Page 73 of The Unfortunate Debutante
“Being sane is overrated, milord.”
Laughing, he turned his head back towards the estate and saw the sun was starting to dip below the horizon. “I’ve enjoyed our time together, but I’m afraid I have some business I must attend to.”
He rose and extended his hand towards her. “I shall call on you tomorrow to ensure you don’t plan to sneak out of Caddington Manor.”
“Perhaps I’ll sneak out before you even arrive,” she answered, accepting his assistance.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “You are a minx.”
As he walked her back to the estate, Simeon realized that he’d been deceiving himself. Emma was most assuredly his friend, but she could be nothing more to him. His heart was impenetrable, and he could never risk the heartache associated with loving another. No matter how tempting the thought of it was.
13
Simeon steppedinto his townhouse and was immediately greeted by his butler. “Evening, milord. Justice Ford and Officer Pembrooke are in your study.”
“How long have they been waiting?”
“More than an hour.”
Extending his top hat to him, Simeon said, “As usual, if you hear shouting coming from my study, please do not be overly concerned.”
“I never am, milord,” his butler replied, his lips twitching.
Simeon proceeded to his study and saw Justice Ford, the Bow Street magistrate, sitting in an armchair with a snifter in his hand. Pembrooke was sitting across from him with a frown on his face.
As he walked further into the room, the tall, aged Justice Ford huffed. “It’s about time, Wentworth.”
“I had a previous engagement,” he stated, seeing no reason to expand on it.
Shifting in his seat, Pembrooke remarked, “No doubt it was with the beautiful Miss Pearson.”
“If you must know, I had a meeting with Lord Downshire,” he said, walking over to the drink cart. He decided to omit that he’d spent well over an hour with Miss Pearson in the gardens.
Justice Ford took a sip of his drink. “Lord Revett has demanded I issue a warrant for Miss Pearson’s arrest.”
“What?” Simeon roared. “Why would the House Secretary be interested in arresting Miss Pearson?”
“Technically, it’s for a Mr. David Blackmore, but we both know who that truly is, don’t we?” Justice Ford asked, raising his snifter towards him.
“How did you discover her identity?” he inquired.
“I have informants all over London, and a well-positioned one inside The Morning Post,” the magistrate said. “It’s only a matter of time before Lord Revett discovers her identity, as well.”
Pouring two snifters of brandy, Simeon inquired, “Again, why does the House Secretary want Mr. Blackmore arrested?”
“Apparently, Mr. Blackmore submitted an article to The Morning Post, and it was picked up by the newspaper. It’s running in tomorrow’s papers, and it clearly details the atrocities the constables committed during the demonstration,” the magistrate explained. “Furthermore, it paints Justice Keats in a bad light as the magistrate who issued the warrant for Hatcher’s arrest, which we have since learned was under Lord Revett’s direction.”
Simeon put the lid back onto the decanter. “That still doesn’t explain the call for her arrest.”
“The article will no doubt rally support for the Anti-Corn Law rebels, and Lord Revett is attempting to squash the growing movement. The Tories don’t want any more riots and civil unrest over the Corn Laws.”
“Perhaps, then, they should recognize that the Corn Laws are hurting our people.” Picking up the two snifters, Simeon walked over and extended one towards Pembrooke. “Besides, Lord Downshire would never allow his ward to be arrested.”
“True, but Lord Revett doesn’t know that Mr. David Blackmore is a pseudonym for Miss Pearson,” Justice Ford confirmed. “At least, not yet.”
Sitting down next to Pembrooke, he asked, “Is that why you’re here? To inform me of the warrant?”
“No,” Justice Ford said, placing his snifter on a table. “I’ve just come from meeting with an informant, and he’s informed me that the Anti-Corn Law rebels are rapidly growing in numbers. The people are stirring because of the barbaric treatment at the last peaceful demonstration.”
