AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not so terribly new, my Lady,” Colleen responded evasively. “I simply possess a much smaller circle than does someone of your exalted position.”
“And what of your acquaintance with Mr. Dostoff?” Lady Jenest persisted, although other guests stood behind them waiting to be received.
Lionel placed his free hand over hers as it rested upon his arm to indicate he would respond.
“I hold an acquaintance with Miss Snowden’s father.”
“And who is Mr. Snowden?” Lady Jenest inquired as people edged forward to have their share of the conversation.
“Just the younger son and brother of a gentleman from the southern shires,” Colleen said softly, very conscious that more than one of those behind her listened for her response. She had not wanted any notoriety, but she should have known that London society thrived on every tidbit of gossip.
Lionel took the lead.
“We should not keep you longer, Lady Jenest. I can see many wish a few minutes of your time.” With a brief bow on his part and a curtsey from Colleen, he led her away, but, first, he made certain that she could move from room to room without censure by saying, “I know you prefer whist to basset, but I insist you keep me company for a little while before you seek your own entertainment, my dear.”
******
From a place in Lady Jenest’s garden, Grandison watched her Ladyship interact with Dostoff and Miss Everley. He was already hiding in the bushes when the Lady had stepped down from Dostoff’s carriage. Grand refused to admit, even to himself, how his eyes drank in the simple beauty of the woman. Even without the jewels and ornamentation others wore, Miss Everley outshone all of the society ladies entering Lady Jenest’s home.
It went against all he held holy to stay hidden when he knew it should be he by Miss Everley’s side, rather than Lionel Dostoff. Unfortunately, Grand would have a high price to pay if Lord Liverpool learned of this bit of subterfuge which Grand had chosen to practice. He knew Lady Jenest’s house and grounds nearly as well as her Ladyship did, and so, he had placed himself nearby in order to be in a position to assist Miss Everley if the lady required his protection. Miss Everley might possess some of her father’s techniques, but Grand doubted she held even one-tenth of Thomas Everley’s bravado.
As Dostoff led Miss Everley towards the blue sitting room, Grand paralleled their movements to a position outside the large open window, where he could watch Miss Everley through the silky drapes and wait. His instincts told him that this operation would not go as smoothly as the Prime Minister had hoped. Grand would make certain that Miss Everley would not be destroyed by their country’s need to correct Prince George’s mistake in trusting the wrong people. She had paid a high enough price for her father’s mistakes. One of her own making would likely destroy her.
******
Colleen carefully watched Lionel’s skilful play. She held no doubt the man had the ability to memorise the cards as they were turned. She had seen such men when she had lived on the Continent, but this game was her first time in viewing a ‘master’ up close. No wonder the man was so successful as an agent of the Crown and his current position at the Red Hawk, which she knew was a place where many involved in London’s more profitable crimes took refuge.
Mesmerised by his play, it took her a few minutes to recall the role she portrayed in this charade. She leaned forward to say softly, “I believe I shall join the other ladies in the room set aside for whist.”
Without looking away from the game, Mr. Dostoff said, “I will join you soon, my dear.” He caught the hand she had placed on his shoulder and brought it to his lips. Even through her gloves, Colleen could feel the heat of his mouth upon her skin. The feeling was not unpleasant; yet she wished he did not play his role so well, for, although she enjoyed Mr. Dostoff’s company, she would not place a claim on the man. Doing so would betray her heart, which, if she were honest with herself, had been given away to a young man who had greeted her all those years prior with a simple, ‘Good day’. No one would ever take Grandison Franklyn’s place in her soul. His presence had been ingrained upon her heart years prior.
******
From his place in the garden, Grand watched the interactions between Miss Everley and Dostoff. He had to remind himself that the lady was not his, and, although he wished to slap away Dostoff’s gesture of affection, he must stay the course and remain in his hiding place until the lady was on the move. Then, so would he be. He watched as she paused in the hallway for the briefest of seconds to assure herself that no one was about before she turned to the right towards the private quarters, rather than towards the rooms set aside for the games.
He paralleled her movement, looking through each window until he caught a glimpse of her. Grand found that he admired the stealth she practiced. In his own way, he knew great pride in how the lady conducted herself in a dangerous situation.
He knew when she turned to climb the stairs at the back of the house to the private quarters, and so, he crawled through an open window, crossed to the servants’ door in the room, entered, and quickly climbed the narrow stairs to follow her.
As she entered Lady Jenest’s private quarters, Grand watched through a one-inch opening. He admired how quietly Miss Everley managed to release the lock to her Ladyship’s sitting room door before anyone knew of her presence in the passageway. The lady could have a fabulous career as an agent for the Crown. Her father had, obviously, taught her well.
No one else appeared to be around, so he cautiously followed her into Lady Jenest’s suite, using the dark dressing room for his entrance. These were rooms he knew intimately, a fact of which he prayed Miss Everley held no knowledge. Of late, Grand had become more and more disenchanted with his life and the knowledge of his past dalliances. There was a time, like most men of privilege, he had assumed keeping a mistress to be a rite of passage, but he could admit now that he should have learned his lesson after the Lady Jenest fiasco. Yet, he had not, a fact which brought a deep scowl to his countenance.
Hiding behind a screen, he watched through the cracks of the fold as Miss Everley quietly released the latch on the back of the portrait which concealed Lady Jenest’s safe from the world. Immediately, Miss Everley began to set about opening the safe.
Grand smiled as each of her failed attempts brought a pout of frustration and a whispered self-chastisement. Just looking upon her made his heart feel lighter.
She was on her fourth attempt when he heard Lady Jenest’s voice in the hallway. Evidently, Miss Everley concentrated on her manipulations of the lock, and she did not respond as quickly as she should have done. Risking it all, he quickly crossed the room, caught the woman who had become quite essential to his being about the waist with one arm, quickly shoved the portrait back in place, and tugged Miss Everley behind the screen before she could lodge a protest.
“Shush,” he whispered close to her ear, just as Lady Jenest opened the door.
“I thought I told you to lock this door,” her Ladyship chastised her butler.
“I did so personally, my Lady,” the servant responded.
For several seconds, the room went silent. Miss Everley clung to him, and Grand knew instantly he would do whatever was necessary to protect her.
At length, Lady Jenest whispered, “Light the candle.”
