“Ah,” the duke responded. “Well, prepare yourself for a surprise because I have a wonderful story to tell you.”
Five minutes later Charles stared at his uncle in stupefaction. He moistened his lips. “A sister? I can’t believe it.”
“Nor could I, at first,” the duke said. “But, fantastic as it seems, it’s true. We’ve been busy these past weeks, and you’ll find the old house quite different from when you lived here before. Cousin Theodora has moved in and will be serving as my hostess and as your sister’s chaperone. She has a ball planned next month to introduce Merriana to the haut ton. They’ve been spending my blunt on ballgowns and musicians and I don’t know what all and I couldn’t be happier. Wait until you meet her. She’s the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. But you must be especially kind to her, Charles. She had heard of the exploits of Da la Nuit and knew you were her brother, but she would not contact you lest she expose you to the danger she fears from this enemy of your father’s.”
Charles frowned. “I remember hearing about an attempt on my father’s life before I was born, and there were rumors that his eventual death came at the hands of an unknown enemy rather than a poacher with bad aim,” he said. “But I find it strange to suppose that some vendetta would extend beyond my father’s death. What makes the young woman believe that such danger still exists?”
The duke sighed, then shrugged. “I think it was your mother who believed that this unknown enemy’s animosity continued despite your father’s death. At least, this is what she communicated to the chef she entrusted your sister to. She ordered him to keep your sister’s identity hidden until she could be delivered into my hands, and he apparently took her quite seriously. Merriana grew up with the belief that to use her real name might very well result in her death.”
“This is ridiculous,” Charles exclaimed. “My father was a powerful man, and powerful men make enemies. But he’s dead and his estate is worthless, an empty hulk of a house with its treasures scattered to the four winds and lands no longer under cultivation. What enemy could wish for more than this? I fear my mother’s mind was indeed disordered near the end of her life if she still harbored such unfounded fears.”
A flicker of pain flashed in his uncle’s eyes, and Charles was at once contrite. “I don’t mean to distress you, sir,” he said. “But let us consider the fact that no attempts on my life were made while I resided with you, and everyone knew exactly who I was. I believe that there is no need to fear any enemy of my father’s today.”
“No doubt you’re correct,” the duke said with a soft sigh. “With the tragedies and dangers that surrounded your dear mother’s last days, it would be wonderful if her mind had not become a bit disordered. So, we will put this idea of an enemy from our minds and consider instead the delightful prospect of your becoming acquainted with your sister. I believe she is out shopping just now, but she and Theodora will return in time for nuncheon and you will meet her then.”
Charles had not been sure what to expect of the young woman who claimed to be his sister, but Merriana was certainly not it. Upon their introduction, she had looked up at him shyly but with all the adoration shining in her eyes of a sister who held her older brother in great esteem. No one had ever looked at Charles in quite that way before, and he found himself hoping that this beautiful young woman was indeed his sister rather than the adventuress he feared. Logic told him not to accept her story without more proof than she had offered his uncle, but he was much too fond of the duke to cause him unnecessary pain, and he was determined to offer no objections to Merriana’s claim until he had time to investigate it further. If at some future time he should prove she was not who she claimed to be, his uncle would be deeply grieved, and Charles had no desire to hasten that day.
His uncle, however, was not as easily fooled as Charles might have wished. As soon as Merriana had excused herself to go freshen up before their meal, the duke turned to Charles with a crooked smile. “I know what you’re thinking, my boy, and I don’t blame you. Merriana doesn’t look like anyone in your father’s family or in mine, for that matter. And her proof is skimpy. My sister could indeed have had a second child and might even have entrusted this child to the family chef. If we accept that, there is still no proof that Merriana is that child. My sister’s daughter could have died long ago and this young woman be merely an impostor. All of this ran through my mind when I was listening to her story. I realized then that there were various possibilities. She could be an impostor or she could be my sister’s child. In either case, I could accept her as my niece or I could throw her into the street. The only possible combination I was unwilling to accept was that of turning away my sister’s daughter. If I have accepted an adventuress as my sister’s child, I am also willing to accept the consequences. But if had I rejected my sister’s child, I could not have lived with myself.”
Charles swallowed a lump in his throat. “In that case, sir, the least I can do is to accept her as my sister, and I will do so gladly. She seems to be a very well bred young lady.”
Charles had said exactly the right thing. For the next ten minutes he listened to his uncle expound upon all of Merriana’s virtues, and later that day, he was able to regard her with acceptance rather than suspicion. Cousin Theodora had joined them and monopolized the conversation by telling the gentlemen every detail of the upcoming ball she was planning for Merriana. Thus, when Charles excused himself to walk around to his club, he had had little opportunity to get acquainted with Merriana.
White’s was full that afternoon, and Charles was popular among his cronies, so the next two hours were filled with exchanging news and explaining how he had come to have a broken leg (a tale that involved a good deal of imagination and almost no truth, since his acquaintances had no idea he had been serving as a spy for their country).
He was about to leave when he met Justin on his way into the club. Justin was the more surprised of the two.
“Blast you,” he exclaimed as he happily grasped Charles’s hand in greeting. “I’ve been expecting you to call on me for two weeks now. You knew my direction, but I had no idea where to find you.”
“Acquit me,” Charles exclaimed, laughing. “I’ve just reached London today and had to visit my uncle first. I would have been around to see you soon, I assure you. Have you heard from Henri?”
“I have. After he was interviewed by the Home Office, he came to visit me. I had assumed his usefulness to our cause had ended, since he had been identified as an agent in France, but that isn’t the case. He couldn’t tell me where he was headed—just that it was out of the country and he probably wouldn’t be back in England in the foreseeable future.”
Charles grimaced. “Blast! I wish I’d had a chance to see more of him. Pray God he returns safely.”
“I suspect he will,” Justin responded. “He appears to be quite talented.”
Both men remained silent for a minute before Justin pulled in a deep breath. “In any case, I’m glad you’re on your feet again. Can you join me in White’s for a while? I have much to ask you and to tell you.”
“And I you,” Charles responded, “but I’ve promised my uncle to be home early today. Seems I’m expected to attend the Coleridge’s ball. Do you go?”
Justin grimaced. “I fear so. Lady Coleridge is my godmother and if I did not, she would give me the tongue-lashing of my life.”
Charles grinned. “Your desire to go is no greater than mine. And on my first night back in London, too. I can’t even dance with this demmed leg of mine.”
“At least you have an excuse. I’ll be expected to twirl about with every young lady there.”
Charles laughed. “Well, look me up at the ball if you have a chance. Perhaps we can slip away and catch up on news.”
Justin readily agreed and watched as his friend walked away. He decided not to go into the club after all. In the weeks he’d been back in London, he had been haunted by thoughts of Mary. At first he had tried to find her, asking all t
he agents and informers he knew if they were aware of a young French woman who had recently joined any of the suspected spies or former émigrés in the city, but none had seen or heard of her.
He himself had canvassed the taverns, inns, and restaurants of London, asking if anyone had heard of a new French chef, but to no avail. He had lost weight and sleep worrying about her, and when he at last decided that she had indeed disappeared, he tried to forget her with activities that didn’t involve the ton.
In fact, tonight’s planned attendance at his godmother’s ball was the first activity of the season in which he would be participating, and he dreaded it much more than he had indicated to Charles. To be forced to make small talk with chits just out of the schoolroom would be torture, especially when his mind would be on Mary, wondering if she was alone or cold or hungry, or perhaps worse.
Chapter 12
Merriana’s cousin Theodora had not been idle in the weeks since the Duke of Daughrity had called on her. Not only had she purchased dozens of walking dresses, morning dresses, ballgowns, riding habits, and all sorts of accessories for Merriana, but she had also managed to introduce her to many of the top ten thousand through their attendance at routs, Venetian breakfasts, and rides in the park at the fashionable hour of five o’clock. Vouchers for Almack’s had been obtained, and the patronesses had apparently found Merriana to their liking, for they had already given her permission to waltz.
Tonight’s ball would be the first really large one of the season, but Theodora had no fears that Merriana was not prepared. Her dancing master had proclaimed her to have natural grace and a quick mind so that she had easily mastered all of the steps of the most complicated country dances. More importantly, her manners were exquisite, and even the mothers of girls much less beautiful had not found cause to say that Merriana thought too well of herself or put on airs.
Merriana herself was excited beyond belief. She was to be escorted by her uncle and the daring De la Nuit, and although only a handful in attendance would know him by that identity, Merriana had heard much during the last few years about the feats of her brother, and she had longed to meet him. She could think of no one she would rather have as an escort.
Except, perhaps—but she quickly pushed thoughts of the Earl of Cardleigh to the back of her mind. She had expected him to appear at her uncle’s door for many days after she had fled the Drake and Cock if, for nothing else, to be sure that she was safe. But she had at last been forced to admit that he would not be there. Obviously, he’d been interested in her only if she were the type of woman who would accept carte blanche. She’d heard his name mentioned and knew he was in London, and she’d looked for him at the parties she’d attended, but he was never there. Perhaps, she decided, he had heard that she was attending and was thus avoiding her.
The group that left the duke’s house that night was a merry one. Both the duke and Charles were dressed in the height of fashion. Although neither affected the extravagantly high collar points or numerous fobs of the dandies, Charles wore a handsome signet ring and the duke had a large diamond nestled in the folds of his cravat. Cousin Theodora was splendid in purple satin and a turban adorned with three large ostrich plumes.
Merriana had chosen her most beautiful ballgown, a soft blue crepe over a slip of white satin. The tiny puff sleeves were composed of lace and seed pearls, and the hem of her gown was embellished with tiny embroidered rosebuds. Blue satin slippers, long gloves, and a fan of frosted crepe on ivory sticks completed her ensemble. Merriana’s dresser, whom Cousin Theodora had hired, had arranged her hair into golden ringlets that fell to her shoulders and were entwined with white ribbons and two perfect rosebuds. She wore no jewelry except for a single strand of pearls that her uncle had presented to her.
Charles had not yet grown accustomed to her beauty and appeared speechless when she first joined him and the duke in the drawing room. Then he grinned in his usual carefree way. “I should be carrying a sword cane,” he announced, “for I’ve no doubt I’ll be fighting away the men tonight. You’ll take the shine out of some of the diamonds of the first water, Merriana.”
The duke was less vocal but his eyes shone with pride as he told Merriana she looked “very pretty.”
Merriana blushed and thanked them but insisted that any girl would look her best when escorted by two such handsome men.
The ball, as expected, was a tremendous squeeze, but Merriana had no complaints. She was enthralled with the beautifully decorated ballroom and with the multitude of colorful ballgowns and sparkling jewels that decorated the women swirling on the dance floor.
Merriana was not left to sit on the sidelines with the chaperones. Almost as soon as she walked into the room, four of the young men she had met at previous functions were vying for a dance with her. She was led first into one country dance and then into another. Her hand was claimed for a waltz and then for another country dance.
As she was being restored to her cousin, Merriana caught sight of Charles standing near the edge of the dance floor. He appeared to be deeply engrossed in conversation with a man who had his back to the dance floor, but she managed to catch her brother’s eye and then gave him a small wave.
Charles immediately beckoned her to come to his side. “I’ve an old friend here I want you to meet, Merriana,” he exclaimed as she approached. She looked up, a smile on her face, to greet her brother’s old friend, and found herself looking into the astounded eyes of the Earl of Cardleigh. His astonishment was immediately replaced by a flash of anger, and Merriana felt herself growing pale as she curtsied in acknowledgement of her brother’s introduction.
As the orchestra began playing a waltz, Justin reached for Merriana’s hand. “This is our dance, I believe,” he muttered as he pulled her onto the floor, leaving her approaching partner to glower after them.
“So,” he said through clenched teeth, “I learn your real name at last. Or is Merriana another of your ‘assumed’ names? No, don’t answer that, and don’t look so astonished. Smile, or you’ll have people thinking that we’re quarreling. Why in the name of all that’s holy didn’t you tell me the truth? I gave you plenty of opportunities, didn’t I?”
Merriana forced a smile. Justin was holding her hand tightly, and there was suppressed force in his hand that lay against her back. “Would you have believed me?” she asked, tilting her head to one side as though flirting with him.
“You didn’t give me the opportunity to believe or disbelieve you.”
“If you had visited me at my uncle Sylvester’s, you would have learned the truth before tonight, sir.”
“But what is the truth, my Mary? Are you really the niece of the Duke of Daughrity or are you the daughter of Jacques, the chef?”
“I am really the niece of the Duke of Daughrity,” Merriana answered with a small laugh, conscious of the eyes that were trained on them. “My father was the Comte de Mérchan.”
Justin also laughed, obviously for the benefit of those who were watching them twirl around the dance floor, for there was no mirth in his tone when he spoke. “And have you told your uncle of our trek through France together, Mary, eh, forgive me, Merriana? I have a wretched memory for names, especially when one keeps changing as often as yours does.”
“No,” Merriana retorted, showing more teeth than was customary for a polite smile. “I have not told my uncle of our journey. But you are welcome to do so. You might want to consider carefully before you do, however. It is possible that he would feel you to be honor bound to marry me if he knew, and marriage is not what you wish for, if memory serves me correctly.”
“What about your preferences, Mary-Merriana,” he responded. “I believe you were holding out for marriage all along. Shall I offer it?”
Merriana laughed. “By all means, my lord, if you enjoy rejection. I would sooner marry a snake.”
“No doubt the two of you would find much in common,” he said as the music slowed to its finish. “Allow me to return you to your chaperone.”
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br /> Merriana walked as calmly as possible back to her cousin. She was shaking with fury, but she continued to smile, although her cheeks felt as though they would crack from the tension.
She was still smiling when Justin thanked her for the dance and expressed his hope to see her again soon. She said all that was proper and then, as soon as he had walked away, dropped weakly into the chair beside her cousin.
That lady was delighted. “So wonderful, my dear,” she gushed, “that Lord Cardleigh seemed so taken with you. I’ve rarely seen him show so much pleasure during a dance. Whatever were you talking about?”
“Mere commonplaces,” Merriana replied. “He hasn’t very much address, if you wish for my opinion.”
Her cousin’s eyes widened. “You must never say so, child,” she said. “For all that he doesn’t show his face at many ton parties, Lord Cardleigh is still a leader among the bucks and you mustn’t offend him. If he were to say he found you insipid or boring, it could do you much harm.”
Merriana laughed until tears came into her eyes, quite alarming her cousin, who immediately decided the child was overwrought and began searching in her reticule for smelling salts. These Merriana waved away, still laughing. When she could speak, she tried to reassure her chaperone, of whom she had grown quite fond. “Don’t worry, dear Cousin Theodora,” she said, still breathless from her laughter. “Whatever the Earl of Cardleigh may say about me, I think we need not fear that he will describe me as insipid.”
Charles had watched Merriana and Justin dance with as much interest as Cousin Theodora, but he was feeling much less euphoric when the dance ended. Charles was too well trained to be fooled by the smiles on their faces. He had instead noted the muscle jerking in Justin’s jaw and the tension in the way Merriana held her head. At first he was at a loss as to why the couple could be quarreling when they had just met. And then he remembered.
The Mysterious Merriana Page 10