Lord Rutherford stared at Lady Haddington for a long moment, before turning his head away and clearing his throat. “You believe that someone will attempt to injure me again,” he said slowly, and the other Shadows nodded, no hesitation on their faces. “If not to kill me.”
“Precisely,” Lady Paxton replied with a shrug. “But we will ensure that you are not left in a pool of blood this time, Lord Rutherford.”
Catherine watched him closely, seeing the tiny tremor that caught his frame, and she felt her heart squeeze. She caught herself at once, her eyes wide, her heart quickening as she realized that she now felt something like compassion for Lord Rutherford. She had not wanted to feel anything at all and now to have even a slight sense of compassion was disastrous.
He is afraid, she told herself reassuringly. It is understandable that you would feel a little sympathy for him.
“Lady Catherine?”
She snapped back to attention, looking at her friends and seeing how they were all looking at her, a slight smile on each face.
“Yes?” she said, a trifle embarrassed. “My apologies, I was just thinking about what we ought to do next.”
Lady Bentham smiled kindly. “We were discussing whether or not Lord Rutherford ought to return to his townhouse,” she said quietly. “After all, he would be there alone and—”
“I cannot think that wise,” Lord Rutherford interrupted hastily. “As much as I am inclined to return, I fear that I might be more than a little vulnerable on my own.”
Catherine hesitated, considering it carefully. If Lord Rutherford returned to his townhouse, then he might be a little more exposed to someone seeking to harm him. But, then again, he would have his own staff, his own rooms, and his own set of keys which would keep him safe.
“Do you trust your staff, Lord Rutherford?” she asked with a tight smile. “For if you do, then I cannot see any particular difficulty in your return.”
He swallowed, then shook his head. “I confess that I do not trust my staff,” he answered honestly. “I do not treat them with any consideration and most likely, they think me a very hard master.”
Catherine let out a small, inaudible sigh. “But you have your own set of keys, I presume?” she asked quickly, trying to find a way for Lord Rutherford to return without compromising his safety. “You could lock yourself in your house, in your room, without—”
“I am sure that even my butler would be susceptible to someone seeking to slip him a few extra coins,” Lord Rutherford interrupted, sounding sorrowful. “I do not know what I shall do.”
Exchanging a glance with her sister, Catherine bit her lip. She did not know what to say. Lord Rutherford could not simply return to society and then still reside here. Her father, whilst caught up in his own affairs, would certainly notice a gentleman coming and going after various social occasions.
“I have it!”
Catherine looked up sharply to see her sister staring at her with delight flickering across her expression. The corners of her mouth were tipping upwards, her smile spreading slowly as she clung to this new idea that had evidently caught her.
“Yes?” Catherine asked slowly as Lady Ann clapped her hands together with delight. “What is it?”
“We shall tell father that we wish to throw a very grand ball indeed and that a few of our very close acquaintances are to reside here for a few days before the event, in order to help us with the arrangements. Of course, they must also reside here on the evening of the ball,” she said, speaking quickly so as to get all of the words out. “You know how father will be if we tell him such a thing.”
Catherine could not help but laugh, knowing full well that her father would be rather overwhelmed with the idea that he was to host a ball—but that if both she and Ann said that they were to do all the arrangements, then there could be nothing to concern him. To suggest that some of their acquaintances reside with them for a few nights in order to plan this event was something that her father might find a little surprising but Catherine had no doubt he would agree to it wholeheartedly, especially if it meant that he would have nothing whatsoever to do with it.
“Therefore, Lord Rutherford, you will be able to continue to reside here, albeit with a good deal less secrecy,” Lady Ann finished with a satisfied smile. “And someone else will also have to reside here with us, of course, to ensure that our father is satisfied.”
“And also to ensure that the ball is planned with great care,” Lady Haddington said with a chuckle. “I am sure that Lord Haddington and I can stay here with you both. I confess that I have not had much opportunity to plan a ball in some time, so I would be glad to help you with the arrangements.”
Catherine nodded slowly, a sudden thought catching her mind. “There is also the strong possibility that someone might attempt to steal Lord Rutherford’s life from him at this particular ball, given that it will be at least one week after his return to society.”
Lady Haddington nodded slowly, her brow beginning to pucker. “That is true,” she agreed. “Therefore, we must ensure that we take great care with all the arrangements.”
Catherine returned her gaze to Lord Rutherford, who was looking both relieved and anxious in equal measure. He was certainly less pale now, but the way his eyes darted from one Shadow to the next told her that he was troubled about what was going to happen.
“What say you?” she asked him, looking at him steadily and seeing his eyes turn back to her. “Would that keep you content, Lord Rutherford?”
He let out a long, slow breath but nodded. “That would make me feel a little better,” he admitted. “I shall have to return to my townhouse first, of course?”
“Of course,” she agreed firmly. “You must ensure that your staff know you have returned—make some sort of excuse to them—and there is no reason that you might not stay there for some time, save for sleeping there at night.”
He nodded again, not saying anything but the lines around his mouth now rather tight.
“You will behave just as you normally would, Lord Rutherford,” Lord Haddington interjected. “You will allow your valet to prepare your clothes, continue with your business affairs—if you have any pressing at hand—and thereafter, return to this house in order to sleep and rest in safety.”
Catherine’s lips twitched and she could not help but say, “And I will make quite certain that the servants’ entrance is open and prepared for you.” She saw Lord Rutherford glance at her, staring at her for a few moments before he, too, let his mouth quirk, a look of rueful good humor entering his expression and chasing his anxiety away.
“Your servants will not be concerned if you do not return after a ball or other social event?” she asked, only for Lord Rutherford to turn his head away, shaking it as he did so. Was he embarrassed? Ashamed to admit such a thing? Or did he simply not want to look at her when he did admit it?
Lady Paxton cleared her throat gently and caught everyone’s attention. “Then might I suggest, Lord Rutherford, that we all attend a ball this evening?” She glanced at the others. “We are all due to attend Lord and Lady Sandringham’s ball this evening, which is a very grand affair.” She looked back at Lord Rutherford, a question in her eyes. “Do you recall if you were invited?”