A Season of Romance

by Wendy Soliman

  She had managed not to commit herself to any of the engagements they tried to press upon her, but couldn’t be sure that her mother had not accepted them on her behalf. Mama was in her element, looking happier than she had since Papa’s death, so Adela couldn’t find it in herself to resent her behaviour.

  The last of the guests were about to leave when a slight hubbub in the doorway caused all conversations to falter as Talbot announced Lord Bairstow.

  ‘My lord, such an honour.’ Mama smiled at the elegant sophisticate as he strolled into the room and bowed over her hand.

  ‘I was in the area,’ he said, returning her smile and transferring his attention to Adela. ‘I trust I find you well?’

  ‘As well as I was when we met this morning,’ she replied with an impish smile, her voice low enough for her not to be overheard above the resumed conversations.

  ‘Minx!’

  ‘What are you doing here? I have not yet had time to look through Papa’s things, but his trunk did arrive and had not been tampered with.’

  ‘Perhaps I simply wanted to enjoy the pleasure of your company.’

  ‘Unlikely,’ she replied briskly. ‘Mama tells me that you possess an unsocial disposition and avoid making calls as a general rule. So you are bound to set tongues wagging simply by being here.’

  ‘Your mother is right, ordinarily.’ He fixed the flowers sent by her admirers with a scathing look. ‘However, I have been known to exert myself if a person interests me. It’s just that society for the most part bores me rigid.’

  ‘Yes, I imagine it does, and I cannot help agreeing with you. It would be so much more interesting if one could speak about whatever one liked. There are so many subjects it is frowned upon to raise that spontaneous conversation becomes almost impossible.’

  ‘You and I are alike in that neither of us takes much notice of rules.’

  ‘It’s easy enough for a man in your position to do as he pleases. No one would dare to offend you by criticising your behaviour. It is less straightforward for me.’

  He chuckled. ‘But it will not stop you, I suspect.’

  ‘My aunt and cousin are on their way from Ripon,’ she told him, frowning at the prospect.

  ‘So soon?’

  ‘My thoughts exactly.’

  ‘Be careful. I don’t trust the cove’s intentions.’

  ‘There is nothing he can do to hurt me.’ Realisation dawned, causing a momentary panic which she quashed immediately. ‘Ah, you are thinking of our conversation this morning, and you worry that he might contrive for me to meet with an accident.’

  ‘Not when I have breath in my body to prevent it.’

  ‘I shall be on my guard. I’ll take an early opportunity to make a will and make sure that Daniel knows it.’

  ‘Just be careful.’ He smiled at her. ‘You have almost survived your first experience of morning calls,’ he said, glancing at the hands of the long clock that had almost reached three in the afternoon.

  ‘True, but there are more agonies in prospect. Mama is determined to have a soiree in two nights’ time.’

  ‘Then I look forward to being invited.’

  ‘I did not tell you in the hope that you would come.’

  ‘I am not welcome?’

  She chuckled at his affronted expression. ‘Don’t worry. Mama has sent you a card, but remains convinced that you will not attend. But my advice, for what it’s worth, is that you think carefully before you do accept. Having called here already this afternoon, tongues will definitely wag if you do. And then when our business is completed and you no longer need to see me, everyone will feel sorry for me because they will think I have been let down.’ She grinned up at him. ‘I rather like the idea of being a tragic object of pity.’

  ‘You have a vivid imagination. Even when we have resolved this business, I hope we can still be friends.’

  ‘Is it possible for unmarried members of opposite sexes simply to be friends?’ She felt herself blushing as she blurted out the question.

  ‘I have absolutely no idea. The prospect has never appealed to me before, simply because most of the unmarried chits inflicted upon me don’t hold two sensible thoughts in their heads.’

  ‘If that was supposed to be a compliment, then thank you.’

  ‘I did not bring flowers,’ Lord Bairstow said after a slight pause during the course of which Adela answered a question directed to her by a young man whose name she had already forgotten. Since his lordship had commandeered her attention, no one else had dared to interrupt them. ‘However, a gift that I think you might enjoy more awaits.’ He inclined his head to several of the guests who were now leaving, then glanced at Talbot, who nodded. ‘Your mare has arrived. Would you like to meet her?’

  ‘Most assuredly.’

  He indicated her departing callers with an elegant wave of one hand. ‘Wait until they have all gone.’

  ‘Ah, now I see why you called so late.’

  ‘Well of course you do. I wanted you all to myself.’

  ‘Ridiculous man!’

  ‘You see,’ he said, after she had seen the stragglers off and returned to where he had casually draped himself against the mantle, ‘sometimes society’s mores can be made to work in your favour. They were all dying to stay and see if they could work out what I’m doing here, yet they could not offend by staying beyond the prescribed time.’

  ‘Even so, your presence here will be known in every salon in London before the end of the night.’ She smiled at him. ‘But then I think you rather enjoy being talked about.’

  ‘It gives the tabbies something to occupy their time with.’

  ‘Mama,’ she said, now that they had the room to themselves again. ‘Lord Bairstow has kindly offered me the loan of a horse. She has just been delivered to our mews and I’d like to go and meet her.’

  ‘Oh, how very thoughtful, Lord Bairstow. Yes, my dear, do go. It gave me the greatest possible pleasure to see so many of my old friends again. I declare, I did not expect so many of them to call on our first afternoon back. But now I am fatigued.’

  ‘Go and rest, Mama. I think we should stay at home tonight and take our time immersing ourselves in society. It is positively exhausting.’

  ‘Yes, my dear. Perhaps you are right.’ Mama climbed stiffly to her feet. ‘Good afternoon, Lord Bairstow. Thank you so very much for calling.’

  ‘The pleasure was entirely mine, ma’am,’ he replied, bowing over her hand.

  Chapter Six

  ‘I am glad you persuaded your mother to remain at home this evening,’ Ezra said as he followed Lady Adela through the house and out into the long rear garden.

  ‘Because you are still worried about my welfare.’ They strolled the path together and were joined halfway down the garden by the white cat, which she bent to stroke. ‘Obviously, if anything happens to me then your chances of identifying the traitor will die with me. I can quite see why you are so concerned.’

  ‘Foolish child! Your wellbeing is more important than the traitor’s name. We will find that some other way.’

  ‘Fine words, far too gallantly spoken for me to point out that he has outwitted you all thus far.’

  Ezra sent her a droll look. ‘Thank you for the reminder. Modesty prevents me from mentioning that I have only become involved with the hunt for the wretched fellow since just before your father’s death.’

  She struggled to contain a smile. ‘Modesty does not suit you, Lord Bairstow. If the traitor is aware that you are now looking for him, I dare say he is quaking in his boots. Anyway, whatever the reason for your concern, it is appreciated but misplaced. We shall go out tomorrow afternoon to return calls, I expect. Mama tells me that we shall give offence if we do not. I secretly think that she is enjoying reacquainting herself with her friends, and I cannot deny her that pleasure.’ The cat wound itself around her skirts, almost tripping her. Ezra took her elbow. ‘Go away, foolish creature, before you cause an accident. Oh, not you, Lord Bairstow. I am sure you are
not foolish. It’s just this silly cat appears to have adopted me.’

  Ezra chuckled, enjoying her forthright manner. ‘I am gratified that you do not deem me idiotic.’

  ‘Oh, do stop being so charming. It is most off-putting, and you don’t have to pretend with me. Now, where were we? Oh yes, my activities, which you seem to find so interesting. We shall make calls in the afternoon and go to some party or other in the evening, I dare say. In order to discharge those duties, nothing more is required of me than I step into a carriage outside my own door and out of it again at someone else’s. Once inside, I cannot imagine that any of the guests will bump me off in the middle of a crowded room.’ She flashed a mischievous smile. ‘I am perfectly sure that killing each other, at least in public, is high on the list of activities that society’s matrons would disapprove of.’

  ‘I am so very glad that you are taking the matter seriously.’

  ‘If I was the traitor,’ she said, pausing to watch the cat, which had now hidden itself in the rushes at the edge of the pond, tail swishing, presumably waiting for a fish to swim within its reach, ‘then I would assume I was safe just so long as I continued to behave normally. After all, he has survived thus far. Although, of course, he has not been pitting his wits against yours for that long.’ A playful smile teased her lips. ‘Anyway, I very much doubt that the evidence my father amassed still exists. A quick search through Papa’s papers has not thrown up anything suspicious.’

  ‘Even so, it would be unwise to become complacent.’

  ‘No more talk of traitors with murderous intent.’ Her eyes sparkled as they reached the mews. She gasped when she saw the Arabian’s beautiful head peering over her half-door.

  ‘Oh my goodness, is that her?’

  Without waiting for an answer, she went straight up to the mare before Ezra could warn her about the creature’s bad temper. Lady Adela had a disconcerting ability to distract him. Predictably, the horse flattened her ears and attempted to bite Lady Adela’s arm, but received a sharp tap on the nose for her pains.

  ‘Stop that and behave at once if you want this carrot.’

  Harker had materialised to stand beside Ezra. Their jaws dropped when the mare actually whickered, pushing her muzzle into Lady Adela’s hand in search of the promised treat.

  ‘She is magnificent!’ She turned to smile at Ezra. ‘It is very kind of you to loan her to me. I can already tell that we will get along famously and that I shall want to purchase her from you very badly indeed. Although perhaps I should not have made that admission, because now you will push the price up.’

  ‘Let’s wait and see how the two of you get along. Harker, this is Lady Adela Gantz. She seems to think that she can control this irascible beast.’

  ‘I am already convinced that I shall. How do you do, Mr Harker. I hope it does not inconvenience you to work here for the time being. I am sure it is not necessary, but his lordship insists otherwise, and I am too afraid of him to protest.’

  Ezra turned a grunt into a cough. A female less afraid to speak her mind and stand her ground he had yet to encounter.

  ‘It will be a pleasure, my lady. This little mare is a handful, there’s no denying it, but I can see you have no fear of her, and that’s half the battle.’

  ‘With all due modesty, I have yet to find an equine that I cannot control. What is her name?’

  ‘Her previous owner, somewhat unimaginatively, called her Willow,’ Ezra replied.

  ‘It suits her perfectly. Well, Willow, what do you say? Now stop that!’ Lady Adela gave her nose another tap. ‘Remember your manners. You are supposed to be a lady, and ladies in this city, in case you were not aware, have to jump through ridiculously restrictive hoops. However, you and I will take to the park early tomorrow morning and behave without discretion.’ She slipped a hand beneath the mare’s long, flowing mane and patted her neck. ‘I expect that’s what you would most like to do. You were born to run, but everyone’s too afraid of you to let it happen, so it stands to reason that you are permanently bad-tempered. I would be, in your place. But I am not afraid of you, and we shall have the greatest possible fun together.’

  Ezra and Harker exchanged a look.

  ‘Good job I didn’t accept that wager,’ Harker muttered.

  ‘Where can I purchase a decent saddle?’ Lady Adela asked.

  ‘I took the liberty of sending her saddle over with her. A very fine hand-tooled sidesaddle, from which Willow has ejected all previous riders,’ Ezra warned.

  ‘I thought you were protecting my person, not attempting to kill me as well.’ She laughed up at him. ‘Not that it matters. Willow will not unseat me. I am an army brat, in case you have forgotten. I could ride before I could walk and have no fear of horses. If I was afraid, Willow would know it at once and amuse herself at my expense. I don’t blame her for that. I often wonder why horses, which are so much stronger than us feeble humans, allow themselves to be saddled and backed. Willow is clearly very selective in that respect, for which I don’t blame her in the least.’

  ‘Harker will ride with you in the morning,’ Ezra said. ‘I myself will likely see you in the park. Lady Gantz is holding a soiree the night after next, Harker. It occurs to me that the traitor might be one of the guests.’

  ‘Goodness,’ Lady Adela said faintly.

  ‘Harker will offer his services as a footman for the night, won’t you, Harker?’

  ‘If you say so, my lord.’

  ‘He can turn his hand to anything. No doubt you will need additional servants for the evening. Have your butler assign Harker to circulating with drinks. He will keep you safe.’

  ‘If you insist.’ She smiled at Harker. ‘I shall see you early tomorrow morning, Mr Harker.’

  ‘I look forward to it, ma’am,’ he said, tipping his cap at her.

  Ezra and Lady Adela retraced their steps. A damp and indignant looking cat trailed behind them as they re-entered the house.

  ‘Oh dear.’ Lady Adela smiled down at the unfortunate feline. ‘Did the fish outsmart you? Never mind.’ She shooed the creature off in the direction of the kitchens. ‘I dare say cook will find something for you if you look appealingly at her.’

  ‘You have a soft heart,’ Ezra said.

  ‘Do I?’ She shrugged one slender shoulder. ‘Perhaps, but I like animals. Sometimes I think they are nicer than people. They are certainly more loyal. They never judge and never criticise. And one can speak to them about anything one wishes,’ she added with another of her mischievous smiles, ‘and depend absolutely upon their discretion.’

  ‘You make a habit out of having one-sided conversations with your pets?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ She looked away from him but not so quickly that he didn’t notice the vulnerability that flashed through her eyes. ‘Being an only child can sometimes be a lonely experience, especially in a foreign country when one is too old for the nursery but too young for society.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose it must be. I had not stopped to consider. And now that you are old enough to enjoy the questionable pleasures of English society at play, you have me placing restrictions upon your movements. You must also shoulder responsibility for your mother’s wellbeing. Excuse me, but I sense that her mind is not as sharp as it once was.’

  ‘No, Mama has frequent bouts of forgetfulness.’ She sighed. ‘I am now both daughter and parent to her, but you will not hear me complain. And as to your controlling ways, be under no illusion, Lord Bairstow, that I have taken your warnings to heart. But if there is something that I very much want to do, nothing and no one on this earth will prevent me.’

  Ezra shook his head. ‘Infuriating woman! I wish you would take me more seriously.’

  ‘I have spent my entire life being serious,’ she said softly. ‘The time has come to be just a little irresponsible, I think.’

  ‘What manner of irresponsibility do you have in mind?’

  ‘Fie, Lord Bairstow, I have no intention of telling you.’

  Ezra shook his
head, wondering whether to reinforce his warnings or allow her the last word. Before he could decide, Talbot emerged with Ezra’s hat and gloves. He took then from the butler with a nod of thanks.

  ‘Thank you so much for the loan of Willow,’ Lady Adela said with a formal little curtsey. ‘She is a delight.’

  ‘It is entirely my pleasure,’ he replied with matching decorum, at complete odds with the lively nature of their recent exchange. ‘I hope you enjoy her.’ He shook her hand. ‘Until we meet again. I hope it will be soon.’

  Talbot opened the door for him. He donned his hat and left the house without a backward glance, but found himself smiling as he entered his waiting conveyance. It was a long time since he had enjoyed bandying words with a female quite so much, challenging him with her wit and impertinence.

  Ezra did not return home immediately. His visit to Eaton Square had been a deliberate ploy. His presence there would have been noticed and remarked upon. He felt guilty about using Lady Adela as a pawn in a dangerous political game, but hadn’t been able to think of any other way to draw the traitor out of his complacency. Lady Adela had been right to suggest that he would probably remain safe, provided he didn’t do anything rash. Since he had survived on his wits for so long, the possibility of his losing his nerve now was at best remote. The war was over, the country was a peace for once, and memories would fade. Most memories, but not Ezra’s. It had become a pressing necessity to provoke the traitor into making a false move.

  The nature of Ezra’s work for the government was an open secret. Certainly, the traitor would be aware that Ezra was out to catch him, but frustratingly nothing thus far had happened to shorten the list of suspects. Ezra did not have a great deal of faith in human nature, aware that greed and desperation often overcame patriotism. More than one gentleman had put his own interests ahead of his country’s when it looked as though Napoleon would triumph, and had thrown his support behind the bombastic little man.