Authors: Elizabeth Squire
‘You’re a big dolt, Alfred,’ Sara chided.
‘Children,’ Yvette scolded. She then plonked herself excitedly next to Liliane. ‘Liliane, you’re not going to believe this. I received a letter, from Solange. She is on her way to England to visit us.’
‘Show me that,’ she said, grabbing the letter from Yvette’s hand.
‘This was sent over a fortnight ago, Yvette. Oh my God, she’s due to arrive tomorrow.’
‘Yes, I’ve sent word to Martinbury House to give her directions here. I’m very excited.’
Liliane passed the letter back to Yvette. ‘Have you told Uncle Nate or Lord Esselton about this?’
‘I’ve told Lady Beechworth. She’s looking forward to meeting Solange and has arranged a room for her.’ She indicated towards Sara and Albert. ‘We’re going to take a walk down to the pond, do you wish to come with us?’
Liliane shook her head absently. ‘You know, Yvette, I’m just going to go back to the house for a while.’
As she made her way back inside she realised this was the first time she had deliberately sought out Sin since that dinner three nights ago. To her relief it had been surprisingly easy to avoid him. Why she’d thought he would deliberately seek her out, though, when he had Lady Dennison to attend to was something she didn’t wish to contemplate.
She had departed the table on completion of the meal and proceeded to immerse herself in all the entertainments on offer. Between nature walks and picnics during the day, and games of cards, charades and dancing during the evening, she had chatted and flirted brightly.
Even Freddy Parkes had been the surprised recipient of her smiles and witty repartee. All the while she had been conscious of Francesca Dennison securing her position at Sin’s side, dancing with him, touching him, sharing intimate tidbits of conversation.
Liliane brushed a speck of dirt from the hem of her gown. When she had put it on this morning, the pale yellow dress with its sash of white satin and liberal pattern of rosebuds had lifted her spirits. Now, she wished she were wearing something bolder, something that would enshroud her in the confidence she so desperately needed in order to face Sin. Instead, she simply drew in a steadying breath and raised her hand to knock on the door to his study. She was so utterly exhausted.
***
Sinclair looked up, struggling to hide the surprise on his face. ‘Shall I call for tea?’ he inquired mildly, indicating for her to take a seat.
As she shook her head in refusal, he took the opportunity to study her. Over the past few days she had turned avoidance into an art form. For all of the sparkle she so valiantly displayed to those around her, the dark circles under eyes gave her an air of fragility, as though the slightest breeze would carry her away. He resisted the urge to take her into his arm and instead sat in an armchair across from her.
‘Are you enjoying the house party?’ he queried by way of polite conversation.
She nodded distractedly. ‘It’s been most diverting. But that’s not why I sought you out. Has there been any more word from London?’
Ah, straight to the point. Sinclair folded one leg upon the other and leaned back into his chair. ‘So far, we’ve not had any sightings of our assailant. I’ve got sentries positioned around the estate, and Martinbury is sending in reports from town on a daily basis. The fellow seems to have gone to ground, although Sir Avery’s confident that a new piece of intelligence may result in his apprehension soon.’
‘That’s reassuring at least.’ She flicked a stray hair from her eye. ‘I don’t know if Lady Beechworth has mentioned it to you, but Yvette received a letter from our cousin, Solange Beaumont. She has decided to pay us a visit. She’ll be arriving tomorrow.’
Sinclair sat forward. ‘As in arriving
here
, tomorrow?’ He swore under his breath. ‘How did she know where to find you?’
‘Unfortunately, Yvette sent a missive to Martinbury House giving instructions for her to join us here.’
‘You know what this means, don’t you?’
She looked defeated as she absorbed the blame for this latest development. ‘I’m afraid I do. I’m sorry, Sin, none of us foresaw this happening. If I could undo this whole sorry mess, I would.’
Bloody hell, he stood and raked a hand through his hair. He paced the room several times, every step laden with frustration. ‘It seems I’m about to be permanently retired from Sir Avery’s service.’ He shook his head in frustration. ‘I’ll write to Martinbury tonight, warn him what’s happening.’ He returned to his chair and sunk down into it. ‘Thanks for warning me. It would have been dashed awkward if I had not realised she was here before running into her in the breakfast parlour.’
‘Quite so,’ she agreed. ‘Sin, there has been something troubling me about the Cousin’s Legacy.’
‘Go on,’ he encouraged.
‘What if Michel Allard had been De Bois’s intended quarry all along, and we provided the means for De Bois to identify him?’ She paused, ensuring he was following her. ‘Allard was Henri Lyon’s nephew—perhaps this is the key to the Cousin’s Legacy. We’ve been so busy trying to determine which family may be the most likely candidates, but what if they have been known to us the whole while?’
Sinclair exhaled loudly, pausing to examine the potential of her argument. ‘You raise some valid points. Particularly as they are the reoccurring link between our assignment and Gareth’s murder. The only thing that gives me pause is the strong undercurrent of gossip here on our shores at the moment.’
‘I considered that, too, but,’ she shrugged, ‘unfortunately I can’t provide an explanation. Maybe the Lyon and Allard families also have a connection in Britain. It’s no different to the situation Yvette and I are in, really.’
Her comment gave him cause to reconsider. ‘You’re right, it’s not. It’s certainly worth further investigation.’ He stood. ‘I think I’m going to deliver that letter to Martinbury in person. It’s time I took a ride down to London for a meeting with Sir Avery.’ As he neared the door, he turned and grimaced. ‘Let my sister know that I’ll be back in time for her games night tomorrow evening, if you would. I would—’
The door behind him flew open to admit Lady Dennison. He suppressed a groan as, pretending not to see Liliane seated below the windows, Francesca snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth.
‘Sinclair, you wicked man. I’ve been waiting for you. You did promise to take me riding.’ He steeled himself against another of Francesca’s sulky tantrums. What had possessed Marianne to invite her? The woman was deserving of her own stage production, he decided as Francesca suddenly gasped loudly.
‘Oh, Miss Desailly, you sweet little thing. I didn’t see you sitting in the corner there—you’re such a well behaved child,’ she simpered. ‘Please excuse my rudeness, I own to being a little impatient when my Sinclair keeps me waiting. It’s not normally like him to be so forgetful of my needs.’
Careful not to look at Liliane, he placed his hands on Francesca’s hips and moved her away from him. ‘My dear, I was just coming in search of you.’ What he’d really like to do, would be to send her packing, though it just wasn’t worth the drama.
‘I’ll speak with you later, Miss Desailly,’ he said over his shoulder. The look on her face suggested that would be a highly unlike prospect, however.
Damn.
Francesca Dennison revelled in stirring up trouble.
Lady Beechworth stood in the middle of the salon clapping her hands loudly to no avail. ‘It’s time for the games to begin people, if I could just have your attention this way.’ She clapped a little louder, frantically waving her arms in front of her.
Cornelius nudged Liliane. ‘If she doesn’t get everyone’s attention shortly, she’ll climb upon that coffee table and topple into someone’s lap. Time to end her misery.’ He stood up and in a booming voice called out, ‘Ladies and gents, I think my cousin is trying to tell us that it’s time to divide into teams for this evening’s entertainments.’
Liliane looked about for a likely team member when Albert Dudley slipped his arm through hers. ‘This way, if I’m going to have to put up with Parkes on my team, you can too.’
She grimaced. ‘That’s hardly sporting of you.’
‘No, but self-preservation rarely is,’ he said as they joined the remainder of his team.
Liliane’s stomach dropped. Lady Dennison was also on her team. She plastered a smile on her face and turned to Francesca. ‘Drat, I was going to ensure I had Cornelius on my team,’ she confided to the lady. ‘I believe he’s unbeatable at charades.’
The dismissive look Lady Dennison gave her in return was disconcerting. ‘If you say so, but why have the spare when you can have the heir.’ She stood and waved across the room. ‘Lord Esselton, over here, I have saved a place for you on my team.’ She turned back to Liliane. ‘I really don’t know where he runs off to all of the time. Of course, I shan’t complain, he always comes back.’
Sin briefly acknowledged Lady Dennison’s summons before stopping to speak briefly with Yvette. Liliane paused, Yvette’s colour paled several shades before she nodded and held out a hand to accept a slim package from him. After several more moments of talking, Yvette stood and left the room. Curious to discover what that conversation had been all about, Lilianee made to rise from her seat when Sin joined them.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear. ‘For reasons we are yet to determine, Miss Beaumont did not turn up at Martinbury House today, but there was a letter for Yvette. I have left the matter with Martinbury to investigate further but it might be that Solange is simply yet to arrive in England.’
He glanced towards Yvette’s departing figure. ‘Yvette is disappointed, but she doesn’t seem overly distressed. She’s decided she wants to read her letter in peace, I don’t think she is in particular need of any comfort.’
Liliane frowned. ‘Thank you. Perhaps Solange was delayed by rough weather. Summer storms often disrupt the sea routes.’
‘Quite so,’ he concurred.
Lady Dennison had left little option but for Sin to squeeze himself into the small space beside her on the chaise. She leaned in and adjusted the folds in his cravat. ‘I was sure you would get back in time,’ she purred, just loud enough to be overheard.
Liliane attempted to ignore the familiarity between the couple and concentrate on the game at hand. She had already made it clear to Sin that they wouldn’t suit, that there could be no future for them. Really, his actions only confirmed what her heart had already known.
Albert drew her attention. ‘Liliane, I’ve hardly had the slightest opportunity to speak with you these past few days.’
The tone of his voice gave her pause. ‘Albert, we speak all the time. We’ve been on walks to the village, picnics by the pond, and we’ve participated in all the after dinner entertainments together.’ As she continued in hushed tones to Albert she noticed Sin surreptitiously watching her. Determined to ignore him she moved closer to Albert.
Albert’s voice contained an element of urgency she hadn’t heard before. ‘Damn it, I don’t mean just polite conversation. I mean talk, really talk. Would you come for a stroll with me, in the gardens, after supper is served tonight?’
‘A midnight stroll? That’s an excellent idea,’ agreed Sin. ‘I propose we all go.’
Liliane felt sickened as Lady Dennison’s throaty voice tittered. ‘Oooh Sinclair, what a positively naughty idea.’
That particular comment earned her a rebuke from Freddy. ‘I must insist, Lady Dennison, your comments are highly inappropriate for the ears of genteel young ladies such as Miss Desailly.’ Ignoring Lady Dennison’s outraged look he turned to Liliane. ‘Miss Desailly, I would counsel you. Your reputation may not withstand robust scrutiny if you were to participate in such clandestine activities at this hour of the day.’
‘Then I am to assume, Mr Parkes, that I am therefore given leave to participate in clandestine activities at any other hour of the day? I must thank you.’ Beside her Albert coughed indecorously, rewarding him with a frown from Freddy.
‘Thank you for your concern, Mr Parkes,’ Sin dismissed. ‘As I am Miss Desailly’s host, and Mr Dudley a family friend of long standing, you insult us both with your implication that we lack the honour to safeguard her virtue. Please, don’t feel obliged to join us on our evening ambulations.’ A hush sat over the group as Freddy fussed around with his cravat before excusing himself, citing the need to attend to some correspondence.
‘Droll old windbag,’ Albert muttered.
Liliane slipped a look at Sin; for someone who was so seemingly occupied with Lady Dennison’s charms, he was certainly quick to insinuate himself into her conversation.
***
How did she end up in this situation, Liliane chided herself as she attempted to simultaneously close her ears to Lady Dennison’s vulgar giggling and deflect Albert’s attempts to divert her down a side path. Obviously, the Navy had pardoned him of all gentlemanly constraint. Had he forgotten she was his sister’s friend, not some lightskirt?
Slipping her hand from his arm and searching for a distraction, she reached down and plucked a bud from a rosebush lining the path along which they meandered. ‘I love the fragrant smell of summer flowers—they’re positively heavenly, don’t you think, Albert?’ She tilted her head back and breathed deeply. ‘If only someone could blend each of these scents into just this precise ratio, you would have the most perfect perfume.’
Albert closed the space between them and placed his nose at the base of her neck. ‘Personally, I prefer something much more natural, more womanly.’ He inhaled slowly. ‘And you smell very womanly.’ He grasped her hand, his voice laced with urgency. ‘Liliane, I have wanted to tell you for days now, I can’t stop—’
Oh good Lord, had he been imbibing? Liliane pulled away from his grasp and blindly grabbed at another stem, only to earn herself a handful of thorns. ‘Blast,’ she cried, clasping her hand to her chest.
‘Let me,’ Albert offered, attempting to prise her hand away from her body.
‘No, Albert, I shall be fine. I’ll see to myself. Thank you.’
‘Show me.’ Sin’s lazy voice washed over her. A spark of amusement lit his eyes as he grasped her gloveless hand, sending frissons of warmth shooting up her arm. Liliane tried to jerk away, inwardly seething. The wretch had obviously not missed Albert’s words or her reaction, and nor was he going to release his hold on her.