~ Ten ~

 

 

THE SUN GLISTENED BRIGHTLY THROUGH Letty’s window as she darted about completing her toiletries, and taking Max into her arms, she went downstairs to the back courtyard for a walk.

She was anxious to see Bel, for he had sent dinner to her in her room. She supposed that was the safest thing to do after her encounter with the Comte, but she had missed being with the viscount, Fitz, and Charles.

Max ran and played in the frosty snow before she scooped him up and took him inside, where she met Heckson issuing last minute instructions to the postilions. This would be the final lap of their journey.

He saw her and said, “Shall I take Max? We will be leaving very shortly.”

“Oh, I thought I would keep him with me for the last leg…” she started.

“But it is cold, and I think he will be more comfortable on his blanket inside the coach with me. I promise, I shall look after him, and I have a breakfast already prepared for him. He shall do.”

She gave the pup up, kissing him before she placed him in Heckson’s hands, and went towards the breakfast parlor. She had been in such a rush that she never saw Bel’s approach and walked right into his hard body.

He held her by her shoulders and laughed. “Hold on there, madcap!”

Letty blinked, pleased he was no longer annoyed with her because of her encounter with the Comte. It had been yet another scrape, and she thought he would be issuing a lecture this morning. Instead, he said, “Sleep well, little one?”

“Why, er…yes…Max curled up next to me and we both slept through the night.”

He took her elbow and opened the door to the private breakfast room. Fitz and Charles were both inside, although Fitz looked a bit under the weather, she thought.

Bel led her to the sideboard, which was filled with platters of hot food, and proceeded to fill both their dishes with scones, eggs, ham, and jelly.

Letty laughed. “I can’t possibly eat all that.”

“I have seen you eat more. Besides, we shan’t be stopping again until we get to Paris. I know you will be hungry if you don’t fill up now.”

“Speak softly, Bel,” Fitz admonished with a hand to his head.

Bel laughed and Fitz groaned. Letty smiled. Charles remarked, “No sirloin? The frogs have no notion how to feed a man in the morning!”

While they ate, Letty took to studying Bel’s countenance. He seemed conflicted, and wondered if he would be sad to hand her over to Lady Marling as planned. She knew she dreaded it. She would rather be anywhere with him at her side and asked tentatively, “Can I not continue to be a boy…and stay with all of you, Bel?”

“Don’t be daft,” Bel said on a frown.

She looked away.

 

* * * * *

 

He was in a turmoil of thought. Having his little one safely under his wing had given him a great deal of pleasure. In fact, he was surprised at how much pleasure he had experienced just having her around these last few days.

The trouble was, if anyone unmasked her disguise, they would automatically believe she was his mistress. He could not, would not, have that. His job, his duty, was to protect her from all evils, including that.

The notion her reputation could be ruined filled him with anxiety. Thus, he made up his mind that she must be transferred to Lady Marling’s safekeeping immediately after arriving in Paris.

He was astounded at the depth of feelings he had about his responsibility towards Letty. Up until Letty arrived on his doorstep, his life had been one that was full of hedonistic pursuits. Yet he was also aware that protecting Letty had filled him with satisfaction, far more satisfaction than anything else in his life.

He noticed she was only playing with her food and said gently, “You must eat, little one. We will not be stopping.”

“I am too excited to eat,” she said, and sighed.

“Nonsense. If you don’t eat now, you will be asking to stop along the way,” Bel said.

“No, I will not,” Letty interrupted sharply. “I wouldn’t dream of causing you any delays.”

He eyed her fondly. “No, of course you would not. Do eat, for me?”

Letty’s heart swelled. “Of course,” she said, and applied herself.

Charles had watched this exchange with quiet but keen interest, and smiled thoughtfully at its conclusion.

 

* * * * *

 

It was after three hours of tortuous aching and whipping cold they entered Paris through the North Gate, and stopped to inhale the aroma of the city. “And here we are…glorious Paris. Indeed, it has its own scent, doesn’t it? London is all horses and leather, while Paris has the fragrance of love of life, the fermentation of ideals and gaiety,” Charles said, nodding his head.

Letty giggled. “Fragrance of love and life?”

Bel and Fitz roared, and Bel said, “Now you see our Charles…a sentimental romantic!”

Charles smiled at the bantering that continued as they passed streets lined with houses of all forms and styles. Some sported turrets and pointed gables, others were mere shacks of wood, while still others were constructed of stone and bricks. There was no conformity on any street, until they came to streets lined with mansions boasting pilasters and wondrous pediment façades.

Laborers at their jobs were everywhere, building and beautifying the intoxicating old city. Paris was undergoing a reconstruction, and Letty stared with wonderment and anticipation.

Elegant carriages carrying foreigners filled the narrow streets and wide boulevards. Stylish ladies glided over the promenade. English dandies strutted and studied the ladies. Letty pulled a face and told Fitz that she was quite sure Beau Brummell would not have approved of the French dandies’ garish styles.

As they passed the shops on Rue St.-Honoré, Letty had a glimpse of the most handsome creations she had ever beheld in her life and said, “Fitz…oh, Fitz…when I come into my inheritance, I shall buy a gown like that one!” She pointed enthusiastically.

“Indeed, that, my dear, is not for you,” he said beneath a frown. “It is for an older, married lady. You have not yet been brought out. Leave those decisions to Lady Marling.”

They arrived at their hotel a few moments later, and were immediately swept into the lobby by a rush of attendants who took charge of everything.

The lobby was elaborately decorated with Louis XV furniture, and was stunningly rich in appearance. And then Heckson came forward with her puppy, and all was right with Letty’s world.

She took him in hand, kissed and hugged, and kissed again, before she set him down as she was led to her room.

Bel followed and watched her a moment before he said, “You look so dashed happy, child, are you?”

“Oh, Bel, yes, and so is Max,” she said, unleashing him. “Paris is the most beautiful city in the world.”

He laughed and took her chin. “How would you know that, little one? You haven’t seen any other cities besides our own great London.”

“I just know,” she answered pertly.

He led her to an embroidered silk settee facing the burning fire, saw her seated, and sat beside her. “Dearest, I don’t want to let you down from your heights, but Charles has gone off to fetch his Aunt Fanny. They will be coming here to collect you and Max.”

“Oh no, not so soon, Bel! I thought this room…meant I would be staying here with you for a bit.”

“Hush now. You can’t possibly wish to remain in this ridiculous disguise longer than is absolutely necessary.” He put up his finger to stop her reply. “You need to go with Lady Marling. You will be cared for, and Max will have a bit of a courtyard to run around in, and it isn’t as though you won’t be seeing us every single day.”

“Every single day?” she asked in a small voice. “I only wish I could stay with you. Lady Marling is a stranger, and…and…”

“What sort of man do you take me for? I wouldn’t thrust you on just anyone. You will like Lady Marling.”

“Yes, but…”

“Anyone who asks will be told you were delivered to her by friends of your family who were traveling on to Europe. Heckson will be told the same story. My page will fall sick and return to London. We have it all in hand.”

“What if Lady Marling doesn’t like me?” she asked suddenly.

“Who could not like you? Silly chit. You are a loveable little thing—don’t you know that?”

They stared into one another’s eyes for an interminable time until the viscount cleared his throat and said, “Good girl. It is all settled then.”

It was at this auspicious moment that a series of knocks sounded at Letty’s ornate door and a male voice called out jubilantly, “Tristen, come on then, Tristen Belfort…I say, ole fellow…invite me in!”

“Hell and fire!” the viscount said, then continued to curse under his breath. It was Darcy! He told Letty to keep her cap low over her forehead, watched her don and pull it over her eyes before he opened the door.

Mr. Darcy, looking fit and exquisitely attired in a coat of grey superfine over a waistcoat of mauve satin and wearing knee breeches of tight-fitting grey knit, strode merrily across the room. As Letty kept her face lowered as best she could, she noted that his fashionable yet masculine attire was most attractive, and his black hessians were blinding with their shine.

Letty had edged just a bit out of sight towards the window seat. She took position there in the hopes she would blend into the room and not be noticed.

The viscount managed a smile and said, “Never say you’ve come from Calais already, John? ’Tis impossible, even for you.”

Darcy had gained the reputation of being a notable whip. He was considered to be among the best with a phaeton and pair, and it was often remarked that he drove to an inch—a nonpareil in his own right.

“No, no, dear fellow. Came in from Le Havre. It’s a much shorter ride overland from Le Have to Paris, you know. I traveled in my own coach, with a warm brick at my feet. I like tooling my own team or sitting astride that roan of mine, but not for hours on end in freezing weather. Have all my marbles, Bel,” he said as a sally.

Darcy bent and gave Max, who was attempting to catch his attention, a pet and said, “What is this one’s name?”

“Max,” the viscount said hurriedly as he slapped his friend on the shoulder good-naturedly and steered him towards the door. “We had our reasons for traveling from Calais. Come on then, I’ll show you my room.”

Darcy looked taken aback, for it seemed odd that Bel wanted to suddenly show him his room. He had, in fact, obviously noticed the viscount’s page and called out, “Hallo, young man. Do you come with us?” At this point, Letty stood up from the window seat and attempted to give him a greeting when Bel cut her off.

“No…he has already seen my room, and besides that, he hasn’t been feeling well,” the viscount answered for Letty.

“Oh? Hope you feel better, young chap,” Darcy said as he followed the viscount out of the room.

When they were out of hearing, Darcy looked penetratingly at his friend and said lightly, “Don’t mean to meddle, Bel, but you do seem very lax about the poor lad. Might he not have liked to join us? I expect sitting by himself in his room…is not any lad’s idea of ‘fun in Paris’.”

“He is bookish. He’ll read. He isn’t into chasing after the skirts yet, and he doesn’t go in for gaming, so I expect reading after the long journey we have had on horseback is just what will please him.”

Darcy chuckled. “Whatever made the lad want to join you on this trip to Paris? He could have stayed warm with his books at home.”

“Wants to have a look at Boney,” Bel answered quietly.

“Ah, yes, I see,” Darcy said with an inclination of his head. “Nice sort of lad, quiet though, and a bit smaller than most his age, I think,” Darcy said thoughtfully and then added, “and by the way, why did you choose to ride instead of taking the comfort of your coach such a long way?”

“Good Lord, John, how can you ask!” Belfort snorted for emphasis. “Have you ever been closeted knee to knee with bucks like Charles and Fitz on a tiresome journey? By God, you have not, or you would not have asked me the question.”

Darcy threw back his head with a gusty laugh and Bel gently guided him into his own room. Charles might soon be arriving with Lady Marling to collect Letty and he couldn’t allow Darcy to witness this.

They were joined in Bel’s suite by Fitz, who had been gossiping with some of the staff and had already heard a story about Napoleon’s escapades with his mistresses, and was anxious to relay it.