angry and upset, furious with himself for agreeing and yet knowing that there was nothing else he could have done. He had to protect Lady Rebecca in any way he could.
“This evening, there is a particular gentleman here that I very much wish to speak with later,” Lady Kensington continued as Jeffery’s stomach dropped. “You will inform him of such. You will tell him that I am, unfortunately, required to remain in my husband’s company at present, but you will ask him to call upon me tomorrow afternoon during the fashionable hour.” A small smile crept over her face. “When my husband will be absent from the house on business.”
Jeffery’s stomach turned over on itself, and he closed his eyes, hating the fact that he would have to repeat such words to another gentleman.
“You are not going to ask me who it is I wish to speak to?” Lady Kensington asked teasingly. “You wish very much to remain silent, to show no interest?” She laughed at him, and Jeffery’s fingernails bit into his palms, his anger burning all the hotter. “Very well, your resolve, I suppose, does you credit.” Taking something from her pocket, she held it out to him. “And give him this so he knows your words can be trusted.”
Unwillingly, Jeffery stretched out a hand and took the delicate locket from Lady Kensington. It was of burnished gold, sitting on a delicate chain. He did not want to ask whether or not it was from this particular gentleman, choosing instead just to slip it into his pocket without remark.
“You are determined not to ask me anything, then,” Jeffery heard Lady Kensington say as he turned his head away from her, hating every moment of her company. “Very well, very well. Now, you are to find Lord Bellingham. And when you have done so, make certain you inform me of the fact.”
“Impossible!” Jeffery retorted, spinning around to face her. “I will not come near to you this evening, Lady Kensington.”
“Oh yes, you will,” she replied calmly. “And you will tell me that it has been done, else I shall go to Lady Rebecca. It would be most unfortunate if—”
“Enough.” Jeffery sliced the air with his hand, cutting her off as Lady Kensington began to smile, her eyes flashing with a darkness that Jeffery had not seen before. “Good evening, Lady Kensington.” He turned on his heel and strode away from her, hearing her quiet, tinkling laugh chasing after him, adding to his misery as he stumbled forward, further into the shadows and further away from her. He hated himself for having to agree, for having to do all that she demanded without hesitation, yet he knew that she would do all that she had threatened—and more—if he did not.
“Goodness, you look as though...” Lord Swinton began to chuckle, only to trail off, his smile fading as he took in Jeffery’s appearance. “I see Lady Kensington has spoken to you.”
“You knew she would be here this evening?” Jeffery grated as Lord Swinton nodded. “I did not.”
Lord Swinton studied him for a moment. “What has she asked of you?”
“I am to find a gentleman named Lord Bellingham. I am to give him specific instructions. Thereafter, I am to hand him a locket of some description and then inform Lady Kensington that it has been done.”
Lord Swinton’s brows rose. “You are to speak to Lady Kensington directly?” he repeated as Jeffery nodded slowly, rubbing one hand over his face in frustration. “And quite how are you to do so without everyone in the ton being aware of it?”
“I do not know,” Jeffery replied heavily. “But she was most insistent.”
“Because it will look to the beau monde as though you have approached her rather than the truth,” Lord Swinton murmured, shaking his head. “She is a manipulative creature, I think.”
There were harsher words in Jeffery’s head than that, but he did not allow them to be spoken. Instead, he let out a long breath and dropped his hand back to his side. “There is no other choice but to do as she asks,” he said heavily. “I have no knowledge of this ‘Lord Bellingham,’ but evidently, he is here this evening.”
“I believe I know him,” Lord Swinton said slowly. “He is not at all enamored with society, however, and is, in fact, very quiet and dull by all accounts. I am surprised that Lady Kensington has sought him out, given that she usually chases gentlemen who, at the very least, have an interesting