Page 83 of What's an Earl Gotta Do?
Mr. Branton nodded solemnly. “It’s what I do.”
“Excellent,” Michael said. “We have our plan, then.”
Once they were ensconced in Anne’s carriage, Mr. Branton leaned forward. “Now, I need you to tell me every single thing you know about Lord Hobart.”
Chapter 30
Although she was sick with worry about Nick, Anne couldn’t help but enjoy what happened once they arrived at Horse Guards.
It wasn’t merely the fact that he was six and a half feet tall and burly; Michael really did have a special talent for looming. He employed it to its full effect upon the hapless clerk.
“Lord Morsley!” the clerk said upon their entrance, brightening. “How can I be of assistance?” Anne marked the moment he noticed that Michael was flanked by the very pair he’d turned away earlier in the day. His smile froze, and he began to physically droop.
“Is this the man you spoke with this afternoon, darling?” Michael asked, speaking at full volume. “The one who refused to assist you?” Around the room, multiple men looked up from their work, craning their necks to see.
“The very one,” Anne confirmed. “Mr. Thackery.”
Mr. Thackery gulped. “Is… is there a problem, my lord?”
Michael began to loom. “That depends. Do you consider it a problem that my betrothed was dismissed, and was therefore unable to obtain the help she needed?”
“I… I didn’t realize she was your betrothed—”
“Not that it should matter,” Michael snapped. “Anyone of Lady Anne’s unimpeachable character should always be granted the basic courtesy of a hearing. To say nothing”—he placed his hand in the center of Samuel’s back and drew him forward—“of my personal barrister.”
Mr. Thackery narrowed his eyes at Samuel, then turned to Michael. “Your personal barrister? I was unaware your lordship had business with the Admiralty.”
Michael froze for a second, but he recovered quickly. “As it happens, I have been assisting the Royal Navy, sending them shipments of raw materials from the Canadian frontier.”
Anne made a point of laying her hand upon Michael’s upper arm as she smiled up at him fondly. “Did you not tell me that you received a letter of thanks from Lord Nelson himself after the first delivery of mast poles?”
“Why, yes. Yes, I did.”
Samuel pressed a hand to his heart. “It is an honor to act as Lord Morsley’s liaison.”
The clerk’s face had taken on a greenish cast. “I… I see.”
“But let us return to the matter at hand,” Michael said, looming even harder. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
Mr. Thackery’s posture by now was what Anne would describe as cowering. “I’m terribly sorry, my lord—”
“It is not I who am owed an apology.”
“That is—my lady. And Mr. Branton. I… I should’ve let you speak to—er—someone.” Anne didn’t feel quite ready to offer her absolution, and apparently Samuel felt the same way, because they both maintained a stony silence. After a moment, Mr. Thackery cleared his throat awkwardly. “Shall I tell Lord Hobart you’re here, then?”
“You should’ve done so four hours ago,” Michael said. “So yes.”
The clerk led them back to Lord Hobart’s office. The baron scowled as he looked up from the piles of papers that littered his desk. “This had better be important, Morsley.”
“It is,” Michael replied. “Allow me to introduce my betrothed, Lady Anne Astley—”
Lord Hobart barked out a laugh. “You work quickly, Morsley. So that’s why you came back.”
Michael cast Anne a quick smile. “Indeed. And this is Mr. Samuel Branton, a barrister working primarily in the Admiralty Courts. He will explain.”
“Very well,” Lord Hobart grumbled. “I suppose I should ring for some tea.”
Samuel held up both hands. “That is very kind of you, my lord, but it is not necessary. We will not take up one minute more of your time than we absolutely must.”
