Page 26 of Let Me Be Your Hero
“Anne has all kinds of contacts through her charity work,” Izzie explained. She was referring to Morsley’s wife, the founder of the Ladies’ Society for the Relief of the Destitute, who did indeed work in some very rough neighborhoods and who kept a number of potential informants on her payroll. “They haven’t found any leads yet. I know they’re asking around, but it feels like we’re grasping at straws.”
“I know some people at the Office of Ordnance I can ask,” Archibald said.
Izzie looked up, startled. “You… you do?”
“I do. Nettlethorpe Iron sells them quite a lot of cannons.”
From across the room, Edward Astley groaned. “Of course you do. Why didn’t we think of that?”
“To be fair,” Harrington noted, “we’ve been extremely busy flying into a panic.”
Izzie gazed at him with wide eyes. “You make cannons?” she whispered.
“Hmm? Oh, yes. It’s been most of our business these past few years, what with the war.”
Archibald was trying to decide whom he was going to approach. Smalley, he decided. Robert Smalley seemed as upright as the day was long. Of course, one could never be sure.
But if it came down to it, if Smalley was on the take, no one could top the price Archibald would be willing to pay to secure Izzie’s safety…
“You’ve given me hope,” Izzie said. “At least we have a lead. It’s terrifying that I have to hole up here like a sitting duck, but I’d much rather do it for days than weeks.” She gave a great sniff. “And I’ve put my entire family in danger. That’s the worst part.”
He wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her, but he could hardly do so with everyone looking on.
One thing was clear—Izzie wasn’t safe here, not even for a matter of days. It was hard enough to guard a house with this many windows during the day. Once darkness fell, it would be ten times worse.
What they needed was a fortress.
Archibald froze. A fortress… like the one in which he happened to live…
“There is a solution,” he said slowly. He rose from the sofa and began to pace the room.
The more he thought about it, the more pieces fell into place. It wasperfect. If he could convince them, then Izzie would be safe. That was the most important thing.
And he? He would achieve his fondest wish, his most impossible dream.
“The problem is twofold,” he announced. “Of primary concern, naturally, is the threat to Lady Isabella’s life. It is imperative that we find a way to protect her.”
He reached the mantelpiece and turned back the other way. “But do not forget that Lady Isabella has also been ruined by last night’s events. She was discovered by several dozen onlookers, alone in the garden with a man—me—with her dress torn. If she does not marry, her reputation will be in tatters, and Lady Lucy will find herself suffering the consequences as well.”
Having reached the center of the room, he turned to face the assembled Astleys, who were regarding him with surprise. “What Lady Isabella needs is not just anyone who can protect her. She needs ahusbandwho can protect her.”
He turned to face Izzie, looking her square in the eye. “And that husband is me.”
It seemed that everyone in the room was too shocked to speak. Archibald continued, “I believe last night I demonstrated some facility for dealing with these cretins. I hope I have shown my willingness to do whatever it takes to keep Lady Isabella safe.” He kept his eyes locked on hers. “Because I will.”
Lady Cheltenham seemed to have recovered from her shock. “And we appreciate everything you did for Izzie last night.”
Murmurs of agreement filled the room. Once they died down, Archibald continued, “But it is not merely my brute strength that makes me uniquely suited to this role. Excepting the Tower of London, my house is the closest thing you will find to a fortress for fifty miles. The windows are small, and there are bars on them. Unpickable locks on every door that I designed myself and built by hand. Thick stone walls. Towers on every corner.My house can be defended, and not only that, I have the men to defend it.”
He turned to Lady Cheltenham. “My forge employs five hundred ironworkers. The most hardened criminals in Newgate Prison are not a tenth as hard as my men. I treat them well, and I pay them some of the best wages in London. For every opening we have, we receive a hundred applicants. These men are loyal tome. And I can afford to pay however many of them are needed to guard my house around the clock, both inside and out.”
“As for the rest of it, it is no secret that I have been looking to marry.” He returned his gaze to Izzie, who looked very small, and very alone, on the yellow-striped sofa. He tried to convey everything he felt for her with his eyes. “And I would be very happy, indeed, to find myself married to Lady Isabella.”
Silence fell over the room. It was finally broken by Lady Cheltenham. “I must admit, it is a far better solution than anything we’ve come up with.” There were a few reluctant murmurs of agreement. Once they died down, Lady Cheltenham continued, “But what do you think about all of this, Izzie?”
Archibald studied her, trying to read her face. He would describe her expression as thoughtful but also hesitant.
After an interminable duration that was probably no more than ten seconds, Isabella said, “Might I have a few minutes to speak to Mr. Nettlethorpe-Ogilvy in private?”
