Page 32 of The Hidden Lord
It was progress, however small. Henri allowed Lisette to assist her with washing and dressing, selecting one of the new gowns that had appeared in her room. The fabric was a soft blue wool that complemented her coloring, and the fit wassurprisingly accurate considering Gabriel could not have had her measurements.
Deuce it, Henri. It is Lord Trenwith!
As Lisette finished arranging Henri’s hair into a simple but elegant style, footsteps sounded on the staircase outside. A soft knock followed, and Henri called for the visitor to enter.
To her surprise, it was Mr. Tyne who appeared in the doorway, looking slightly uncomfortable but resolute. His thin frame was impeccably dressed despite their unconventional situation, and his pale eyes held a mixture of duty and genuine concern. He carried a tray of food that looked to be enough for both of them, and Lisette left them alone together.
“Miss Bigsby,” he said with a slight bow. “I trust you slept well?”
“As well as can be expected,” Henri replied, studying his face for any hint of his purpose. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Mr. Tyne?”
The secretary cleared his throat delicately. “Lord Trenwith … that is, Monsieur Grantham instructed me to keep you company this morning. He felt you might appreciate some conversation while he attends to his business affairs.”
Henri gestured to the comfortable chair that had been added to her accommodations. “Please, do sit down. I confess I would welcome the company, though I suspect your employer has additional motives beyond my entertainment.”
Mr. Tyne seated himself in the chair, his posture primly formal despite Henri’s welcome. “His lordship is concerned for your comfort and well-being, Miss Bigsby. These are … unusual circumstances for all of us.”
“Indeed they are,” Henri agreed, taking a seat on the edge of the bed since there was only one chair. “Tell me, Mr. Tyne, how long have you been in Lord Trenwith’s employ?”
“Nearly seven years now,” the secretary replied, relaxing slightly as Henri guided the conversation toward safer topics. “I began working for his lordship shortly after he inherited the title.”
They spoke of general matters for some time—the bustle of Calais as a port city, the differences between French and English customs, the weather that had been perpetually gray and damp. Mr. Tyne proved to be a more engaging conversationalist than Henri had expected, possessing a dry wit and keen observations about their surroundings.
But as the morning progressed and Henri’s patience wore thin, she finally set aside pretense and fixed him with a direct stare.
“Mr. Tyne, I appreciate your efforts to distract me, but I must know what is happening. How long am I to remain here? What is Lord Trenwith’s business in Calais? And when might I expect to return to England?”
The secretary’s pale face grew even paler, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Miss Bigsby, I fear that is not my place to say. Such matters are well above my station, and his lordship has not seen fit to confide the details of his work to me.”
“But surely you must have some indication of his plans?” Henri pressed. “You cannot tell me that you serve as his secretary without knowing anything of his business.”
Mr. Tyne was quiet for a long moment, clearly struggling with conflicting loyalties. “I can tell you that Lord Trenwith is a man of honor, Miss Bigsby. Whatever his methods that brought us here, I am certain he will find a way to mitigate any damage to your reputation.”
Henri felt her heart sink at this confirmation of what she already knew. “My reputation. Yes, I suppose it is quite thoroughly destroyed by now. And Sir Alpheus must be quite beside himself over the missing manuscript.”
“Has his lordship … that is, has he spoken to you about possible solutions to your situation?” Mr. Tyne asked delicately.
Henri looked up sharply, studying the secretary’s expression. “He has proposed marriage, if that is what you’re asking.”
Relief flooded Mr. Tyne’s features, but it seemed like a performance to her mind. “Thank heavens. I confess, Miss Bigsby, I have been quite beside myself with worry about you. His lordship’s proposal does provide a path forward that would preserve your standing in society.”
“And I have refused him,” Henri said flatly.
“I beg your pardon?”
Mr. Tyne blinked at her as if she had announced her intention to sprout wings and fly to the moon, but she had the impression he might be pretending. Did Mr. Tyne already know about her refusal? Was this yet another tactic of persuasion, pretending he did not know in order to raise it in conversation? Had Gabr—Faugh! Lord Trenwith—instructed him?
“I said I have refused his offer of marriage,” Henri repeated with more force. “I will not be coerced into matrimony.”
“But … Miss Bigsby …” Mr. Tyne stammered. “Surely, you understand the gravity of your situation? An unmarried woman, traveling unchaperoned with a gentleman, remaining in his company for days … The scandal will be enormous.”
“I am quite aware of the scandal,” Henri replied with more composure than she felt. “But I fail to see how binding myself legally to the man who created this situation improves my circumstances.”
Mr. Tyne leaned forward in his chair, his expression earnest. “Miss Bigsby, you must understand, reputation is a fire. It burns fast. But Lord Trenwith will burn with it to shield you. His lordship is not offering marriage out of mere duty or obligation. He genuinely wishes to protect you from the consequences of …of this unfortunate situation. Raising your station to that of a peeress would mitigate much of the damage.”
“Unfortunate situation?” Henri’s voice rose slightly. “Mr. Tyne, I was kidnapped. Bound and gagged like a common criminal. Transported to a foreign country against my wishes. Lord Trenwith created this situation through his own actions, and now you suggest I should be grateful for his offer to resolve it through marriage?”
The secretary flinched at her blunt assessment but did not retreat from his position. “I understand your anger, Miss Bigsby. Truly, I do. But surely you can see that his lordship’s proposal offers the best possible outcome?”
