Page 100 of The Secret of Flirting
“Willmyword in that regard suffice?” the count called out, to Gregory’s surprise. The older statesman rose, clearly having caught the gist of where things were heading. “I brokered the exchange—with the help of his lordship, of course. My great-niece, Monique, is third in line for the throne behind two elderly relations. She would have become the princess in truth if Aurore had died.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “If you don’t believe me, I can show you the entire line of the Chanay royal family.”
“Besides,” Gregory cut in, “I have managed to hunt down the assassin Danworth hired to try to kill Mademoiselle Servais.” That had taken some doing, but once he’d known of Danworth’s involvement, Gregory had been able to track the man’s friends and acquaintances and unearth the shooter in his hovel in Spitalfields.
As Danworth paled, Gregory exulted. “Under the threat of prosecution for attempted murder, the former servant of Mr. Danworth has been more than eager to cooperate with the authorities. He confessed to having been paid by Mr. Danworth to shoot at Mademoiselle Servais not once, but twice.”
“This is absurd.” Danworth narrowed his gaze on Gregory. “His lordship is merely trying to smear my name to avoid having his own past unveiled. I recently discovered that he was responsible for the death of his father!”
There were more gasps, more eyes turned toward Gregory.
Now came the tricky part. “I don’t suppose you have any evidence to support that claim,” Gregory drawled. “Because I was at Eton at the time of my father’s death, as anyone can attest.”
Just as he’d guessed, Danworth’s assertion that a shopkeeper had seen Gregory had been a bluff. “I—I’m sure that someone at Eton could confirm—”
“So you have no evidence,” Gregory said coldly. “Who’s trying to smear a fellow’s namenow? Because, unlike you, I have ample evidence to validate my own case. I can prove your involvement in the attempt to murder Princess Aurore and her cousin.”
Princess Aurore whispered something in his ear.
“Her Highness tells me that my friend, Lord Hartley, who went to fetch the princess for this meeting, discovered that you paid a maid to put poison in Princess Aurore’s evening chocolate. Then there’s the testimony of His Grace, Wellington, that you were sent to Calais. There’s your former servant, who confessed to firing upon the princess’s representative at your behest...”
Danworth glanced about in a panic. “And in your case, there’s a button. A button that was clutched in Lord Fulkham’s hand. I—I mean, thepreviousLord Fulkham’s hand. Ask the constable! He will tell you!”
“A button?” Gregory gave a caustic laugh. “That is your evidence? Fine, go ahead. Bring the constable down to London. Let’s see what he has to say.”
When Gregory had gone to speak to the constable, the man had professed that he didn’t know of any button, and that even if he had, it was long gone. Gregory suspected that after years of patronage by the Fulkhams, the constable didn’t want to bite the hand that fed him, and Gregory certainly wasn’t going to make him do so.
Rage filled Danworth’s face as it dawned on him that he was not going to win this fight. “You bloody bastard. You always have to succeed, no matter who you trample upon. You couldn’t let one crumb fall from the table for a mere private secretary like me, who has served his country well until now. All you had to do was vote for Leopold, but because some whore of an actress whispered in your ear about attempted murder—”
“Some cousin to the princess, you mean,” Gregory hissed, unable to keep his temper one minute more. “And I waswithher when your man shot at her. Both times! If she had died—”
Realizing that everyone was gaping at him, he fought for control, then continued in a more measured tone. “If Mademoiselle Servais had died in the place of Princess Aurore while in England, it would have been a heinous blot on these proceedings and the country you claim to be serving. So yes, I take issue with your actions.”
Danworth’s gaze shot daggers. “Well, you will hear from me further! I have not yet—”
“All right, gentlemen!” Gregory cried to the police officers waiting in the back. “You may place Mr. Danworth under arrest now.”
As the buzz in the assembly hall grew deafening, the officers marched forward with grim intent. Nothing like a bit of official theatrics to seal the fate of a blackmailing arse. Danworth could rouse questions about the death of Gregory’s father all he liked, but the image of him being dragged away in shackles would take precedence in the minds of the delegates.
Or so Gregory hoped. This had always been a risk. He glanced over at Monique, who ventured a smile in return. A risk well worth taking.
He steadied his breath, then turned to the business he was good at. He brought the gavel down on the podium enough times to gain quiet in the room. “Now that we’ve taken care of that,” he said, “perhaps we should go on with the vote.”
Princess Aurore put a hand on his arm. “If you don’t mind, my lord, before you vote, I have something else to say.”
Gregory tensed.Thishe hadn’t anticipated. “Of course, Your Serene Highness,” he said, and stepped back.
“While I am enormously grateful to my cousin for putting herself in my place, nearly dying has given me a new perspective on life. So it is with great regret that I must withdraw as a candidate for ruler of Belgium.” She slid a quick glance and a smile toward where Lady Ursula sat. “I prefer to continue my uneventful life in Chanay, with the people I know and love. And Belgium deserves a ruler who would put it first. That would not be me. Thank you.”
As she left the stage, Gregory stood there stunned. The irony did not escape him. If the princess had said that in the beginning, he could have voted for Prince Leopold without going against his conscience.
Except that he would never have known for sure if Leopold had been part of the scheme. And Danworth would have gotten away with trying to kill Aurore and Monique.
That wouldn’t have passed the demands of his conscience. How refreshing to know that he still had one.
Curious to see what the Chanay contingent thought of Princess Aurore’s announcement, he glanced to where the count and Lady Ursula sat beside Monique. Lady Ursula was beaming; no surprise there. But the count wore a rather pensive look on his face, and thatwasa surprise.
What the devil was that about?
The room had gone very quiet, and it suddenly dawned on Gregory that they were waiting for him to guide the proceedings.
