all?”
Worrying her lip, Rebecca considered carefully, then looked up sharply.
“We must speak to Lord Kensington,” she said as Lady Hayward caught her breath. “It is the only way to be certain of his safety, and that must be our priority at the present moment.”
Lord Richmond began to nod but was quickly interrupted by Lord Swinton.
“Mayhap we will be able to do both,” he said slowly. “We must speak to Lord Kensington, yes, but is there a way that we can have both Lord Bellingham and Lady Kensington join us when we do so?”
Rebecca waited, saying nothing as she looked from person to person. Lord Richmond was frowning hard, his brows low over his eyes, whilst Lady Hayward narrowed her eyes, staring down at the vial on the table.
“There is a ball in two days’ time,” Lady Hayward said eventually. “I am sure that Lord and Lady Kensington will attend. Lord Swinton, you would have to practically demand that Lord Kensington join you there. Quite how you would go about such a thing, I do not know.”
“Then I would have to have Lady Kensington attend there also,” Lord Richmond said slowly. “But if Lord Kensington is determined to keep his wife by his side, then what can we do to make certain that they attend separately?”
Lord Swinton chuckled. “Have no fear,” he said as the others turned to watch him. “If Lady Kensington is dancing, shall we say, then I will be well able to convince Lord Kensington to join me for a short time.” His smile faded. “I will speak of further rumors about his wife if I have to.”
“Then,” Rebecca said slowly, “if you are certain that Lord and Lady Kensington can be brought there, what of Lord Bellingham? We need him there also, do we not?” She looked around at the others and saw them all looking down at the vial and the knife, her stomach twisting as she allowed her gaze to linger there also.
“I will have to give the packages to Lord Bellingham,” Lord Richmond said slowly. “It is expected of me.”
“Then do so,” Lord Swinton replied with a small, determined smile. “Tell him that you will be at Lord Gillingham’s ball. The items can be placed in whatever room we will meet in, and he will have no concern about coming to speak to you. He is expecting the parcels, is he not?”
Lord Richmond nodded slowly, a look of relief wrapping across his expression. “Indeed, he is.”
“And do you have any letters from Lady Kensington?” Rebecca asked quickly, her hopes fading as Lord Richmond looked away. “Do you mean to say you have not kept any of them?”
Lord Richmond let out a hard breath. “I have torn asunder or burned any she has sent me, out of both anger and frustration,” he said heavily. “The only one I have remaining here at present is this one.”
Trying to smile, Rebecca reached across and set her hand on his as it rested on the table, all too aware that Lady Hayward would be watching her closely.
“Then take that one,” she said softly. “It will be enough.”
“And Lady Kensington does not have to know that you have ripped or destroyed her other notes,” Lord Swinton added as Rebecca murmured a quick agreement. “The shock of what you have either said or done might well be enough to frighten her into admitting it all.”
“You will have saved Lord Kensington’s life,” Lady Hayward remarked as Rebecca smiled up into Lord Richmond’s face, doing all she could to encourage him. “He will be inclined to listen to you.”
“And perhaps,” Rebecca murmured so that only he could hear, “Lord Kensington might be willing to state that all you have been accused of is quite unjust.”
Lord Richmond let out a long breath. “I might be free of her and her duplicity for good,” he said as Rebecca nodded, pulling her hand reluctantly away from his. “There is still a chance that…” He trailed off, but the words brought a fresh joy to Rebecca’s heart, knowing what it was that he so desperately hoped for. She could not help but long for it too, knowing that it had been so far out of reach and now, suddenly, was just before them as though desperate to be found.
“Then this matter will soon come to a close, it seems,” Lady Hayward remarked, looking at Rebecca with a smile. “Although we must all be prepared for what might occur. Lord Kensington might be unwilling to listen. Lady