Ducal Encounters 02 - With the Duke's Approval (25 page)

Anna laughed. “That is undeniably true.”

“So tell me, what happened next?”

“Well later, when I was dancing with Mr. Brigstock, I noticed Clarence in a corner, in very intense conversation with Mrs. Hardgraves.”

“Well, of course he was angry, and of course he would take her to task for approaching you. It is the height of bad manners for a mistress—although she was never that to Clarence, more a dalliance—”

“There is a difference?”

“A huge difference.”

“Goodness.” Anna puffed out her cheeks. “I have a lot to learn.”

“A man sets up a mistress in a property. He pays all the expenses, gives the lady an allowance as well as generous gifts, and usually undertakes to look after any children resulting from the liaison. Quite often, there are written agreements to that effect. A dalliance, on the other hand, such as Clarence had with Amelia Hardgraves, is simply…well, physical. I dare say Clarence gave her gifts, but nothing more. You have nothing to worry about. Amelia wants Clarence. Her feelings are not reciprocated, and that’s an end to the matter. No one, but no one, will make Clarence Vaughan do anything he does not wish to.”

“I hope you are right about that. The woman made me feel very foolish. I didn’t know what to say to her.”

“That was what she was relying on. She would know you are innocent, and she was trying to shock you into not taking Clarence. Pay her no heed.”

“Thank you for the reassurance. I shall try not to think about her again.” Anna paused. “But what if I
do
marry Clarence. Will he have another dalliance, or take a mistress, do you suppose?”

Frankie smiled. “I doubt that very much indeed.”

“But gentlemen do.” She tilted her head, blushing as she asked Frankie a very personal question. “Did your husband?”

“Goodness no. Gerald was many things, not all of them nice, but he most definitely did not look to other women.”

“It must have been very reassuring to have so much confidence in your husband’s love.”

Frankie looked down at her folded hands, varying shades of irritation and dismay etched in her expression. “Gerald and I understood one another very well indeed,” she said in a tone that discouraged further questions on the subject. Anna sensed she had touched a nerve and regretted discomposing her friend.

“There is so much more to worry about when considering matrimony than I had at first realised.” Anna sighed. “I mean, when we came out, every single girl had one subject and one subject only on her mind. And that subject was snaring a rich and charming husband. None of us were warned of all the pitfalls along the way.”

Frankie smiled, seeming to have shaken off the reflective mood occasioned by Anna’s careless question. “Where would be the fun in that? Half the battle is working these things out for oneself. Besides, if a lady knew all the foibles pertaining to her heart’s desire, she would probably run in the opposite direction, screaming.”

“It can’t be so very bad, can it?”

“What cannot be?” Zach asked, joining them, both dogs at his heels.

“Your sister and I were discussing the joys and perils of matrimony,” Frankie replied.

Zach flexed his brows. “Then I am interrupting.”

“Not at all, your grace. I believe we have exhausted the subject.”

“That I cannot accept.” He fixed Frankie with a challenging smile. “It is a subject upon which most ladies always have too much to say.”

“How would you know, Zach?” Anna asked, sharing a wry smile with Frankie as she bent to scratch Phantom’s ears. Frankie supplied a similar service for Phineas.

“I am a duke. I know everything.”

Anna shook her head. “He always says that when he can’t think of a better reply.”

Zach laughed as he took a seat beside the fire. “That is because it is true.”

“Did I also mention that my brother numbers modesty amongst his many attributes?”

Zach looked down his nose at Anna in an exaggerated attempt to appear superior, only to succeed in making her laugh. “I have something to be modest about?”

“I see what you mean,” Frankie said to Anna.

“Are you expecting Romsey to call today?” Zach asked.

“He said he might.”

“And so he should,” Frankie replied.

“I would prefer him to concentrate upon finding out what Count von Hessel is playing at, rather than dancing attendance upon me,” Anna said. “I won’t feel comfortable until that situation is resolved. I sensed him watching me all the time at the ball last night, or so it seemed. Perhaps it was just in my imagination. Be that as it may, his very presence made my skin crawl.”

“Don’t worry,” Zach said, leaning forward to pat Anna’s shoulder. “I know you are still haunted by your ordeal. How could you not be? But Romsey knows it too, and is determined to get to the bottom of it.”

“If he can spare the time,” Anna muttered under her breath.

“Did you say something, Anna?” Zach asked, looking a little bemused by her attitude.

“Oh, don’t mind me.” She flapped a hand. “I am quite out of sorts today. I must be more tired than I realised.”

“But still, something concerns you.” Zach sat forward and focused a concerned look upon Anna’s face. “Tell me.”

She shrugged. “There’s nothing specific to tell, other than that Clarence is too secretive for his own good. He won’t tell me anything, and I keep seeing shadows where none exist as a consequence.”

“He’s a diplomat,” Frankie said softly. “It is how they operate. Don’t blame Clarence, my dear. It is such instinctive behaviour, he can’t help himself.”

“Yes, I am sure it is. But I would feel so much better if he told us everything he knows, or suspects, about von Hessel’s intentions. I can’t help feeling he is holding something back, as though he is trying to protect me in some way.”

“Better late than never,” Zach replied, scowling.

“Zach, we have already been through all that,” Anna said in a tone of exaggerated patience. “I don’t need protecting from the truth. It just makes me more nervous.” She sighed. “Has Clarence confided in you?”

“No, you know everything I do.”

Anna drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair, but before she could challenge Zach, Faraday entered the room and announced Clarence.

“Well then, Anna,” Zach said mildly. “Perhaps you will get your answers after all.”

“We shall see.”

Anna was surprised by Clarence’s appearance. She had not expected to see him until after luncheon, if at all. He had said he would call, but he had so many other claims upon his time that were more pressing. She had lost count of the number of times he had been accosted the previous evening by serious-looking gentlemen who clearly were not there to dance. But here he was, and Anna felt her face heat as he headed straight for her. He sent her an infectious smile, took her hand and kissed the back of it.

“Are you all right?” he asked softly.

She knew he was referring to the incident with Mrs. Hardgraves, which was the real reason for her unsettled mood, and appreciated his sensitivity. She summoned up a smile of her own and nodded.

“Yes, I am perfectly well, I thank you.”

Clarence greeted Frankie and Zach and took the chair opposite Zach’s, which just happened to be next to hers. Phantom roused himself, sniffed Clarence’s hand, and then flopped back down on the rug again, next to his brother.

“I am glad to find you here, Winchester,” he said, “because at last I have some positive news to impart.” He sent Anna a prolonged look. “I thought you would want to know immediately.”

“We are all ears,” Zach replied, sending Anna an
I-told-you so
glance.

“It seemed to me a day or two ago that von Hessel’s military record really must be as clean and heroic as all the reports I have read indicate. Believe me, if there was anything known to his detriment I would have found a reference to it by now. Therefore, his actions must have been for some other reason. I know little of his background in Prussia, or where he plans to live when he is married to Miss Outwood. The second part of that conundrum was easily resolved. I had someone ask Miss Outwood, who was more than happy to talk about it. It seems the couple are to live permanently in Prussia as soon as they are married, and von Hessel will put his wife’s fortune to good use in filling his depleted coffers.”

“Miss Outwood told your people about his financial situation
?”
Zach asked sceptically.

“No, that intelligence came from elsewhere,” Clarence smiled, waving Zach’s question aside with a negligent and very elegant flip of his wrist, “but more of that directly. Discovering more about von Hessel’s family circumstances required a less direct approach. Since we are fairly sure he is the person who ordered Frankie’s abduction and took Annalise by mistake, and given he now knows Annalise and I are to be married, I could not approach anyone in his entourage and show an interest in his situation. It would have got back to him immediately and he would know we suspect him. And so, I sent some of my people, people who cannot be connected directly to me, to speak to the Prussian community in England. And what they learned made for very interesting listening.”

“Are you planning to enlighten us?” Anna asked when Clarence paused for breath.

“Most certainly,” he replied, smiling at her impatience. “Von Hessel has an uncle, a very powerful uncle, Count Brandenburg.”

“I have heard the name,” Zach said. “I had no idea he was connected to von Hessel.”

“To be honest, I only discovered that fact for myself a day or two ago.” Clarence shook his head. “An unfortunate oversight. Had I known, I might have put it together sooner. However, where was I? Ah yes, Brandenburg. He has no children of his own, but three nephews. Von Hessel, then a man called Heinrich, who never served in the military. He has a twisted leg, but is Brandenburg’s eyes and ears everywhere. Apparently nothing escapes his notice, and he has made himself indispensable to his uncle. The third nephew is a very interesting chap. His name is Wahlstadt. He served during the war and also enjoys a distinguished record.”

A footman appeared with refreshments and nothing more was said until he left the room again.

“The uncle is the power broker in this drama,” Clarence continued when they were again alone. “Brandenburg’s name is well known to me, although I have never met the man, and he is playing his three nephews off against one another. As a result of the Congress of Vienna, Prussia has regained much of its annexed territories, including the disputed Partition of Poland, which has been granted to them under Russian rule.”

“The Polish issue is a thorn in Prussia’s side, is it not?” Zach asked. “Royal Prussia was disbanded in ’06 and…” Zach’s eyes came alight. “Brandenburg wants to recreate it!” Clarence nodded. “How the devil will he achieve that with the Russians breathing down his neck?”

“He obviously thinks he can, and plans to put the best nephew for the job in charge of the scheme. Titles and riches will be poured upon that person, who will also be named as his heir.”

“And von Hessel loves being the centre of attention,” Anna said, finding the excitement flying between Zach and Clarence contagious. “We also know he is no coward, in spite of his dandyish appearance.”

“Precisely.” Clarence briefly touched her hand. “But his cousin’s claim is equally valid,
and
he is married to a well-born Prussian woman, which finds favour with his uncle. Von Hessel was forced to look to England to find an heiress to finance his ambitions.”

“They will never get away with it,” Zach said.

“You underestimate patriotic fervour,” Clarence replied.

“But, even if they can achieve it, it will start a war against Russia.”

“I doubt whether they care.” Clarence shrugged. “What is the sacrifice of a few more of their countrymen for the sake of their ambitions? Napoleon thought that way, and the French flocked to follow him.”

“True enough.”

“Are you absolutely sure about this?” Anna asked. “Surely, such a daring plan could not have been missed by those watching the situation. We all know just how volatile matters are in Europe at the moment.”

Clarence fixed her with a look that implied he was impressed by the question. “No, we are not certain. This information has been extracted from a number of different sources, and we have pieced it together, coming to the only obvious conclusion. It explains why no one at the Foreign Office knows anything about it. Brandenburg is playing this close to his chest. But, whether we are right or not about the Polish issue, is not the point. We are absolutely certain Brandenburg is set to name his heir. We have had it confirmed by several different sources. That in itself would be enough to have von Hessel doing whatever is necessary to win favour.”

Anna nodded. “And so you think von Hessel is not looking to destroy papers to his detriment, but rather discover some that will discredit his cousin?”

“Precisely.” Clarence shook his head. “Fools that we are, we have been looking in the wrong place.”

Frankie, who had said nothing during the entire exchange, finally spoke. She looked pale and her hands were not steady. “The name Wahlstadt sounded familiar the moment you mentioned it, Clarence, but I could not think at first where I had heard it. But, I am absolutely certain Gerald was looking into his activities immediately before he died,” she said slowly. “That must be why I recognised it.”

“Are you all right, Frankie?” Clarence asked, concerned by her pallor.

“Yes, fine. Don’t fuss, please.”

“Pardon me, but you don’t look fine,” Winchester said, clearly concerned also.

“Thank you, your grace. That is just what a lady wishes to hear.”

Winchester sent her a teasing smile. “That is not what I meant.”

Frankie encompassed both Clarence and Winchester with her gaze. “If this man Wahlstadt knew of Gerald’s assignment, and if he has something to hide…oh no!”

Winchester got up, poured brandy for Frankie and crouched beside her chair, encouraging her to take a sip. “Calm yourself, Lady St. John. I can imagine what you are thinking. Your husband died under questionable circumstances, generally believed to be an unfortunate accident, but you are now wondering if Wahlstadt had a hand in his demise.”