"You saw me with Tommy Keaton in Hatchard's. I heard about that, and I am glad. You can help me — will you?"
Help her? How on earth could she help the woman? "Major Baker-Cornhill is looking for you."
"I know that. I'm only too aware of it. It's placed me in danger. I wish to see the major, but there is no way that I can do it. Unless you decide that you will help me."
"Certainly, I will help." Jane had no wish to become involved in any clandestine matters, but the Duke of Wellington seemed to need this woman. She had to do everything that she could, especially if Madame wanted to speak to Kelly.
"Mrs. Grove has a spy in Eardley House."
Jane remained silent. She knew that Doyle was a spy. "He is dangerous to you?"
Madame waved a slender hand. "Not Doyle. A woman. Mrs. Grove is not aware, and neither is Doyle, but Tommy Keaton put her in Eardley House. I have been ordered to visit Eardley House in secret, tonight, to take a message to her. If you could tell Mr. Doyle to remove her from the house I will be grateful. He must do it quietly — Tommy has people watching."
Jane swallowed. Her mouth was very dry. "But how –"
"Easily. I have a letter you will take to Mrs. Grove. Tonight, I will call at Eardley House, and you will ensure that the major is there?"
"You want to meet Kelly?"
"I want Kelly to help me. I have been very foolish, I thought that — but never mind, there is no need for you to know. I must see the major, and beg him for his help. If he refuses to help me — it means my death. There is nothing more certain."
Jane stared. "But — "
"Please."
Jane recognized the strain in the other woman's voice. "You're frightened of Tommy?"
"He made me promises, and I was foolish enough to believe them. He needs me for the moment, but very shortly he will no longer need me, and I no longer believe anything that he tells me. I am in great danger. You have no reason to help…"
"I will help you — come with me now."
"No. You remember that there is a spy in Eardley House. Until she is removed — you will give Mrs. Grove this letter?"
Jane accepted the letter and stared down at the seal. She tucked the letter into her reticule.
"Thank you," Madame said. "You need not be frightened. There is no danger to you."
Jane was still trying to make sense of this meeting. She had so many questions, but she knew that they would not be answered. This woman was part of a secret, shadowy, and dangerous world.
"I must go now. Please wait a moment or two — the girl will return. She will take you to a small workroom… You will tell Madame Lola that she offered to show you something. Yes? Madame Lola is unaware that I am here…"
Jane nodded.
Madame slipped past her, and opened the door silently. A moment later she was gone.
Chapter 10
Kelly didn't try to disguise his cold anger. "Whatever possessed you to go into a small room and remain there closeted with a courtesan — moreover, a courtesan whom you knew to be — or or suspected to be a dangerous woman?"
Jane stared at Kelly. How dare he? She bit back the words which rose to her lips, and stared down at the floor.
He was silent for a moment, then his voice softened. "I sent someone to Madame Lola's establishment — he's returned to say that the shopgirl left this morning, and hasn't been seen since. No doubt she was well paid."
Jane cleared her throat. He'd raked her down, but perhaps he was correct when he did so. Nevertheless, she was curious. Finally, after a long moment of silence, she asked: "Why didn't Madame get onto the ship?"
They were in the second floor sitting room. Kelly walked to the long windows and stared down at the square. He ran a hand through his hair then shook his head. "I saw her onto the ship… I should have stayed until she sailed — I didn't, and that was a grave error."
He sounded mortified, and she felt for him. "You were not to know that she would disembark."
He shook his head, but didn't respond.
"Is Madame in danger?"
He turned his head to glance at her for a moment.
Of course she was. But Jane still couldn't believe that Lord Keaton Beaumont was a traitor to his country.
Kelly turned away from the window, and sighed. "Tell me again — tell me everything that she said, and what you said."
Jane had already told him twice. She sighed, but obediently repeated her conversation with Madame.
She had suffered through a long day before Kelly arrived at Eardley House.
When Jane had returned to Eardley house from Madame Lola's, Catherine was out. Morley said that Mrs. Grove had had a message from her man of business, and had left soon afterward.
Doyle might be able to help her. However, when Jane asked to see him, Mr. Morley said that Doyle had accompanied Mrs. Grove.
She would have to wait until Catherine returned, Jane realized. She forced herself to relax. Although she was tempted to read the letter Madame had given her for Catherine, she knew that she couldn't do that.
By mid-afternoon Catherine had still not returned, so Jane wrote a note to Kelly, and sent a footman to deliver it. "If Major Baker-Cornhill isn't at his home in Clarges Street, find him, please. Ask his man, and if he doesn't know where he is, check his clubs."
The footman didn't find Kelly immediately, and it was well after five o'clock before Kelly arrived at Eardley House. By that time, Catherine had returned.
Catherine sent for Doyle as soon as she read the letter. When he entered the room, Catherine glanced at Jane, and nodded towards the door, so Jane left them.
Half an hour later, Jane was in Henry's rooms overseeing the packing of Henry's trunks when Mr. Morley tapped on the door. Mrs. Grove sent her compliments — would Lady Jane attend on her in the library?
Jane was glad that Henry was out of the house — Henry would be curious, and would insist on knowing what had happened. Henry and Bunny were at Branxton House. Lady MacKenzie had invited them to join a theater party. Surprisingly, Henry had accepted the invitation. She and Lady Margaret were becoming close friends.
"Do you know what was in the letter?" Catherine asked when Jane entered the library. Catherine looked pale. She leaned against the library desk, with her arms folded, staring down at the floor.
"No," Jane said. "Only that Madame told me that there was a spy in the house — Tommy's spy — and that you were to be informed. She seemed very frightened of Tommy… I'm sorry, but I didn't know where you were. I sent a message to Kelly hours ago. But the footman hasn't returned, so I suppose he could not find him."
Catherine seemed lost in thought. She stared down at the door.
"What's happening?" Jane folded her hands tightly.
"You might as well know," Catherine began to pace from the table to the windows, and back again. "Madame Parisi says that there is a a plot against the life of General Bonaparte. She thinks that it's a plot to gain his money. Of course, the allies took what they could find, but he must have millions still hidden. It's well known that Bonaparte's party were prevented from taking money to St. Helena." She chuckled wryly. "However, his party has been spending a lot of money — so they have well-wishers on the island. No doubt they smuggled jewels and gold too… Of course, Madame may well be lying."
"Is she?"
Catherine shrugged. "Bonaparte is wealthy… He has money on the island, his relatives have money — heaven alone knows where he's secreted his huge wealth over the years. Conspirators aim to help him escape from the island. Kelly assures me that that's not possible, and if Madame is correct — then the plot is to murder the former emperor."
"For his money?"
Catherine nodded.
"Do you believe that Tommy Keaton is involved?"
"I fear so. Madame is very frightened of him. Although I don't like the woman, I wouldn't wish harm to come to her — but I've known Tommy Keaton all my life…" Catherine's shoulders slumped.
Then Mr. Morley ta
pped on the library doors, and said that Major Baker-Cornhill had arrived.
"Take him upstairs, to the large sitting room, please Morley — and order some refreshments.
"I'll be in Henry's rooms," Jane said. She slipped out of the library a few moments later. She saw Kelly at the top of the stairs, but he didn't look down.
An hour later, Catherine sent a footman to ask Jane to join her and Kelly.
After Jane had repeated what had happened at Madame Lola's, Catherine left them to speak with Doyle.
"Stay for a moment, Lady Jane," Kelly said, when Jane tried to follow Catherine. "I'd like you to tell me again — I want to know everything that Ninon Parisi said to you… And I'd like you to make a sketch of the shopgirl for me. I know that you draw well, and we need to find her."
Madame Parisi was to arrive at the house at ten o'clock that night.
Kelly joined Catherine and Jane at dinner. Jane was amazed at how relaxed and comfortable Kelly sounded. Catherine also seemed happy. It was only when Jane caught her eye that she realized that Catherine was very upset.
Jane had passed Doyle on her way down to dinner. The tall footman looked very pale and his lips were compressed. Jane had no doubt that Catherine had told Doyle exactly what she thought of him and his abilities.
Although she tried to become relaxed Jane couldn't eat, she felt as if her throat had closed. The sight and smells of the food made her feel ill.
"Drink your wine," Catherine said, when she realized that Jane wasn't eating. She stared at Jane, until Jane obediently drank.
After dinner they retired to the library. Kelly left Jane and Catherine for a moment to speak to his men. Jane knew that several of Kelly's men were in the house and in the garden.
Jane occupied herself with several drawings of the shop girl while Catherine and Kelly played cards. It took time, but finally Jane was satisfied that she had captured the girl's appearance and demeanor.
She handed the drawings to Kelly. He stared at them for a long moment. "I know who she is, and she is no shop girl," he said finally.
"What will you do about Tommy?" Catherine asked.
Kelly shook his head, and didn't answer.
Ten o'clock came and went.
It was close to eleven when Kelly suggested that the women retire for the night as soon as the theater party returned home.
"She's not coming, is she?" Jane asked.
"My men and I will remain in the house and grounds tonight — the servants won't know, and we'll leave before they rise in the morning. Doyle and another man will keep watch when we leave."
Lizzie helped Jane undress and she went to bed, but she couldn't fall asleep for hours. She listened, alert to every sound in the house, and thinking about Kelly… and Tommy Keaton.
What had happened to Madame? Why hadn't she come?
Kelly
Jane finally managed to fall asleep, but she awoke at five. The house was silent.
She was wide awake, and knew that she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again, so she decided to decode the message from Alex. When she'd read it, she was shocked. She knew that she had to show the message to Kelly.
She read the message again.
Tommy Keaton was here. He's sure that the treasure exists, and recommended a French book dealer in Edinburgh. I bought a bundle of Cromwell's letters from the man. There's an oblique reference to the cellars at Kennystowe Castle, which is interesting.
Alex had underlined interesting three times.
At six, Catherine sent her maid to see whether Jane was awake.
When Jane arrived in Catherine's rooms, Catherine was fully dressed, and alone.
"What happened?" Jane asked. "Did Madame —"
"No, she didn't arrive. Kelly said that he'd be here to have breakfast, and he'd rather that neither you nor Henry rode in the park this morning."
Jane passed Kelly the decoded message when he arrived at Eardley House after breakfast. She met him in the library. She'd just finished writing a letter to Lady Delmere.
She rose from her desk when he entered, and handed him the message. "I doubt whether this will be of importance, but it mentions Tommy."
Kelly took the message, read it, then handed it back to her. "Thank you." He waited for her to sit down at her desk again, and pulled up a chair so that he was sitting beside her.
"I'll write to Alex, and —"
Kelly shook his head. "No, don't warn Alex away from Keaton Beaumont. Just ask that he send me a message if the man arrives at Kennystowe again — or if he hears from him."
Kelly hesitated for a moment. He stared at Jane. "Jane, you should know that I have resigned my commission. Once this matter with Tommy Keaton and Madame is settled, my duties will be over."
Jane frowned at him. What was he trying to tell her? "I see," she said softly, although she didn't. "How long have you been in the army?"
He chuckled at that. "Twenty years. Quite long enough. In war, and now in peace. Wellington would like me to stay on, but I want to see whether I have it in me to create a quieter life. If I stayed on, I would be forced into promotions that I don't want."
"I'm glad that you're leaving the army."
"You are? Why?"
Jane rubbed her forehead. She closed her eyes for a moment. She couldn't tell him about her imagination. It was too strange. She'd had more visions of Kelly in battle. They flashed into her mind, and were gone. No emotion attached to them, but they were unsettling. "I just am. Your family will be pleased too."
"I doubt that. The earl wants a general for a son. Nothing less will do. But he'll be disappointed in both of us."
"Both of you?"
He chuckled again. "My brother Tom is a bishop. Our father had expected him to be archbishop by now, but Tom and I are happy that that won't happen. And of course our father wishes me to be a general. But I don't have that in me, I like to be out with my men, rather than assessing logistics and playing politics."
She stared at him. He stared at her as well. She tried to read his eyes. Today, the grey was diluted with blue. He had fascinating eyes she thought. Then she realized that she was staring, and blushed. She looked down at her hands clenched in her lap.
"I own an estate near York. It's about forty miles from Kennystowe — did I mention that?"
"You do? No, I don't think that you ever mentioned it."
"Jane, I'm not a poor man… Next year I mean to develop my estate in the north… so that I can live there with my family." He smiled broadly. "I'd never thought to marry again."
Jane's eyes widened. Whatever was he talking about? Surely he wasn't thinking of making her an offer? That would be beyond anything. She didn't want an offer from Kelly — or from anyone.
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe. Then she realized that she had to leave, immediately.
She stood up so quickly that she overset her chair. She blushed pink as she righted it. "We're leaving for Norfolk today. I need to go and check on the carriages."
"Jane –"
She turned. "Yes?"
He rose, and shook his head.
She fled. She had almost reached the library doors when someone tapped on them.
Cormac entered and bowed to Jane. "My lady, there's a Mr. Killock to see you." He handed her a calling card. "Mr. Morley told him that the family were leaving for Norfolk today, and he begs a minute of your time. Will you see him?"
Surely it couldn't be Horace Killock. A glance down at this card however assured her that it was. She hesitated for a moment, then decided. If it was Horace Killock, she needed to know why he was calling on her. "Send him up, please."
"Killock?" Kelly asked. "I don't like that man, if you're seeing him, I'll stay with you."
She glanced at him.
He shook his head. "No, I promise you that I won't trounce him. I'll stay completely silent, but I don't wish you to be alone with the man for any reason."
Horace Killock entered the library. Cormac closed the library doors behind him.
>
Killock bowed to Lady Jane. His eyes widened when he saw Kelly. He shook his head slightly on meeting Kelly's grim gaze.
"Come in please Mr. Killock," Jane made her tone as pleasant as she could. The man still had a mortgage on Kennystowe Castle. “I’m pleased to see you in London. You and your family are well?"
Killock was uncomfortable — he hadn't expected that Kelly would be with her. He crushed his hat in his large hands.
He relaxed as Jane calmly chatted the usual pleasantries, her words and demeanor designed to put him at his ease.
Jane sat on a sofa, and nodded to Mr. Killock to sit on the sofa opposite her. Kelly sat beside her. Disapproval radiated from him. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye but didn't comment. "How may I help you?" She asked Killock, keeping her tone pleasant.
"I'd hope to have a conversation with you… a private conversation."
"That won't happen," Kelly said, his tone grim. "You'll speak to the lady in my presence or not at all."
"Very well then." Killock looked disgruntled and glared at Kelly, then took a deep breath. "Lady Jane, I wanted you to know that my offer to you is still open. However, I have met another lady, and before I pay her my addresses, I wished to know your answer — one final time."
Jane's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe his words. She closed her mouth with a snap, and kept her face as blandly polite as she could. "Mr. Killock… I am very conscious of the honor that you do me in asking me to be your wife. Of course." She nodded, and looked down at her hands.
She sighed inwardly, then looked him in the eyes. She wanted to leave him in no doubt that she would never marry him. "I must decline your very kind offer with sincere thanks." She hesitated for a moment. "Horace," she added gently, "you've known us for years. I do hope that when you marry, you will be happy with your wife… But you must know that I can't be that woman."
Killock stayed just a few moments longer. Then he bowed himself from the room.
Jane stared at the closed door. She shook her head.
When she glanced at Kelly, she saw that he was smiling broadly. "You have a very elegant — and sincere — way of dismissing your suitors, Lady Jane. I assume that you've had lots of practice."
The Lady And The Military Man_Conquer My Heart Page 12