hated it even more that his boorish demeanor might have something to do with it. “How was she out of sorts? Was she upset? Was she…” His heart twisted. “Was she crying?”

Marlin shook his head. “No, nothing like that. According to Jane, she was…quiet.” He said the word slowly, as if trying to make sense of it.

Albright’s heart fumbled. “Quiet.”

Marlin nodded, his lips thinned. “I personally do not see someone being quiet as cause for alarm?—”

“But it is,” Albright interjected. “It is most definitely cause for alarm when that someone is Felicity.”

“Yes,” Marlin murmured. “That is precisely what Jane said.”

“Did Jane say anything else?” Albright asked.

Marlin hesitated. “Only that she and her friends are worried. Apparently there was a…” Here Marlin paused to wave a hand in front of his face. “A look.”

“A look,” Albright repeated.

If Marlin were a man to fidget, Albright suspected this would be the time for it. Instead he grew even more serious as he repeated. “A look. In her eyes.”

When Albright continued to stare at him, Marlin gave a helpless shrug. “I apologize, that’s all she said. It’s not terribly useful, is it?”

But it was. Albright swallowed hard and nodded. “It is useful. Please give my thanks to Jane when you next see her.”

Unfortunately, he was nearly certain he knew exactly what Jane meant. It was likely a similar look to the one he’d seen in her eyes just before she’d left him by the tree.

And if that was her state when she’d hatched this plan…

His heart felt like it might explode with an all-consuming fear that was horribly familiar. He’d felt it only once before when his wife was on her deathbed and he’d been unable to do anything to help her.

It was a useless feeling. It made him powerless and left his whole body drowning in dread. And…blast.

He’d told himself he’d never experience it again. That he’d never let himself feel this way.

Finally, the carriage stopped. And while Albright wanted nothing more than to knock down the door and charge in to Felicity’s rescue, some logical part of his mind was pointing out that he could make matters worse if he did not handle this carefully.

And so he and Marlin scouted out the building, looking for the best way in…

Assuming Felicity was in there. With Everson.

Albright’s every muscle tensed at the thought. What could she have been thinking coming here? And why hadn’t she come to him first?

That second thought hurt more than it should.

She hadn’t come to him because he’d behaved like a brute. He’d rejected her out of hand and scared her off with his temper, and…

No. Now was not the time. He could apologize later after he was done here.

He and Marlin found a back door propped open in the alley and slipped inside.

Besides, it was possible Felicity wasn’t here at all. Perhaps she’d just been too preoccupied to relay the message herself.

He didn’t actually believe this, but it was his best attempt at calming this sickening fear.

Fear that Felicity was in danger—and that he was too late to help.

He clung to the hope that Felicity hadn’t actually decided to meet with Everson…

Until he heard her voice. Clear and light, and filled with that passion that was so particular to Felicity. “...I do so appreciate you taking the time to?—”

“Enough with the niceties, Miss McGovern.” Everson’s voice was clipped and low. Far from the pleasant, amused tone Albright was used to from the cad. “What is it you want?”

Albright cut a sidelong look at Marlin, who was pressed against the hallway wall beside him. Marlin nodded, and they worked their way closer to the open doorway before Albright held up a hand to pause when Felicity spoke again.

“I thought we agreed that you ought to call me Felicity.” She sounded perfectly at ease. As though they were taking tea and not sharing a clandestine meeting in the worst neighborhood in London.

Still, the lack of fear in her voice helped to ease the worst of his dread, though his temples still pounded as his pulse raced. But she’d told them to come here…

For a reason, undoubtedly. And while his instincts told him to say hang it all to whatever plan she’d concocted, he found himself pausing and waiting.

Felicity was many things, but she was not simpleminded. If she’d asked them here to listen it was for a reason.

“Well then, Felicity,” Everson bit out. “Do you want to tell me how you knew to find me here? Or why I got a letter threatening to expose all my secrets?”

“Threatening?” Felicity repeated as if shocked. “I would never! Come, let us be civil, at the very least, Mr. Everson. I mean you no harm, I swear it.”

“What did I say about pleasantries?” he snapped. “The way you’ve been carrying on, one would think you’re waiting for something.” His voice grew louder and Albright heard footsteps. “What are you waiting for?”

Albright exchanged a look with Marlin. She was killing time waiting for them.

Blast. Now he knew he had to see this through.

“What is it that you want?” Everson continued.

She’d murder him with her bare hands if he ruined whatever scheme she’d dreamed up. Slowly, carefully, he craned his neck so he could see around the corner.

His hands clenched tight at the sight of Felicity so close to him.

Everson loomed over her, but she smiled brightly up at him. “It isn’t about what I want, Mr. Everson.”

Everson blinked, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. “What?”

“You asked what I want, but it’s not about what I want—at least, not entirely.” Her smile widened and Everson seemed momentarily stunned.

Albright knew that feeling well. Between her warm, charming smile and her brazen confidence….

Albright spent half his time in her company trying to figure out up from down. It seemed her particular charm had a similar effect on Everson. Felicity put him out of his misery. “I was not trying to threaten you with that note, Everson, merely hasten along the conversation.”

Everson scoffed. “What are you on about?”

“I know you’re behind the smuggling ring.” She let that sink in for one moment, and Albright held his breath, ready to lunge for the knave if he took one step toward her.

But then she added, “And so does Albright.”

Marlin looked to Albright with wide eyes as if to say, is this part of the plan ?

Everson started to sputter in indignation. Clearly whatever he thought Felicity knew—it was not this. But Felicity merely waved a hand to dismiss his protests. “There’s likely a great deal more who suspect that you helped the former Earl of Marlin start the smuggling operation?—”

“I had nothing to do with it. It was all him. He was a greedy lord with wasteful habits and?—”

“I do believe that’s enough,” Felicity said softly.

Albright stole a look at Marlin.

Marlin’s expression wasn’t merely stern. He looked…furious.

For a moment Albright’s heart went out to the other man. He’d told Marlin of his suspicions about Everson not long after informing his friends. The Earl had taken it as well as could be expected, but he couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be to learn that the man you considered to be a friend had been using your land to commit crimes right under your nose.

“As I said, I did not come here to threaten you.” Felicity’s laughter was so light and sweet, it took everything in Albright not to rush to her side and hold her close.

Or, better yet, scoop her up into his arms so he could carry her somewhere safe.

“What do you want?” Everson’s voice was a feral growl.

It set Albright on edge but even from where they hid, Albright could hear Felicity’s exasperated sigh. “I told you?—”

“Speak plainly, woman.”

It wasn’t the words or his tone that alerted Albright to a new danger. It was Felicity’s soft gasp. But her voice was still light with laughter when she said, “Really, Everson, a dagger is hardly useful for the civil conversation I came for.”

Marlin was giving Albright a hard stare. He was waiting for Albright to give the signal.

Albright’s heart pounded. He was furious with Felicity for putting him in this position. For making him wait and listen while she was in harm’s way.

But to make a move now would ruin whatever plan she’d concocted—and could get her hurt in the process. His hands clenched and unclenched.

His patience was wearing thin.

And Everson’s was as well, it seemed. “What conversation?”

“Well, a proposition, really,” she mused. “I thought you might prefer it if we were open and honest for this topic. I wanted to ensure we both had all our cards on the table before I laid out my proposal.”

She was delaying again. Stalling.

She didn’t know he and Marlin were there, and he had no way to tell her she was safe. That whatever ludicrous, reckless plan she’d enacted, he would move heaven and earth to keep her safe.

That he’d always keep her safe.

“What proposal?” Everson snapped.

Albright found himself straining as well, impatient for Felicity to get to the point so he could figure out what sort of trap she had planned.

“Why…” Felicity feigned surprise that he hadn’t guessed. “A proposal of marriage of course.”