Ten minutes later, Rowan was sitting behind his desk. The ledger was open before him. He was carefully copying specific dates and nas onto a fresh sheet of parchnt, preparing his evidence to send along with the summoning letter.
A sharp knock ca on the door.
"Enter," Rowan commanded, not looking up from his writing.
Mr. Simmons entered the study. He walked across the rug and stopped in front of the desk, standing perfectly straight.
"Your Grace," Simmons announced clearly. "Miss Flora has been settled into the guest chamber. The maids are preparing a hot bath and a tray of food for her. Everything is ready."
Rowan stopped writing. He placed his quill back into the silver inkstand. He looked up at his trusted butler.
"Good," Rowan spoke, his voice crisp and completely business-like. "Now, we have urgent matters outside this house."
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk.
"Send so of our best, most capable n to Miss Flora’s hotown imdiately," Rowan instructed, his blue eyes entirely serious. "Do not send them in Hamilton uniforms. Tell them to dress as common rchants. Tell them to be completely discreet."
Simmons nodded his head, morizing the orders perfectly.
"Tell them to find her family," Rowan continued, his voice dropping into a harsh, protective tone. "Tell them to protect her family at all costs. If any of Farrington’s n approach that house, my guards have permission to use whatever force is necessary to keep them safe."
"I will do that now, Your Grace," Simmons replied firmly. "I will dispatch the n within the hour."
Rowan nodded his head in sharp approval. He reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a thick, clean piece of expensive parchnt and a fresh stick of sealing wax. He placed them neatly on the polished wood.
Rowan continued, his voice ringing with absolute authority.
"After you dispatch the guards," Rowan ordered, his eyes shining with cold determination. "I need you to write a formal letter. Not a casual note, Simmons. A formal, legal summons."
Simmons stepped closer to the desk. "To whom shall I address it, Your Grace?"
"Write a letter directly to the High Chancellor of the House of Lords," Rowan stated clearly.
Simmons’s eyes widened slightly. Writing directly to the High Chancellor was a massive step. It ant formally bringing a matter before the highest court in the land.
"We are reopening the Oakridge silk case," Rowan declared, his voice hard and unyielding. He tapped his long finger heavily against the leather cover of Lord Farrington’s ledger. "And we have a new, terrible case of murder and old cases that needs absolute justice. It is ti to tear the Earl from his seat."
"Right away, Your Grace," Simmons replied, bowing deeply. He turned and hurried toward his own small writing desk in the antechamber to begin the urgent task.
Rowan sat alone in the quiet study. He pulled the thick, clean parchnt toward him. He dipped his quill into the dark ink. He needed to write to Delaney. He needed to tell her the incredible news. He needed to tell her that the battle was nearly won, and that she just had to send Lord Hawksley’s ledger by mail.
Rowan began to write, his bold handwriting filling the page quickly.
My Dearest Delaney,
I write this with the most incredible news. By an absolute miracle of fate, Miss Flora arrived at Hamilton House this morning. She followed your instructions and address on that paper you slid under her door and ca here. She was terrified, but she was brave. She told everything, Del. She told the tragic truth about Edward Fitz, and she told the true cruelty of Lord Farrington.
Most importantly, she brought evidence with her.
Rowan paused, reading over the words, ensuring they were clear.
I have it sitting on my desk right now. It contains every single piece of evidence we need. It contains the proof of the smuggling, the bribes, and Farrington’s involvent in the Oakridge silk scam case. Now we have evidence from your side and from mine. The trap is perfectly, completely set.
I have already dispatched n to protect Flora’s family, and Simmons is drafting a formal summons to the House of Lords as I write this. We will present the evidence to the High Chancellor, and the House Of Lords will invite Lord Farrington, Lord Hawksley and your uncle before the week is over.
He paused, his hand hovering over the paper. He took a deep breath before writing the next lines.
However, the news regarding young Edward Fitz is completely heartbreaking. I also asked Miss Flora about his resting place, exactly as you requested for Lady Celine. My heart aches to tell you this, Del. Edward was not buried. After Lord Farrington shot the boy, he ordered his n to throw the body into the sea. There is no grace for Lady Celine to visit.
I am so deeply sorry. Please tell Lady Celine the truth, but tell her gently. Tell her that the Duke of Ford promises upon his life that her father will face justice for Edward’s murder. The sea may hold his body, but it will not hide the cri.
Carcel and I are moving to the next stage of our plan. They are all going to be hanged.
Please my love take care of yourself. Don’t do anything dangerous.
I count the hours until I see you again and I know it will be very soon.
Yours forever,
Rowan.
Rowan sprinkled sand over the wet ink. He folded the thick parchnt carefully and sealed it with a heavy drop of red wax, pressing the Hamilton crest firmly into the center.
He stood up from his desk, holding the sealed letter. He needed to send another fast rider imdiately before nightfall.
Rowan walked swiftly out of the study, calling for a footman, entirely unaware that miles away in the countryside, another villian will be entering the Kingsley household soon.
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