Sudden fear ripped across Andrew’s chest. “You mean to suggest that we inform him of our engagement?”
Miss Grifford hesitated, then nodded. “I think we must.”
“But that puts you in danger also,” Miss Renfrew protested, though a steely glint came into Miss Grifford’s eyes. “You have to then consider that, surely?”
“It does not matter. I am only a threat to Lord Chiddick if I marry the Duke. Before that happens, it is only the Duke of Longford himself who is in danger. Therefore, if you would arrange for the footmen that evening to be utterly loyal to you, Andrew, if you would inform them of a great reward, then if Lord Chiddick approaches one, it must be hoped that the footman would then come to you, tell you of it and you could then make a great spectacle of him.”
A brief silence filled the room. “Though you would only have the word of the footman,” Miss Renfrew said, slowly. “Would that be enough?”
“Leave that with me,” Lord Wrexham said, grimly. “I remember the one who served the Queens Currant Cakes. I remember him well enough to find him, certainly. I can have him ready on the night of the engagement ball to declare what was being done.”
“Do you think he will tell you the truth?” Andrew asked, still finding himself rather unsettled by the idea. “He would not have an incentive, surely.”
Lord Wrexham’s lip curled. “I will tell him that he has no other choice. I will tell him that we know it was Lord Chiddick and that anything Lord Chiddick promised him or gave him will either be doubled… or will be taken from him by way of his employment. I agree that we would not have been able to do such a thing had we not known it was Lord Chiddick but now that we do, there is nothing to prevent this from working.”
Andrew turned to Miss Grifford, seeing her nodding, though he found himself a little less inclined towards it than her. “I worry that this places you in danger still.”
“But it must be done,” came the soft reply as she put a hand over his, making his skin burn with a sudden, wonderful heat. “It is the only way for you to be safe.”
“And for our future to be secure,” he agreed, closing his eyes briefly. “Very well. If you think it can be done, then let us do so. The engagement ball will be at my townhouse and I will hire additional servants for the evening. I have no doubt that Chiddick will choose one less loyal to my house so therefore, I will make my expectations for them all quite clear.”
“Very well.” Lord Wrexham put one hand on Andrew’s shoulder for a moment. “You have my support.”
“I thank you.”
“Look.” Miss Grifford squeezed Andrew’s hand. “Lord Chiddick is approaching.”
A knot tied itself in Andrew’s throat but he forced himself to smile and turn to his cousin who greeted them all amicably.
“A very pleasant ball, is it not?” he asked, turning to Miss Grifford while Andrew’s frame immediately grew tense. “And are you to dance this evening?”
“Oh, I had not thought!” Miss Grifford laughed and then took her dance card from her wrist, though she handed it to Andrew first. “Forgive me, Lord Chiddick. I must give this to my betrothed first, though he will give it to you thereafter.”
Andrew watched his cousin out of the corner of his eye, seeing the way Lord Chiddick’s smile seemed to freeze to his face. There was no happy glint in his eye now, no joyous smile spreading right across his face. Instead, it was as though every ounce of happiness had been torn from him and he was forcing himself to appear joyous instead. It gave him an almost statue-like appearance.
“Betrothed?”
Andrew nodded as his cousin’s eyes swiveled towards him. “Yes, that is just so.”
“You are engaged to Miss Grifford?” Lord Chiddick rubbed one hand over his chin as though he were forcing his expression to change from the current one it had frozen in. “Goodness, that was… unexpected.”
“But wonderful, is it not?” Miss Grifford said cheerfully, making Lord Chiddick nod fervently – a littletoofervently, Andrew thought to himself.
“Of course. Of course! Very wonderful. More than delightful,” came the reply. “I am sorry I did not know already for otherwise I would have asked for a round of congratulations from everyone here.”
“Ah, but I have not forgotten you, cousin,” Andrew said quickly, hoping to placate his cousin a little. “I was just about to come and tell you but also to beg of you to keep this news to yourself for the moment.”
Lord Chiddick lifted an eyebrow but said nothing.
“I am to throw an engagement ball in ten days’ time,” Andrew continued, quickly. “That shall be the moment I make the announcement. Thetonwill not know of my engagementuntil then. Might I beg of you to keep your silence for the moment?”
Lord Chiddick smiled briefly though Andrew did not much like the shard of steel in his gaze. “But of course, cousin,” he said, firmly. “I can certainly keep such news to myself. Thank you for considering me trustworthy in this, cousin.”
Andrew smiled while, at the same time, curling one hand into a fist – a hand which he kept behind his back for fear that his cousin would realize his true response. “But of course, Chiddick. You will be invited to the ball, of course. I do hope you will attend. It is important to me to have family there.”
“I shall certainly be there.” His cousin smiled and then held out his hand for the dance card. “Might I take a dance with your betrothed, then?”
Forgetting that he had Miss Grifford’s dance card in his hand, it took Andrew a moment to realize what his cousin meant. Seeing it, he quickly put his own initials down for the waltz and the cotillion, before handing it to Lord Chiddick. “But of course.”