CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Marie

PHILIDOR KNOCKED ONCE on Marie’s door before letting himself in. Her protest at such an obvious disregard for propriety was stifled as he held Cavendish’s letter out to her. She read it, then sat at her desk and picked up her quill.

‘What are you doing?’ said Philidor.

‘What does it look like I’m doing?’ she said sharply. ‘I’m replying.’

‘He corresponds only with me.’

‘Not anymore.’

Philidor’s voice rose. ‘What are you playing at, woman? This is no time for hysterics.’

‘What I’m doing, monsieur, is saving our livelihoods. And our money.’

‘How?’

‘By refusing to cooperate.’

‘On what grounds?’

‘On the grounds that I know something he wants kept hidden. It will be enough to stay his hand, at least for the time being.’

‘You intend on blackmailing him?’

‘No, just another … arrangement, as you might call it.’

‘What is it, then?’

‘You are not privy to this information, monsieur. It is between the duke and myself.’

‘But that’s ridiculous,’ he spluttered. ‘You can’t keep me out of it – you can’t keep secrets from me.’

She swung around to face him. ‘I keep many things, and secrets are one of them. Kindly remove yourself from my bedchamber and do not presume to enter again without permission. I will ensure the agreement stands. Unless you have a better idea?’

Philidor stared at her for a moment. A look that was hard for Marie to interpret. ‘As you wish,’ he said, and departed, closing the door behind him.

‘Imbecile,’ she muttered. And began.

Your Grace,

I have received your letter instructing that you wish to cancel our contract. This will not eventuate. I know why you visit the forest, I know about the secret cavern and your role in fabricating Elanor’s disappearance. For this reason we will continue the agreement as arranged, except now there will be additional arrangements for me to keep silent. Firstly, if and when I please, I will be entertaining a guest. Secondly, you are not permitted in this wing of the house under any circumstances, and any further money required will be supplied by you without question. Thirdly, as of now, you will communicate with me directly, not Philidor.

She folded the paper over, then rang for the valet. He would deliver it, but not before trying to read it first himself, she was sure.

After the valet knocked then entered without her permission, he glanced at her bureau where her response lay.

‘I presume you read the duke’s letter to Philidor?’ she asked. To enter again without permission was a mistake.

‘Naturally. I read it this morning before delivering it.’ He was so presumptuous as to sit down at his usual position in her chair while she remained standing next to the bed. Another mistake. She would let him assume this posture of familiarity for now. ‘I was called to attend Philidor last night so we did not get to have our little talk.’

‘I was tired so perhaps it was for the best.’

‘Do you often see things when you are tired?’

While she had anticipated this implication she couldn’t help but grip the bedpost she was holding just a fraction tighter. ‘Are you talking about Elanor?’

‘Yes, you seemed to be under the illusion that she was alive.’

She affected a shrug. ‘I was just tired. To think otherwise would be madness.’ A good night’s rest had restored her composure and brought clarity to her mind. She needed to steer the conversation in her favour.

‘Yes, it would.’ He raised his eyebrows before looking at her steadily. ‘Poor Cavendish is afflicted, he has fallen prey to the malady of loneliness. Why he wanted a human-sized doll, even though there are many women in London who would happily be picked up in a carriage and brought here to service a peer of the realm beggars belief! Heavens above, he could have a different one every night if he wanted.’

Back onto safer ground of which she was sure. ‘He is to become a peer? Quite a feat.’

‘Yes, the final sitting of the portrait to hang in the House of Lords will be completed this afternoon.’

‘And what does this peer plan to do with my creation?’ A light tone to keep it playful. He must not guess at her inner machinations.

‘I don’t know. Yet.’

‘Does he know that I was in his study? That I communicated with her?’

‘Well, given that you made the thing of course he knows you saw her. I must say Madame, I am surprised that you have made such a toy for the purposes of—’

‘You misunderstand me again,’ Marie said. He needed to be corrected. He bore it well and it also underlined her authority and status over him. ‘I meant, does he believe that I too may have communicated with her?’

‘No.’

‘Do you intend on telling him?’ What did this valet intend? Was he solely motivated by personal gain, or was there something else?

‘Do you, madame?’

‘I don’t know yet.’ She walked over to the window next to him and looked out upon the lawn. She must remain unaffected. ‘If I confessed that I did, it would certainly mean he would take me into his confidence. Which would mean I was in a position to “help” him.’ She paused, quickly glancing sideways to catch the look of jealousy that for a moment passed over the valet’s face. Yes, he valued his job and would do anything to protect it. And elevate his station. She tapped lightly on the windowpane in a distracted fashion. ‘I think,’ she said slowly, ‘That as intriguing and entertaining as that idea is, I’m not sure it is the right one. Now what was your advice about him terminating our contract?’

‘I offer no direct advice, madame, as you know, I just … help guide him to the most beneficial position.’ She could tell by his voice he had relaxed again. Assumed his smug demeanour.

‘Beneficial to whom?’ She turned back to meet his eyes with a wry smile. As if they were conspirators together. At least he needed to think that after the reprimand.

He smiled in return.

‘You will not benefit at all if my contract with the duke ends, but, I have written to inform His Grace that no such action will take place.’

‘Are you in a position to overrule him?’

Was that scorn she detected in his voice? He had no idea of who he was dealing with, of course not, she was a woman and therefore not as clever as him. ‘I am and he has no choice but to accept. And for now, it is best kept between entre nous that Cavendish’s madness has taken another turn with this doll. It may work to my advantage – to our advantage. I need some time to think. It has caught me unprepared, and I do not like surprises.’

‘I am pleased that if as you say, the duke agrees to your terms, then our arrangement can continue. I will certainly guide him in that direction as it also works in my favour, although how you have stayed his hand is intriguing,’ said the valet and paused, leaving space for her to reveal. She said nothing but kept her eyes trained on the lawn outside. He must understand that she had power over both him and the duke now. This should instil fear and respect. ‘And I do not like surprises either,’ he continued. ‘Which is why, in my humble opinion of course, I think the doll should go.’

She turned around fully and in a mocking tone said, ‘You have morals all of a sudden?’

The valet’s eyes glittered like the glass balls she used in her creations; the man was cunning. ‘I believe in God’s natural law and way of things,’ he said. ‘A man has desires, and women’s flesh is designed to accommodate them.’

‘That may be.’ Marie held back the retort she wanted to unleash on this beast, and instead handed him the letter for Cavendish. ‘But you are to leave the care of the creature to me. You are not to handle her without consulting me, do you understand?’

‘You are asking me to follow your orders above the great duke’s?’ he replied, mocking his superior. His brashness was a definite weakness.

‘I am and I trust you remember you have a very good, a very personal reason to do so. I am the one who can best manage this … situation. Philidor is not to know – he is a fool who would ruin everything. Now take this to the duke and wait for his reply.’

The valet took the letter from her and read it brazenly. ‘What is this secret about His Grace and a cavern and the forest I see you have referred to here?’

‘That remains between His Grace and myself. You may go now and deliver the letter to him.’ She gestured to him to get up while she assumed her position in the chair, moving it so she faced the looking glass again. He obeyed her instruction, which she took to mean that in his mind she still had the upper hand. She watched him through the mirror’s reflection as he opened the door. ‘Permit me a question before you go, monsieur. Why are you doing this?’

He smiled again. That smile with those glittering eyes that hinted at so much more. ‘I have my own reasons.’

‘Which you prefer to be discreet about?’

‘Let’s just say that if we use each other, with a bit of luck we will both get what we want.’ He shut the door.

Luck, thought Marie. What an interesting choice of word.