17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

" I can't believe you kept all this information from me, Richard," Alex said, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "How could you let things get so out of hand?"

Richard shrugged sadly. "It wasn't my secret to tell," he said gentle, with a melancholy smile at Lady Evelyn. "I never meant for it to go this far, Alex. I was just trying to help Lady Evelyn, to give her a glimmer of hope in a life filled with misery."

Alex sighed, running a hand through his sun-warmed hair. "I understand your intentions, Richard, but your actions have put us all in a precarious position. We need to find a way to extricate Lady Evelyn from this situation without causing further scandal or harm."

He glanced over to the windows, fully aware that they were attracting an audience. His eyes shifted to Rosalind, and he frowned at the thought of causing her to be the centre of more unkind gossip. "Let's retire to my study," he said to Richard. "If you would be so kind as to excuse us, ladies," he added with a quick bow.

The brothers fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts as they retreated from the guests. He knew that he was being quite rude, ignoring them as he was, but at this moment, he had far greater concerns. Alex's mind raced with possibilities, weighing the risks and benefits of each course of action. He knew that they had to tread carefully, for any misstep could have disastrous consequences.

Once within the safe confines of the study, he began to pace. Richard fairly fell into a leather armchair, his head cradled in his hand. Alex couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for his younger brother; no matter how they had come to be in this situation, he still cared for Richard. As he paced, Alex's gaze fell upon a stack of legal documents on his desk. A flicker of an idea began to take shape in his mind, and he turned to Richard with renewed determination.

"We need to gather evidence of the judge's wrongdoings," Alex said, his voice low and intense. "If we can prove that he has been abusing his power and engaging in illegal activities, we may be able to use that information to secure Lady Evelyn's freedom."

"Parliament would never grant her a divorce," Richard said flatly, his forehead still in his hand.

"We don't need them to," Alex argued. "She simply needs to be away from him. If we had some kind of leverage, we might persuade him not to pursue her should she go, or even discredit him enough that no one would aid in his pursuit."

Richard sat up and nodded, his eyes widening with understanding. "And if we can expose his misdeeds, it could also help to clear our family's name and put an end to the rumours that have been circulating."

Alex nodded, a grim smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Precisely. But we must be discreet. We cannot afford to let anyone catch wind of our plans, lest we put Lady Evelyn or ourselves in even greater danger. Still," he said thoughtfully, "I believe we will need help, and I think I know just the brave soul to call upon."

The next day, Alex stood by the window of his study, his heart pounding with anticipation. He could only hope that his invitation would be accepted, and that he would not have to face the coming trials on his own. The events of the previous day weighed heavily on his mind, and he knew that the time had come to take decisive action.

As the sound of carriage wheels on gravel reached his ears, Alex felt a surge of gratitude and, in spite of the perilous circumstances of their meeting, a distinct flutter of eagerness in his heart. The door to the study opened, and Rosalind entered, followed closely by Amelia and Isabella. All three wore determined expressions, dainty shoulders set firmly. Alex's breath caught in his throat as his gaze met Rosalind's, the depth of their connection palpable in the air between them.

"Thank you for coming," Alex said, his eyes fixed on Rosalind. "I cannot express how much your presence here means to me." He turned his attention to the other two Harrington sisters, a smile pulling at one corner of his mouth. "I had not anticipated that all three of you would be joining us today."

Rosalind stepped forward, her eyes shining with determination. "We are here to help in any way we can, Your Grace. Lady Evelyn granted me permission to inform them of what has transpired, and they are as determined as I to assist in any way possible. You may depend on us."

Alex nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. He gestured for them to take a seat, and as they gathered around the fireplace, he leaned forward, his voice low and urgent.

"I have a plan," he said, his eyes passing between the three sisters. "A daring plan that could help Lady Evelyn escape her abusive marriage and bring the judge to some sort of justice."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Rosalind, Amelia, and Isabella exchanged glances, their faces set into identical expressions of determination. "What do you have in mind, Alex?" Rosalind asked, her voice steady and strong.

"We must gather evidence of the judge's misdeeds," Alex said, his voice low and intense. "If we can prove that he has been abusing his power and engaging in illegal activities, we may be able to use that information to our ends."

Alex leaned forward, his eyes locked with Rosalind's as he laid out the intricate details of his plan. With each word, he could see the gears turning in her mind, her keen intellect already working to refine and strengthen their approach.

"We must be strategic in our efforts," Alex said, his voice low and urgent. "Judge Banfield is a powerful man, and we cannot afford to underestimate him."

Rosalind nodded, her face thoughtful. "I agree, Your Grace. We will need to gather evidence quietly and efficiently, without arousing suspicion. It's important that we are discreet, and that none of us alter our behaviour to anyone involved in this plot."

She paused, and gave Richard an empathetic look. "To that end, we–my sisters and I–must not appear to be any friendlier to Lady Evelyn than we have been. It may help if we publicly cut her, so that the Judge would never imagine that we are her allies. Forgive me for being indelicate, but I imagine that you have some way of communicating with her that the Judge cannot intercept."

Richard nodded slowly. "I will write to inform her at once. We pass messages through her maid," he said with a wry smile.

"I can use my connections in society to gather information discreetly," Amelia offered, her voice steady and resolute. "There may be others who have fallen victim to the judge's schemes, and their stories could prove invaluable."

With her hands held tightly together, Isabella said, "I may not have Amelia's connections, but I do have the ear of a few people, most of them artists. Thanks to you," she added with a shy smile to the Duke. "They travel in different circles and mingle with all sorts, so we might cast a wider net."

Alex felt a swell of pride and admiration for the sisters, their courage and compassion shining through in every word and gesture. With their help, and the aid of a network of trusted allies, he knew that they stood a fighting chance of success. As the plan began to take shape, Alex turned his attention to the task of confronting the Judge himself. He knew that it would be a dangerous and delicate undertaking, requiring all of his skill and cunning to navigate the treacherous waters of blackmail and corruption.

"Richard and I will handle the Judge directly," Alex said, his voice firm and resolute. "I do not want the rest of you anywhere near him when we do so–we don't know what his reaction might be, and he may lash out."

Richard, who had been listening quietly throughout the discussion, nodded his agreement. "I will do whatever it takes to make things right," he said, his voice heavy with regret and determination. "I owe it to Lady Evelyn, and to you."

It was not even a fortnight later that Alex found himself once again pacing the floor of his study. He had sent Rosalind a note yesterday, requesting the presence of herself and her sisters. They had found subtle ways to stay in communication, with everyone playing their parts accordingly. The trouble was, their search had thus far proved fruitless.

"I refuse to believe it," Richard said, his fists tight on the arms of his chair. "How can someone so corrupt, so morally bankrupt leave no trace of his misdeeds?" he demanded. He, too, was restless, crossing one leg over the other, shifting from side to side.

"It is a bit puzzling," Alex agreed. "Don't worry–we'll get him one way or another, no matter how long it takes."

"We need to bring him to heel now!" Richard snapped. He leapt to his feet, going to stare out of the window.

This sudden outburst, his palpable tension, was unlike Richard, and Alex's brow creased in worry. Richard had always been the more laid-back of the two, the brother most inclined to good humour; to see him so bothered spoke to the tension of the situation at hand. Alex came to put a hand on Richard's shoulder, reassuring. Richard, however, shrugged off his hand.

"Don't you understand that every day she remains in that house, she's in danger?" he demanded. "I can't–it's too big of a risk for her."

"Has something happened?" Alex asked, peering closer at Richard.

"No," he answered with a rigid shake of his head. "That's the problem: I've not heard from her since we met last," he said. "That was ten days ago." Richard raked his fingers through his hair, pushing it out of place. "I can't bear it, what if she's been harmed? What if I put her in danger? Oh God, if he found out–"

Alex grabbed Richard's forearm, cutting him off. He could see that his brother was in great danger of spiralling down a dark well. "Enough," he said. "Lady Evelyn is smart and resourceful, else she wouldn't have lasted as long as she has. Give her some credit." The distant sound of the bell at the front door ringing caused both brothers to perk up. "There, that will be the Harringtons now–perhaps they have something for us."

Richard nodded glumly, and sank heavily back into his chair. Alex, pursing his lips a bit in concern, opened the door to the study, awaiting the ladies. In spite of the precarious circumstances, Alex couldn't help but feel a bit of selfish pleasure at the thought of seeing Rosalind again.

When she appeared in the hall, having divested herself of bonnet and shawl, it took everything in him not to allow himself to break into a wide smile. She appeared cool and confident as she walked towards him, her deep green walking dress making her eyes flash and her cheeks glow.

"Ladies," Alex said, ushering the three of them into his study. Once the requisite niceties had been dispensed with and refreshments had been offered, they all settled into an assortment of chairs.

"I'm sorry to have to report that we've had no luck at all, for all our feminine wiles," Rosalind said, frowning unhappily as she balanced a cup of coffee and small plate of biscuits. "The Judge appears to be a slippery eel."

Alex nodded, his own frown mirroring Rosalind's. "I had feared as much–we've had no luck either."

"Have any of you heard from Evelyn?" Richard demanded suddenly and without preamble.

"Amelia publicly snubbed her at a lending library over a week ago," Rosalind said with a quick smile to her oldest sister. "So I don't think anyone would suspect us of being on friendly terms with her."

"It was awful," Amelia said. "I felt so terrible about it afterwards."

"You were magnificent," Rosalind comforted her. "It was necessary for our ruse, and I'm sure Lady Evelyn appreciated it...in a manner of speaking," she said, her nose wrinkling as she tried to come to terms with the irony of that statement.

"It's not about us and our discomfort," Isabella reminded them quietly but firmly. "It's about Lady Evelyn."

Everyone turned to stare at Isabella, who looked about, apparently uncomfortable with the attention. Alex couldn't help but be struck by the way that Isabella, though shy and retiring, seemed to speak with a wisdom that belied her years. He cast a sidelong glance at Rosalind, who met his eye and gave a little shrug.

"That's right," Richard said sharply, standing again. "It is about Evelyn, and no one has seen her for over a week." He gave a hard look to the little assembly, flapping his hands a little in disbelief. "Does no one see the problem with this?" he demanded, raising his voice.

"Richard–" Alex began, but no one would ever know how he intended to finish that sentence, for he was interrupted by a cacophony of sound in the hallway. There was the unmistakable sound of slamming doors and scrambling feet, and voices in distress. "Stay here," he ordered everyone, and was at the point of opening the study door when it burst open from the other side.

Standing there, visibly panting and dishevelled, was a woman in a dark riding habit, her face obscured by the veil of her riding hat. "Sorry I'm late," the woman said, and stumbled forward, her legs giving out beneath her.

Alex stood frozen in disbelief, but Richard didn't hesitate. He darted forward, arms outstretched and caught the woman. She leaned into his arms gratefully, sweeping one arm up to brush aside her veil, revealing herself to be Lady Evelyn.

"Fancy seeing you here," she said, smiling but wincing when she did so, her face marred by fresh bruises and her eyes brimming with tears. The Harrington sisters gasped in unison, their hands flying to their mouths in shock at the sight of Evelyn's battered appearance. Richard, supporting Lady Evelyn, helped her to a chair, holding tightly to her arm.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"There's no time for that now," Rosalind said, standing and offering Lady Evelyn her handkerchief to press against a split lip that still sullenly bled. She jerked her chin in the direction of the doorway, where a gaggle of servants were still crowded. "Send one of our audience members to fetch the doctor," she said to Alex.

He shook his head, feeling as if he had been far from himself for a moment. He stalked to the door, his face like thunder. "Go and bring the doctor at once," he ordered. "And if I hear so much as a single word about any of this..." He let the threat hang in the air, and the footmen and maids all scrambled off.

He turned and went to a side table with an assortment of crystal decanters and bottles, and poured a large brandy. This he gave to Rosalind, who dipped her handkerchief into it and began dabbing at Lady Evelyn's lip, which made her wince.

"Amelia, help me," Rosalind said, and gently began to unbutton Evelyn's leather riding gloves, sliding them with great care from her trembling hands. Amelia complied and took her other hand. Rosalind dipped two fingers into the brandy and swiped them on Evelyn's wrists and blew gently, which seemed to rouse Evelyn a little from her half-swoon.

Alex stood by, feeling a little unnecessary, but also impressed with the matter-of-fact way that Rosalind had taken charge of the situation. She was competent and capable, and Alex had never really appreciated exactly how much until this moment. Richard, too, seemed caught between blind fury and his desire to comfort Evelyn, holding tightly to her shoulders.

"How did this happen?" he asked again.

Lady Evelyn's lower lip trembled as she struggled to compose herself, her hands shaking as she clutched at the folds of her gown. "It was the judge," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "He found me in his study, and he was furious."

Alex's jaw clenched, a wave of anger surging through him at the thought of the Judge inflicting such violence on a lady. He knelt beside Lady Evelyn, his eyes searching her face for any sign of further injury. To his relief, her eyes were clear, though one was already blackening. "Why were you in his study, Lady Evelyn?" he asked gently, his voice soft and reassuring.

Lady Evelyn's gaze darted around the room, as if checking for any signs of eavesdroppers, before she leaned in closer to Alex. "I was looking for evidence," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination. "Evidence of his illegal activities, his blackmail and corruption." A strangely triumphant look flitted over her face. "I knew that you all had not been able to find anything, and I refuse to let the back-biter get away with this."

Alex's eyes widened, blinking a few times in astonishment. "That was a terrible risk," he said. "He could have killed you."

Lady Evelyn nodded, a flicker of fire in her tired eyes despite the pain etched on her face. "It was worth it. I have letters and documents," she said, her voice growing stronger with each word. "Proof of his misdeeds, his abuse of power."

"He kept records of all this?" Richard asked incredulously. "Right there, in his home?"

Evelyn gave a breathy laugh. "He was always an arrogant wretch," she said.

Alex felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, his admiration for Lady Evelyn's courage and resourcefulness growing with each passing moment. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his own. "Thank you, my Lady," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for your bravery, for risking so much to bring the truth to light."

Lady Evelyn's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I couldn't let him continue to hurt others," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I had to do something, no matter the cost." Her eyes fluttered closed, a satisfied look on her battered face. "It was a small price to pay, really."

Alex nodded, his heart swelling with a fierce determination to see justice served. He turned to look at Rosalind over Evelyn's head, who met his gaze with an admiring smile, proud of the determination that had been displayed.

"We have the evidence we need," he said, his voice low and intense. "Now we must act, and quickly, before the judge has a chance to realise what Lady Evelyn took."

Rosalind stood, her eyes blazing with a fire that matched Alex's own. "You make sure that he can't ever hurt anyone again, and we'll see to Evelyn–we'll get her as far from him as humanly possible."

In the days that followed, Alex and Rosalind worked tirelessly to build their case against the judge, poring over the documents and letters that Lady Evelyn had risked so much to obtain. They spent long hours in Alex's study, their heads bent together over the evidence, their minds working in perfect synchronicity to piece together the puzzle of the judge's misdeeds.

As they worked, Alex found himself increasingly drawn to Rosalind's keen intellect and unwavering determination. He marvelled at the way her mind worked, the way she could see connections and patterns that others might miss. More than that, she showed a strength of character and determination that was rare among the gentry. Together, they formed a formidable team, their strengths complementing each other in ways that left Alex feeling both humbled and inspired.