“I am sorry, my lord, Lady Hester is not yet awake,” Weatherly said. “From the report of Miss Grant, her ladyship had a very bad night and was given some laudanum only an hour past.”

The look upon Evan’s face clutched at my heart.

“We could try to wake her if you wish,” I said.

He shook his head. “No, she needs to rest. We will see Mr. Kent first.”

Weatherly cleared his throat. “Lady Julia also wished you to know that she received a note from Lord Duffield last night. He intends to call this morning for breakfast.”

Duffy? What on earth did he want at such an early hour? Certainly nothing good. But that explained the full breakfast. It also meant I must go upstairs and change into a gown before he arrived. Although, I had to admit, it would have been entertaining to see his reaction to my masculine attire.

“If Lord Duffield arrives before we come down, show him to the dining room, not the drawing room.” It would be irregular, but I did not want Duffy meeting Evan in such a manner. Or, indeed, Mr. Kent. I glanced at Evan. “Go with Weatherly; he will provide you with a weapon. I must change and then we will go into the drawing room unannounced.”

Unannounced, but not unprepared.

With Tully’s help, I changed into a gown in ten minutes, all the while giving her a brief update of the night, her gasps of shock not interrupting her deft buttoning of my sleeves. I then instructed her to choose one of my plain white gowns as a shroud for Miss Hollis while I took a few minutes to write a note to Messrs. France and Banting, Undertakers, to retrieve Miss Hollis at six o’clock and await further instructions. I closed it with my wax seal and handed it to Tully, along with the additional guinea for Reginald.

“Deliver these and the gown into the hands of Mr. France and make sure he understands that this is to be strictly confidential. Tell him he and his partner will be amply compensated for their discretion.”

“You said you found Miss Hollis without any clothes, my lady,” Tully said, her face uncharacteristically grim. “Should I choose a chemise and hose too? For her family.”

I smiled at such thoughtfulness. “Take whatever you think would be suitable. I trust you to choose well.”

With Tully set on her task, I drew a steadying breath and made my way down the staircase with the Rundell box in hand.

Evan stood waiting in the hallway, holding the gun that Weatherly had given him.

“I have something else for you,” I said, offering him the box.