“She drew Wellington’s interest by beating one of his cavalry officers in a horse race, and she matched shots with some of your army’s top marksmen,” retorted the Russian.
“She did?” A low laugh. “How interesting.”
“You may want to pay more attention to the lady.”
The major made no answer.
“As for the baroness,” added the Russian, “she may have been bringing a message to someone here in London. But I don’t believe she had the medallion.” A pause. “I feel it in my bones—it’s still in Russia.”
“Dmitri Orlov is said to be cleverer than his brother—so why can’t he discover who has it?”
“That devil-cursed American adventuress who has wormed her way into the Tsar’s inner circle has been an unexpected complication.” A rumbled curse. “You’re good at seducing secrets out of women. Can’t you contrive to get yourself posted to St. Petersburg?”
“Trust me, I am working to make myself useful to Grentham. But the suggestions must be subtle and come from others, else he might smell a rat,” replied Prescott. “In the meantime, send an urgent message to St. Petersburg and see what you can learn about efforts to find the medallion.”
The major paused and he, too, uttered an oath before continuing. “According to my sources at the Peace Conference in Vienna, Prince Gagarin has been consolidating support both at home and with the Austrian court. He may be a rival to us.”
“It’s Prince Berezin who concerns me,” said the Russian.
“No, he’s suffered some serious financial setbacks recently, and his allies are unhappy . . .”
Their voices dropped a notch, and Arianna could no longer make out what they were saying. Still, she had heard enough.
Prescott had laughed at the idea of a woman being involved in intrigue. Even if she hadn’t just found her old fire, that would have been the spark to light a flame.
Madame Gruzinsky had been murdered because of him and his cohort. The lady deserved justice.
“So, you need to redouble your efforts to get your hands on the medallion. Whoever has it will control Russia’s destiny—and we need to ensure it is us,” said Prescott. “Now, come, we had better return to the party before our absence is noticed.”
Arianna held her breath as they moved past her hiding place. Prescott had been careless—a good soldier should have known enough to leave nothing to chance and made a thorough reconnaissance of a rendezvous spot.
I will make him pay for his mistake, she vowed.
The major would soon learn that women could play the game just as well as men.
Arianna madeher way back through the gardens to the main refreshment pavilion, where she spotted Saybrook and his uncle still conversing with the Russian envoys. Smiling, she approached and asked, “Might I steal my husband away for a moment?”
A flash of concern lit in Mellon’s eyes, an uncomfortable reminder of how worried all her family and friends had been about her.
“But of course,” he murmured, as the Russians nodded politely and echoed his words.
“If you would like to leave—” began the earl once they had moved away.
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away,” she interjected. “We need to contact Grentham as quickly as possible.”
His gaze sharpened.
“I happened to overhear a clandestine meeting just now.” Lowering her voice, Arianna quickly recounted the exchange between Prescott and his Russian co-conspirator.
“Charles was just telling me that Prescott’s star is rising at the Foreign Office,” Saybrook frowned. “He’s considered a very skilled and savvy negotiator.”
“Well, apparently all that glitters is not gold,” said Arianna. “The major’s veneer of blond good looks and polished charm hides a core of rot. And the minister needs to know about his treachery as soon as possible, before Prescott can worm his way into Grentham's good graces.”
Saybrook thought for a moment. “I’ll dispatch our coachman to Grentham’s townhouse with a message for him to meet us at Berkeley Square tonight. We can take a hackney home.”
Arianna caught a glimpse of Sophia among the crowd of revelers around the central fountain. And her friend was conversing with Prescott.
“Go!” she urged. Her blood was thrumming, and it must have been obvious because Saybrook hesitated. “You seem . . .”
