Page 76 of A Torn Allegiance
The duke stood, and the other men followed suit. “As am I.” He turned to his son. “Though at first I had my reservations, it sounds as though you are being careful of the countryside and estates. Perhaps it will be a good diversion.”
Lord Devon winked at Hayes. “An excellent diversion.” He stepped closer to Hayes. “I should thank you, but I might live to rue the day if your phaeton speeds ahead of mine.”
Hayes’s laugh rumbled deeply. “I suppose we shall see.”
They exited the room in high energy. Kristoff and Marc were immediately lost in a conversation of axles and horses and turning capacity of various styles of phaetons.
Then the Duke of Shelby approached Hayes. “You have just won Duncan’s allegiance forever, I’d imagine.”
Hayes was pleased but said, “I don’t imagine he is so easily won.”
“Nor is his sister, but you are well on your way.” He dipped his head and then stepped forward to lead the group into the drawing room, where Hayes assumed the women were waiting.
Admiral Hollings cleared his throat and stepped back into a quieter part of the corridor. “I want to ease your mind in regard to your nation.”
Hayes moved closer. “What news do you have?”
“Directives have already been sent to troops, but the difficulty is getting the men there in time. We are also considering—”
Movement distracted them both. Hayes turned toward the swish of a dress in his peripheral vision. He stared closer in the dimly lit area. Something shifted on a far wall, and then Elsie stepped out from the shadows. “Excuse me. I was... I needed...”
Lady Sophie exited the drawing room. “Oh, there you are, Lady Elsie. Your mother wondered if you’d fetched that... er... handkerchief.”
“Oh yes. Yes, I did.” She lifted a white bit of fabric into the air and then curtsied to the men before returning to the drawing room.
Hayes stared after her, confused again by her odd behavior.
Admiral Hollings said nothing of the incident but instead continued with their conversation. He cleared his throat. “We are considering sending men from England at the next tide as well as mobilizing other allies already in Europe, and”—he looked around them before continuing—“your observations and thoughts of factions within our Great Britain have caused concern. We will begin further investigations. If Prince Marc could keep us apprised of his findings, that would be most beneficial.” He rested a hand on Hayes’s shoulder. “We will sail as soon as next week.”
“Thank you.” Hayes clasped hands with the admiral and felt a huge degree of relief at his willingness to help.
They discussed a few further details and, knowing they were missed, turned to rejoin the others in the drawing room.
Hayes walked slowly, thinking of what had transpired with Elsie in the shadows.
Some queens did little to involve themselves in the heftier matters of a kingdom, instead taking on their own causes and influence. He wished for him and Elsie to be partners in all things, to share with one another and hear her thoughts as an advisor as well as his wife. He assumed she wished the same equal partnership with him, but he could not feel overly comfortable if her tendencies led her to eavesdropping, for such actions hardly spoke of trust. Unsure of what had actually transpired in the corridor, he couldn’t ease a new discomfort where she was concerned.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“I cannot believe I triedto blend into the wall,” Elsie said in a hushed voice to Lady Sophie.
“Did you? And they saw you?”
“Yes. Something tickled my leg, and when I moved, their attention was drawn to me, so I had to show myself. How utterly embarrassing.”
“I can see the humor in it as well.”
“Can you? I’m afraid all humor is eluding me. Why? Why must I continue to play the fool in front of him?” She wished to hang her head in her hands, but since they were in the drawing room and all eyes were on them now and again, she held her head high and pretended as though all were well. If her mother could do so, she would as well.
“You look as though you are preparing for battle.” Lady Sophie shook her head. “Relax. They are not in the room.” Her eyes widened. “Actually, they are.” She cleared her throat and nodded to the area right behind Elsie.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Hayes’s voice did not sound quite amused, but he did not sound unhappy either.
“What I was looking for?” Elsie said.
Lady Sophie lifted a handkerchief to her face.
“Oh, Lady Sophie advised me to return with the handkerchief.” She nodded. “Yes.” And what more could she say? The pause that followed was thick with awkward waiting.
