Instantaneously, as if her eyes were suddenly opened, she knew what was going to happen.
It was the Duc she had seen and what the other two men had been carrying was gunpowder with which to blow up the conservatory and with it the Duke of Wellington and Lord Kiniston, together with everybody else there.
By this time the Duke and Lady Lillian were moving towards the three objects elegantly surrounded by flowers.
Alecia gave a shrill scream that seemed to pierce the air and make it echo all around the walls of glass.
“It’s a plot – a plot!” she screamed. “We are going to be blown up! Run – run out of here as quickly as you can!”
Her words seemed to fall over themselves, but, as the Duke and Lady Lillian turned to stare at her in astonishment, Lord Kiniston acted.
He rushed to the side of the conservatory, where he kicked open a glass door, which had been closed.
As he did so, the Duke, as if he also was used to emergencies, pulled Lady Lillian out into the garden and Alecia felt Lord Kiniston’s hand grasp her wrist.
He dragged her roughly through the door and some of the other guests hastily followed.
“The place is about to explode!” Lord Kiniston shouted. “Hurry! Hurry! There is no time to think, just get out as quickly as you can!”
As he spoke, the stragglers at the back, who had only just reached the entrance to the conservatory from the house, were pushed back by Willy.
Because the three men were so quick in their movements and reacting to what Alecia had said, the conservatory was almost instantaneously emptied and the Duke of Wellington was now standing with some others in the garden looking back at the glass building speculatively.
Alecia, of course, now began to fear that perhaps she had been mistaken and thought how foolish she would feel if nothing happened and the men she had seen were genuine workmen occupied simply in stoking the fires.
Then there was a slight rumble and as it came Lord Kiniston pushed her violently down on the grass and flung himself on top of her.
For a moment, because his action was so surprising, her breath was knocked out of her body.
Then, as she felt the heaviness of him cover her, there was a tremendous bang followed by two other minor explosions and a crash of glass that seemed to shatter the quietness of the whole world and ring in her ears long after it was finished.
As she grasped the fact that she had been right in her suspicions, she looked up and found Lord Kiniston’s face very near to hers.
She was conscious of how heavy he was and how small and helpless she felt beneath the strength of his body.
Then, as she looked up at him, frightened by what had happened, and yet at the same time aware that everyone had been saved, above all, Lord Kiniston himself, he said very quietly,
“Thank you, Charis! You have saved us all!”
As he finished speaking, his lips came down on hers.
For a moment she could hardly believe it was happening.
Then, as he kissed her, she knew that the only thing that mattered to her was that she had saved him.
Chapter Seven
Lord Kiniston released Alecia’s lips and, moving himself carefully off her body, stood up.
As he did so Alecia was aware of what was happening around them.
Women were screaming shrilly, the sound mingling with the crackling flames of the fire, which was now rapidly consuming the conservatory.
There were huge sparks flying up into the air, which made those nearest to the wreckage scramble away from it as quickly as they could.
The Duke, who had also flung himself on the ground and made Lady Lillian do the same, was now on his feet, and, like Lord Kiniston, was looking around to see if anyone was injured.
A spark had set alight Elizabeth Caton’s muslin gown, but Colonel Felton-Hervey had beaten it out.
He himself had been struck by a splinter of burning wood on his forehead, which had left a crimson mark.
Another of the guests had a burning ember caught in her hair and it was she whom Alecia had heard screaming until she was rescued by two male members of the party.
It was all very confusing and for a moment it was difficult to think.
Then, as if he knew it was for him to take command, the Duke said,
“Will everybody go into the salon, where we met for dinner.”
As they moved across the garden towards the farther end of the château, Alecia deliberately did not look back at the burning conservatory.
She could not bear to think what might have happened if she had not guessed just in time what the French word that had eluded her meant.
Mrs. Belton, who walked beside her, was as usual chattering and declaring it was incredible that such an outrage could happen.
She reiterated over and over again what everybody already knew, that it must have been a deliberate attempt on the life of the Duke of Wellington, Lord Kiniston and all the other English guests in the château.
When they reached the French windows that led into the salon, they entered to find that Willy had already assembled the rest of the party there and was giving them champagne.
Because she felt limp and frightened by what had occurred, Alecia was glad to sit down in a chair, choosing even in her agitation one as far away as possible from Lady Lillian.
Lady Lillian claimed that she was feeling faint and in consequence received a great deal of sympathy and attention from the gentlemen.
The Duke looked around to see if everybody was assembled and the door into the hall was shut before he said,
“I know we all want to hear how Lady Charis was clever enough to save us from what was undoubtedly a deliberate attempt to destroy us all.”
Because Alecia had foolishly not expected him to call on her, she started when he said Charis’s name and her first impulse was to refuse to say anything.
Then, as if Lord Kiniston understood what she was feeling, he went to the chair where she was sitting and with surprising gentleness helped her to her feet.
When he had done so, he slipped her arm through his and covered her hand where it lay on his evening coat with his hand.
A little quiver went through her and she found his strength and the warmth of his fingers very comforting.
Then, as she looked up at him enquiringly, there was an expression in his eyes that was very different from any way that he had looked at her before.
Again she felt herself quiver with a strange sensation that seemed to flicker through her breasts and touch her lips where he had kissed them.
“Don’t be frightened,” he said quietly, “just tell us all how you knew what was going to happen.”
Because his voice was gentle yet authoritative, Alecia knew that she must do what he told her.
Although it was difficult to find the words, she said a little incoherently,
“P-perhaps it would be – better for me to – say n- nothing.”
She glanced towards Lady Lillian as she spoke and, as if the latter were suddenly aware of the part she had played in this drama, she said hastily,
“I am sure Lady Charis is right. The least said the better and after all no one has been hurt.”
“Had it not been for Lady Charis’s timely warning,” the Duke of Wellington replied, “there would be a very different story to tell and I insist upon knowing how Lady Charis was clever enough to save us.”
There was a little murmur of agreement when he finished speaking and, as Lord Kiniston’s fingers tightened on her hand, Alecia drew in a deep breath.
“It – started yesterday,” she said in a small childlike voice, “when – I went into the conservatory.”
She went on to explain how she had seen the two workmen and how she had heard one of them say as they left, ‘all we need now is the cosmetique’, but she had not understood what the French word meant.
As she thought that Lord Kiniston himself must think her very stupid not to have realised what it could mean, she glanc
ed at him apprehensively, but he smiled at her as she continued,
“When – luncheon was finished, I came into this room and – then went into the garden – intending to read – ”
Her voice faltered as she explained how she had heard through the open window the Duc asking Lady Lillian to bring the Duke of Wellington and Lord Kiniston into the conservatory at exactly a quarter to ten, saying he had presents for both of them and also one for her.
“I have never heard such nonsense!” Lady Lillian cried. “Lady Charis is telling a load of lies!”
“Kindly allow Lady Charis to continue without interruption,” the Duke said sharply.
The way he spoke made it impossible for Lady Lillian to say anything more.
Shyly, because she was so embarrassed, Alecia then told how after dinner she had gone up to her room and stood at the window to look out into the garden.
She had seen the two men, who she thought were the same ones she had seen the previous day, go towards the conservatory carrying something and then they had been followed by another man whom she felt vaguely resembled the Duc.
“My God!” Willy said in a low voice. “The swine only pretended to go to Paris to have an alibi after he had killed us all!”
The Duke gave him a sharp glance, but did not rebuke him and Alecia finished,
“When I saw the three men leaving the conservatory, I was certain that the one in the cloak was the Duc and yet I was – stupid enough not to – suspect what he had – done until when we reached the conservatory. Suddenly I guessed what – cosmetique meant.”
Her voice died away into silence and once again she looked up at Lord Kiniston.
“In that moment,” he said quietly, “you saved all our lives and, most important of all, the life of the Duke!”
Then, as gently as he had raised her, he helped her back into the chair and, picking up a glass of champagne, put it into her hand.
The Duke took over.
“Now listen to me,” he said. “I am sure you would want me first of all to thank Lady Charis from the bottom of our hearts for her cleverness in realising the truth and giving the alarm so that we were all saved. Any other woman might have been too shy to suggest that anything so unpredictable was about to happen. But, as those of you who are soldiers know, a split second can mean the difference between life and death.”
There was a murmur around the room and the Duke said simply,
“I thank you, Lady Charis, on behalf of us all. There are no words in which we can express our gratitude more eloquently.”
Alecia blushed and looked down as the Duke continued,
“Now I have something very important to say and that is that I want you all to give me your word of honour that no one will speak outside this room of what occurred here tonight!”
He paused before he went on,
“Lord Kiniston, I am quite certain, will be able to find a plausible explanation of how the over-stoked boiler set the conservatory on fire, but as far as the rest of us are concerned, we know nothing about it and are not interested.”
Everybody looked surprised and the Duke said sternly,
“Most of you are aware of the difficulties, the problems and the discussions there have been about a reduction in the size of the Army of Occupation. If what has happened tonight should be known, I am certain that the British Government, who are already apprehensive that if I go to Paris there might be attempts on my life, would change their minds and the thirty thousand men who are scheduled to go home would be obliged to remain in France.”
He paused before he continued in his clear dry manner,
“That would cause consternation amongst the French, who at the moment are very relieved that I am to reduce the number of men who have to be fed and housed at their expense. I am sure you will understand therefore and give me your word of honour that in no circumstances will you discuss this matter and on no account must you relay it to England in your letters.”
“I understand, dear Duke,” Marianne Patterson said, “and of course I promise you that I and my sisters will tell no one. We are only so thankful, so very very thankful, that you are alive and unhurt.”
There was a little throb in her voice, which Alecia was sure pleased the Duke, for he gave her what was for him a very intimate smile.
“Speaking on behalf of myself and my guests,” Lord Kiniston said, “I am certain that Your Grace can trust us and those of us who wear the British uniform take what you have said as an order which will be obeyed.”
When the other Officers present had made it clear that they agreed with this, Willy, as if he felt that it was a mistake to end the evening on a gloomy note, said in his usual good-humoured manner,
“I think that this is the moment when we should drink a toast to British integrity and the downfall of all villains who fancy themselves as a modern Guy Fawkes!”
The way he spoke brought a little titter of laughter from them all and they had indeed been looking very solemn.
Then, as Willy and Colonel Felton-Hervey went around with the champagne filling up the glasses, voices began to rise and soon the whole room was chattering.
Because she felt as if she could not bear any more, Alecia said in a whisper to Lord Kiniston standing beside her,
“Do you think I could – go to bed?”
“Yes, of course,” he answered. “You have been through quite enough for one day, but try to believe it is something that I know will never occur again.”
He drew her to her feet and, as she put her arm through his, he said,
“You can just slip away. I think it would be a mistake for people to start plying you with questions that in the circumstances are inevitable.”
“Please – don’t let anybody – notice me,” Alecia pleaded.
As they were all talking to anyone who would listen about what had happened, Lord Kiniston managed to steer Alecia to the door without anyone noticing it.
Then he took her into the hall and, as they walked towards the staircase, she realised in surprise that there were no footmen on duty.
She was about to say so to Lord Kiniston, when she was aware that he had realised the same thing.
“They were in on the plot!” he exclaimed. “They have run away so that they could not be interrogated when our bodies were found!”
Alecia gave a little cry of horror and he added,
“They will be back in the morning and, as the Duke has suggested, we will behave as if nothing has happened.”
“The fire will not – burn the rest of the – château?” Alecia asked nervously.
“Willy has already anticipated that we might be worried about that,” Lord Kiniston said, “and the British sentries on duty have put it out, I am quite certain, most efficiently.”
He smiled at her as they reached the bottom of the stairs and then as she put out her hand to say goodnight, he said,
“There is no need for me to tell you that you were utterly and completely magnificent!”
Because it was not what she had expected him to say, Alecia blushed.
Then he took her hand in his and raised it to his lips and she felt the pressure of them on the softness of her skin.
She felt a strange sensation like a little flash of lightning running through her before Lord Kiniston repeated,
“Absolutely magnificent and very lovely!”
For a moment they just gazed at each other and it was impossible for Alecia to look away.
Then, because she wanted to go on talking to him, but at the same time knew she should leave him, she took her hand from his and ran up the stairs as quickly as she could.
Only as she reached the top, did she long to look back at him to see if he was still there.
Then she told herself that he would have gone back to the party and she would feel disappointed because he had done so.
She therefore went on towards her bedroom without looking back.
She had no idea that Lord Kiniston stood watching her
go and remained in the same position for some minutes after she had vanished from sight.
*
When Alecia awoke in the morning, her first thoughts were of Lord Kiniston.
She knew that she had gone to bed thinking of him and feeling his lips not only on her hand but also on her mouth.
It seemed in retrospect incredible that he had actually kissed her when he had lain on top of her on the ground.
Then she told herself that it had meant nothing to him, but was just relief that they were alive and not dead.
She remembered her father telling her once that in some country after an earthquake those who survived it would kiss each other and even make love, although Alecia was not certain exactly what that entailed, amongst the ruins.
“I can understand how glad they were to be alive, Papa,” she had said.
She was sure that was what Lord Kiniston’s kiss had meant and nothing more.
But she knew that, when the time came for her to return to England in disgrace with his anger doubtless ringing in her ears, it would be something she would always remember.
Sarah brought her breakfast in bed and said that it was his Lordship’s orders that she was to rest as long as possible.
“None of them other ladies is awake yet, my Lady,” she added, “but I didn’t think as you’d be asleep for long.”
She then started to tell Alecia in tones of horror how it had been discovered this morning by the Major Domo when he came on duty that the conservatory had been burnt down during the night.
“It’s fortunate, my Lady, none of us was burnt to death in our beds!” Sarah said. “And downstairs, they’re sayin’ the same thing!”
“I expect they over-stoked the boilers that keep the conservatory warm for the flowers,” Alecia observed carelessly.
“You can’t trust them Frenchies to do anythin’ right!” Sarah remarked scathingly.
Alecia thought that was a typical British attitude towards a foreigner.
Because she had no wish to stay in bed and was regretting that she was unable to ride before breakfast as she had hoped to do with Lord Kiniston, she got up and dressed in one of her prettiest gowns.
Love Casts Out Fear Page 12