Lord Philip's Christmas

by Michele McGrath

  Chapter Eighteen

  Some hours later the party boarded the diligence for Valenciennes on the way to Brussels. While they were waiting, Philip and Grace avoided notice by taking a long stroll out of the village, leaving Victor to explain the strange obsession of Englishwomen with country walks. They came back just before the stage arrived at the inn and took their seats with no difficulty. As a servant, Philip was obliged to ride on the roof, while Victor and Grace rode inside. It was not a comfortable journey, for people were crammed into the vehicle and the swaying hurt Philip’s head. He was stiff and cold by the time the coach pulled up behind a stationary line of vehicles.

  “What’s happening?” someone asked. “Why has everything stopped?”

  “That’s the River Oise in front of us. They blew up the bridge last year to stop the bloody Cossacks getting to Paris. Much good that it did them,” the driver replied. “They’re still fixing it, damn them to hell. All the coaches have to use a ferry. We take our turn and we’ll be here for hours.”

  “Is there any other way of crossing? My mistress doesn’t like waiting,” Philip asked.

  “You can go on foot or lead a horse, if you hire one.”

  “I’d better go and ask her what she wants to do,” Philip said, preparing to swing himself down from his seat.

  “Tell her she won’t get any money back from me, if she leaves the coach. She paid to Valenciennes, so it’s her problem.”

  Philip climbed down and asked Grace and Victor to join him in the road. They were not the only passengers to take the opportunity to stretch their legs. They found a place where they would not be overheard, while Philip explained what had happened. The line of coaches was indeed a sight, stretching back into the distance. Riders and pedestrians passed along both sides of the carriages and did not return.

  “What should we do?” he asked. “If we’re stuck here for hours, it’s possible that we will be caught before we can cross the border.”

  “We don’t know they are searching for you at all this far from Paris,” Victor pointed out. “It was in Herbin’s interest to cover his tracks…”

  “Or to inform on us for a reward,” Grace interrupted. “He was easily bribed, perhaps too easily. I doubt he would have any compunction about changing sides if it’s worth his while. He’s slippery enough to make up a believable story which hides his part in your escape.”

  “If police agents did not take bribes, they wouldn’t have sufficient money to live on,” Victor muttered. “Everyone knows that. You’re right though. Damn the man.”

  “We can’t take the chance. I’m the one they’re searching for. It seems there are many people walking and riding across the bridge. In a crowd, I may be able to cross unnoticed. If the coach is stopped and searched, my presence puts you in danger. If I leave you here, you can proceed safely using Grace’s passport.” He grinned. “You can order me off to find rooms for you in the town, my lady.” He bowed to her. “Pretend to be high and mighty with the coachman, Grace, as if you are an evil mistress to serve. He’ll understand that!”

  Grace was reluctant to let Philip leave alone, but in the end, she was persuaded to do so. She returned to the coach which had only moved a few yards as the queue shuffled forwards. She spoke to the driver,

  “I’m sending my servant on ahead to engage rooms for us, since we will be held here for some time.”

  “You don’t get any money back from me if you do.”

  “So he told me. Be sure that I shall take the matter up with your employers.” Turning on her heel, she walked hurriedly away, so he could not see her grin.

  Philip trudged off, mingling with the stream of traffic. He picked his way carefully across the half-repaired bridge, arriving with the crowd on the other side. His guess proved correct. The soldiers at the border were far too busy to take much note of a lone man who was following a couple on horseback, as if he was their servant. Deeply thankful to be out of France, Philip walked on until he came to a country inn or relais a couple of miles outside the town. He bespoke rooms there for his supposed master and mistress and then hurried back into Valenciennes to meet the diligence. It was late in the evening when it eventually arrived and Grace and Victor were stiff and uncomfortable when they descended. They were doubly grateful to have somewhere to sleep for everywhere was full. If Philip had not been sent on ahead; they would have been disappointed. The next day, as they left the relais, Victor told them that he would remain in Valenciennes.

  “Now you are safely across the border, I’ll stay here and find out what is happening. Then back to Paris or perhaps I shall go to Dauphiné through the mountains. I doubt any one will bother me. Here, take this.” He put a purse into Philip’s hand.

  “I can’t; you’ve done more than enough for me already.”

  “The bribes were less than I anticipated. I won’t starve, be sure of that. Besides, you need it to look after Grace properly. Consider it as a bridal gift. God bless both of you. I’m sad that I won’t be able to dance at your wedding.”

  Victor hugged his cousin and kissed Grace’s hand.

  “Be happy, my dear. You’re a remarkable woman and I only wish I had met you first. If you ever change your mind about this mountebank, write to me at once.”

  “Thank you, kind sir, I’ll think about it,” Grace replied with a laugh in her voice.

  They were unhappy to leave Victor but, as Philip said,

  “I have no right to ask him to go further. He has already put himself into danger for my sake and I know how much he wants to stay in Paris.”

  With some of the money Victor had given him, Philip hired horses from the inn and they set of for Mons. Another day and a half and they entered the city of Brussels.

  The town was bustling, full of travellers of all nationalities. There were many English families, richly dressed Frenchmen and Germans, as well as Dutch people and Belgians. Soldiers in uniform, nursemaids pushing their charges in little wagons, street sellers and urchins made their way through the crowds. Not without difficulty, Philip and Grace found the livery stable where they had to leave their horses. Then they wandered through the streets wondering what to do next.

  A small park provided the opportunity to sit down and make a decision, for neither of them had thought about what they would do once they reached Brussels. Philip started to shuffle through a newssheet which he had bought from a street seller.

  “It says here that the Emperor is on his way north.”

  His words chilled her. “Do you think there is going to be a battle soon?” Grace asked fearfully.

  “When I was at the Ministry, the word was that Caulaincourt’s efforts to make peace had been rebuffed. War is almost certain, but how long it lasts is anyone’s guess.”

  “Surely, the fighting will take place hereabouts, if the Emperor is on his way.”

  “Probably. We should leave for the coast as soon as possible.”

  “Nobody here seems to be much concerned. All the shops are open; wagons are passing freely into the city. I’ve seen lots of English ladies and even children playing with their nursemaids. If they are still here why should we run away?”

  “You haven’t been to a place which has been near a battlefield, have you?”

  “No, have you?”

  “I was once sent with dispatches to Leipzig, soon after the fighting ceased,” Philip replied. “I saw sights there which I don’t want to look at again and which you should never see.”

  They sat for a while in silence. Then Grace idly picked up the newssheet and scanned the pages.

  “This gives the names of some of the regiments in Brussels,” she remarked. “What is the number of Sir Edward’s regiment?”

  “The 95th I think. Why? Are they here?”

  “Yes! It says they have made their camp near Charleroi, with several others. Sir Edward wanted to rejoin his regiment as soon as possible, so he could already be there.”

  “What if he is? He won’t welcome the black sheep of the fa
mily if I go looking for him.”

  “Alice told me she would remain with him for as long as she could. She may be in Charleroi or even here. Perhaps we can find her. If she is here where would she be likely to stay?”

  “Who knows?”

  “A lady like your sister would be at one of the hotels, surely, or staying with friends. Does she have any in Brussels?”

  “Not to my knowledge.”

  “Let’s try some of the hotels first.” Grace stood up but Philip hesitated. “Don’t you want to see her again?”

  “Very much, but we are hardly in a fit state to go visiting.” Philip held out his dirty hands.

  “She won’t care for that. Come on.”

  There were a number of fine establishments in Brussels, many of them in the streets surrounding the Place Royale. Philip went up to several of the lackeys guarding the doorways asking for Lady Alice. It was at the fourth establishment that he was given the answer he was looking for. Both Sir Edward and his wife were staying in the hotel, but the lackey would not allow them to enter.

  “You’ll find that Sir Edward Maitland will see us,” Philip argued. “He will be most annoyed if you don’t admit us.”

  “He won’t bother with the likes of you,” the man insisted, waving him away. “Be off with you.”

  “If you don’t let us in, we’ll wait until you do,” Philip said calmly.

  “Oh no you won’t.” The man gave a shrill whistle and another lackey appeared. Philip pushed Grace behind him and waited. He was prepared, so the first man’s fist met open air and he measured his length on the cobbles. Before the next man could attack, a voice demanded,

  “What’s going on here?” A uniformed figure wearing a large plumed hat came out of the hotel and bore down upon them.

  Philip, who had his foot on the fallen lackey’s back, pressing him down on the cobbles replied, “This man refuses to let me speak to Sir Edward Maitland or his wife Lady Alice. When I protested, he attacked me.” The man squirmed under him. “Be quiet you.”

  “That’s his job,” the man in the top hat said. “We don’t allow beggars to bother our guests at the Royale. Release him at once and go or we will drive you away.”

  What might have happened next was debatable, for they never found out. A shriek turned all heads as Alice came running down the street, right into the middle of the fracas.

  “What are you doing to my brother?” she demanded, rounding on the man with the hat.

  “Your brother, my lady?” he looked horrified.

  “Are you deaf? Grace too! What’s happened to you?”

  “These men mistook us for vagabonds and tried to turn us away when I asked for Edward.”

  “I’m not surprised in those clothes. I thought you were safe in Paris and Grace was in England.”

  “It’s a long story. May we come in and tell you about it?”

  “Of course.” She turned back to the doorman who was looking extremely puzzled because the rapid exchange had been in English. “This is my brother and my friend. Admit them at once. Fetch some hot water to my rooms and something to eat. Are you hungry?”

  Philip laughed. “I could gobble up a horse. We have been living on bread and cheese when we could get anything at all.”

  “Come then.” She took Grace’s arm and urged her forward. A young girl timidly started to follow them. Alice stopped and said, “This is my new maid. Go and find Sir Edward, Madeleine, and tell him I need him at once. He should be still in the Grande Place.”

  The doorman hurried after them, bleating apologies but Alice ignored him until he got in her way then she said,

  “You must have other duties to attend to. Carry out my orders and leave us alone if you please. My husband will have a thing or two to say about your conduct later on.”

  The Maitlands’ rooms were situated on the second floor of the building, pleasantly furnished but not as opulent as the ones they had occupied in Paris.

  “The town is so full,” Alice told them. “There are visitors from home and people from all over France. We were lucky to find anywhere at all.” She opened a door that led off the parlour. “This is Edward’s dressing room where you can change, Philip. Take off those awful clothes. You reek. I’ll send the water in to you as soon as it arrives.”

  “Why thank you, little sister. If you had been in gaol and travelling for days, you might pong a little yourself!”

  She giggled. “So I was right when I prophesied you’d end in prison. Hurry up. I can’t wait to hear all about it. Come with me, Grace. You can change in my bedchamber.”

  The door opened and Edward came in.

  “You wanted me, Alice? Philip! Grace! Good God, what are you doing here?”

  “A long story which I promise to tell you as soon as we have rid ourselves of all our dirt. Alice tells me that I smell.”

  “You do.”

  “I agree, but we brought very little on the journey from Paris, so these are the only clothes we possess. We must borrow some of yours, if you please, or cause a scandal.”

  Edward grinned. “I’ll send my man, Benson, in to you. My coats are certain to be too big for you, but he will contrive. He always does, and we cannot have you naked. Think of our reputation if not your own.”

  Philip laughed.

  Chapter Nineteen

  A couple of hours later, the travellers enjoyed the best meal they had eaten for a long time. Benson did indeed contrive and Philip now appeared as an English gentleman, although not one in the forefront of fashion. Neither Edward’s breeches nor his coats fit his smaller figure. Benson had cut and tied his hair back neatly in the approved manner. Grace, attired in a round gown belonging to Alice, looked very much as she usually did when she was not in the middle of an adventure.

  After dinner, when the servants left, the two groups exchanged stories of what had happened since they had parted at Moret-sur-Loing.

  “I didn’t think you could get over the mountains on horseback, little sister,” Philip teased.

  “I didn’t. That first day’s ride was enough for me, but I must practice more. I have become lazy living in London, although I always used to beat you on the hunting field.”

  “Ah, but Papa gave you the better horses.”

  Edward smiled at their banter and then said, “What do you want to do next, Philip? It seems to me that you are at a crossroads.”

  Philip nodded. “I am. Now that I am known to be an Englishman, I can’t return to the Emperor’s service, even if I wanted to. If the allies prevail and put the king on the throne again, I wouldn’t live in France.”

  “Then, perhaps it’s better for the Baron de Vezey to disappear and for the new Earl of Kirkmore to emerge?” Alice asked.

  “I killed Staunton, as you know, and there were witnesses.” He turned to her. “Your friend Charville was one of them.”

  “A word could be dropped in Charville’s ear to keep him silent,” Edward said. “He was implicated in Staunton’s kidnapping of Alice and that is a hanging offence, if we choose to accuse him.”

  Philip was startled. “You’d never involve her in such an unsavoury affair?”

  “Of course not, but would Charville believe that? He could be silenced and so could the other witnesses. In any case, Staunton died in France, where British magistrates have no power. By the time we’re at peace again, I doubt you’ll find too many people enquiring into the death of a man in an affair of honour.”

  “There is also the matter of Celia.”

  “Now that she and Staunton are both dead, only her father could challenge you.”

  “Colonel Blackwood has grown very frail, Philip, and he disowned Celia when he found out what had happened,” Alice said. “So I doubt he’d pursue the matter. As for your stay in London last year, you look very different now to how you did then. Nobody would recognise you.”

  Philip sat back and twirled his wine glass between his long fingers. “Do you really think I can go home?”

  “Do you want
to?”

  “I never imagined spending the rest of my life at Kirkmore when I was growing up, but now…” He took hold of Grace’s hand and smiled at her. “I would like you to be the first of my English family to know that Grace has done me the honour of accepting my proposal of marriage.”

  Alice jumped to her feet and embraced them both. “Oh my dear brother, I’m so happy for you both.” She kissed them.

  It was late when Alice showed Grace to the room that had been prepared for her. The men lingered over their wine for a while until eventually Philip rose. He would have retired to the dressing room, where a truckle bed had been made up for him, but Edward held up his hand and stayed him.

  “I have a favour to ask of you,” he said.

  “Certainly, if I possibly can.”

  “Let me check that Alice is asleep.” He softly opened the door of their room and listened. “Yes she is. As you know, it was my intention to rejoin my regiment as soon as war was declared, but we only arrived here two days ago. I had to find accommodation for Alice where she would be safe. Now I have done so, I intend to ride out to see Colonel Grant tomorrow, which should be a mere formality. All the regiments are short of officers and men with so many in America.”

  “How does Alice feel about that?”

  Edward shrugged. “Like any woman would be, she’s unhappy. She did not know me when I was a soldier and she has never had anyone dear to her fighting in battle. She realises it’s my duty, so she is trying to be brave and support me. Suppressing her feelings is hard for her.”

  “How can I help you?”

  “I intended to leave Benson here with her for protection. She doesn’t want to leave and I have agreed not to send her away unless Brussels is actually threatened. Benson has instructions to take her to England in the event that fortune turns against us, but he would prefer to come with me. He’s a good soldier and I would be happy to keep him by my side. If you could stay here with Alice until we know the outcome of this campaign, that would greatly relieve my mind. If anything happens to me, Alice will find it easier to be with you and Grace than with anyone else. If not, we can all go home together.”