Fenella Miller (20 page)

He had treated her like a common jade, or his mistress, not a respectable young woman. This must mean he did not think of her as a possible wife, only a girl to offer
carte blanche
to. She did not want him on those terms and she resigned herself to becoming an old maid.

* * * *

John made excellent time travelling post but resented paying a shilling a mile for the privilege. He arrived at the Red Lion in Colchester by mid-afternoon and was able to hire a jobbing hack, although he thought the cost exorbitant.

‘I could buy the blooming nag for what I paid to have him for a day or two,’ he told the groom who came to attend him when he finally arrived at Bentley Hall at a time most respectable folk were eating their dinner.

He stomped up the steps and followed the butler in, having been informed, somewhat testily that Sir Theodore was dressing. The butler was not sure into which category John came, honoured guest or tradesman, so the asked him to wait in a small room beside the front door.

John paced the chamber the packet burning a hole in his pocket. Now he knew exactly what sort of person Sir Theodore was he did not expect the coming interview to be pleasant. If, as both he and Jane suspected, this gentleman reciprocated Miss Marianne’s affections, the news that she had become, however unwittingly, embroiled in treachery would not be received well.

He grinned. At least he had had no part in it, but he would not like to be in Edward’s boots when Sir Theodore caught up with him.

The door opened and Sir Theodore, his face concerned, rushed in. ‘Mr Smith, I had not thought to see you again so soon. I hope Miss Devenish is not unwell?’

‘No, sir, she is in blooming health, though not in the best of spirits as you might imagine.’

‘I am relieved to hear you say so. Come through to the study. I have delayed dinner until you have said your piece.’

John plunged straight in with the information that the Grierson boys had been the unwitting bearers of traitorous material. Theo swore, long and comprehensively.

‘It is a bloody good thing I did not know this when I spoke to Edward or he would not have left here upright.’ He ran his hands distractedly through his hair. ‘God knows how I can sort this out without someone dangling on the end of a rope.’ He glared at John, as if he were directly responsible for the catastrophe. ‘I will take the letters.’ He held out an imperative hand.

He unwrapped the parcel and removed one of the sheets, scanning the contents. His face contorted with rage. ‘The bastards! If this had got through, thousands of Wellington’s troops could have been slaughtered. Where are they getting their information from? There has to be someone at Horse Guards involved in this.’

‘Miss Marianne mentioned an
émigré
, the Duc of something or other, as the person who contacted Charles. If you can get him, then he might lead you to the spymaster,’ John offered.

‘I need to think. I can make no decisions at the moment. You will stay here until the matter is sorted.’ This was an order not a request.

John had been planning to return by mail coach the next morning but wisely refrained from saying so. ‘Yes sir. I thought I would go into the village for my supper and hear what is being said about Miss Devenish. She is concerned about scandal following her to Town.’

Sir Theodore glared, and John instinctively stepped back. ‘I will have a tray sent up to your room. It will not be necessary for you to go out again this evening.’

John, not easily intimidated, flushed slightly and nodded. ‘Thank you, sir, that is most thoughtful.’

‘I shall talk to you first thing tomorrow. Tell you what I plan to do. You will not go out until I have spoken to you.’

* * * *

The footman escorted John upstairs and then continued to Theo’s apartments to request that Vincent come down to the study immediately.

Theo spread out all the letters on the desk and began to read them systematically, making notes as he did so. Vincent joined him.

He took one look at Theo’s face and knew there was something wrong. He walked over and peered down the letters. ‘God’s teeth! What is this? How did you intercept these, sir?’

Theo told him and Vincent swore again. ‘Have you any idea how you’re going to sort this mess out?’

‘I am beginning to. Tell me what you think. I intend to copy these, replacing the damaging information with erroneous details. Then all we have to do is hand the false papers over on Friday.’

‘How can you explain your possession of them? And who is going to be the courier?’

‘I have not got that far, I am working on it. But at least the substitution could turn this to our advantage.’

The first cockerels were crowing when Theo sat back, yawned and rubbed his hands over his bristly chin. ‘My plan will work. I am certain of it.’ He pushed back his chair and stood, stretching his arms and yawning again. ‘There is little point in retiring now. A change of garments, a bath and a shave will revive me.’

‘There will be no hot water at this time, sir.’

‘No matter, I can stick my head under the yard pump, it will not be the first time I have done that.’

In the yard he stripped of his soiled white shirt and stripped to the waist whilst Vincent pumped vigorously. Theo, in his breeches and boots, immersed himself under the icy water. He shook his head, spraying drops over a curious yard cat, which hissed angrily and stalked away in feline indignation.

‘That is much better. Can I return the favour, Vincent?’

His man declined the offer and laughing they returned to the house. Dressed in fresh clothes and clean-shaven Theo went back to the study; he had further painstaking hours of work ahead of him if he was to complete his forgeries in time.

He had asked for breakfast to be served as soon as it was ready; he had eaten little the night before and his stomach was growling angrily. He was sitting behind a heaped plate when John came in.

‘Good morning, sir. I was directed here, but will eat elsewhere if you prefer.’

‘No, come in, Smith. I will tell you what I plan to do whilst we eat.’

John listened carefully. ‘So you want me to dress up as Charles Grierson and deliver the forged letters on Friday night?’

‘I do. You are of similar build and if you ride a Frating Hall nag, keep your hat pulled down, and do not speak, I think you will pass. I intend to visit Charles this morning. He will give me all the details I require to make this work.’ Theo pushed aside his plate. ‘Are you happy with my scheme, Smith?’

‘I am, sir. But, before you go, I did not have time to tell you last night that Miss Devenish knows you’re an impostor. Her lawyers discovered there’s no such person as Sir Theodore Devenish.’

‘The devil take it! How did she react to the news?’

‘With remarkable equanimity. It was she who realized your true role down here—that of spy catcher and sent me with those letters.’

Theo grinned, and stood up, bowing formally. ‘I will introduce myself to you Mr Smith. Theodolphus Archibald Frederick John Rickham, seventh Earl of Wister, at your service.’

John, on his feet, bowed. ‘Delighted to make your acquaintance, my lord.’

‘Have you listened to the gossip downstairs, are they still talking of Miss Devenish and I?’

‘I’m afraid so. Her sudden disappearance has added fuel to the speculation. This is the second time Miss Devenish has been involved in a scandal and the second time she has been forced to run away.’

‘Tell me what happened in Bath, the letter from her grandmother, Mrs Devenish, merely said she had been obliged to leave because of an attempted abduction.’

‘Sir James Russell, may he rot in hell, made up to her. She being innocent of such men and their wiles was taken in, believed he was her friend. Russell drove her out on picnics, with only my Jane as chaperone, and the tattle mongers got to work. Then I got wind he had arranged for a closed carriage to collect her and my suspicions were aroused.’

‘An abduction?’

‘Yes, Miss Devenish trusted him and would no doubt have gone willingly, not realizing what he was about. I was able to tell her the whole, reveal his baser motives, and persuade her to leave. Mrs Devenish was only too happy to compose the necessary letters of introduction. Her sole reason for inviting Marianne to stay with her was to access her inheritance, but she would have known scandal was about to engulf her.’

‘I am not acquainted with this man, but you can be sure that if ever I meet him he will live to regret the experience.’

‘I take it your feelings are engaged?’

Theo’s eyes narrowed. ‘Are you suggesting I was trifling with her?’

John hastily shook his head. ‘No, my lord, but what if news of both incidents reaches Town? Miss Devenish will be ruined—how will you feel then? You are a man a consequence, an earl, but would you wish to link yourself with someone whose good name was gone?’

‘God damn it! What sort of man do you take me for? If she rode like Lady Godiva down New Bond Street I would still marry her.’

John’s mouth fell open and his face flushed at the idea of such an unlikely occurrence.

Theo laughed. ‘I apologize; that was not an appropriate analogy. But I am sure you understand my meaning. I believe I knew the moment I set eyes on her that I would marry her. But I could not propose until I had completed my mission and could reveal my true identity.’

‘That’s a relief. She’s a headstrong young lady and has come up with a cork brained scheme to retire to a country estate and moulder away as an old maid.’

Theo frowned—then smiled. ‘I have a letter for you to take Horse Guards, but I think, in the circumstances I will send you to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office, at Doctor’s Commons, to purchase a special license as well. You have two days to post there and back, that is ample time.’

‘Do you wish me to convey a note to Miss Devenish, my lord?’

‘I think not. I have no intention of proposing in a letter. I shall do it in person, as soon as this other business is sorted.’

‘How have you explained your possession of the letters?’ John asked.

‘I merely said they were discovered at a drop-off point we raided. Unfortunately Friday will not be the end of it. I still have to ferret out the true traitors in London, or elsewhere, and that could take several weeks.’

John looked blank. ‘So why the need for a special license, my lord? Plenty of time to have banns called before you will be free to wed. ‘

‘I cannot wait that long. God knows what scrapes Marianne will get into if she is left to her own devices. Neither do I wish to risk her being harmed by malicious gossip. No, I shall marry her, then bring her back here. She can reside at Bentley Hall on her own or return to live with the Griersons. You can be very sure that when she is my countess she will be welcome at Frating Hall once more.’

‘If you’ll forgive me saying so, my lord, I would not inform Miss Devenish you intend to marry her and then abandon her. She might not agree to the union if she was aware of that.’

Theo slapped John heartily on the back. ‘Good God, man, I am not a complete flat. When the knot is tied will be soon enough.’

John left soon after, driven to Colchester, a bag of gold coins secreted on his person, some for his journey but four pounds to pay the stamp duty on the special license. He wished his lordship had agreed to send a letter to Miss Marianne making his intentions clear, there had been more than enough upset and misunderstanding between them in the short time they had been acquainted.

Chapter Seventeen

The clock said a little after six o’clock and Marianne was waiting in the drawing-room at Brook Street for Lady Ashton’s carriage to arrive to take her to the opera. She was wearing her most elaborate evening gown, a silk creation with a sea green underskirt and silver gauze overdress. Her matching opera cloak, lined with silver, floated around her as she walked anxiously back and forth across the carpets.

Mrs Sampson looked for the third time at the mantle clock. ‘This is decidedly odd. Lady Ashton is never tardy; indeed, she is the most punctual of my friends. I do not understand what is keeping her. Let me see the card again, my dear.’

Marianne handed over the invitation she had received the previous day. She knew the contents by rote. She had been cordially invited to join Lord and Lady Ashton for a night at the opera. The carriage was to collect her at five thirty promptly and formal dress was required to be worn.

‘Perhaps the carriage has been held up by an accident,’ Marianne volunteered.

‘I do hope not. But it is such a brief journey, I hardly think there is time to be involved in such a thing. I think I will send someone round with a note.’

Marianne removed her cloak, but was reluctant to sit in case she creased her gown. As the Ashtons lived only a few streets away the footman returned promptly. Mrs Sampson spoke to him in the hall then rejoined Marianne in the drawing-room.

‘I am sorry, my dear, but it appears they have gone without you. I cannot imagine why they should have been so uncivil. And you look so very beautiful in your evening gown.’

‘I will retire to my room, if you will excuse me, Mrs Sampson. I am sure there will be a reasonable explanation but we must wait until the morning to discover what it is.’

Jane, as her companion, was now permitted to have an evening free. Annie, her new dresser, was quickly at her side to help remove her dress. Despite the early hour Marianne asked for her nightgown.

‘Would you like a supper tray to be sent up, Miss Devenish?’

‘No, I shall retire early. I shall not require you again tonight.’

Left alone Marianne went to stand by the window; the two older children were having a last walk on the greensward before going up to bed. She glanced down—she felt no older than them—as if she had been sent to bed for some major misdemeanour.

Her throat constricted and unwelcome tears filled her eyes. She had been so looking forward to tonight, to wearing her new gown and hearing her first opera. Why had Lady Ashton’s carriage not come?

Then she recalled that on her arrival three days previously Mrs Sampson had forgotten all about her—perhaps this was what had happened. Yes, that would be the explanation. Lady Ashton had sent the card and then been distracted and the invitation had quite slipped her memory.