Page 85 of The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady
“We cannot say that for certain.” Kenneth defended the legal system. “I trust that your testimony alone will be damning enough.”
“I believe that is highly optimistic.” Leah replied. “What is the word of a poor woman to the courts against a Lord?”
“Do you not trust me to keep you safe?” Kenneth appealed.
“I do,” Leah answered, touching his arm. “I only do not trust the courts. They will not accept my testimony as gospel.”
“But they will accept mine, as well as Worthington's.” the Marquess spoke up. “The more witnesses, the stronger the case.”
“But what will you have to say?” Nash contributed. “Leah has the damning information. All the two of you have is her words.”
“Hopefully, we will soon have words enough of our own. Our plan will stand,” Kenneth stated. “We will go confront my uncle, and surely he will confess his crimes to me. We must act swiftly; the whole of the underground is after them.” Kenneth nodded to Nash and Leah.
“Leah and I will use the second-story window.” Nash added. “He'll know somethin's amiss if we're with you in the parlor.”
“Good point,. Leah agreed. The Marquess looked baffled at how easily they discussed entering a home on the second floor. “Are we agreed then?”
“We are agreed.” Kenneth grinned, that wildness creeping back into the foreground of his conscious. He was ready to tear the town apart until he had made the world safe for Leah, even if it meant shattering whatever semblance he had left of a happy family. “Winchester, you should be off to Judge Robert's.”
“What of the criminals?” He looked concerned for his safety.
“They won't come near you, not around here, ‘specially with them watchmen about.” Nash answered. “St. James’s Square is sort of like, you could say, out of bounds.”
“How strange.” Winchester blinked, soaking up the information. No doubt it was his first ever contact with these elements of London life.
“Take heart!” Kenneth reassured him. “There are carriages near, around Piccadilly. We have come to the true test of our mettle, my friend, and it is upon you to step up to your commission. Ready then! Come on man!” Kenneth rallied the Marquess with a speech that could have come from his days in the army, and it seemed to trigger something within the man.
“Right you are.” the Marquess leapt up with surprising speed. “I shall be off!” He pattered to the side entrance, peered through the ensure the coast was clear, and then escaped out into the night.
“Now we three.” Kenneth looked between Leah and Nash, “Let us go and pay my uncle a visit, shall we?”
Chapter 22
Cornelius was at home, and he was feeling rather good about himself. He warmed his feet by his crackling hearth, which was largely unnecessary on the summer night, but Cornelius lit the fire regardless. He always felt as if his bones were cold, even in the dead of summer.
Still, his toes were piping warm as he sat in his armchair and casually drank wine from a glass.
The moon shone elegantly through his large windows, and he admired the ripples in his wine as the pale light was reflected back up towards him.
Soon all will be well. Of course, there was still the small matter of ensuring his nephew's crime bill did not pass through the House of Lords, but that would be simple enough when the time came.
Cornelius greatly admired Kenneth's ambitions, even if he were flawed in his methods of execution.
Perhaps one day he will truly be ready, but first we must be rid of this troublesome urchin that he finds himself so fond of.
Cornelius was pondering his options. After this Benson woman had been dealt with, he could move onwards with a number of operations.
Riphook was becoming a nuisance, and Cornelius was eager to find his replacement.I can no longer reply upon his discretion. He has become a liability to my entire operation.
As he sat in his chair, he moved his gaze from the rim of his glass to the wide window before him. The glare of his own fire on the panes played games with the moonlit shadows, and he squinted out into the obscured darkness.
What was that?Cornelius hunched forwards, looking hard out the window.Am I imagining things? I thought I saw something moving.
“My Lord?” there was a tap at his door, and Cornelius turned about, distracted.
“Come in.” He sighed as he gave the window one last look, and then turned fully to address his footman.
“His Grace, the Duke of Worthington is at the door.”
