Eloping with the Princess (Brotherhood of the Sword #3)(47)

“No, it would not. A child would ruin everything.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered.

He turned his back to her and simply let the words fall. “I am a bastard, Isabel. Of course no one, save myself and my mother, knows, which is why I’m able to retain the title of viscount.”

“Then why does it matter?” she asked.

“My brother is the rightful heir, but he cannot take his place without this secret getting out and tarnishing the Ellis name, scandalizing him and his children and my mother, else I would shout it from the rooftops.” He released a tight breath. “Because of this injustice, it has always been my intent to die without an heir so that the title would eventually return to its rightful hands. I have ruined everything.” He was met with silence. He didn’t dare turn and face her; he didn’t want to see the look of revulsion on her face.

“You’re right, you are a bastard,” she finally said. “A selfish bastard.”

Jason closed his eyes, listening to her footfalls as she walked away, knowing that he’d just ruined his last hope at happiness.



Jason didn’t think he’d ever been quite so thankful to be called to a meeting of the Brotherhood. Isabel’s rejection hadn’t been surprising, nor unwarranted, but oddly enough it had been disheartening. What had he expected? Her to pull him into her arms and tell him it mattered not that he was a bastard? She was a princess, and even she knew she deserved better.

He stepped into Somersby’s parlor. Lynford and Somersby already sat, deep in conversation with Randow, one of their members who tended to handle situations outside of London.

“Gentlemen,” Jason said as he breached their inner circle.

“Ellis,” Somersby said, popping him on the back. “How is wedded bliss?”

“Blissful,” Jason said.

Somersby chuckled and shot Lynford a knowing glance.

“Do we have news?” Jason asked.

“We do,” Somersby said. “We’re waiting on one more”—the door opened—“and here he is.”

A man Jason did not know entered the room.

“Ellis, this is Ben Crowder. He’s been doing some investigation for us out in Dover,” Somersby said. “Ben, I believe you know everyone else.”

Ben nodded, and they all took seats.

“To fill you in on some of what has been progressing, Ellis,” Lynford said, “I met with Somersby recently to give him my full report of the altercation with Thornton that resulted in my injury.”

Only Lynford would explain getting shot in such a manner. Jason nodded for him to continue.

“While I was incapacitated, I was cared for by one of the many men who work for the Brotherhood behind the scenes, as it were. Those members who are not of noble birth but who are noble in action and deed. It seems archaic of us to prevent them full membership among us simply because of the nature of their birth. Ben, here, is one such man. His attention to detail and connections in parts of the country have made him an invaluable asset to us.”

“Based on Lynford’s recommendation, we’re putting it to a vote at the next full meeting,” Somersby said. “It would increase our resources tenfold.” He shook his head. “I’m not certain why we didn’t consider it before.”

Jason certainly couldn’t argue, even if he’d wanted to. In effect, Lynford had just made Jason an official member of the Brotherhood without even realizing it, if such a vote passed. But no one in this room knew Jason’s secret. Before he could comment one way or another, Somersby spoke.

“Ben, why don’t you fill us in on the details of your most recent intelligence?”

The man cleared his throat. “We’d been keeping a steady look out for the Speaker of the House of Commons when I crossed a lead that indicated he might be in the Dover area.”

“Did you find him?” Jason asked, unable to wait for the complete story to unfold.

“I did. Watched him board a ship bound for the Continent. I sent one of my trusted mates onto the boat with him. I’ve only just received word that they docked in France and the speaker has holed himself up in a brothel in Paris,” Ben said.

“We have eyes on him?” Lynford asked.

Ben nodded. “Yes, and I plan to leave tomorrow to be there myself. Then you can simply send word when you want us to bring him back.”

“Excellent,” Somersby said. “Randow, what is your report?”

“We have two members who have gone to Hanover to speak with King Ernest himself. Until now, His Majesty has claimed to know nothing about this plot to marry his son to the lost princess, but we wanted to ensure he was not participating in such a traitorous plan,” Randow said.

“We are getting closer to ending all of this,” Somersby said. “And thanks to Jason, the princess is safely married and, hopefully, is no longer a temptation to these men and their nefarious plot.”

“I have still been unable to fully identify the other man who was there the night Potterfield was killed,” Lynford said. “But I believe I’ve narrowed it down to three potential men.”

There was a long pause. “Are you going to tell us your suspicions?” Jason asked.

“There’s not much to tell. I don’t believe he has any affiliation with the Brotherhood,” Lynford said.