In all truth, I had no idea how to handle what had just happened, but I had faith that an idea would come along at some point. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

At the bottom of the steps, I released her hand and said to Duffy, “If you will excuse me, I must see to something. Do start breakfast, I will not be long.”

“If you must, Augusta, but do return swiftly,” Duffy said. “I came here for a reason and I cannot stay long. Harriet wishes to go to morning service as well as the evening.”

Of course she did—she would not wish to miss the fashionable gossip at the main services of the week. And of course Duffy had come for a reason. He only ever visited “for a reason.” And I had, in all my days, never liked any of his reasons.

Still, I had other problems to deal with first. Two problems, in fact, who were at this moment more than likely at each other’s throat.

22

I found Evan and Mr. Kent in the small library I had established at the back of the house. A private space with three walls of bookshelves full of my books, a desk, and a wingback chair set near the small hearth, like the one my father had in his study. The two men stood on opposite sides of the room, some heated conversation having—it would seem—just ended. Mirror images of their dislike for each other.

Now, there was a thought worth exploring.

“So now do you see, Mr. Kent?” I said, closing the door behind me.

“See what?” he asked truculently.

“That Mulholland is going to kill Lord Evan as soon as he finds him again.” I glanced at Evan, seeing him square up to that fact. “It is set to be a straight execution, Mr. Kent. I think we can all agree that my brother’s warning will have no effect and Mulholland will stay nearby. He will wait to complete his mission now that he knows Lord Evan is trapped here.”

Kent nodded, conceding the truth of it.

I crossed my arms. “As I see it, we must find a way for Lord Evan to leave this house safely.”

“We?” Kent said.

“You have just lied to a magistrate and abetted a criminal, so I think you are part of ‘we.’ Besides, I do not think you are willing to stand aside and see a man killed without due justice. Your honor would not allow it.”

Kent closed his eyes for a second. “You and your sister will be the death of me.”

“I sincerely hope not,” I said.

Kent paced across the room, clearly weighing up the situation. He knew if he agreed he was stepping over a line that could mean the end of his career, not to mention his life.

He released a long breath. “And so, it seems I becomes we.”

“Thank you,” I said.