A figure loomed over Mary in her semi-darkened bedchamber. Had Gilbert finally come to see her?
“My lady.” Greene’s small hand tapped Mary’s arm. “Wake up. You’ve not slept like the dead before.” Her maid scowled and placed a cool hand to her forehead. “You don’t appear to be unwell. What is the matter with you?”
Nothing was amiss with her physically. She simply no longer had Lady Frances waking her as soon as dawn broke and the voices of others chattering to keep her awake all night. Mary had slept soundly once she had finally given up on Gilbert appearing.
Sitting up, she stretched her arms and hands above her head. It was peaceful to wake to not a sound but that of Greene’s mumblings. “What time is it?”
Greene pulled back the curtains. Bright sunlight streamed into her room. It was well past dawn. Lady Frances believed it sinful to lie about all morning. Mary released a sigh as she lowered her hands to her lap. She missed Lady Frances.
Her eyes fell upon the pile of discarded missives. How many times had she begun to draft the critical messages only to be disheartened to find her mind unable to produce the appropriate words? Lady Frances was never at a loss for a quick retort or nice turn of phrase. After hours laboring over the correspondence, Mary had been quite pleased with the end result and was certain Lady Frances would have approved of her efforts.
Greene clucked her tongue. “Out of bed, my lady. It is time for us to meet that nasty Comtesse Boucher and get you fitted for a gown for tomorrow’s masquerade party.”
Swiveling her legs over the side of the bed, Mary eased herself down until the balls of her feet touched the plush carpet upon the floor. “Tomorrow? I thought it wasn’t until the end of the week.”
Shaking out a day dress of light green muslin, Greene said, “Rumor below stairs is that the lady of the house changed her mind late last night. Everyone is in a scurry to have all readied for tomorrow.”
Mary stretched her arms out, allowing Greene to quickly dress her, and then she retrieved the mound of discarded paper by the bed and added it to the fire that blazed in her chambers. She prayed the missives that she had dispatched late the prior eve would reach Lord Archbroke in time—before any harm could come to Lady Grace or himself.
Absently, Mary padded over to the washbasin to perform her morning routine. The empty feeling in her chest that had plagued her all night remained. Why had Gilbert not sought her out? Her hand stilled—her toothbrush jammed against her back teeth. Had the comtesse lied and sought out Gilbert despite their agreement?
There was a scratch at the door. Mary promptly placed the toothbrush next to the basin and raised a cup of clean water to her mouth to rinse. Humph. Gilbert and the comtesse. Mary spat, ridding herself of the water in her mouth and the horrid image her mind had conjured up of the pair.
Mary swiveled to face Greene and nodded. Her maid turned the door handle and swung the door open wide. Gilbert and Hadfield stood shoulder to shoulder in the doorway. It was as if they were battling over who would enter first.
Gilbert won. “Good morn, Mary. Did you sleep well?”
With a mischievous smirk upon his face, Lord Hadfield closed the door and leaned back against it.
Mary turned her gaze back to Gilbert. “Good morning to you and Lord Hadfield. Why are you both here?”
Lord Hadfield cleared his throat. “We have a rather important matter to discuss with you.”
Mary took a step toward Gilbert. “I have information that I was able to garner from our hostess last eve that is of import.”
Gilbert tilted his head and nonchalantly said, “Ladies, first.”
“Burke utilizes Comte Boucher for transportation schemes.”
Gilbert’s features visibly relaxed and his lips curved into a smug smile. “We are well aware of Boucher’s dealings with Burke.”
Mary wanted to box Gilbert’s ears for employing an all-too-familiar condescending tone with her. “Oh, so you know he assisted Burke to transport three of your fellow peers.”
“Beg pardon?”
Good. She had wiped the all-knowing grin from his features. “Yes. Comtesse Boucher informed me that her husband at times transports individuals, and when I pressed her, she recalled Lord Harrington, Lord Hereford and Lord Addington’s names being mentioned. All peers of the realm. The comtesse also informed me that it is rumored the men have escaped Burke’s clutches.”
Gilbert turned to face Lord Hadfield. “We should tell her.”
Hadfield nodded. “Lady Mary, Waterford and I came to the Continent to track down some misplaced crown jewels. It was Lady Cecilia, under the instruction of Lady Grace, who followed me and informed us that Harrington and Hereford, along with her brother, Lord Addington, had been captured and were being held prisoner in some remote location in Spain.”
“Did you know it was Lord Burke who had orchestrated their detention?”
Gilbert shook his head. “We did not. Not until Lady Cecilia produced the note from the foreign secretary, which she only shared with us after she had been reunited with her brother.”
Mary’s forehead wrinkled. The number of members of the ton involved with the Home Office was astounding. It was apparent not all titled gentlemen lead lives of idleness and decadence.
She assessed the men before her. No, they were certainly not men of leisure.
Facing Gilbert, she said, “I was led to believe that Lucy’s brother, Lord Harrington, was an agent of the Home Office, like you.”
“It would be hard for one to define Harrington’s role.”
Placing her hands on her hips, Mary asked, “Does he or does he not report to the home secretary, Lord Archbroke?”
“He does.” Gilbert glanced over at Hadfield, who shrugged.
Mary wasn’t done with her questions. “And what of Lord Hereford and Lord Addington?”
Gilbert ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Hereford and Addington are agents of the Foreign Office. Like me, Addington spent most of the war here upon French soil but in a vastly different role—he was not enlisted by the military.”
Half the gentlemen Mary was acquainted with led rather complicated lives. Here she had thought the men of her circle were preoccupied with attending the House of Lords, running their estates, and producing offspring.
How did the two governmental bodies determine who of the ton was worthy to be involved with such covert activities?
Mary leveled her gaze at Gilbert. “If Lord Archbroke is the home secretary, who is the foreign secretary?”
“That is of no import to the current matter at hand.” Gilbert reached for her, but she backed away and his hands fell to his sides. “Valois and Boucher are at odds as to how to end their association with Burke. If Boucher has his way, the man will be dead by the end of the Season. But simultaneously, that will place many of our own agents and innocents in jeopardy.”
“Is Comte Boucher really capable of such a scheme?”
Gilbert answered, “Yes.”
Mary looked between the two men and said, “Then we must stop the comte.”
Lord Hadfield opened the door and peered out into the hall.
Gilbert whispered, “Boucher has accumulated many supporters. Apparently, Burke has either blackmailed or double-crossed many who live on both sides of the channel. Hadfield and I need to obtain the list of his supporters and the details of Boucher’s scheme.”
Lord Hadfield waved his hand in a circle as if telling them to wrap up the conversation.
Gilbert reached out for her hand and clasped it tight. “We need you to distract Boucher so we can search his study.”
“Me?” They needed her. Mary’s pulse began to race.
She caught Gilbert’s gaze and asked, “Are you certain you want me to assist?”
Hadfield interjected, “You are the only one we can trust.”
Lord Hadfield’s words extinguished the jolt of excitement that flowed through Mary. “Oh, I understand.”
Gilbert squeezed her hand once more. “I believe you can do it. Please Mary, assist us.”
She had asked him to believe in her, and he had stated he did. She would prove to him she was worthy. “Very well. I shall entertain the comte.”
Gilbert pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “You will do well.”
Without another glance, the men promptly left her chambers. Mary crossed the room and fell back upon her bed. How was she to hold Comte Boucher’s attention for an entire evening?