The Riddle of the Deplorable Dandy (37 page)

“Be so good as to allow Miss Clayton to answer my question, sir,” snapped Swift, reddening. “If you persist in interfering with my investigation—”

“D'ye call this an
investigation?
” roared the Colonel. “I'd rather describe it as a molly-coddling fiasco, not worthy of the name!”

“Whereas
I
would describe it as a well-intentioned but no longer necessary interrogation.”

At that quiet voice all heads turned to the door, which had opened unnoticed by the occupants of the tense room.

Two gentlemen stood there.

The younger of them was tall and good-looking, with reddish-brown hair and a pale face scarred by a sabre cut, at the sight of whom Elspeth's heart gave a leap and she whispered a joyous “Nicholas!”

The other man was older, frail-appearing and leaning on a cane, but with firm, thin lips, hard eyes and an undeniable air of authority, at the sight of whom Joel Skye's heart also gave a leap and he gasped disbelievingly,
“Uncle Clifford?”

Swift and Colonel Skye both came to their feet.

Swift bowed. “Your lordship!”

The Colonel's bow was little more than a nod. “Thought you was confined to your bed, Hayes.”

Lord Clifford Hayes, until recently a director of the mighty East India Company, answered Elspeth's curtsy with a graceful bow, shrugged and said mildly, “As you see, your brother-in-law is still ambulatory, Walter. Your servant, ma'am. Good day t'you, Swift. Hello, Joel. I gather you have offended. Are you still browbeating the boy because he chose Navy instead of Army, Walter?”

Colonel Skye's jaws champed. He practically spat out the words, “My son chose also to disobey orders. We've always been aware he is your favourite in the family, so perhaps you countenance such behaviour. I do not!”

His lordship gestured, and Nicholas Drew pulled over a chair for him. Sinking into it with a faint sigh of relief, Hayes said, “What you or I, or Swift here countenance has little to say to the matter.”

Colonel Skye scowled, but before he could comment Lord Hayes added blandly, “Oh—forgive me, I believe you and your brother know this rascally fellow, Miss Clayton, but perhaps the gentlemen are not acquainted with Mr. Nicholas Drew.”

“I certainly know the bounder,” said Vance Clayton, crossing to exchange a warm handshake with Drew.

“How glad I am to see you home safe,” said Drew, adding a rather stern “And you also, Miss Elspeth.”

Sensing that the atmosphere in the room had changed markedly, Elspeth dropped a polite curtsy and Drew grinned and bowed an equally polite response.

Swift grunted, “We have met, my lord.”

“Know of him,” acknowledged the Colonel with obvious reluctance. “Though what the devil he has to do with this escapes me.”

“No doubt,” agreed his brother-in-law. “It escapes me, on the other hand, why your presence here is either needed or desired, my dear Walter.”

Elspeth's tired eyes brightened.

Joel Skye grinned faintly.

Major Swift put a hand across his lips.

His face taking on a purple hue, the Colonel snarled, “I might say the same of you, sir! This is a military matter! And I—”

“Are retired, I believe.” His lordship raised a thin hand and added sweetly, “I fancy you would say that I also am retired. You would, to an extent, be mistaken, Walter. Really, you must not write me off yet. In certain—ah, diplomatic matters His Majesty still relies on my—er, expertise.”

Quick to adjust to the shift in the balance of power, Major Swift said, “I'm very sure his confidence is well placed, my lord. Was—er, that what you implied when you said what the Colonel or I countenanced had little to say to this matter?”

“You have a quick ear, Major,” said his lordship with a faint smile.

“Well, I thought it a rude remark,” blustered the Colonel, “and should like it explained, if y'please.”

“But of course. I am only too happy to explain matters if it will help your understanding.” Lord Hayes glanced around the room and, with an eye on the sergeant who stood at attention beside the door, murmured, “However, this is a sensitive matter, Swift.”

The Major asked that the sergeant escort Miss Beck to a waiting room where she could be comfortable, after which he should remain on guard outside this office.

As the door closed behind them, his lordship said, “I am not at liberty to go into detail. I presume you have already had a report from Mr. Vance Clayton, Major?”

Swift's colour was heightened. He said uneasily, “My first concern was with the failed apprehension of a traitor, sir. Sir Simon Valerian by name.”

“What a pity.” Lord Hayes tapped the handle of his cane against his pursed lips, then murmured, “Have you then obtained evidence of Sir Simon's treasonable activities? I had thought the gentleman was presently residing with his wife in Italy.”

“To the contrary, my lord, I have personal knowledge that Sir Simon conspired to aid several Jacobite rebels to escape to France,” rasped Major Swift defensively.

“And this, ah, ‘personal knowledge' of yours can be substantiated and presented in a court of law?” murmured his lordship. Swift hesitated and Lord Hayes leaned forward and, in a voice of ice, snapped, “In other words, Major, have you absolute proof, or reliable witnesses who will swear to Sir Simon's involvement in treasonable activities? Or is it all so much inadmissable rumour and hearsay, which could be manufactured and spread about by a jealous relative with an axe to grind, or some employee who bears the gentleman a grudge?”

“The point is,” growled Colonel Skye, “that instead of apprehending him, as ordered, your nephew assisted him to escape!”

“Walter, Walter, you mistake it, as usual, I fear,” said his lordship, as cool as the Colonel was heated. “The point is that His Majesty was advised that Vance Clayton carried a letter from a certain—um, lady of the Court of Versailles. A letter of great interest in diplomatic circles. Unhappily, Mr. Clayton was wounded and held captive on the estate of an—um, ambitious nobleman of France. It was feared that Mr. Clayton would be forced to reveal the location of this letter, which could then be used to create great mischief internationally. Thanks to Mr. Clayton's physical endurance and the efforts of Gervaise Valerian and an intrepid group of others, including my nephew, Mr. Clayton was rescued and can now safely divulge the location of this vital document.” He paused and turned enquiringly to Vance Clayton.

Moving forward, Vance said, “When I realised I was being hunted down I was able to send it to my sister in Wales for safe keeping, not knowing Ellie had removed to London, sir. No doubt my mama is holding it for her. However, I swore an oath to—er, to the French lady who hired my services. I am still bound by that oath, you will understand. I must deliver it as instructed.”

His lordship smiled. “I appreciate your sense of honour, Mr. Clayton. Have no fears. My agents have already been in touch with the lady, and she gives her full permission for you to give her letter into my hands.” He chuckled as Clayton hesitated. “You are apprehensive I see. Very good. Here—” He held out a folded letter. “You recognize your employer's hand, I feel sure.”

Clayton scanned the note swiftly, then looked up and said a clearly relieved “Thank you for your patience, my lord. Yes, I am absolved of any further responsibility.”

Lord Hayes glanced to Major Swift. “I suggest a troop, Major. At the double!”

The Major nodded and started to the door.

“Also,” said his lordship, “it is his Majesty's wish that in the absence of verifiable evidence to the contrary, the matter of Sir Simon Valerian's being judged a traitor be at once dismissed. Therefore, no charges are to be pressed 'gainst any of these good people. In truth, we owe them instead a great debt of gratitude!”

20

“How glad I am that you enjoyed such a delightful visit with your friend.” Madame Colbert rustled into the parlour of her cosy London house and beamed at her godchild, who was sitting by the fire and rather listlessly scanning the
London Gazette.
“Do but listen to that wind! ‘The Tides of March,' I think those winds are called, or some such thing. Why learned professors or philatelists or whatever they are should name winds ‘tides' I cannot fathom. Perhaps 'tis because, like tides, winds can quite ruin one's coiffure, to say nothing of blowing smoke down the chimney, horrid things! Though tides do not come down chimneys, of course. I am only sorry I was from home when you arrived yesterday, my love. But how fortunate it is that you encountered your dear brother, for, to tell the truth I was afraid I may have been remiss in my duties to have allowed you to go off to those friends of yours when I really knew practically nothing of them! Still, one can always rely on Coachman Abraham, and your abigail, however pert, is clearly devoted to you, so I was confident nothing untoward would befall you.”

Elspeth smiled and thought drearily, ‘Nothing untoward…' But perhaps it was truth. Perhaps “nothing untoward” was exactly what she had almost succeeded in converting to “Something of Vast Import!” How incredible that dear Godmama had scarcely missed her, nor even suspected that she had behaved so improperly as to cross the channel in the company of four daring young gentlemen (and one in particular!); been pursued across leagues and leagues of France; ruthlessly attacked; kidnapped; acted the part of a gypsy dancing girl; and experienced numerous other shocking adventures (including the loss of her heart!). And had in the end been cast off and abandoned like … like an old shoe, as her reward!

“Like an old—what, dear?” asked Madame curiously, and peering at her godchild, she went on: “Are you sure you enjoyed yourself? You look quite cast into the dismals. Ah! I know what it is! You are worrying about Vance. In view of the fact that he had been so ill while in France, I really think he is going along very well. So kind of Mr. Drew to allow him to share his flat, though he'd have been welcome here, you know. But then of course they always were bosom-bows. Now you must not sit here and fret yourself to flinders, child. True, 'tis a windy morning, but the little finger of Mr. Sun is peeping through. Why don't you go for a drive in the park? I can call up the carriage and—”

She was interrupted by the advent of Geroux, who bowed and said with his customary measured poise that Mr. Drew had called to enquire if Miss Elspeth would care to go riding.

Within fifteen minutes Elspeth was mounted on her little mare and riding beside Nicholas Drew towards Hyde Park.

“Thank heaven you came, Nicky,” she said gratefully. “I have been so eager to know what happened.”

Nicholas Drew turned a surprised face. “But I told you yesterday, Ellie. Lord Hayes was kind enough to accompany me to the Horse Guards, and—”

“Yes, I know that part,” she interrupted. “But then Sir Mortimer Hallbridge called and you had to leave, and I still do not understand how you knew we had returned to England, or why you should have called upon Lord Hayes for assistance. It was exceeding good of him to help. I had thought the poor gentleman would be too ill to have stood up 'gainst that terrible Intelligence officer and poor Joel's horrid papa.”

Drew concentrated upon a sheet of paper the wind was bustling along the street. “Swift is not really terrible, m'dear. He is passionate about the work he does, and especially passionate if he suspects someone may be disloyal to our island, but basically he is a fine officer.”

“And do you judge Colonel Skye to have been a fine officer?”

“From what I've heard of him, he was. A finer officer than a father, I gather.”

“Most definitely! And you have evaded my question with typical Intelligence Department skill, sir!”

He said hesitantly, “You know that I sometimes work at the Horse Guards, Ellie. Fortunately, I have friends there, and am able to access information that is not available to the general public. Only see how that paper is being—”

“You must have a remarkable source of information indeed,” she again interrupted impatiently. “I'd have said that no one even suspected we had set foot in England!”

Striving for nonchalance, he shrugged and said lightly, “Well, you see, I had left word with various people that in the event any news was received about a certain young lady whom I most earnestly desire to make my wife someday, I was to be notified immediately.”

She knew he was watching her, and as they turned into the park she managed to avoid his ardent gaze. “I see,” she murmured, after a pause he thought interminable. “And I take it that I am not to ask questions of so secretive a government agent. But—you can tell me surely about—” The words froze in her throat. She finished lamely, “About—my dearest brother. How is Vance today, if you please?”

Drew sighed. “Speaking of evasions … Very well, your brother is coming along splendidly, eating like a horse, and means to pay you a visit this afternoon. Which is not what you really wished to ask me, I think.”

They had slowed to a walk, and staring at her horse's ears, knowing she was blushing, Elspeth faltered, “You—you know very well how close we are, Vance and I. Surely it is but natural in me to be concerned. He—”

She stopped speaking as Drew put his gloved hand over hers and said with a trace of resignation, “I would betray a confidence if I told you that Gervaise Valerian came for me.”

Her eyes shot to his face. Noting how those lovely eyes had brightened, his faithful heart sank.

She said breathlessly, “When? Do you mean—yesterday? Or—”

“You know what I mean, Ellie. He rode to my flat at the gallop. I'd have brought Lord Hayes to Whitehall sooner, had not the silly fellow tumbled out of the saddle on my doorstep, and—”

Paling, she tightened her grip on his hand. “Lord Hayes?”