The Duke's Deception (16 page)

She shuddered.
‘I do hope not. This information must remain confidential. I have no desire to
be courted for my wealth or for anything else for that matter. It’s my wish to
live quietly in the country until my majority when I can access my fortune
without restriction.’

If he was
surprised by this startling announcement he covered it well. ‘You have no male
guardian at the moment; this makes you especially vulnerable. I would be
honoured to act
in
loco
parentis,
if that is acceptable, Miss Devenish?’

‘That is exactly
what I wish, Mr Sampson, thank you. I understand I cannot purchase or even
lease a property in my own name so could I ask you to do this for me? For
personal reasons I cannot return to Great Bentley at present. I would like you
to find me somewhere in Kent or Hertfordshire where I may live in seclusion
with Mr and Mrs Smith. Is that possible?’

‘It is unusual
but perfectly possible. I would advise Mrs Smith is promoted to the position of
companion. She is almost fulfilling the role now, is she not? Mr Smith is
already your man of affairs and he can continue as such. Mrs Sampson will find
you a suitable dresser and any other staff you might need for your
establishment.’

‘That would be
most helpful. There is a question I would like to ask you before I go, Mr
Sampson. It is not related my affairs, it is merely curiosity.’

‘I will answer
if I can. What is it you would like to know?’

‘I have a friend
who wishes to communicate with a relative who is still residing in France. Is
it possible to send a letter even though we are at war with the French?’

‘As far as I
know, my dear, there’s no restriction on personal correspondence. Although it

might take a long time to arrive. I
believe letters are sometimes diverted through Portugal; if it

is it is not being sent to Paris or
its
environs
I am sure it would
arrive eventually.’

‘And a reply? I
presume the reverse is also true?’

‘It is. I was at
a
soiree
the other night and
overheard a French
émigré
family
discussing having received a parcel of letters recently.’

‘Thank you, sir,
that answers my question perfectly. I shall instruct my friend to write the
letter and send it in good faith.’ She prepared to leave. ‘You will start
looking immediately for something suitable?’

‘I shall get a
man on to it today. I don’t I anticipate any difficulties; you must have the
pick of the properties as funds are no barrier.’

Marianne left
the study in growing agitation. The parcel of letters was hidden under her
mattress. She didn’t know what had prompted her to ask that question, but she
understood with a sickening certainty Edward and Charles had been duped into
traitorous transactions.

For the letters
could be nothing else. Innocent mail could be sent in the usual way. Why had
Charles not asked the same question before becoming involved? She hurried up to
her bedchamber relieved she had given Jane the morning off in order to spend
time with her husband.

She got out the
hated oil-skin package and with her sewing scissors carefully snipped the

stitches that held it together. She
removed the first folded sheet and smoothed it out. It was written in French
but even her limited knowledge of the language allowed her to recognize the
contents were most suspicious. She saw the words, “regiments” and “Wellington”
and knew she was in possession of material which could send her and her adopted
brothers to the gallows.

Chapter Sixteen

There was
nothing she could do to avert disaster. She couldn’t give the letters to Edward
to deliver so she would have to tell him what she had discovered. How would he
react to the information that he and his brother were technically traitors?

She was too
shocked and heartsick to make a decision. Then she recalled Theo telling her he
was on a mission and that she would have to trust him. He had also been out
with the customs the very night Edward had made his last delivery. It couldn’t
be a coincidence. Theo’s mission must be to catch the traitors; that was why he
was masquerading as Sir Theodore Devenish.

Despite her
awful discovery she felt the pall of misery lift from her shoulders. She
understood why he hadn’t been able to offer for her the first time; he had had
to complete his task before he could reveal his true identity. She smiled as
she pondered who he really was and if he would seek her out when his work was
completed.

Then reality hit
and her brief burst of happiness evaporated. The man she knew as Theo was
searching for Edward and Charles— his job was to arrest the perpetrators not
protect them from justice. She could see no way out of this, no happy ending.
If he did his duty and condemned Charles and Edward to death she would never
forgive him. But if he protected them his own life could be forfeit and that
would be even worse.

She felt a
familiar throbbing start over her right eye and knew she was getting a megrim.
She rang the bell and when Annie came in she sent her to fetch John and Jane.
She would tell the whole to them and maybe between them they could come up with
a solution. She prayed fervently there was a way out that didn’t put anyone’s
life at risk.

When she had
finished her sorry story neither John nor Jane spoke. She handed the opened
oil-skin package to John but as his knowledge of French was non-existent he
gleaned nothing from the writing.

‘If you’re quite
sure these are not the innocent letters Charles and Edward thought they were
delivering then there’s only one action that can be taken.’ Marianne waited for
John to tell her. ‘I’ll take these down to Sir Theodore, tell him everything;
if he is the man you say he is he will come up with something that satisfies
his masters and keeps the Grierson boys out of trouble.’

‘Oh, John, do
you think so? It’s exactly what I was going to suggest but I wished to hear your
views before I spoke.’

‘If I travel
post, Miss Marianne, I should be in Essex by early this evening. Master Edward
doesn’t return until the day after tomorrow and with any luck all will be
sorted by then.’ He stood up tucking the letters inside his jacket. ‘This means
you’ll have no-one here to accompany you or drive you out as Billy and Tom are
with Master Edward.’

‘Jane and I can
manage. There are plenty of footmen here to walk with us if we go to the
circulating library or for a stroll down New Bond Street.’

Reassured, he
nodded. ‘Then I will make haste.’ He quickly embraced his wife and half bowed
to Marianne.

She called him
back. ‘I have just remembered something Edward told me. The letters cannot be
delivered until the boat arrives and that won’t be for another four days. How
shall I keep him here and away from harm until then?’

John frowned.
‘You’ll have to tell him the whole, I suppose. At least he’ll be out of the
harm’s way.’

‘Very well, I
shall do that. God speed, John.’

Marianne didn’t relish
breaking such dark tidings to one so young and volatile. She dreaded to think
what Edward’s reaction might be.

There was
something she had to discuss with her maid. ‘Jane, I have a proposition to put
to you. Would you consider becoming my companion instead of my dresser? Mr
Sampson pointed out that when we go to the country I shall need a female
companion and this was his suggestion. After all John is already my man of
business.’

‘Well I never! I
shall be delighted, Miss Marianne, indeed I shall. You have both Annie and
Molly to do the chores. I would still like to help you dress, if that’s
acceptable for a companion.’

‘I have no idea
what’s acceptable or otherwise, we may decide for ourselves what suits. You’ve
always been a friend, more a mother than ever my own was. You and John can dine
with me once we’re established in our own house. That will be so much better.’
She stood up and another pleasant thought occurred to her. ‘If you’re to become
my companion then you will need a whole new wardrobe. Your plain grey and blue
dresses will not do.’

‘New clothes?
Whatever next?’ Jane smiled. ‘At least shopping will take our minds of other
things.’

They spent the
day in and out of haberdashers, milliners, cobblers and drapers until Jane had
all she needed. The materials were left with a mantua maker recommended by Mrs
Sampson and then they were free to return. The two footmen and Annie staggered
behind burdened with a variety of parcels.

Mrs Sampson
greeted them on their way upstairs. ‘Oh there you are, my dear, a card has come
inviting you to attend the opera tomorrow night. Do you have a suitable gown?
It will be a grand affair, you know.’

‘I do, Mrs
Sampson, thank you. In fact, I have three evening gowns and a ball gown.’

‘Excellent. I
thought you might, I have noticed how well turned out you are. I did not know
it was possible to be so
a la mode
if
you resided in the country.’ Mrs Sampson made the country sound as remote as
the furthest steppes of Russia.

As she settled
down in her fine chambers for her second night in London Marianne wasn’t sure
how she felt about anything. The man she loved had a good reason for not
offering for her but it didn’t explain why he had behaved so ungallantly in the
first place.

He had treated
her like a common jade or his mistress, not a respectable young woman. This
must mean he didn’t think of her as a possible wife only a girl to offer
carte blanche
to. She didn’t want him on
those terms and she resigned herself to becoming an old maid.

*

John made
excellent time travelling post but resented paying a shilling a mile for the
privilege. He arrived at the Red Lion in Colchester by mid-afternoon and was
able to hire a jobbing hack although he thought the cost exorbitant.

‘I could buy the
blooming nag for what I paid to have him for a day or two,’ he told the groom
who came to attend him when he finally arrived at Bentley Hall at a time most
respectable folk were eating their dinner.

He stomped up
the steps and followed the butler in having been informed, somewhat testily,
that Sir Theodore was dressing. The butler wasn’t sure into which category John
came - honoured guest or tradesman so asked him to wait in a small room beside
the front door.

John paced the
chamber, the packet burning a hole in his pocket. Now he knew exactly what sort
of person Sir Theodore was he did not expect the coming interview to be
pleasant. If as both he and Jane suspected this gentleman reciprocated Miss
Marianne’s affections the news that she had become, however unwittingly,
embroiled in treachery would not be received well.

He grinned. At
least he had had no part in it but he would not like to be in Edward’s boots
when Sir Theodore caught up with him.

The door opened
and Sir Theodore rushed in. ‘Mr Smith, I had not thought to see you again so
soon. I hope Miss Devenish is not unwell?’

‘No, sir, she is
in blooming health though not in the best of spirits as you might imagine.’

‘I am relieved
to hear you say so. Come through to the study. I will delay dinner until you
have said your piece.’

John plunged straight
in with the information that the Grierson boys had been the unwitting bearers
of traitorous material. Theo swore long and comprehensively.

‘It’s a bloody
good thing I didn’t know this when I spoke to Edward or he would not have left
here upright.’ He ran his hands distractedly through his hair. ‘God knows how I
can sort this out without someone dangling on the end of a rope.’ He glared at
John as if he were directly responsible for the catastrophe. ‘I will take the
letters.’ He held out an imperative hand.

He unwrapped the
parcel and removed one of the sheets and scanned the contents. His face
contorted with rage. ‘The bastards! If this had got through thousands of
Wellington’s troops could have been slaughtered. Where are they getting their
information from? There has to be someone at Horse Guards involved in this.’

‘Miss Marianne
mentioned an
émigré
, the
Duc
of something or other as the person who contacted
Charles. If you can get him then he might lead you to the spymaster,’ John
offered.

‘I need to
think. I can make no decisions at the moment. You will stay here until the
matter is sorted.’ This was an order not a request.

John had been
planning to return by mail coach the next morning but wisely refrained from
saying so. ‘Yes sir. I thought I would go into the village for my supper and
hear what’s being said about Miss Devenish. She’s concerned about scandal
following her to Town.’

Sir Theodore
glared and John stepped back. ‘I’ll have a tray sent up to your room. It will not
be necessary for you to go out again this evening.’

John not easily
intimidated, flushed slightly and nodded. ‘Thank you, sir, that is most
thoughtful.’

‘I shall talk to
you first thing tomorrow. Tell you what I plan to do. You will not go out until
I have spoken to you.’

*

The footman
escorted John upstairs and then continued to Theo’s apartments to request that
Vincent come down to the study immediately. Theo spread out all the letters on
the desk and began to read them systematically, making notes as he did so.
Vincent joined him.

He took one look
at Theo’s face and knew there was something wrong. He walked over and peered
down the letters. ‘God’s teeth! What is this? How did you intercept these, your
grace?’

Theo told him
and Vincent swore again. ‘Have you any idea how you’re going to sort this mess
out?’

‘I am beginning
to. Tell me what you think. I intend to copy these, replacing the damaging

information with erroneous details.
Then all we have to do is hand the false papers over on Friday.’

‘How can you
explain your possession of them? And who is going to be the courier?’

‘I haven’t got
that far, I’m working on it. But at least the substitution could turn this to
our advantage.’

The first
cockerels were crowing when Theo sat back yawned and rubbed his hands over his
bristly chin. ‘My plan will work. I’m certain of it.’ He pushed back his chair
and stood, stretching his arms and yawning again. ‘There’s little point in
retiring. A change of garments, a bath and a shave will revive me.’

‘There will be no
hot water at this time, your grace.’

‘No matter, I
can stick my head under the yard pump, it won’t be the first time I’ve done
that.’

In the yard he
stripped of his soiled white shirt and stripped to the waist whilst Vincent
pumped vigorously. Theo, in his breeches and boots immersed himself in the icy
water. He shook his head spraying drops over a curious yard cat which hissed
angrily and stalked away in feline indignation.

‘That’s much
better. Can I return the favour, Vincent?’

His man declined
the offer and laughing they returned to the house. Dressed in fresh clothes and
clean-shaven Theo went back to the study; he had further painstaking hours of
work ahead of him if he was to complete his forgeries in time.

He had asked for
breakfast to be served as soon as it was ready; he had eaten little the night
before and his stomach was growling angrily. He was sitting behind a heaped
plate when John came in.

‘Good morning,
sir. I was directed here, but will eat elsewhere if you prefer.’

‘No, come in,
Smith. I’ll tell you what I plan to do whilst we eat.’

John listened
carefully. ‘So you want me to dress up as Charles Grierson and deliver the
forged letters on Friday night?’

‘I do. You’re of
similar build and if you ride a Frating Hall nag, keep your hat pulled down,
and don’t speak, I think you’ll pass. I intend to visit Charles this morning.
He will give me all the details I require to make this work.’ Theo pushed aside
his plate. ‘Are you happy with my scheme, Smith?’

‘I am, sir.
But before you go.
I didn’t have time to tell you last night
that Miss Devenish knows you’re an impostor. Her lawyers discovered there’s no
such person as Sir Theodore Devenish.’

‘The devil take
it! How did she react to the news?’

‘With remarkable
equanimity. It was she who realized your true role down here - that of spy
catcher - and sent me with those letters.’

Theo grinned and
stood up bowing formally. ‘I will introduce myself to you Mr Smith.
Theodolphus
Archibald Frederick John
Rickham
, seventh Duke of Wister
at your service.’

John, on his
feet, bowed. ‘Delighted to make your acquaintance, your grace.’

‘Have you
listened to the gossip downstairs, are they still talking of Miss Devenish and
I?’

‘I’m afraid so.
Her sudden disappearance has added fuel to the speculation. This is the second
time Miss Devenish has been involved in a scandal and the second time she has
been forced to run away.’

‘Tell me what
happened in Bath, the letter from her grandmother, Mrs Devenish, merely said
she had been obliged to leave because of an attempted abduction.’

‘Sir James
Russell, may he rot in hell, made up to her. She being innocent of such men and
their wiles was taken in and believed he was her friend. Russell drove her out
on picnics with only my Jane as chaperone and the tattle mongers got to work.
Then I got wind he had arranged for a closed carriage to collect her and my
suspicions were aroused.’