Lord Philip's Christmas Page 3

  “Maybe, maybe not.”

  In the end, thankfulness for Marco’s friendship, loneliness and a need for money drove Philip to fulfil his friend’s wishes.

  “You look dreadful mon ami, but I am glad you came,” Marco greeted him when he arrived. “Is your hand shaking? Shall I match you with Billy Boy for a start?”

  A wan grin spread over Philip’s face. Billy Boy was the youngest of the staff, whose duties included keeping the Salle clean, not swordplay. It was later in the morning and Philip had finished his third bout when Marco called him over. A tall slight man stood beside him, dressed ready for combat.

  “This is the gentleman who has been asking for you, Louis. Monsieur, may I present to you the Baron de Vezey.”

  “At your service, Monsieur. I am Wilfred Charville. Would you honour me by demonstrating the trick you used against Lord Worthington?”

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  Mr. Charville proved to be an apt pupil and, by the end of the lesson, he had managed to disarm Philip twice.

  “You did well, Monsieur,” Philip told him when they had finished.

  “I enjoyed it but perhaps my younger brother will not thank you when I use it against him. By the bye, Monsieur, I am certain I have met you before. Perchance, were you in London last spring?”

  “Yes I was.” Philip felt a cold shiver run down his spine but he could not deny it. Too many people in this city knew about his former role. “I brought a copy of the Emperor’s Instrument of Abdication to your Prince Regent at the orders of my master the Duc de Vicenze.”

  “Ah, I did not think I was wrong. You vanished rather suddenly if I remember, and there was some speculation as to where you had gone.”

  “Was there? Why? There was no need. I finished my work and returned to France.”

  “And now, instead of working for the Foreign Ministry, I find you teaching fencing. An odd choice surely?”

  Philip shrugged. “Times change and men must change with them.”

  As Philip walked Charville to the entrance to the Salle, Charville murmured,

  “A friend of mine told me he was very sorry he did meet you while you were in London. He has expressed interest in coming to Paris and would be pleased to encounter you here. May I give him your direction?”

  “Who is this friend?”

  “Mr. Evelyn Staunton.”

  A wave of boiling rage swept over Philip and he felt his hands become slippery with sweat. Staunton, the man who had married Celia only to abuse her, the man he had tried to kill. With a huge effort, he controlled himself sufficiently to say,

  “Do so, if you please. Marco will keep any letters for me. I look forward to meeting Mr. Staunton whenever it is convenient to him.”

  Chapter Three

  A cold rain lashed on the library windows as Alice sat reading beside the leaping fire. The room was cosy. The warmth and quietness had almost lulled her to sleep when the noise of carriage wheels and the cries from the street disturbed her. She glanced at the ormolu clock on the mantelpiece and found to her surprise that the hands stood at twenty to three. Her aunt had taken her younger daughter, Lizzie, to the dressmaker and said that they would not be back until it was time to dress for dinner. Edward was at his club which made it unlikely he would use a hack for such a short distance. So, who could it be? The bustle was right outside the house. Alice heard the front door open and noises in the hall. Whoever it was had to be coming here. With a sigh, she laid her book aside, straightened her skirt and quickly glanced at her hair in the mirror. She had just risen to greet her unexpected guests, when the door was thrown wide and Reynolds, the butler, announced in a loud voice,

  “The Countess of Kirkmore, my lady, and Miss Talbot.”

  “Mama, what a charming surprise,” Alice came forward dutifully and was offered a powdered cheek to kiss. Then she turned and shook hands with Grace. “You are most welcome, but you must be perished on such a cold day. Take the seats next to the fire and Reynolds will bring some hot tea directly.”

  “Don’t fuss, Alice,” her mother said. “A little rain will not hurt us. We have been lucky in our journey so far. Only five days on the road and we would have been here sooner, if we had not become stuck in the mire, just outside Biggleswade. A dismal town with nothing at all to do while we waited.”

  “How tiresome for you, Mama, but here is the tea.”

  James, one of the footmen came in with the large silver tray on which reposed a teapot and several cups. He put it down on the small table next to his mistress.

  “I ventured to bring more cups, my lady, since Lady Mary and Miss Elizabeth have just arrived.”

  “A good idea, thank you James.”

  James opened the door and stood holding it as an imposing dowager with iron grey hair, followed by a pretty young girl came into the room.

  “Julienne, how lovely to see you,” Lady Mary was startled into unaccustomed gushing as her sister-in-law rose to accept her kiss. “This is my daughter, Elizabeth, whom you might not remember. She was quite little when you came here last.”

  “I would recognise her from her resemblance to you and to my dear husband,” the Countess said. Lizzie, dropping into a schoolgirl’s curtsy, tried hard to look gratified by such a remark.

  Tea had been drunk and more wood piled upon the fire to dispel the chill of the day, before Alice ventured to ask,

  “What brings you to London, Mama? I thought you had written to Cecily and told her that you were fixed at Kirkmore until the spring.”

  “That was my intention,” the Countess replied, “until she informed me that you were going to France to look for your brother. Kirkmore cannot be without its Earl. Whatever I might think about Philip, it is clearly his duty to return and take the matter in hand.”

  “If we found him, Mama, we would have advised him to do so. There was no need for you to undertake such an uncomfortable journey to remind me of the fact.”

  “I wonder. You were never a satisfactory child, Alice; too much in your brother’s shadow. I doubt you possess the force of mind to persuade him against his will. I, however, have always been able to do so and can do so again.”

  “You, Mama?” was the startled reply.

  “Yes, did I not say so? I am coming with you to France.”

  Alice found herself unable to respond suitably for an instant and then she murmured the first words that came into her head,

  “But it is to be our honeymoon!”

  “I understood you spent several weeks in the Lake District for your honeymoon last year.” The Countess pursed up her lips. “Never fear. Miss Talbot and I will not intrude on your pleasures, such as they are.”

  Faced with this bald statement and to buy herself time to decide on a suitable answer, Alice turned to Grace.

  “So you are going too, Miss Talbot?”

  Grace smiled. “Her ladyship has ordered it, Lady Alice, and I am happy to travel with her. I have always wanted to see another country, but I never thought I should have the chance to do so.”

  Alice looked at her closely, catching the gleam of excitement in her eyes. She felt a sudden sympathy for this unknown lady, alone in the world and born without her own advantages.

  “I must discuss the matter with my husband,” she said at last.

  “Nothing to discuss,” the Countess replied. “I would prefer to travel with a man. Lone females have far more trouble on a journey and are likely to be fobbed off with inferior service, but it is no great concern. France is, after all, my own country. I dare say we shall be able to manage if Edward is sufficiently discourteous to refuse us his company. Please be kind enough to ring the bell, I should to rest before it is time dress for dinner.”

  Alice did as she was bid and refrained from making an audible sigh of relief when Reynolds appeared and said,

  “Certainly, my lady. The housekeeper, Mrs. Bruton, has already made suitable bedchambers ready and hot water will be sent up immediately.”

  “My compani
on must be near me, should I need anything in the night,” the Countess stated.

  “I understand that the blue bedchamber has been prepared for your ladyship and Miss Talbot is just across the hallway. If you will follow me, please, I’ll take you there directly.”

  As soon as her mother and Miss Talbot had followed the butler and she was alone, Alice gave vent to her feelings. A violent tug on the rope sent the bells clanging downstairs. James the footman came panting into the room, having run up the stairs.

  “Is anything wrong, my lady? Are you ill?”

  “Ill? No.” Alice looked at him and frowned. “Why would you think that? I’m perfectly well but I want you to find Sir Edward and bring him home. Inform him that my mother has arrived unexpectedly.”

  “Do you know where he is likely to be, my lady?”

  “He said he was going to his club. If not, try Jackson’s Boxing Saloon but hurry!”

  “At once, my lady.”

  Fortunately for Alice’s nerves, Sir Edward was easily found and it was well under the hour when he walked into her boudoir just as she was finishing her toilette. She immediately dismissed her dresser and threw herself into his arms.

  “Alice, my love, don’t distress yourself. Sit down and tell me all about it before I crush your dress.”

  “This horrible thing! I only bought it to go to Kirkmore, so that Mama should not call me fast and disrespectful to Papa’s memory.”

  He held her at arm’s length so he could survey the offending item. “Not just in your usual style, is it?”

  “Of course not. I may not be all the crack, but neither am I a mean bit yet.”

  “You always look lovely to me.”

  Alice laughed and sat down again at her dressing table. “Did James tell you that Mama has come here so that she can go to France with us?”

  Edward’s eyebrows shot up. “No, has she? James said that she had arrived, but he never mentioned anything else.”

  “Mama thinks that Philip won’t attend to me if I ask him to return. She says that it is her duty to bring him to a sense of his responsibilities and bring him back to England.”

  “He isn’t the schoolboy she remembers. I wonder what he will say to the proposal if we are able to find him.”

  “Edward, what can we do to prevent her coming with us?” Alice asked sharply and Edward smiled.

  “Why nothing, my darling, unless you wish to make a complete break with her.”

  “You don’t know what she’s like. Everything has to be just as she wants it to be and everyone must give up their own ideas and bow to her wishes. She’ll spoil our journey.”

  “No dear, she won’t. I won’t let her. Alice, dearest, your mother has recently lost both her husband and her eldest son. Despite her behaviour in public, her settled world has crashed down around her. No doubt she worries about her future. Be generous.”

  “But I wanted to be with you alone.”

  “There are years ahead of us to be alone together. Don’t be troubled. You are no longer under her roof or her control. I promise I won’t let her trouble your peace. We will still be able to do all the things we want to do in Paris and in Dauphiné. With luck, we may even find your brother.”

  “Are you ready yet, my love?” Edward Maitland stood tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for his wife. The carriage was standing at the door, their trunks were tied on behind, his valet and his wife’s maid were in their own vehicle with the other servants. The Countess of Kirkmore had been assisted into her lumbering travelling coach with her coat of arms emblazoned on the side. Miss Talbot climbed in after her, only to be obliged to climb out again to ascertain that her mistress had not left her reticule behind on the hall table. A prolonged search disclosed it in a corner of the coach floor hidden under the Countess’s skirts.

  Only one person was missing.

  “I’m sorry to keep you waiting,” Lady Alice apologised as she came down the stairs, working her fingers into a new pair of leather gloves. “A letter from Oncle Richard has just arrived.” She waved it at him before folding it carefully into her reticule. “Isn’t this exciting?”

  Her mother had overheard because she leaned out of the coach and demanded,

  “Show it to me at once. Why is he writing to you and not to me?”

  Alice looked down to hide her annoyance and fumbled with her reticule but Edward said abruptly,

  “Not now, ma’am. We really must get started or we will be benighted on the road. Later, when we reach the inn where we are staying overnight.” Edward turned and held out his hand to his wife. “Come, Alice.” He handed her up into his travelling carriage and climbed in after her.

  “Oh, Edward, that was not at all the thing!” Alice exclaimed with a laugh. “Whatever will Mama think?”

  “I don’t care a jot what she thinks. I could see that you did not want to show her the letter. What does Oncle Richard say?”

  “He does not have Philip’s direction but he is certain that his son, Victor, knows where he is to be found, if anyone does. Victor works for a silk merchant in Paris and he is a few years older than Philip. Oncle also suggests we inquire at the Foreign Ministry. Philip used to work there as a translator before the change in government and Oncle considers it likely that some of his former colleagues are still in touch with him.”

  “Let’s hope so. What is this cousin of yours like?”

  “I’ve never met him or any of that family. Mama has not been able to return home because of the Revolution and the war and neither could Oncle Richard come to England. Philip likes him; that’s all I know. He helped Philip to find employment in Paris. Oncle has sent us Victor’s address so that we can visit him as soon as we arrive.”

  “Is that what you want to do first when we get to Paris?” Edward asked.

  “Of course…”

  “You don’t seem certain?”

  Alice grinned. “I am. We must do that, once we are rested from the journey, but…”

  “But?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.

  “I’m a female as well as Philip’s sister and I have never been to Paris before. I want to do what any female does when she goes there, to visit the modistes and replenish my wardrobe! What a silly question to ask me!”

  Edward laughed. “When I consider the number of trunks we are carrying with us; I’m surprised you can think of adding any more clothes to our load.”

  “No female could possibly go to Paris and not think about clothes.”

  “You’ll run me into dun territory yet!”

  “Not I. You forget I am still in mourning. I have more than enough black dresses. When I was little, I used to think black was such a lovely colour, so grown up. I did not know what it meant then, of course. I was speaking to Lady Whitehead only the other day and she gave me the direction of the modiste she patronises herself, a Mademoiselle Céleste. Once we have spoken to Victor and hopefully have found Philip, I would like to go to her and order frocks for half mourning. Not that I’m fond of grey or white or purple, such dull colours, but at least they will be cut and trimmed in the latest fashion.” She smiled up at him.

  “My dear, you always look ravishing, whatever you wear, even black.”

  “Flatterer!” She became serious. “Shall we have a few weeks in Paris, see what is to be seen, find Philip and then go on to Dauphiné?”

  “If that is what you wish.”

  “I would like to visit the place where Mama grew up. We used to have an old groom called Jean-Baptiste who came with her from France. He told me how beautiful Dauphiné was with its snow-capped mountains and deep cut valleys. I have always longed to see it.”

  Silence fell for some time as the carriage threaded its way through the streets of London and rumbled across the river.

  “Afterwards, shall we go on to Switzerland? I confess it’s another place I’m curious about,” Alice asked. “Perhaps Mama will even choose to stay with Oncle Richard until we return there when it is time for us all to go home.”

>   Edward laughed aloud. “My darling I did not know I had married a schemer! So, we shall have our honeymoon after all, shall we? How long have you been plotting our escape?”

  Alice had the grace to blush. “Ever since Mama told me she was coming with us to France. It would be nice to be by ourselves for part of this journey, wouldn’t it?”

  “It would and I imagine we can contrive to leave your mother with her relatives while we do so. If we do, though, we would be away for a long time.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Probably not. I have told Eastham not to expect me back for some months. I signed everything he needed me to sign and he is a reliable agent. Mama and the children are in their usual good health, so there is no need for us to hurry home to England if you want to travel further.”

  “How delightful it will be. Just the two of us. Promise me you won’t get bored with my company?”

  “No fear of that. Once we are in Paris, you’ll hardly see me. While you visit your modiste, I intend to discover all the amusements that a city like Paris has to offer!”

  Alice giggled. “Edward, you wretch! Stop teasing me.”

  Chapter Four

  The journey across a windswept Channel was lively. As soon as she stepped aboard the packet boat, the Countess retired to her cabin with Miss Talbot in attendance. She dismissed her companion once the ship had cleared the outer harbour. Miss Talbot emerged, glanced at the waves sweeping past as she clung to a rope and tried to stay on her feet. Alice thought she looked rather green, an opinion shared by the first mate who advised her to lie down on her bunk and helped her to go below. Alice discovered to her surprise that she was a good sailor. The wind was, for once, blowing in the right direction and drove them straight towards France. She spent most of the short passage up on deck, wrapped up in a boat-cloak. She laughed as the prow cut into the rollers and sent showers of spray all over her.