At least Philip’s senses were still on alert enough to recognize another’s presence when he had such distraction before him as the fair Lady Amelia.
By the time they arrived at the Louvre, it was far past the hour they had been supposed to meet Fielding and Adelaide. They had therefore returned to the house without the couple’s chaperonage, and he was now waiting for his sister to join him for tea. He thought more about the proposition Fielding had made. It seemed he had overreacted when his sister had broached the subject that morning, and it would not be charity—at least not only to him. The offer had been made to all of the brethren who did not wish to continue as half-pay officers once they finished their service with the army. Welston Park was still his. It seemed too good to believe. When this assignment was over, he would inquire of his solicitor what his means truly were. They would never be enough to support someone like Lady Amelia, who was herself an heiress, but perhaps he could live out his days comfortably.
“Every time I see you, you are deep in thought,” Adelaide said, having come into the yellow drawing room unnoticed through his reverie.
“There is much to consider and this is a safe place to do it.” He smiled at her. She sat down in the yellow damask chair opposite to his, and the butler brought in the tea-tray he had ordered for her arrival.
“How was your outing with Amelia?” she asked. “I am terribly sorry to have disrupted your plans.”
“You did nothing of the sort. I hope you were able to enjoy some of Paris and see some of the fine arts?”
“Yes, of course. Fielding would not let me stay out very long, but I did see the Mona Lisa and purchase some fabrics to be made into gowns.”
“He must be an uncommonly good husband if he took you shopping for fabrics! Will you be leaving in the morning?” he asked.
“It seems we must. Will you please think on Robert’s offer?”
“I will,” Philip surprised himself by saying, “but I must complete my duties to the army.”
“And Amelia? What of her?” His sister was fishing with a whale harpoon for sardines.
He had hoped she would not ask that question. He wished she had heard nothing, but then a sister has an uncanny way of discovering such things, he mused behind a practised bland expression.
“We are friends.”
She stared at him in the annoying, knowing way sisters had, clearly not accepting his avowal.
“Would you believe me if I said it was a professional relationship?”
“Philip!” she scolded.
“No, no, you misunderstand.” He held up his hands. “I cannot say more, and I am bound in complete secrecy. Suffice to say, she is helping his Grace in a matter of some delicacy, and I am assigned to help her.”
“Well, if you are not smitten by her, then you are the first man I have seen to remain impervious.”
“She took London by storm, did she?”
“You could say she blew all before her like the strongest gale,” Adelaide confirmed. “I will say one thing, though, as a word of caution.”
“I am a grown man, sister.” Philip did not want to be scolded.
“A sister may still care. I wanted to say, Amelia is not at all as she pretends to be in front of Society. She is a very kind and caring person and I would not wish to see her hurt.”
“So your concern is for her, not me?” He laughed.
“Do not be ridiculous. A woman’s feelings are different when it comes to forming attachments.”
He looked upward in exasperation. “I never thought to be lectured by my little sister.”
“You are both important to me and I want what is best for both of you. I shall say no more.”
“Lady Amelia is in no danger from me. I should be no more than a flirtation for her, I assure you. When the time comes for her to choose a husband, she will look far beyond mere Captain Philip Elliot.”
“I wish you would not speak of yourself—or her—in such a manner. She cares not for such superficialities. She has had every opportunity to make a splendid match.”
“Maybe not now, I will grant you, but she will when the lustre has faded.”
“Whatever has brought you together, dear brother, there is a reason for it, just as there was a reason I became a governess.”
“That never should have happened. If I had not—”
“No, stop!” Adelaide held up her hand. “It was the best thing that could have happened to me.”
“You always could see the good in everything.”
“The alternative is seeing the bad and where would that leave me?”
“Where I am,” he teased.
Later that evening, Amelia received an invitation to join Captain Elliot in the study. It made an interesting change, to be working, in a manner of speaking. Under no circumstances would she be able to do such a thing in London, as a young, unmarried woman. In fact, if word ever got out, her chances of a good marriage would be nil. The taste of adventure was too much to resist, however, and even though she had had the wool removed from her eyes with regards to Captain Elliot, he still intrigued her. Then, of course, there was her aunt. Amelia felt divided in her loyalty, and dearly hoped the investigation would vindicate her aunt of whatever the British government suspected.
Uncertain how she should dress for a summons to the study to discuss her work with Captain Elliot, Amelia considered her wardrobe. What was one to wear to such things? Doubtful he would approve of anything frivolous, she chose a black gown in a subdued style, had her maid dress her hair in a simple knot, and made her way to the study.
When she arrived, Wellington and Waverley were present as well, in addition to Captain Frome, Tobin and Captain Elliot. The gentlemen stood up when she entered. It was intimidating to realize she would be the eyes and ears for this operation, along with these esteemed men who had vast amounts of experience in the army. Seeing them together, in this room, made her question her previous bravado. What if her aunt was killed? She herself could be killed!
“Lady Amelia, at last,” Wellington said in his customary brusque manner. “Please come and take a seat. We have much to discuss.”
The gentlemen were sitting in the smaller yellow drawing room, a decidedly feminine-looking room sitting in dainty chairs surrounded by gilt and fringe. Had they met in this room for her as opposed to a more masculine smoking room or study?
“Your Grace.” Amelia dropped a curtsy to Wellington and nodded towards Waverley before taking her seat.
“Elliot tells me you have made a good start. He has received his invitation to the fortress this afternoon.”
“I am happy to be of service, sir,” she said, wondering what she was doing.
“Elliot also tells me you were followed. We are not yet certain what that means. It might simply have been Madame trying to see the nature of your association.”
Amelia cast a glance at Captain Elliot, who was watching her closely. She tried not to squirm under his gaze and looked around the room at the other gentlemen. Tobin quickly glanced away, but Captain Frome smiled at her as he would have done in the London ballroom. She smiled back.
“On the other hand,” Wellington was saying, “they could have decided Elliot is a threat and could be trying to determine what he knows. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for La Glacier to think Captain Elliot is indispensable to Lady Amelia and that he has aspirations to her hand. He will make a point of announcing his retirement from His Majesty’s service and hint at plans for your future together.”
Amelia swallowed hard, trying not to outwardly react to this news, even though she knew it was an act. It would not be so awkward had it not been her dream, until recently, to marry him. She could be sophisticated about this.
“Given her dowry, and what a handsome couple you make, it might not be such a bad idea for you, Elliot.”
Amelia studied the trimming on her gown and did not comment.
“I will not truly be resigning my commission, Lady Amelia, so you need not c
oncern yourself.”
“I am not concerned,” she assured him calmly, having outwardly composed herself. She looked at Wellington. “How may I help minimize the threat to Captain Elliot?”
“Keep him out of trouble, my dear.”
“I will pretend I did not hear that remark, your Grace,” Captain Elliot muttered.
Wellington laughed. “Now, you are not to do anything dangerous, young lady. By having you and your sister at Madame Lisette’s estate, it allows me to put my people there, and will make her wonder what I am about.”
“What are you about, sir? Games of intellect with my aunt?” she asked boldly.
Someone inhaled loudly but Wellington did not seem to notice.
“Most of war strategy is gaming of sorts. My sources tell me that she is still communicating with Napoleon, and that his army is still loyal to him, not the King. It also appears she is planning to visit him. I am hoping she will reveal more information somehow. Every little detail you hear could matter, even if you think it of little consequence.”
“How am I to relay information to you? I assume I will be watched.”
“Of course. That is why you are enraptured with Captain Elliot. You can whisper your findings to him in the guise of young lovers.”
“I think it would be easier to tell my sister or her husband.”
“Perhaps, but the more direct the communication the better. Elliot is my most experienced man and is accustomed to relaying information back to me. He has spent the past year building a system of communication near Étretat.”
“Captain Frome and Lieutenant O’Neil will also be nearby, in disguise. Frome will be a fisherman and O’Neil will be making deliveries.” It was difficult for Amelia to think of Tobin as Lieutenant O’Neil. Captain Frome inclined his head and winked.
“You have your signal, I am told,” Wellington stated, and she demonstrated with her earring. “You are not to go anywhere alone with anyone, apart from Elliot or Waverley, of course.”
“I understand,” she answered, though beginning to feel trepidation.
“You have a weapon?”
“Is that necessary?” she asked, trying not to panic as the reality of what she was about to do hit her fully.
“Indeed it is. Elliot, see to it she is equipped with one of those daggers that hides in the bodice,” Wellington said crisply. He did not flinch at mentioning unmentionables in front of a lady. Amelia’s cheeks burned and in that moment she felt like a green girl unused to male society.
“Does everyone understand their assignments?”
“Yes, sir.” The gentlemen’s answers echoed around the room.
“Excellent. Hopefully, there will be nothing to report and the Duchess and Lady Amelia will have a pleasant family visit. I cannot leave any stone unturned, however. I appreciate your willingness to help your country, Lady Amelia. I know it cannot be easy. Waverley.” With a nod to the latter, the Duke also acknowledged his part in the operation.
As the gentlemen dispersed, Amelia rose, walked over to the terrace doors and went outside. She leaned on the iron railing, and looking up into the sky, searched for some sense of clarity in her thoughts. There was no turning back now, and she only hoped she was equal to the task before her.
She felt Captain Elliot’s presence beside her but did not look down.
“Can I help?” he asked.
“I do not know. I am afraid I will fail someone, no matter what I do... either my country or my family.”
“It is natural to be afraid. I remember when I first left home for the army. Granted, I was a wild young buck who felt invincible, and men have a more natural tendency to violence, yet that bravado did not last long. When you first sleep on the cold, hard ground and hear the drums beat the battle cry, you realize this might be the end.”
“Does the feeling ever go away?”
“I suppose so, in a way. There is a strange excitement which runs through you before a battle. But when we lost one of our brethren, the fear became reality.”
“How awful for you!” Amelia turned and looked at him then. It was the first time Captain Elliot had looked vulnerable and something inside her ached for him.
“I will do my best to protect you, Lady Amelia. I think you are beginning to understand the gravity of the situation, if I correctly read your face just now.”
She nodded.
“It is an adventure of sorts, and there is a thrill in the chase, but you must also realize the danger. You must trust me completely. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” she whispered, looking into his eyes. They were barely visible in the night, but she felt as though she could see him better than she ever had before. In his vulnerable state he had opened up a new side to her; unfortunately, it was one which was far more attractive than the handsome, flirtatious one she had fallen for when she was a silly girl with fantastical dreams. She would now have to be very careful with her heart.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I feel much better hearing you say that. I was not certain you would be able to do so when you first arrived.”
“To be frank, Captain, neither was I.”
“I cannot protect you if you do not tell me everything, is that understood?” He spoke rather fiercely.
“Understood.” She tried not to flinch.
“Now, let us get a good night’s sleep. We have a long journey tomorrow and will need all the faculties at our command when we arrive.”
She smiled sweetly and he took her arm and led her towards the guest apartments. Not another word was said, and Amelia did not feel comforted. What had she done?
Chapter 8
Philip worried all night about Lady Amelia. She was not ready for this assignment. He would have to watch over her more closely than he had thought. At first, he had thought her too flippant for such a task. Now she seemed to appreciate the seriousness of the situation, but would her allegiance to England be strong enough? Something had changed between them, although he could not say precisely what. While he had seen the Amelia his sister had spoken of, he still saw a green girl who might melt under pressure.
He led his horse, Scipio, around to where the carriages were being loaded for the journey.
“Something on yer mind?” Tobin asked as he walked up to Philip, carrying his pack.
“Naturally,” he answered.
“I do not envy ye yer task. The lass is a bonnie handful.”
“Rarely do I question our commander, but I must admit I cannot like this,” Philip responded.
“I must agree with you, there. Lady Amelia has a mind of her own, and I do not think she will tell us everything unless it suits her.”
Although Philip had the same reservations, he kept his opinion to himself. “I hope she will do what is right.”
“The Duchess, now, she be another story, but she saw what her aunt was capable of, and his Grace willna let her out of his sight,” Tobin continued.
“When do you leave?” Philip asked.
“Captain Frome and I are travelling by boat so we doona arrive with ye. I must meet him at the docks.”
“Godspeed, Lieutenant.”
Tobin saluted and then went on his way to meet the Captain.
Philip tightened the girth and then turned around to see Lady Amelia coming down the steps from the house in a dark blue riding habit. She was splendid. It took him a moment to realize she intended to ride instead of being a passenger inside the carriage.
“Good morning, Captain Elliot,” she said, with what seemed to be false cheer. It did not appear she had slept any better than he had. She asked, “Or should I call you something else now that you have resigned your commission?”
“Captain Elliot is still acceptable,” he said, trying to think of how to convince her to ride inside the carriage. “Are you going for a ride before our journey?”
“Now is not the time to be ridiculous,” she snapped. “I have no intention of enduring Waverley and my sister, in such a small space and for that length
of time, ever again.”
Fair enough, he thought. “What about your safety?” he answered mildly. “There are any number of hazards I cannot protect you from in the open. France is not England, and has her fair share of troubles.”
“There is nothing you can say to convince me to ride inside that carriage. Perhaps I will feel differently after a few hours, but I need to clear my head.” Her eyes pleaded with him just as Waverley and the Duchess joined them.
Philip glanced at his friend. He shrugged his shoulders as if to say he would get no help from that quarter.
A groom brought out one of Wellington’s hunters, one known to be a lively stepper.
“I hope you know how to ride; that horse is only second to Copenhagen in his particularity with respect to his rider.”
“We understand each other, do we not, Elmore?” she cooed to the horse.
She reached up to rub the horse’s nose and planted a kiss straight between its eyes. The horse nuzzled up to her and Philip wanted to scream. That horse had thrown him off more than once, and he was a consummate horseman! Perhaps he was being unjustly cross, but he did not want to spend the whole journey playing nursemaid to Lady Amelia. He needed to clear his head as well!
Waverley helped the Duchess into the black travelling carriage-and-six and Lady Amelia stood where she was, looking expectantly at Philip. Closing his eyes for a moment, he resigned himself to the courtesy and gave her a boost into the saddle.
The carriages began to roll through the courtyard, on their way to Étretat. Philip held his hand out, indicating for Lady Amelia to lead. They made their way slowly through the streets of Paris without a word and as they rode, he tried to swallow his bile. There was little he could do about Lady Amelia now. He allowed himself to grumble until they reached the countryside; by then, he had mostly accepted the hand he had been dealt. Looking around, now that there was some space, he dearly wanted to give his horse its head. There were rolling hills of farmland now yellow and brown during the fallow season. The day was clear and cold, bringing roses to Lady Amelia’s cheeks. She was either absorbed in her own thoughts, or she was ignoring him as her eyes were trained straight ahead. It was acceptable to him either way. He pulled up alongside the carriage and spoke to the Duke.
Not Forgotten Page 7
