~ Twenty-One ~
LADY MARLING’S FRENCH STAFF WAS in a fever of conversations below stairs. Each one had something to dispute about the attempt on Napoleon’s life.
Biscuits were burned, arguments were rife, and poor Max, looking for a treat, was banished from the kitchen.
He arrived in the morning room, his head low, his ears back, and whined as Letty picked him up and set him in her lap. “There, there, my boy.” She reached over and took up a well, very well done biscuit, and offered it.
Max was immediately cheered up, and she laughed, ruffled his head, then looked up at the sound of Bel’s footsteps.
“Ah, there you are,” Aunt Fanny said as she looked up from her fashion magazine. “What news have you?”
Charles and Fitz followed, and appeared to be having an argument about the previous night’s events, wherein Fitz, sounding as though he were insulted, remarked, “Don’t fob off my notions! I am not a fool. I tell you there is bravery, cowardice, and foolhardiness. By remaining here in Paris any longer is without question, foolhardiness. Depend upon it!” Eyeing Charles scathingly he added, “That fellow…you know the one, he said something to that effect! I don’t know the fellow, but people are always quoting him about something or other!”
“Are you talking about Alexander Pope?” Charles asked incredulously.
“Yes, that’s the one,” Fitz agreed.
“Oh, I know what Fitz means. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,” Letty said.
“That’s it, aye. Don’t know the fellow, but he sounds a clever one to me. Listen to him, Charles.”
“Fitz, this is not the time,” Belfort stuck in with a glance towards the women.
“No? Very well, but tell me, who the devil is this fellow, Alexander Pope? I should like to meet him and shake his hand.”
Bel chuckled. “A poet who has been dead over sixty years.”
“Never say so!” Fitz looked astounded. “Imagine our Letty remembering something some dead chap said over sixty years ago.”
“Oh, faith!” exclaimed Lady Marling. “Bel, do tell us what you know about Boney!”
“Yes, well, what I know is that it was an explosion set off on the Rue St.-Nicaise, and it did indeed break Boney’s carriage window. However, the driver whipped his horses up, and they were able to rescue Napoleon.”
“The explosion destroyed several houses, shattering the windows on the side of the Tuileries. More than thirty innocent people were killed, and many wounded.”
“Oh my,” Lady Marling said, a hand covering her mouth. “This is something we need to discuss. I am not sure it will be safe here in Paris much longer.”
“Indeed, when we return, we will do just that,” Charles said. “Don’t fret, Aunt Fanny. We will see to everything.”
Letty remained quiet until Bel came to her and took her hand to his lips and said softly, “Letty, it is a great deal to ask, I know, but I should like you to remain here today…until we can ascertain what next must be done.”
“Yes, of course, Bel, except I mean to take Max for a walk in the park…that is acceptable, is it not?”
“I suppose,” he said on a frown. “Don’t go off too far.”
She nodded and watched him go with a sigh. It occurred to her that Bel was displaying a great deal of feeling in her regard, so much more than friendship. Was it real or was it her hopes leading her astray? Hope was a dangerous thing.
* * * * *
Later in the day, Letty was making her way to the kitchen with the tea tray she had taken up to Aunt Fanny, who was suffering from a headache. She set the tray down on a counter in the kitchen as one of the serving girls was shoving Max outside.
Frowning, she followed Max, as she wasn’t sure the gate to their back garden was closed, and with some exasperation, saw it wasn’t, and of course, there was Max running as fast as his puppy legs would take him, obviously set on having an adventure.
“Max!” Letty called, then more violently, as her pup had nearly arrived at the street. “MAX!”
Her pup could not resist the call of his mistress and turned, whining apologetically as he slowly walked back to her. She scooped him up and laughed to tell him he was a naughty boy and certainly putting on weight.
It was at this point that a dark vehicle waiting by the edge of the curbing caught her attention.
“Oh, Max, look at those matched greys. They are magnificent,” Letty said admiringly as she stared at the prime bloods leading the carriage.
The steps were lowered, and Lady Broadhurst began her descent. Letty realized she was very near Lady Liz’s establishment. “Dash it, I hope she doesn’t come this way!” Without thinking, she pressed herself out of sight beside the evergreen bushes lining the fence, and held her breath.
Suddenly, Letty heard a muffled gasp and peeped around the hedge to see Lady Liz forcibly detained by a masked man in a tricorn hat. She couldn’t quite see the style of the gun as the man jabbed it into Lady’s Liz’s side, but supposed it to be a horse pistol, for it was large. Hurriedly, she shushed her pup, who was objecting to being held.
She heard a man’s deep voice tell Lady Liz, “Order your driver to depart. Tell him I mean to see you to your door.”
Her ladyship complied, though Letty could hear the shakiness in her voice when she called up to her driver.
“What do you want?” Lady Liz put on a brave face. “My jewels? Take them.”
“Pretty sparklers, but not this time, Madame,” said the man, still speaking French.
All at once, Letty knew she had to act swiftly. This was no ordinary robbery. The French scoundrel meant to abduct Lady Liz!
Letty stepped out in the open and called out, “Halt!” Although she felt foolish, she was pleased that the ruffian did just that, turning surprised eyes to her.
“This does not concern you!” the man shouted.
“Yes, it does. I warn you, I have sent my servant for help. We live just down the avenue, and my brothers, accompanied by our armed staff, will be here momentarily!”
The masked fellow’s eyes narrowed, and it was obvious he was considering the truth of this. Letty was sure the villain would think about being faced with the gallows or escaping.
Apparently, she was correct, she thought, when he pushed Lady Liz away and ran for his carriage, and jumped onto the seat to whip his horse forward.
Letty rushed up to Lady Liz, who threw her arms around her, crushing Max, who objected strenuously and made both women laugh.
Lady Liz asked breathlessly, “What a clever woman you are. How can I ever thank you?”
“Oh, please, do not. I have only done what anyone would do in such an instance,” Letty said, and smiled. “I only wish Bel had been here, for he would have caught the blackguard and taught him a lesson. It isn’t right he should be allowed to escape so easily…don’t you agree?”
Lady Liz released a shaky laugh. “You are the most extraordinary young woman.”
“Oh, thank you. But why would such a scoundrel wish to abduct you, for depend upon it, that is what it appeared to be to me…an attempt at abduction.”
“I…I don’t know…unless…but never mind that now. Do come inside with me. We shall have tea.”
Letty laughed as Max was struggling to be put down. “I am so sorry, but I must get this rascal home. I am not even supposed to be outside because I promised Bel, but Max escaped and I chased after him, which turned out to be a lucky thing.”
“Bel, eh? Sounds as though he cares a great deal about you?” Lady Liz asked, Letty thought, almost hopefully.
“I suppose, in his way,” Letty said softly. “At any rate, I do hope we meet again soon. I must go now, but I think you should go inside right away.”
“Yes, yes,” Lady Liz said, frowning as she hurried towards her front door.
Letty hugged Max to her and said, “Indeed, little man, I shall put you down as soon as we are safely inside!”
* * * * *
Toddle opened the front door, and as Letty bent to put the frenzied puppy down, he told her, “Ah, Miss Rochdale, the viscount has been asking after you. He is in the library.”
Max ran for the kitchen, where Letty was sure he would be coddled and given a treat by Cook, so she headed for the library.
Letty glided into the room, excited to relate her adventure, placed a kiss on Aunt Fanny’s cheek, and brought her attention to the viscount, who had patted the empty place on the sofa beside him.
His violet eyes devoured her, and she met his gaze with a twinkle as he said, “Now, where have you been and what have you been about? I distinctly remember you promised to stay indoors.”
She peeped at him. “Max escaped, you see, and so I chased after him.”
“Should have left that job to one of the servants,” he admonished.
“He is, after all, my dog, my responsibility,” she countered, her chin well up. “And if you don’t wish to hear what happened, I shan’t tell you.”
“What happened?” Aunt Fanny stuck in. “I thought your cheeks were as rosy as your eyes were full of laughter.”
“Indeed, Aunt Fanny, you will never believe it, but I actually saved Lady Elizabeth, and now we have become friends!” Letty bubbled.
“Eh? What does that mean?” the viscount inquired, turning on the sofa to face her and take her hands. “You are not hurt?”
“No, no…” she breathed, her face aglow. “I hid behind the hedge, you see, as I felt silly chasing after Max without even a cloak, and did not wish Lady Liz to see me and think me a hoyden…so I hid, and then this masked man…”
“Masked man?” both Aunt Fanny and the viscount shouted at once.
“Indeed,” Letty answered, nodding, “Masked and with a gun, which he shoved into her ladyship’s side as he grabbed hold of her from behind!”
“What the devil!” the viscount breathed in shock.
“Exactly, Bel. I couldn’t imagine what was towards, because if it was a robbery…well, he made no attempt to take the diamonds she wore.”
Charles and Fitz had walked into the room in time to hear this last, and Charles exclaimed, “What is this? Did I hear Letty correctly?”
“Quiet, let her finish,” Aunt Fanny instructed impatiently. “Go on, my love.”
“I shouted out for him to stop, and told him I sent my maid to fetch my brothers and they would come armed. So, he ran off.”
“What did he want? What is all this?” Fitz asked.
“He was trying to abduct Lady Elizabeth,” Letty explained.
“But why?” Aunt Fanny asked.
“I don’t know, but I imagine, from what I have heard…that it might have to do with Bourriene. From the gossip I have heard, she has rejected his…his advances, and he would not have taken rejection very well. Is it possible he wished to teach Lady Elizabeth a lesson?” Letty said knowingly.
“Letty, what do you know of such things?” The viscount took her chin. “What, little one?”
“I am not as green as everyone seems to think…perhaps I am not as sophisticated as Lady Liz, but I hear things and understand,” Letty said softly.
“Blister it! Letty, my own dear-heart. I thank the Earth, the sun, and the moon that you are nothing like Lady Liz,” Bel said with feeling.
She felt the heat rush into her cheeks and met his violet gaze to say softly, “You are most kind, Bel.”
“Not kind, truthful,” he countered, and hugged her. “I must keep you closer, little one.”
She dimpled and said, “All is well. The ruffian had a horse and wagon waiting, and rushed off rather than encounter any further opposition. What is more to the point is I think you need to jot off a note to John Darcy—immediately,” Letty said.
“John? Why?” The viscount frowned.
“He should know she may still be in danger. He will give her some protection.” She frowned. “You see, Bel, I am certain she is still in danger.”
“Very well, love. Go on to the dining room for breakfast. I’ll join you there in a moment after I send ’round a note to him to call on Lady Liz, and perhaps get to the bottom of this thing.”