AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I won’t argue with that. My trunk was stolen once by an unscrupulous outrider.”
“Tomorrow morning we’ll begin our search by visiting the Louvre and speaking with Beauchamp.”
“I’ve been thinking about potential scenarios,” she said. “If Beauchamp is involved, though I highly doubt he is, the Rosetta Stone would be a wonderful centerpiece for the new Egyptian exhibit at the Louvre. After Napoleon was defeated, the French were forced to return so many of the artifacts he’d pillaged.”
“I don’t think they would display it so boldly. If Beauchamp is behind the theft, he’ll keep the stone secret.”
“Perhaps. But if France had the provenance to support a claim that Beauchamp purchased the stone from an anonymous party with no questions asked because he wanted to save it from being lost to a private collector, what claim does Britain truly have to the Rosetta Stone?”
He gave her a searching look. “Our monarchy won’t see it in that light.”
“Then I return to my theory that the Russians orchestrated the theft as a means to end the peace between England and France and they are waiting until an opportune moment to pin the deed on France and sow discord.”
In other words, they could be engaged in averting a war, which was no light matter.
The fate of the peace between France and England could hinge upon the success of their search.
It was nearly dark when they arrived at the Hôtel de Charost, the British ambassador’s residence, on the desirable rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré. After Raven identified himself to the gatekeeper, their carriage was allowed to pass through the carriageway that connected the street to the courtyard.
“Such commodious stables,” Indy remarked as they alighted. “One wouldn’t think a residence in the heart of Paris would have room for dozens of horses.”
“Two dozen horses, I believe.”
“And the house is quite grand. To whom did it belong before it became the ambassador’s residence?”
“Wellington purchased it from Napoleon’s sister Pauline after she joined her brother in exile on Elba. Thesehôtels particuliersare built to house multiple generations at the same property. Sir Charles only has himself, his wife, and their daughter, Lucy.”
They approached the main house between two stone pavilions and across the grassycour d’honneur, which was separated from the kitchen and stable service courts on either side by arcaded screens of five arches each. The façade was mostly windows illuminated by lamps that cast a soft glow across the hard planes of Raven’s face.
A British butler with an appropriately dignified manner showed them to a spacious drawing room, hung with green silk and oil portraits.
A young girl of about seventeen, very slender and brunette with a long, swanlike neck, burst through the door. “Oh there you are. Finally! I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for your arrival.”
“Greetings.” Raven laughed. “Lady India, this is the Honorable Lucy Sterling.”
“Just Lucy, thank you very much, Your Grace.”
“How do you do, Lucy?” said Indy.
“I’ve been longing to meet you, Lady India!”
“You have?”
Lucy bobbed her head and the fan-shaped braided hairpiece attached to the top of her head waved back and forth. “Mrs. Bertha Featherstone arrived an hour ago from London. She only stayed for a half hour but she told us all about your wedding plans. It’s ever so romantic!”
“News travels swiftly, I see,” said Indy. She’d hoped to avoid the topic for at least a day or two.
“Oh we hear about everything in Paris. I do miss my friends in England quite dreadfully. You’re arrestingly beautiful.” Lucy walked in a circle around Indy. “I’ve never seen eyes that shade. If I were mixing the colors I would have to use blue, red, white and a hint of black, I believe. You must let me paint you while you’re here.” She turned to Raven. “Everyone is simply dying to see the lady who captured you at last.”
“Lucy, pray do not importune our guests,” remonstrated a handsome older woman as she entered the room. She had the same graceful posture as her daughter.
“You’re the one who said it, Mama. You said the Duke of Ravenwood will never be caught for he is a confirmed bachelor and enjoys his freedoms far too much.”
“Did I say such a thing? My apologies, Lady India, you’ve given the lie to my words.”
“We met once, Lady Sterling,” India said. “A chance encounter at the Palais Royal.”
“So we did.” Lady Sterling clasped India’s hand. She turned to Raven. “Tell me, Your Grace, how did this delightful turn of events come about?”
