“Very well, my lady,” he said. “The Dark Walk it is.”
~ ~ ~
“Why are you here so early? You weren’t supposed to meet me until midnight.” A tall figure in a navy domino waited just outside the gazebo near the end of the Dark Walk. In the shadows across from him stood another man.
“There’s something strange going on,” his companion said tightly. “There are guards at every gate. If I didn’t know better I’d say somehow the news has gotten out.”
“Nonsense. You’re just imagining problems, the way you always do.” The man’s voice fell. “Now show me that diamond.”
The two figures bent closer. Cloth rustled, and the lanterns sent light burning from a jewel twice the width of a man’s finger.
“By God, this is it.” The man in the navy domino leaned closer, his voice hoarse with excitement. “You’ve done it. How did you manage to get them out of France?”
“That’s my business. Your business is seeing that they get to the right people here in England.”
The man in the domino stared down at the priceless pink diamond, watching flames shoot from its beautiful facets. “
L’Aurore
. The one stone that the emperor would never be seen without.” He looked at his companion. “When did you get it?”
“The details need not concern you,” the other man said curtly. “There was chaos at Waterloo, and it was a time when many things went unnoticed. When it seemed clear that victory was lost, there were those of us who thought to take precautions. And now we
will
see our emperor restored. There has been an outpouring of sympathy in your country, even it is said from the Prince Regent’s daughter herself.”
“It is true. I have seen her myself. She is scandalized by the treatment of the man who once held Europe at his mercy. With the right incentives, she can be convinced to help us. And this diamond will help us provide those incentives.” He stroked the diamond gently, almost tenderly. “Where are the rest of the jewels?”
“In a ship docked in the Thames.”
“Where in the Thames?”
“The exact location will remain my secret until you have performed your end of the bargain.” The man in the shadows frowned. “What about Thornwood? He’s said to be watching every port for the jewels.”
“Thornwood is a fool. If he stands in my way, I will simply kill him as I did the other foolish pair of English in Brussels. I only wish I had managed to get those children at the same time.” The man in the domino turned slightly. Moonlight fell through the swaying oak leaves, and for a moment a jagged scar glinted hard at his mouth. He was a singularly tall man, his body broad and his shoulders heavily muscled. When he spoke it was with a voice utterly devoid of emotion.
“And what about the children? Did they see you last time?”
“Impossible. I was fully concealed and they were far too concerned with the discovery of their mother and father, who lay bleeding nearby. They will not recognize me. And by the time Thornwood has traced my tracks, our emperor will be restored to his rightful place on a throne at the head of all Europe.” Smiling, the man reached beside him to raise a goblet filled to its brim with champagne. “A toast to the great man, then. May his victories ring through Europe once more.” The diamond glinted in his other hand.
“To the emperor,” his companion answered.
They had just clicked their glasses when there was a wild rustling in the shrubbery near their feet. A furry form shot through the greenery. Tail high, he raced across the table, knocked off the bottle of champagne, then snatched up the priceless pink diamond that the two men had been so keenly admiring.
And then he disappeared.
~ ~ ~
India was enjoying the lanterns that danced in the treetops when a servant in livery appeared at the entrance to the quiet bower lined by high hedges.
“For you, my lady,” he said, placing a tray on the little table before her. “Champagne. The man in the uniform sent them.”
So Ian had not forgotten she was here, after all. India smiled and thanked the man as the champagne bubbled up, its light, sweet fragrance clinging to her nose. It was smuggled, of course. No good wine was obtainable from France any other way these days.
Low laughter spilled from the neighboring alcoves and as India sipped her champagne she felt an odd sense of restlessness. A soft wind brushed her cheeks and she found herself wishing she had someone to share her enjoyment of the quiet beauty of the evening.
Then her peace was shattered.
“I thought I saw you in here. And those damnable brats with you.” Lady Marchmont, resplendent in crimson satin that fit her like a second skin, glared at India from the break between the high hedges. The luscious gown made her skin gleam, enhancing the rouge so carefully applied to her thin lips. The widow smiled coldly. “And don’t think to run away, my dear. If it’s your brother you’re looking for, he is occupied right now. The Prince Regent has him cornered by the orchestra, and I have no doubt he’ll be captive there for hours.”
India frowned. So that was what had been keeping Ian. She fixed an entirely false smile on her face. “Children? I’m certain I don’t know what you’re talking about. Oh, I believe there were several urchins lolling about by the gate, but—”
“You know
exactly
what children I’m talking about,” the widow hissed. “It’s those unruly wards of Thornwood’s. When I saw them sneaking around the garden, I made certain that I followed.”
India laughed carelessly. “I’m afraid your eyes have tricked you, my lady. I have no children in here.” She waved her hands airily. “As even
you
can see.”
The widow looked about suspiciously. After a moment she bent down and peered under the table. When she stood up her face was stiff with anger. “Don’t think you’ll fool me. You and all your family think you’re above the rest of us, but you’re not. One day the ton will tire of your eccentricities, and then you’ll be cut dead. I for one will enjoy seeing it happen. Until them, I intend to hold onto what is mine and what is
mine
is Devlyn Carlisle.”
India felt something hot and sharp burn at her throat. “I didn’t realize Devlyn was anyone’s possession. After all he is an adult male of reasonable intelligence.”
“But he is taken. He has promised to marry me as soon as he has made arrangements for those ill-mannered brats of his.”
India stood unmoving, her fingers locked on the cold crystal. Was it true? Could Dev possibly have promised marriage to another woman? He was married to
her!
Anger made her hands tremble. “How very interesting. Am I expected to offer congratulations?”
The widow laughed coldly. “Hardly. But you will cease your interfering. Thornwood hates you after what happened at the balloon ascension. He’s far too proud to stand being made to look a fool. Endangering the children was the final nail in your coffin.” The widow slanted her head, her eyes glittering as she ran her hands over her shimmering gown. “I expect the announcement will appear in the
Gazette
sometime next week. Until then you will stay well away from Lord Thornwood.”
“Will I?” India stood unmoving, anger crackling through her. She was not about to be ordered about by this woman with no breeding and even less manners. “We shall see. And now if you’re quite finished, I have just recalled an urgent appointment.”
The widow’s fingers lashed out, their red-tipped nails digging into India’s hand. “Promise me that you’ll stay away from him. Otherwise it will go very hard with you.”
India pulled away from the widow’s grip and laughed softly. “You must be very uncertain of your hold over the man.”
“Not at all. I simply prefer to have a bit of insurance,” the widow said tightly. “If you disobey me I shall see that every person in the ton knows about your disgraceful behavior at the balloon ascension today. And also your disgusting masquerade as a cleaning wench.”
India laughed coldly. “Do you think I care what the members of the ton have to say about me?”
“No?” The cool eyes narrowed. “But you do care about those children. The gossip will hurt them along with Thorne. You wouldn’t care for that, would you?”
India fought back anger as triumph filled the widow’s eyes. “If Devlyn finds out he will curse you for your interference.”
“But he won’t find out. I’m far too clever for him to discover where the gossip began,” the widow said silkily. “No, they will begin as anonymous rumors. Of course, when I hear anything repeated around me, I will make certain to look utterly scandalized that someone would be so coldhearted as to attack three perfectly charming and innocent children.”
There was nothing but cruel mockery in her voice now.
India realized then exactly how devious the woman was and how capable of evil. She was fighting a wave of uneasiness when she heard a noise in the greenery near her feet.
The countess took a jerky step back. “A rat, no doubt. This wretched place is full of them, along with the dregs of London society. Why Devlyn insisted that we come here is quite beyond me.”
So Thorne had insisted on partnering Lady Marchmont tonight? India felt a little frisson of fury. Was he blind to the woman’s cruelty?
Her pondering was cut short by a sudden movement at the top of the hedge. A black shape shot onto a nearby table. India’s table trembled and her champagne glass went flying to the ground. A moment later a dark, furry body leaped through the air and landed hard on Lady Marchmont’s elaborate, feather-encrusted coiffure.
“Get it off me!” The widow spun wildly, her hands flailing at empty space. “It’s a rat, I’m sure of it. I shall die, I know it. Get the ghastly thing off me!”
But the new arrival was merely a small brown monkey clad in a neat red jacket heavy with gold braids and a dashing little shako hat. The animal’s long tail was twitching, his eyes were wild, and he looked far more frightened than Lady Marchmont did at that moment.
“It’s simply a monkey. You needn’t shout so much.”
But the countess was beyond comforting. She backed wildly into the hedge, desperate to dislodge her unwelcome passenger, who chattered and jumped nimbly to the top of the hedge, from whence he could survey the activity in safety.
“He’s off now. You are perfectly fine.”