Emilia simply stood there, staring at Trevor. Will was in front of her, also gaping.

A sort of emptiness overcame her as she took in Trevor's words and their implications. She searched for somewhere to sit as weariness of the body and mind threatened to topple her. Finding a stiff-backed armchair in the corner, Emilia dropped into it.

Trevor brushed off their reactions, his voice maintaining a calm and unaffected tone. "Lady Trotten told me everything. She told me about how her son had sent her to Scotland because of some blackmail from the king. And then she told me how it was ridiculous and unnecessary. Because Trotten, your mother isn't in danger from the king."

Will had begun pacing the room, his expression taut and afflicted. But at Trevor's statement, he stopped short. "She's not?"

Trevor shook his head quickly. "The king is only threatening you because your mother is aiding him."

Will gawked at Trevor, his mouth open and gaping once more.

"Your mother is a..." Trevor looked to the ceiling in thought. "She is a formidable woman but not entirely pleasant. Demanding would be an appropriate word."

"I know what my mother is like," Will snapped. "I had to grow up with her. And no, it wasn't pleasant."

With Emilia's own parents being complete opposites of Will's, it was hard for her to thoroughly comprehend how anyone's mother could act as Lady Trotten had. And yet, she had met the woman. So she knew Trevor's words to be true.

"I did not relish in working with your mother," Trevor added. "Let me be clear about that."

"But you did," Theo said emphatically, resolutely.

Trevor shrugged. "I needed the money. And honestly, I did enjoy the company of Lady Emilia. I did not see what could go wrong." He raised his brows and mumbled, "Which was a lot, apparently."

Emilia was not comforted by the sympathetic look that he flashed at her until Will growled something beneath his breath, and Trevor's gaze dropped.

"Wait," Emilia interjected. She wasn't even thinking about what Trevor had just said. There was something that Trevor mentioned earlier that pestered her—something that didn't fit into what she knew. "You said that Lady Trotten approached you. How did she do that? I thought she was in Scotland?"

Trevor gave a sad smile and said, "No, my lady. Lady Trotten is not in Scotland any longer. She's in London."

Emilia studied Will for a reaction, but he didn't move. His face had drawn blank as he stood in the middle of the room. Behind him, Theo had a concerned look plastered on his face. For a long moment, the four of them were silent.

And then, a shrill voice announced itself from the study's entrance.

"Lord Trevor. I come to finish what you could not, and here I find you exposing my secrets."

Emilia jumped from her chair as Lady Trotten took a step into the room, glaring at Trevor as she did.

Will jumped in surprise as well, his eyes darting to Lady Trotten.

"Mother?" His previously vacant expression was now one of pure incredulity, whereas Emilia was shocked to her core. She watched as Will threw his hands up and yelled, "Where the bloody hell is Lloyd? How do people keep getting in here?"

Lady Trotten flashed a knowing smile but said nothing. Her appearance was the same as Emilia remembered; everything about her was pristine and clean. Her hair was the same color as her son's, but her curls were pinned in a perfectly precise fashion that seemed to mock Will's disheveled locks. Lady Trotten had always been on the plump side, but she dressed in a way that would fool a person, just as her smile did—her sweet grin did not reach her eyes.

The lady startled as someone approached her from behind.

"I told the butler that I would just see myself in," a male voice said as the man accompanying it rounded the corner into the doorway next to Lady Trotten.

"Yes well, you, I invited!" Will cried in exasperation.

The viscountess gave a sharp look at the man who had come to stand near her. "Lord Farrington," she said stiffly.

Leo raised his brows in surprise and then nodded once in response. "My lady, what a surprise. It is good to see you return to London."

"Apparently," Will bit out, "she's been in London."

Leo reacted with a little frown and glanced down at Lady Trotten. "Really. Is that so?" Will's mother did not appear pleased to be admitting it but gave another stiff nod. "Huh," Leo commented with another frown. "For how long?"

"I suppose it has been several months now."

Will glowered at his mother as Leo muttered something beneath his breath and strode into the room further. "I didn't come alone, by the way," Leo casually provided, gesturing at the doorway.

Emilia's attention switched back to the open space near Lady Trotten, curious about who he was referring to. Will's mother also whirled around, her gaze following the direction of Leo's hand. Will, on the other hand, didn't appear surprised at his friend's announcement.

When no one appeared, Leo drawled, "So much for a grand entrance. Next time, we shall have to work on our timing."

"We've had enough of those, anyway," Theo muttered. He was still watching over the proceedings with apprehension.

Leo stomped to the door, sticking his head into the hallway and shouting, "Weston! Stop making small talk with Lloyd and get in here!" He paused, and then, "There's...tension. Trotten is all flustered and moody." He twisted his head to look back at an annoyed Will before leaning into the hallway once more. Emilia heard the sound of stomping feet grow closer as Leo's voice simultaneously grew quieter, saying, "I mean, he's usually moody, but this is different."

Reflecting on Leo's words, Emilia glanced at Will. His chest moved up and down in heavy breaths, and she realized that his face had gradually grown redder as more people flocked in. He ran an unsteady hand through his hair.

Leo was right. Will was an intense man, but he was usually so calm. Unbothered. Unruffled.

But as the moment of truth continued to drag out, Will Graham was coming undone.

Emilia treaded quietly from her position in the corner over to Will, who was now bouncing on both feet. She snuck one of her arms between his and wrapped it around his back, clutching his opposite side tightly. Emilia squeezed it, and he looked down at her. She didn't speak; there were too many people surrounding them to say what she wished to. Instead, Emilia smiled and gazed up into his worried face.

Will took a deep, measured breath and closed his eyes slowly. Then he leaned down to kiss her forehead.

Together they turned in time to see Andrew, the Duke of Weston, enter the room. He was followed by Lord Clemonte and Lady Humphries. Andrew's keen eyes immediately surveyed the scene with interest, moving from Lady Trotten's tight face to Trevor, bleeding next to a hoovering Theo. His gaze then landed on Emilia, clutching Will in the middle of the room.

Meanwhile, Leo gave the old duke a little salute.

Emilia felt the tension in Will's shoulders ebb away a little more as he nodded at their new guests and said, "Thank you all for coming on such short notice." It dawned on Emilia that their arrival must be connected to what Will had rushed away to do earlier.

Their new guests did not say anything, likely unsure of what they had just walked into, but they returned Will's nod. Emilia was not certain what was going on, but she knew one thing: their treasonous band of aristocrats was back together again.

"My, my," Trevor said, laughing lightly to himself. He had grown quiet at the arrival of Lady Trotten and Leo, but now he took a step forward, flashing a rueful smile. It was directed at Lady Trotten, and she did not return it. "It would appear that we've got ourselves a party," he remarked.

Emilia immediately saw Theo's glare. "More people to help break your bones, eh?" her brother threatened.

Trevor blanched and backed away from Theo, stepping sideways and falling into a velvet cushioned chair near the bookshelf.

"Oh," Leo said in reply, laughing uncertainly. "I mean, I shall help, but only if it does not involve any more blood." He waved a finger toward Trevor's face in distaste. "I daresay, I have my best waistcoat on for this occasion." Leo admired his own attire, which was a deep crimson in color with intricate gold designs.

"For this occasion?" Will questioned with a sharp laugh.

"Yes, fine then," Leo said drolly. "I'll admit that I had already been wearing it before I got your message."

There was a long pause where everyone just looked around expectantly, waiting for someone to say something.

Finally, Lady Trotten broke the silence.