“Oh dear,” Lady Sellafield said, “it is much colder out here than I thought it would be, but this is the only place where I could be sure we’d be quite alone.”
“Must we be quite alone, ma’am?”
“Oh, yes, for it would not do to let anyone overhear. Still, I will be as quick as I can. Justin has said I should stay away from Upper Brook Street, that it’s not a good idea for me to be seen there now. I bristled up, just as I would have, had I not known exactly what he was talking about—but Aunt Abby and Aunt Miranda had warned me, of course, that he had discovered their little secret.”
“Did they?” Letty said, wondering if perhaps she and Raventhorpe had been the only people in London who had not known that little secret.
“Oh, yes, of course they did,” Lady Sellafield said, “just as they told me when your amusing little monkey discovered it. So, of course, then I got to thinking about exactly what Justin had said to me, and I wondered if perhaps you might have let something slip, dear. Could he possibly know about me, do you think?”
Letty forgot her goose bumps and shivers. She stared at Lady Sellafield. “About you, ma’am? But what could I have let slip about you?”
“Why, about me and Teddy, of course.”
Just then the French doors opened, and Admiral Rame put his head out. In a voice that carried easily despite the increasing noise of the wind in the trees, he said, “Sally, you idiotic wench, it’s as cold as the deck of a ship out there. Come in at once, before you catch your death of cold.”
“We’ll be right along, my dear,” Lady Sellafield called. “Shut the door, will you, before a draft blows out one of the gaslights.”
Letty gasped at the endearment, but before she could speak, the admiral said, “Very well, Sally, but don’t dawdle.”
Letty stared at the admiral until he had shut the door. Then she said, “I understand now what you feared I might have let slip, ma’am. Of course, it is none of my business, but—”
“Since you clearly did not know, you could not have said anything to Justin, could you? I hope you will not do so now, for he would guess at once who it is.”
“No, of course I won’t, ma’am. I will keep your confidence.”
“Then that is all right. We had better go in before we both are blown away.”
Thinking the cheerful countess seemed singularly unalarmed at having given away her secret, Letty followed her back into the house. Her thoughts were racing, for Raventhorpe was more right than he knew. The stakes had grown enormously.
Not only was her reputation at stake, and that of the two old ladies, but now his mother and Admiral Rame stood at risk. If he put a foot wrong, he would cast them to the wolves, and he did not even know the peril existed. Nor could Letty tell him, now that she had promised to keep the information to herself. Nonetheless, one thing was clear. To leave the entire burden of keeping them all safe to Raventhorpe would be most unfair. How fortunate that she had made him no promises.
SIXTEEN
FOR THE NEXT FEW days, Letty’s duties at court kept her busy. On Sunday morning, she attended the Chapel Royal, St. James’s, with the queen and the Duchess of Kent. That afternoon, the queen took an airing in Hyde Park, and on Monday the royal party attended the water-color exhibit in East Pall Mall. On both days, the Earl of Uxbridge served as lord-in-waiting, so Raventhorpe was not present. Letty did not know whether to be glad or sorry for his absence.
Much as she tried to pretend she did not miss him, she did, but although she was curious to know what he was doing about the Upper Brook Street house, she was not sure she wanted to find out. She hoped he would do nothing to upset the old ladies, and nothing at all about the house without discussing it with her first.
Late Monday morning, not long after the royal party emerged from the water-color exhibit, she heard, to her horror, that someone had assassinated the Duke of Wellington. Rumors spread quickly through London, producing painful reactions throughout the business community as well as the beau monde. Members of the court buzzed with the news, and staunch Whigs expressed as much dismay as Letty felt. The hero of Waterloo was still much beloved by his countrymen.
It was Raventhorpe who brought word to court that the rumors were false, and he approached Letty soon after he arrived. “I know you care deeply about him,” he said, “so I came to find you as soon as I’d arranged for the news to reach the queen. Wellington himself announced that he has never been in better health.”
“Thank heaven,” Letty exclaimed. “Thank you, sir. I am most grateful to you for telling me.”
His smile warmed her even more than the news he had brought, but he did not linger. The court was buzzing again, this time with good news.
“Who could have started such a horrid rumor?” Letty asked Catherine as they went up to their palace apartments to change for dinner. Both were to dine with the queen, along with her other ladies, for she had also invited Melbourne, her lord privy seal, and the secretaries of state for the Home, Foreign, and Colonial offices.
Catherine shook her head. “Witherspoon said that no one seems able to identify the source. Nor can anyone imagine a motive for such a wicked business.”
Letty was trying to think how to phrase tactfully what she was thinking when Catherine looked at her, surprised by her silence. Letty said, “I was just wondering. Would anyone tell Witherspoon who started the rumors, if they did know?”
“Oh yes, I think they would,” Catherine said. “The secretaries of the various departments and most members of Parliament think very highly of him, because he has a reputation—uncommon amongst his peers—for studying issues before casting his vote. They frequently discuss the threat of assassination in those circles, you know. Apparently Wellington has received many such threats over his long career.”
“I know he has,” Letty said. “Someone tried to kill him once in Cornwall, when I was a child.”
“I’ve heard tales about that attempt,” Catherine said. “Still, it’s odd that such a rumor would fly about now, when he is older and not so active politically. One does hear occasional threats against Her Majesty, of course.”
“Yes,” Letty said with a disgusted grimace, “and not just because she is queen but simply because she is a woman. Although she has governed capably for two years now, many men still think she has no business to be ruling the country.”
“True. I’ve even heard—” Catherine broke off, then added hastily, “About Witherspoon … I-I know why you wondered if anyone would speak to him of such things. He just does not look like a knowing one, does he?”
“No, he doesn’t,” Letty agreed, wondering what it was that Catherine had so nearly said. “I ought to know better than to judge a man by his looks, though,” she added. “Perhaps I see him as I do because you think so little of him.”
“But I don’t!” Catherine looked astonished. “Just because he is not the ideal husband for me does not mean that I hold him in contempt, Letty. In many ways, he is much more honorable than—” She broke off again, turning red this time.
“Much more honorable than whom? I do wish you would finish your sentences, Catherine.”
“Never mind. I should not speak of him in the same breath as … as anyone else,” Catherine finished lamely.
With a quick look around to be certain no one else was within earshot, Letty said, “Well, it is plain now whom you mean. Have you spoken with him yet, Catherine? Have you warned him to stay away from Upper Brook Street?”
“Oh, don’t even speak of him here,” Catherine implored, looking around frantically, as if she expected listening ears to pop out of the wainscoting. “I have not met him privately since you warned me that Raventhorpe knows about the house. Fortunately we’ve been too busy here, and have had practically no time for personal business. Then, too, even when he might have expected me to find time to myself, he was obliged to … Well, he has duties, too, you see.”
“I don’t see,” Letty said frankly. “Who is he, Catherine?”
However, Catherine would not say, and when Letty pressed her, the other young woman said with alarm, “I can’t, Letty! Pray do not ask me! He has threatened to kill me if I speak his name to anyone, and I believe him.”
“I do wish you would not be so melodramatic,” Letty said. “I have my own suspicions as to who it is, you know. I have seen how you look at a certain man.”
Blushing again furiously, Catherine said, “Nevertheless, you have heard no name fall from my lips, Letitia Deverill, nor will you. Moreover, pressing me further will afford you naught.” Obviously wanting to change the subject, she said, “Did Tavistock tell you that Her Majesty will drive in the park tomorrow morning and that she expects us to attend the opera at Drury Lane tomorrow evening?”
“Yes,” Letty said, accepting momentary defeat. “Also that she will hold a privy council at one o’clock, and an audience with Melbourne and the Marquess of Landsdowne afterward. Thus we are to remain in attendance at the court nearly all day, which is particularly awkward for me. My parents may arrive in London at any time now, and I have things I must attend to before they do.”
“Well, with the usual drawing room on Thursday, I doubt we’ll have much time to ourselves before Friday,” Catherine said, “and I, for one, am grateful.”
Letty was not grateful, however. She found herself in a continual fret to know what Raventhorpe was up to. Therefore, at a little past four the following day, when she saw Puck Quigley strolling aimlessly about while Victoria was meeting with her privy council, she seized the opportunity to speak with him.
“We do not often see you here, sir,” she said.
“I try to avoid the court as a rule,” he said with a smile. “My cousin Landsdowne dragged me along with him today, though. Said it would do me good to be seen here. Don’t know how it can, though. Dashed boring place, the court is nowadays. Lacks some of the dash and splendor of years past.”
“Goodness, sir, you sound like a graybeard,” she said, laughing.
“I do, don’t I? Bored, I expect. One grew up hearing about one scandal after another at court, and one expected to see and be part of such things oneself. Ought to have gone to Newmarket with Raventhorpe. Much more entertainment there.”
“Oh, has his lordship gone out of town?” Though she tried to sound casual, she was certain he must detect the relief in her voice.
“Left late yesterday to attend the second Spring Meeting,” Puck said. “Be back tomorrow night, I daresay. What with the drawing room and all, royal duty will recall him if nothing else does,” he added with a mischievous grin.
“Yes, I expect it will,” she said, paying no heed to the grin.
Her thoughts were racing. Mrs. Linford and Miss Abby must be wondering by now if she had deserted them, she decided; and, if Raventhorpe had issued any orders or ultimatums before departing for Newmarket, they would be distraught. At the very least she ought to reassure them that she would not allow him to do anything horrid. However, for her to see them before he returned to London meant getting away from Buckingham Palace as soon as possible.
Accordingly, she pinched her cheeks till they hurt, then sought out Lady Tavistock. “Pray, ma’am,” she said, “I’d like permission to retire for an hour or two if I may.”
Lady Tavistock looked at her with concern. “You look feverish, Letitia. Are you ill?”
Unwilling to lie, Letty said, “I do not think I am ill, ma’am, although my companion did remain at home today because she has caught a feverish cold.” That much, at least, was true, although she had not expected to feel grateful for Elvira’s sniffles and sneezes. “I do feel that I should take precautions, don’t you? One does not wish to prove contagious to Her Majesty or to others at court.”
“I rarely excuse anyone who is on duty, as you know, Letitia.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Letty lowered her lashes, hoping to hide her frustration.
As if she were thinking aloud, Lady Tavistock went on to say, “Her Majesty has been setting quite a pace these past few days, because she does not like to give up her simple pleasures even when larger issues like this unfortunate Jamaican crisis take up so much of her time.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Letty said.
“Perhaps you are merely tired, my dear. Not everyone can keep up with Her Majesty at such times as this.”
Gritting her teeth, Letty said submissively, “I daresay some cannot, ma’am.”
“I dare not excuse you from the theater party or from dinner here at the palace afterward, I’m afraid, unless you truly are sick. Her Majesty likes to make a display of her attendants on such occasions, as you know, and I have already told Lady Witherspoon that she need not attend. Her husband is entertaining a number of the ministers at dinner tonight. Naturally she must act as his hostess.”
“Yes, ma’am. I see that I shall simply have to bear up,” Letty said.
Lady Tavistock smiled. “We do not want you growing ill, my dear. I suggest that you spend the next few hours resting in your chamber. I doubt that Her Majesty will require your presence before she departs for Drury Lane at a half past six.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Letty departed at once, before Lady Tavistock could change her mind, or command her to stay in her apartment. Her first impulse was to send a footman immediately for her carriage, but fearing that word of such an order might somehow reach the chief lady of the bedchamber, she went instead to find Jenifry.
“Find Jonathan and tell him to bring the carriage round,” she said when she entered her chamber. “I want to call in Upper Brook Street, and I have little more than two hours before I must return. I’ve just learned that Raventhorpe has gone out of town, and I want to reassure myself that all is well at my house.”
“I’ve already sent for Jonathan, Miss Letty,” Jenifry said. “You see, you told me that you would wear the pale green silk to Drury Lane, since it was here.”
“Yes, that’s fine. I shall return in plenty of time to dress,” Letty said.
“Well, it isn’t fine, miss. That’s why I’ve just sent for Jonathan.”
Letty blinked. “What has Jonathan to do with my dress?”
“If you will recall, Miss Letty, you got a bit of mustard on the bodice of that gown the last time you wore it.”
“Yes, but surely someone has cleaned it by now.”
“Someone ought to have done,” Jenifry said sourly. “However, although the maid who took it away to clean it brought it back fifteen minutes ago, it won’t do. She promised to do no more than sponge the stain with boiled fig-leaf water, which is what I’d use myself, and which generally makes such stains instantly disappear. However, the cure in this instance proved worse than the ill. Look at it.” She held up the dress to reveal a large spot in the middle of the bodice front.
“Mercy, is this more mischief then?”
“As to that, I cannot say, miss. My guess is that she was just careless, but I did tell her to throw out what’s left of the fig-leaf water.”
“Have I nothing else here that I can wear?”
“Only the aqua terry gown, Miss Letty, and you wore that one last night. We’ve been going at such a pace that, thinking you’d be on duty at least another hour or so, I decided I’d go to Jervaulx House and collect a few more gowns.”
“It was a good notion,” Letty said, “but I’m glad you hadn’t gone yet.”
“I could still take a hackney, miss. Then you could take your carriage.”
“Yes, but what if Papa and Mama have arrived? They would be so disappointed to hear that I’d taken time to go to Upper Brook Street without seeking first to learn if they were at home. I’ll have to go with you, that’s all.”
The carriage was waiting at the side door when they emerged from the palace, and the trip to Jervaulx House took no longer than twenty minutes. Letty greeted the news that her parents had not yet arrived with mixed feelings. Much as she looked forward to seeing them, she wanted to be able to report with a clear conscience that her aff
airs were in good order.
While Jenifry collected what was necessary, Letty looked in on Miss Dibble, finding that good lady in bed, with a maidservant in close attendance. “I shall be as right as a trivet in no time, my dear,” she said when Letty inquired, “I have everything I need, but I must say, I wish you could take that dratted monkey back to the palace with you. He has escaped from your bedchamber three times today, and led the servants a merry chase each time. He misses you, I fear.”
“Well, I cannot take him to the palace,” Letty said, laughing. “However, I see no reason that I cannot take him with me to Upper Brook Street. I’ll take his chain and collar along, and Jonathan and Lucas can bring him back here after they deliver us to Buckingham Palace.”
“Oh, if only you could do that. I declare, I don’t get a wink of sleep worrying about him getting out of the house and running free through the city.”
“Miss Abby and Liza will be delighted to see him,” Letty assured her. “And there can be no difficulty returning him afterward, because I shall be going to the theater with Her Majesty and then returning to the palace for dinner. Jonathan need not return for me before ten at the earliest, and Lucas can look after Jeremiah.”
“Then that is settled. What will you wear tonight?”
Letty stayed chatting with her until Jenifry came to say that she had Letty’s clothing for the evening all sorted and packed. Then, pausing only long enough to collect a joyful Jeremiah, the two young women set out for Upper Brook Street.
Their reception there put Letty in mind of Jeremiah’s raptures, for Miss Abby came rushing into the entrance hall while Jackson was taking their cloaks.
“I saw your carriage from the drawing-room window,” she exclaimed. “Oh, how we have missed you, my dear! Do come up at once. Miranda will be so pleased to see you.”
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