Falconer's Heart

by Janice Bennett

“Not sampling?” She seated herself across the desk from him. She liked the way his eyes followed her every movement, as if he found pleasure in the mere sight of her. She broke off that thought. She liked it too much. She couldn’t let this wild, exciting feeling he roused in her get the upper hand. She would miss him terribly enough as it was when she went home. And she had to return to her own world. She didn’t belong here.

  “How soon do you think David will come?” she asked abruptly.

  “He won’t. I believe I will have to go up to London myself and drag him down here.”

  “Can you order him to come?” She managed to insert a note of skepticism into her voice.

  He hesitated then shook his head. “He can refuse if he wishes.”

  “He probably will, or he would have come in answer to your message.”

  “What do you suggest?” Amusement softened his dark eyes.

  “Take me to London with you.”

  Obviously, the suggestion didn’t surprise him. The next moment, she realized the thought had already occurred to him. When he nodded her heart lifted.

  “The problem remains of where to take you.”

  Her face fell. “Hotels are out, aren’t they? What should we do?”

  A twinkle lit his eyes. “There seems to be only one course open to us. We must throw ourselves upon my mother’s mercy.”

  Chapter Ten

  A decidedly charming grin transformed Belmont’s face, giving him a marked resemblance to Felicity as she’d set off in pursuit of her pine cone. “We will open Belmont House.”

  “You mean drag your poor mother up to London in this weather?”

  “She’ll be delighted—as long as we make it mysterious enough for her. She can’t resist meddling in things.”

  Remembering the monolithic Lady Prudence, the severity of her purple silk belied by a distinct twinkle in her dark eyes, Riki reflected that the woman would dearly enjoy pulling the wool over society’s eyes. It was almost a shame they couldn’t tell her the whole truth. The story they’d concocted for Sir Julian of Riki’s being a spy had delighted her, though, and with that they had best all be content.

  “What will you tell the others about leaving so soon after your arrival? Lord Linton and your uncle—”

  “As neither was invited, I don’t believe we need concern ourselves overly much.” He stood. “I shall speak to my mother at once.” He escorted her out of the room but parted from her at the foot of the Great Stair.

  Riki mounted the first step then paused. If she went to London, she would be seen by any number of people. The thought frightened her. She was nobody here—she had no fortune to make her eccentric ways acceptable. This is only for a little while, she reminded herself. She could go home soon, where the van Hamel money awaited her and she knew who she was—as did everyone else she met. She had never realized until now just how much she relied on her family name.

  At the moment, though, it was time to be brave—and under the circumstances, that meant blending in to this alien society. Thoughtfully, she bit the tip of one finger. Felicity was disposed to regard her as a heroine. If she appealed to her sense of intrigue—or, based on her brief acquaintance with the girl, on her sense of adventure and humor—she was sure to get hints on how to behave and dress.

  She made her way slowly upstairs to her bedchamber. She would have to borrow more clothes, she supposed, though she couldn’t like the idea. Yet she had no money. With luck this whole business shouldn’t take long—provided David didn’t dig in his heels and refuse to cooperate. She could always resort to threats if necessary.

  Then she only had to face the lightning and thunder and the savage sea. What a situation to look forward to!

  Her room, she saw as soon as she entered, had been invaded in her absence. Two more dresses lay across the bed. She picked up one, a high-necked gown of a light woolen fabric with a single flounce at the hem. The other was an evening gown of pale-green gauze with a low-cut bodice and full short sleeves confined in three bands.

  More of Felicity’s kindness, Riki reflected with a twinge of guilt. That solved one of her problems.

  Now if only dealing with David will be as easy!

  A tap sounded on the door and Riki hurried to open it. A footman bowed slightly.

  “If you please, miss, his lordship’s compliments, and will you join him in her ladyship’s sitting room?”

  Riki thanked him and followed as he led the way through a maze of corridors to an ancient wing of the house she hadn’t yet visited. The family’s wing, she decided, for here, even more than in the hall where her chamber stood, there was an aura of hominess. A rather pretty yellow straw paper lined the walls above the wainscoting and landscapes and still-lifes were interspersed with silhouettes and miniatures of what must be various family members.

  The footman opened the door to an elegant salon decorated in regal tones of purple and gold. Lady Prudence Randall had certainly created a setting for herself. Riki felt as if she were being ushered into a royal presence. Lady Prudence sat enthroned on a huge purple velvet winged chair placed squarely before a high, arched window.

  A fire burned merrily in the grate. Belmont stood before the hearth, leaning on the gilded mantel. He looked up as Riki approached, laughing glints dancing in his eyes.

  Lady Prudence inclined her head, setting the ostrich plumes nodding vigorously from their precarious perch in the purple silk turban wound about her head. Perfect silver ringlets clustered about her high forehead. Matching purple silk swathed a figure that Riki had, the night before, likened to a brick wall. The impression didn’t change. Not even the queen, she reflected, could appear more regal. And obviously Lady Prudence was highly pleased with herself.

  “My son informs me that I am to have the pleasure of your company in London,” she said with an indefinable air of disapproval.

  “I fear it is too great an inconvenience to ask you to travel at this time of year,” Riki protested. “It looks ready to snow like crazy.” Oh damn, I shouldn’t have phrased it like that.

  The dark, hawklike eyes sparkled. “If it is necessary to Belmont’s work, I would be an unnatural parent indeed not to put my own comfort aside and lend him whatever assistance I may. If he needs a chaperone for you,” she inclined her head once more, “then I shall of course not consider the weather.”

  Or was it more likely the weather wouldn’t dare interfere with her plans? Riki met Belmont’s amused glance and looked hastily away. “It would be a very great help to my…my mission, ma’am. If it is not too great an imposition, I would welcome your support.”

  “Of course it is an imposition,” Lady Prudence declared, the twinkle in her eyes becoming more pronounced.

  “Thank you.” Belmont intervened. “If it will not incommode you too greatly, I would wish to set forth early tomorrow morning. As you have already gathered, Miss van Hamel’s mission is of extreme urgency to our government.”

  “You may dispatch Sylvester and Linton for me then, Belmont. And send up Newly and Mrs. Wicking.”

  With that, Riki gathered the interview was over. She stifled the impulse to curtsy and instead thanked her hostess and left the room. Belmont followed her out.

  “I’m glad to see she didn’t put you into a quake,” he murmured as the door closed behind them.

  “No, but will she mind? She can’t like being forced to travel in such weather.”

  “She will enjoy it. She finds life dreadfully flat unless there’s something to be done. And don’t believe a word of her complaints. She has the constitution of an ox, and you will note she will never make use of the vinaigrette she will call for at regular intervals tomorrow.”

  Riki hesitated then looked up into his rugged face. “We are causing you and your family a great deal of trouble, David and I.”

  The muscles of his jaw tightened. “Just get your meddling cousin out of my time, before I forget my promise to you not to call him out.”

  Preparations for the journey began a
t once. Belmont dispatched a groom to ride to London and alert the elderly retainer living there to make all ready for the arrival of the family. The remainder of the morning passed in a blur of activity for the staff—and Belmont—and Riki, doing her best to remain out of the way, retired to her chamber where she settled in a window seat to stare out over the peaceful, snow-covered gardens.

  The serenity of the scene filled her with an unexpected contentment. She could be very happy in this world, it dawned on her. Everything was strange but wonderful. The air was clean, no industrial waste killed the lakes and rivers, no acid rains tormented birds and trees. No pollution of any kind marred the land. The innocence of preindustrial-era life suited her exactly. Yes, I could be very happy in this time.

  For the next few days only. No longer. This wasn’t where—or rather when—she belonged. It did her no good to think wistful thoughts of a life that could never exist for her.

  She stood abruptly and went downstairs, in hopes of being given something constructive to do.

  Hillary, who had passed the morning lying down in his room, put in an appearance in time to request an extravagant nuncheon. This suggestion was seconded by Sylvester, who then suggested a game of billiards. The two took themselves off after the meal, with Hillary firmly insisting their stakes be wholly imaginary, as he hadn’t a feather to fly with and was willing to bet his uncle was in the same disreputable state. Sir Julian strolled along with them, listening to their easy banter with a slight smile touching his lips.

  Belmont excused himself and left the table to join his bailiff. Lady Prudence, after consuming the last mouthful of a gargantuan meal, announced that she must busy herself with her correspondence. Felicity eyed Riki, but before she could speak, Lord Linton rose.

  “Miss van Hamel, may I have the privilege of showing you about the shrubbery maze?”

  Riki hesitated, for she had no desire to be private with anyone to whom she might betray herself, but it would be rude to refuse. She rose and allowed him to send a footman for her pelisse.

  “Don’t forget half-boots,” Felicity declared, obviously sorry to have her quarry thus removed.

  In a very short time, Linton ushered Riki outside into the chill afternoon. Threatening clouds gathered above, but the snow held back. Probably it planned a bombardment for tomorrow, when they would be traveling.

  She walked quickly, hoping against hope that the frail gentleman at her heels merely intended to be polite. She had known, of course, that wasn’t the case. The door had barely closed behind them when he spoke.

  “It was a terrible thing, the boat wreck. One can only be thankful you and Belmont escaped with your lives.”

  “Yes, we were most fortunate.” She moved ahead, hoping to discourage conversation. Had his department begun to phase him out? She couldn’t blame them—but neither could she help sympathizing with one who found himself, because of his health, not in the midst of the excitement.

  “And where do you come from, my dear?” He offered her his arm as they entered the shrubbery maze.

  “America—Massachusetts.” At least she had been in college there, and if called upon to recount landscape, she probably could manage something.

  “Boston?” he asked, prodding gently.

  “No.” She left it at that, hoping he would take the hint.

  He didn’t. “And what brings you to England? It seems odd you would have been on the same ship as Belmont. No one at the War Office mentioned your presence on that journey.”

  “It was a carefully guarded secret, known only to a very few.”

  “I should have been told,” he murmured, sounding more lost than aggrieved.

  “I’m sure you would have been, had it been possible. It was kept secret from…from everyone, until I actually boarded that boat.”

  He brightened. “You mean Belmont didn’t know either?”

  She shook her head, at last on secure ground. “I came as a complete surprise to Belmont.”

  They traversed the shrubbery paths without so much as a hesitation while they talked, arriving at last at a small central clearing in which four benches had been placed in a square, back to back, each facing an identical appearing entrance—or exit. The maze had been cunningly created to confuse.

  Linton handed her to a seat. “Are you cold, Miss van Hamel?”

  For a moment she considered lying, to grab that excuse to escape his company and return to the house. But though the air was chill, they were protected from the wind by the high bushes. She made a show of fastening the top button on her pelisse, then shook her head and smiled brightly.

  “Do you work in the same department as Belmont?” After all, the best defense was a rousing good offense.

  He inclined his head. “In a very minor capacity only, these days. My failing health, you see. I was far more active in previous years.”

  Her heart went out to him. It must be dreadful to view only from the sidelines what one had previously led. No wonder he’d seized the opportunity to accompany Hillary to Falconer’s Court. It would have made him feel important and busy once more.

  “I understand you wanted to speak to Warwick,” Linton pursued.

  Riki bit her lip. Belmont had told him that it was a personal matter. The truth, whenever possible, was safest. “He is my cousin. My visit will be a complete surprise to him.”

  Linton nodded, apparently satisfied—at least for the moment. “A very pleasant one, I make no doubt. It’s dashed cold out here,” he added.

  He did seem to be feeling the weather. Wind and cold had reddened his pale complexion and his slight figure trembled as he folded his greatcoat more closely about himself.

  “Perhaps we should return to the house.” Riki stood but hesitated over her selection of the path.

  Apparently pleased to be needed in even so minor a capacity, Linton took her arm and guided her through the shrubs. They reentered the house through the library. Before they had gone many steps down the hall, the door into the billiard room opened and Sir Julian came out. He halted, raised his quizzing glass to better examine them, then allowed it to drop.

  “Have you really been outside?” He gave an exquisite shudder.

  Linton straightened his wilting shoulders. “A good brisk walk never does one harm.”

  “Never?” Sir Julian considered, then dismissed the matter as beneath his consideration. “A leisurely stroll down Bond Street, perhaps, or a gentle airing in the Park. But you’re begging, simply begging, for an inflammation of the lungs to go out on such a raw day as this. Really, Linton, I’d advise you to seek your room and send for a mustard plaster. At once.”

  “I shall change, certainly. Miss van Hamel?” He bowed over her hand, took his leave of her and strode off with great dignity.

  Sir Julian swung his glass by its velvet riband. “Poor Linton. That was his intention, of course. The mustard bath, I mean. Now he may pretend it was forced on him.” He shook his head.

  “That wasn’t kind to make sport of the poor man. He obviously isn’t in good health.”

  “Was I unkind? I thought I merely rid us of an intolerable bore.”

  Riki awarded him a scant half smile and turned away. She didn’t like Sir Julian, she decided, despite Belmont’s obvious trust of the man. Probably that friendship went back to a time before Sir Julian’s funning humor had turned acidic.

  She made her way quickly to her room to take off her pelisse but found the chamber to be full of people and chaos. This settled into the abigail assigned to her, Felicity and Miss Bexhill. A large trunk lay open on the floor and into this, under Felicity’s direction, the two maids placed neatly folded gowns that had been wrapped in sheet upon sheet of tissue paper.

  “What is all this?” Riki demanded, staring at a forest-green riding habit that lay across the bed, waiting its turn to go into the trunk.

  “Just a few things you’ll need.” Felicity smiled brightly at her. “You are not to think there is nothing to do in town at this time of year just
because the season hasn’t started yet. All the public men and their families will be there, and as soon as it is discovered we have arrived, we will be invited to various parties.”

  “We will?” Riki regarded her uncertainly. She had hoped to be seen by as few people as possible. With Felicity in charge, that seemed to be impossible.

  “We’ll have the gayest time.” Felicity’s enthusiasm neared the bubbling point. “My sister Clarissa is in town, and so are my dear friends Miss Athercombe and Mrs. Marley. You’ll love Marie Marley, I know you will. She’s a widow already and she’s barely four years older than I am.”

  “How terrible for her.”

  “No, it isn’t in the least, for her husband was the most dreadful brute and it was a Judgment from Heaven when he was struck down in the Peninsula eighteen months ago.”

  Miss Bexhill clucked her tongue in disapproval, and Felicity turned her large, teasing eyes on her.

  “Pray don’t pull down your mouth and frown so, Bexy. I know my tongue rattles on, but it is only to my dear Miss van Hamel, and she would never betray me. Would you?” She appealed to Riki.

  “Of course not. We probably won’t be in town for long, though, for once I have spoken with someone there, I must continue with my mission.”

  “With David Warwick.” Felicity nodded wisely.

  “How do you know that?” Riki regarded her in wonder. But of course she’d know. Hillary did not appear to be one to keep secrets from a persistent sister.

  Felicity dimpled roguishly. “It will be dreadfully cold in town but I have any number of gowns you should be able to wear.” The girl sighed. “I do wish I had your lovely figure.”

  Riki blinked. There was nothing wrong with the girl’s slender hips. She’d give a great deal to carve off a few inches in that department herself.

  “It is the most fortunate circumstance that you are able to wear my gowns, is it not?” Felicity went on.

  “It is,” Riki said with real feeling. “For me, at least. I don’t know how I shall ever be able to repay you.”

  “Oh, I shall merely have Belmont buy me some new ones,” she said airily.