Jo Beverley - [Rogue ] (30 page)

"Yes, ma'am," said the maid sulkily.

Eleanor wondered if she would be obeyed.

Once home, Eleanor went to her boudoir to think, quite unaware of other activities in the house.

Nicholas was in the study with Tom Holloway, who had slipped in to make his report on Eleanor's morning walk.

"Well?" asked Nicholas curtly.

"Sir Lionel met with her again. They seemed to argue, but he didn't look put out."

"Did she try to get rid of him?"

"Didn't seem that way to me, Nick."

Nicholas sighed. "I see. Well, I hope he can't make too much trouble before tomorrow. Can you get around and tell everyone to meet at Cavanagh's rooms tonight at nine? Good."

After Tom Holloway had left Nicholas stood for a moment staring out of the window, one finger tapping idly on the windowsill. Then he rang and sent for Jenny.

He told her to sit. "Jenny. I know you are devoted to my wife, but I must ask you if you know anything of the matters discussed this morning between her and her brother."

"No, sir. I couldn't hear." Jenny kept her eyes firmly down.

"Did you hear anything at all?"

The maid fidgeted. "She asked me most particular not to tell you, sir."

"And I say you must, Jenny. My wife's safety may depend upon it."

After a moment Jenny gave in. "Well, sir, I truly didn't hear much, but Mrs. Delaney raised her voice once or twice. I think she said, 'This is ridiculous,' and then something about Bonaparte. That's all, sir, but she was very upset and she's sitting up there in her room as she always does when she's upset about something."

Then the maid gathered her courage to add, "And, begging your pardon, sir but it ain't right for her to be upset as often as she is, not in her condition. That's why I told her she should tell you, and you'd see to Sir Lionel. But she turned quite fierce and said I wasn't to tell you anything." The maid's confidence left her. "I hope she doesn't turn me off."

"Nonsense," he said absently. "You don't have to tell her anything about this. Mind, you can if you wish, but it will probably just upset her more. Even if she dismisses you, and I cannot imagine Eleanor doing anything so unfair, I'll give you an excellent character. Go along now."

After the maid left Nicholas stood for a long time, contemplating the view, fiddling idly with a steel paperknife. When he finally moved, he cursed fluently and drove the knife deep into the polished wood of the desk. He left the room abruptly.

Sir Lionel arrived home to find he had visitors. His bland greetings to Lord Deveril and Madame Bellaire were a little more forced than usual.

"This is an unexpected pleasure," he said, all smiles.

"Unexpected, certainly," said Lord Deveril unpleasantly. "I believe you have been seeing your sister again, Lionel."

"Ah, well, blood's thicker than water, you know, though that damned husband of hers don't like me to visit the house."

"In fact, he has forbidden you the house," said Lord Deveril.

"Aye, as you say," agreed Sir Lionel uneasily. "Most unreasonable. But we do meet, Eleanor and I, and have a little chat about the old days."

"How very nice for you," said Lord Deveril ominously, "and for us. We have a job for you again."

"What?" asked Sir Lionel, unable to hide his alarm. "You want to meet here again?"

"Not at all," purred Madame Bellaire. "Now my little establishment is so popular it serves that purpose excellently. No, I fear my charming Nicholas might be losing his enthusiasm for our cause. A little extra inducement might be needed to keep him resolute. Do you not feel his wife might provide such a persuasion to good behavior?"

Sir Lionel gave a bark of genuine amusement. "Hell and damnation, you're up the wrong tree there. For a start, I couldn't persuade Eleanor to eat if she was starving, and to add to it, she has no influence with her husband at all. If anyone can raise his enthusiasm," he said with a leer, "it's you, madame, not Eleanor."

Madame smiled. "I agree with you there, Sir Lionel. But it is you who is—how did you say it?—barking up the wrong tree. I am afraid a little more ruthless persuasion may be needed."

Sir Lionel paled as he always did at the thought of physical violence. "You won't beat sense into him, if that's what you have in mind."

"Of course not." Lord Deveril's voice was scornful. "But he would object to us laying hands on his wife, wouldn't he, you numbskull? Especially in her condition. A man doesn't have to be a devoted husband to draw the line at that."

Sir Lionel looked as if he was about to be sick.

"Sir Lionel, Sir Lionel," said Madame Bellaire reassuringly. "You do not think we would really hurt her? That I, a woman, would condone such a thing? The mere threat will be enough. To make the threat real, however, we must have his wife in our power."

"What has that to do with me?"

"You," said Lord Deveril, "are going to get her for us."

"How?" cried Sir Lionel, his eyes bulging. "How? She wouldn't trust me if I were her last hope, I tell you. It can't be done!"

Madame Therese rustled over to him in a delicate mist of sultry perfume. She laid a hand on his arm. "Do not distress yourself so,
mon ami
. We know it is difficult, but to whom else may we turn? All the servants in his house are incorruptible. She never goes out alone. She is watched constantly. And besides, to snatch her on the streets would be too hazardous. You are our only hope. We have brought you two helpers. All you have to do is lure her here."

"But how?" he asked, ashen with fear.

"I know you can think of a way,
mon cher
. Could you not offer to give her something and ask her to collect it? A keepsake, something she treasured as a child?"

"Well, all her things are here, such as they are. She has never expressed any wish to have any of them."

"Excellent," she purred approvingly. "Ask her to come and choose what she wishes to keep. But it must be tomorrow."

"But I may not see her tomorrow," he protested.

"You will make sure you do," said Madame Bellaire gently. "You will find a way. And then," she added softly, "we will not feel it necessary to interfere in your little plans."

"My plans?" he squawked, his eyes almost bulging. He took a step toward the door.

"But yes." She smiled as freely and as insincerely as he was wont to do. "You are a little
ennuie
with poor Bonaparte, yes? You think your government would pay a reward for news of this dangerous plot? Well, so too are we
ennuyent
, and we put an end to it all tomorrow. But we must leave in safety. And so you bring Eleanor to me, I arrange all, we go, and then you can tell and receive your reward. There will still be little fish for your government to feast on. There is also this."

She placed a heavy pouch upon the table. "A thousand guineas for your trouble and for your past services. Handsome pay, is it not, for arranging an advantageous marriage for your sister?"

"I never did understand that," he mumbled, his eyes fixed on the bag. "I thought you were after Eleanor, Deveril. Did you plan this all along then?"

"A little
divertissement
," said Madame Bellaire with a smile. "Lord Deveril would have enjoyed your sister for a while, but he accepts the vagaries of war. The target, however, was the brother. We did not anticipate enthralling my darling Nicholas by that ploy. That," she said with a catlike smile, "was an unexpected pleasure. It has proved vastly amusing, but it is time to put it properly to use. You are going to help us, Sir Lionel, are you not? One last time?"

He looked at her beautiful, smiling, ruthless eyes and swallowed.

He nodded dumbly.

* * *

Eleanor was prevented from spending the whole day grappling with her problem by the arrival in the afternoon of Amy and Peter. Her friend and Lady Middlethorpe were spending a few days in town.

"Goodness, Eleanor," said Amy irrepressibly. "I believe I can see the baby."

Peter choked.

"Oh, I shouldn't say that, I suppose, but one can hardly not see it. Do you feel very excited? I know I would... will," she added with a blush and a delightful glance at Peter, who was himself a little red.

"Really, Mouse, the things you say. Eleanor, can you stand it if I leave her here for an hour or two?"

"Of course. I'm delighted. I love Amy's company."

He put on a stern face. "Aye, everyone does. It's the devil. A fellow can never get two words with her. Once we're married I'll lock her up."

When he had taken his leave Amy chuckled. "Isn't he lovely? I have to shake myself every day to believe it's me he loves. There are so many prettier girls."

"You are living proof that it's character that counts."

"Isn't it amazing? But are you well? You look a little worn."

"Oh, it's the heat," said Eleanor with an element of truth. "I'm very well for the most part, but to tell you the truth, I think pregnancy is rather tedious. It is all waiting."

"Is Nicholas not at home?" Amy asked casually. "Men are the limit. Francis has stayed in town. I don't know why, for everyone is in the country or at Brighton. Since my mother and I are here we thought to have a small dinner tonight, but he says he has an engagement. Mama is most upset and is calling him unfilial. It is most unfair, for he is generally the most filial brother... Well, you know what I mean."

Eleanor laughed. It was wonderful to have Amy back again. "I do indeed. He is the soul of kindness."

Amy sighed happily. "No one is as fortunate as I. Do you know, the Duchess of Arran is trying to get him for her youngest daughter? And she is very particular. Mama is all puffed up, though I don't know if Francis is taken with Lady Anne. I like her, but that is nothing to say to it, I suppose."

"Is she the pretty, fair girl with the limp?"

"Yes. She's very sweet, and I think that would suit Francis more than a stormy nature. Lady Anne's a little shy because of the limp, but I'm sure Francis wouldn't care for that if he loved her."

"No, of course not, and Francis would be an excellent husband for a shy girl with such a problem. He's so kind and thoughtful."

Amy's eyes began to sparkle. "Very well then, I shall do a little subtle matchmaking. Do you know," she said with one of her sudden changes of subject, "I met your brother recently and I didn't like him at all."

"That doesn't surprise me. You have excellent taste."

"He was smiling and oozing good humor to such an extent that I wanted to be sick. He started asking me all kinds of questions about Francis and Nicholas and what they do together. I thought it both strange and ill-mannered. Then he started talking about how concerned he is for your welfare—"

She broke off at Eleanor's pallor. "Oh, I've upset you! My wretched tongue again."

"No, it is nothing," Eleanor assured her hastily. "I just don't like to think of my brother bothering you so."

"Oh well," said Amy comfortably. "Every family has black sheep. Have I ever told you about my Uncle Jamie?"

Eleanor could compose herself as she listened to a lively account of the Haile family's reprobate. At the back of her mind, however, she was facing a new problem. Was Lord Middlethorpe in some way embroiled in this mad business, and could even Amy, so sweet and innocent, become entangled? What would the consequences be? Treason was a hanging matter for all involved.

As a consequence of these thoughts, as soon as Amy had left Eleanor took a drastic step. Accompanied by Jenny, she walked around to Lord Middlethorpe's rooms. It was most improper, but she knew she could trust Jenny's discretion. She only hoped she was not seen.

Francis's man was amazed to see her, but she gave him no time to object and simply walked in. "Please tell Lord Middlethorpe Mrs. Delaney is here to see him."

Francis had heard her voice, however, and came to her. "For heaven's sake, Eleanor, you should not be here. Is anything wrong?"

She waited until she was settled in privacy, leaving Jenny to sit nervously in the hall. "Francis, I have to ask you some questions," Eleanor said. "But you must promise me you will not tell Nicholas of this visit or of what we are to discuss."

If he had looked concerned before, now Lord Middlethorpe looked worried. "Eleanor, you know I would not normally discuss you with Nicholas, but if you're asking such a promise then you must know I will think I should."

Eleanor refused to be daunted. "Yes, but I know better. I need your help Francis, but without your word I cannot ask it."

"If you need help, believe me, Nicholas is the one to turn to, not I. He would not fail you."

"Perhaps not," said Eleanor, unbending. "I will decide that. I have certain decisions to make and I need more information. I may well tell Nicholas the whole, but as things stand now, I cannot."

There was a tense silence, "This is a kind of blackmail," he said angrily.

"Is it? How unpleasant. But we are all being driven to rather unpleasant measures, are we not?"

He looked at her, startled. "Do I understand you know something of what is in hand?"