Page 3 of A Torn Allegiance
Lady Sophie shrugged. “You’re just as important as any war.”
Her carriage arrived, so she kissed Elsie’s cheeks and rushed out, waving behind her as she went.
When the last woman had bid farewell and walked down their front steps, Elsie stood by her mother, with her hand still lifted in farewell to their last guest. Mother put her arm around Elsie’s waist, watching the carriage drive away.
“That was a wonderful meeting.” Elsie grinned.
“I’m so proud of you.” Her mother kissed her temple. “I love our work together with this.”
“Me too.” They stood together for a moment, Elsie enjoying the last lingering drops of the best part of her week.
A servant approached and curtsied when Mother gave her leave to speak. “Beg pardon, Your Grace, my lady. His Grace would like to see Lady Elsie in the study.”
“Oh?” Elsie looked to her mother, wondering if she knew the reason for the summons, but her mother seemed as curious as she was.
Mother patted her arm. “I’m going to do some reading in the east library this afternoon if you care to join me.”
“Yes. I have some correspondence as well.” Elsie left her mother and quickened her steps to the study.
Her curiosity grew. A summons? She’d just spent last evening with her mother and father on a rare night when they were all at home. As she went over the conversation, she could think of nothing that would have indicated a summons to the study was necessary. She reviewed her interactions with any would-be suitors and could see no evidence of any men who had shown any more interest than usual, nothing to indicate one would expect to be favorably received by her. She tried to push those thoughts aside, but a tiny part of her did wish for a good relationship with a man in her life—one she respected and admired, who did good for the world, who broadened his mind by reading, looked out for others. She sighed. Even her own brother didn’t meet all of these requirements as specifically as she would have hoped.
She knocked on her father’s door.
“Enter.”
The study was lined with books, her father’s personal collection. She’d read quite a few but had less interest in the war tomes than some of the others.
“Father?”
“Elsie, come here.” He stood and held out his arms.
After a quick embrace, her father’s familiar smell of sandalwood filling the air around her, she sat in her usual chair across from his desk. He had energy about him, light in his face. Her father was about to give her some news. She sat forward.
“You may have noticed I’ve been entertaining the Duke of Grant here at early hours,” he began.
“Yes, and then leaving with him.”
He chuckled. “Of course you’ve noticed.” He studied her a moment more. “You see things most do not. You would make the perfect spy, were you a man.”
She choked. “Pardon me?”
He shook his head. “But that’s neither here nor there. You are perfect for what is needed right now.”
She waited, growing more baffled by the minute.
“We have a situation, perhaps of national importance.”
“And it’s related to the Duke of Grant?” She was growing excited. Her father trusting her with knowledge of national importance? Bringing her into the conversation? For years she’d watched her brother and father discuss matters her father had thought not for her ears. They would leave his study with determined faces and serious expressions, but when turning to her, they would soften and smile and talk of her coming Season. Yet, here, now, perhaps she was going to be a part of those serious plans. She scooted as far forward as she could.
“We find we are in need of your help.”
Her heart leapt. “I’m ready, Father. Whatever you need. I’ve been wanting something like this for years. I mean, we do good work, the ladies and I. And that’s important. Our library is growing, and our causes are well supported, but this—this is what I know I was made for.”
His soft, proud chuckle warmed her insides. “Excellent. A visitor has come to England from Oldenburg. So far, he is in the north, with the Duke of Sumter.”
She nodded. The Duke of Sumter was a decent man, by all accounts. Never made an appearance in London, but now, to have a visitor from Oldenburg?The princes!She daren’t change her expression, but she was certain Father must be talking about the eight princes.
“We aren’t certain why he has come. The timing is suspect. Sweden has just declared war on England.”
