The Wild Card

by Beth Elliott

  Suddenly he stopped and lightly took her arm, obliging her to stop also. Standing so close to him, Kitty could smell the faint scent of vetyver. She looked into his eyes and slowly registered that his expression was serious. Had he seen her on that day, after all?

  ‘Have you come across Mr Thatcham today?’ he asked, in a low voice.

  She had not expected such a question and blinked at him in surprise. She shook her head.

  ‘In that case.…’ He bit his lip, not seeming to know how to go on.

  Kitty was puzzled. ‘Surely, sir, you were all together at a – a sporting event yesterday?’

  He flashed her a sombre glance. ‘Indeed we were. But it was not a happy party, I fear. Mr Weston—’ He checked himself.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Forgive me, mademoiselle, I should not be speaking of my concerns. You are a friend of Mr Weston, is it not so? Come, the other ladies have returned to the hall. We shall be late.’

  ‘Never mind,’ protested Kitty, thoroughly alarmed by his manner. ‘Please do not leave me to imagine something dreadful. I can see you are worried.’ She looked at him very earnestly. He cast a quick glance up and down the deserted corridor. Through the closed door, the faint sounds of a violin could be heard, shortly followed by a tenor voice singing.

  ‘We are already too late. We cannot interrupt them for the moment,’ she urged, ‘you have time to tell me.’

  Etienne sighed. ‘Very well. Yesterday, a large group of us went to watch a prizefight. It was out of town – at Richmond. It was a large party but not very harmonious.’ He raised an eyebrow and shrugged expressively. ‘Lord Lynsford was not his usual cheerful self – but enough of that. Suffice it to say that we split into smaller groups to watch the event. That part of the day went well enough. We agreed to meet afterwards at a hostelry to refresh ourselves before returning to London.’ He stopped for a moment and looked very earnestly at Kitty. ‘However, Mr Thatcham did not appear.’

  Kitty stared at him. ‘Why was that?’

  He shrugged. ‘I cannot tell. At the start of the day he had a black eye. He was knocked down in his room a few nights ago.’

  Kitty nodded. She clasped her hands together tightly. ‘But surely he has recovered from that?’ she faltered.

  ‘He said he felt well enough to come along to the prizefight.’ Etienne stopped and took a few steps away. He turned back towards Kitty and pressed a hand to his brow. ‘I am not sure I should mention this, but.…’ He hesitated.

  Kitty’s heart was thumping uncomfortably. ‘Please do not stop there. I am full of suspense now.’

  He shrugged. ‘Very well, then. I could not help overhearing Mr Thatcham and Mr Weston arguing. They became quite heated. There was some mention of a letter. When Mr Thatcham did not join us at the hostelry after the prizefight and Mr Weston had a face of – of thunder—’

  ‘Like thunder,’ corrected Kitty. ‘But please go on.’

  ‘Well, since the end of the fight, I cannot discover anyone who has seen Mr Thatcham. He is definitely not in London. And now Mr Weston’ – he grimaced – ‘has not shown his face in town today.’

  ‘Oh!’ Kitty pressed a hand to her mouth. Acold knife of fear twisted in her stomach. She remembered Greg’s plea for help and his grateful look when she hid the letter for him. Was it so important that he had been attacked a second time because of it? I am involved in this, whatever it is, was her next thought. She walked jerkily over to a seat and sank on to it.

  Etienne followed her. ‘Are you unwell? Can I get you a glass of wine?’

  Kitty shook her head. ‘I just need time to think.’ He had mentioned Theo and in a way that suggested suspicion. Surely … but Kitty could see no reason to doubt Theo’s loyalty to his friend. ‘I am sure it is all a mistake,’ she said firmly. ‘No doubt we shall meet Mr Thatcham around town tomorrow.’

  Etienne inclined his head. ‘Let us hope so,’ he replied ironically. ‘However, sometimes debt can make a man desperate.’

  ‘How could attacking a friend solve a problem of debt?’

  ‘If that person was carrying a valuable secret, and the other needed money.…’ Etienne raised his hands expressively and shook his head. He leaned forward, his face very close to hers. ‘I am sorry to give you such bad news.’ Suddenly he seized her hand and kissed it. ‘Miss Towers, do you know how delightful you look with your beautiful eyes so thoughtful. You are a very brave young lady. And now I will get you a glass of wine.’

  The next morning, Kitty managed to drink her breakfast cup of tea but the slice of bread and butter remained untouched on her plate. She had spent a restless night worrying over her part in this unpleasant situation. Etienne had implied that Theo was connected with Greg’s disappearance. That meant she was in part responsible because she had handed the letter to Theo. She had felt at the time that he was very tense – could it mean he was plotting something against his friend?

  Kitty shook her head instinctively at this idea. He had told her he owed his life to Greg – surely no one would forget such a debt? Yet Etienne had hinted at money problems. It seemed that lack of money forced men to do bad things. Kitty suspected that she had stumbled into one of these areas of complicated diplomatic business that took place in amongst social events.

  She pushed away her plate and rose from the table. Someone very ruthless was following Greg. How could she help to find him? She shrugged away the idea that this might put herself in danger. Deep in thought, she mounted the stairs to her room.

  ‘Of course!’ she exclaimed out loud, making the maid jump. ‘Caroline!’ She dressed in another new gown made by Miss Dilworth, a fawn twill morning dress trimmed with braid and with a double flounce round the hem. She smoothed her curls into a fashionable topknot and set her new bonnet carefully on her head. Soon she was on her way to Caroline’s vast mansion in Cavendish Square.

  When Kitty was shown into the dressing-room, Caroline’s maid was fastening the buttons down the back of her very smart silk gown. Caroline adjusted the sleeves, considered herself in the mirror and nodded.

  ‘That will do. You may go.’

  The maid curtsied and slipped out of the room.

  Caroline turned to the pile of shawls laid out on top of a chest. She held them up, one after the other, her attention seemingly focused on them. Without looking at Kitty, she said, ‘So what brings you here at this early hour? Has your aunt heard about your indiscreet behaviour last night?’

  Kitty shook her head. Caroline had already scolded her about her long tête-à-tête with Etienne. ‘You know he is a great favourite with my aunt,’ she reminded her friend. But what would Caroline say if she knew about Theo and the kiss that Freddy had interrupted? It did not bear thinking about.

  Caroline finally selected a long, fringed shawl and arranged it over her elbows. She glanced up and fixed Kitty with a warning look. ‘Whatever your aunt thinks is beside the point: she does not go into society nowadays. After your lack of conduct at the concert last night, people are going to talk.’

  ‘What was I to do? He said it was an urgent matter.’

  ‘Darling, you just never – ever – allow yourself to be alone with Etienne. Everyone knows he is a rake and that he can only marry a fortune.’

  ‘But he is so devastatingly handsome,’ murmured Kitty, half to herself.

  ‘You see!’ Caroline cast up her eyes. ‘I fear you will be his next victim.’

  ‘Oh no!’ To her annoyance, Kitty felt her cheeks go red. ‘I find him charming to talk to but—’

  ‘To flirt with,’ Caroline corrected, looking at her very sternly.

  ‘I did not mean it so,’ retorted Kitty. ‘Tell me, Caro, do you know what has happened between Mr Thatcham and Mr Weston? Apparently they have not been seen for a couple of days.’

  ‘Do not talk to me about Theo Weston!’ was the pettish reply. ‘If he was not such an old friend of William’s, I would keep my distance.’

  Kitty looked at her in amazement. ‘But you all
seem to be on such easy terms with each other.’

  Caroline lifted one shoulder. ‘Darling, he is William’s oldest friend. But he has a devil-may-care reputation. He is very wild, or he was until he was so ill.’

  ‘Is that what makes him moody?’

  Caroline looked closely at her. ‘You are taking a keen interest in him. I thought you were encouraging our dear Etienne in his attentions.’

  Kitty sighed. ‘Are they all such sad rakes?’ she asked. ‘And do they quarrel often?’

  ‘How can I tell? Men have such odd notions – a gambling debt, a bet, they have to settle these matters by duelling. They call it the code of honour. Then they all go to some prizefight together and become friends again.’

  ‘Only it seems to have worked the other way round this time,’ muttered Kitty. She was no wiser and left feeling as troubled as when she had arrived. She considered Theo’s moody personality. He had a dangerous side to him, that was certain. But he genuinely cared about helping the poor. In a bad mood he was unapproachable, but even if he quarrelled with his friend, she felt in her heart that he would never harm him. There had to be a different reason why they had both vanished.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  ‘Good evening, Miss Towers.’

  At the sound of that deep voice, Kitty stiffened. At last she had a chance to discover whether he was innocent of harming his friend. And there was also the matter of the kiss. She drew in a deep breath and slowly turned her head. Theo was smiling down at her. His lean face was unusually cheerful. Kitty noticed a dimple in his cheek. His blue eyes gleamed as he looked at her. Then the smile faded.

  ‘You do not look pleased to see me.’

  She stared at him rather fixedly. No; how could she feel pleased? She was afraid he had harmed his friend because of that letter. Even as she thought it, her heart felt like a stone. It was impossible to believe. But Caroline had warned her that Theo was a rake and that he had recently been in trouble with his father over gaming debts. At every level in society money caused problems.

  By now Theo’s smile had quite gone. He was watching her through narrowed eyes, his head tilted in that way he had of concentrating on her. Kitty forced her lips into a polite smile. ‘Why, Mr Weston, it seems an age since we saw you in town.’

  ‘And in that time you have changed your opinion of me.’ His voice was rough with suppressed anger. ‘The last time we met, we were on much more friendly terms,’ he added. Kitty felt the colour scorch its way up her cheeks. He was watching with a satisfied look on his face.

  So he was just a rake, she thought, mortified. He just wanted to make her fall in love with him. This was going to be a horrible evening.

  As if to confirm her fears, he said, ’Come, Miss Towers, you are my dinner partner tonight. Let us take our place.’ He offered his arm. After a tiny hesitation, she placed her fingers on it. To her dismay, even that moment’s delay had its effect. She felt his arm stiffen and saw his jaw clench. Somehow, he kept the polite smile in place as they followed their hostess downstairs to the dining-room.

  His left leg seemed to be dragging rather more tonight than when they had last walked together, on their way to visit Lady Stratford’s conservatory. Kitty glanced at him from under her eyelashes. He was so tall and broad-shouldered and his evening clothes set off his athletic physique. She felt him to be her ideal – at least in his physical appearance. Her heart contracted with misery at the idea he could be a spy, working against his country.

  It was in a very sombre mood that she sat down at table. Theo was seated on her left, which meant that for the first part of the meal, she did not have to speak to him. As etiquette demanded, Kitty began by exchanging small talk with the gentleman on her right. When the soup bowls were removed, however, she turned to her left and found Theo looking at her. Her heart jolted. His eyes were steady, questioning and as usual, their penetrating gaze caused Kitty’s heart to beat faster.

  Her instinct was to trust him. But for the past few days she had heard so many warnings against him, all from people who knew him so much better than she did. She cleared her throat. ‘You have been out of town for quite some time, Mr Weston?’

  He nodded. His gaze fell to her mouth. He seemed to be breathing in deeply. Kitty felt a blush creep up again. Was this a reference to that kiss? She was horrified to realize that she wanted to kiss him again. Looking into his eyes, she was sure he had not done anything underhand, he looked so open and honest – it was just that other people were warning her against him. It would be no good to ask him. He certainly did not look guilty, but, of course, if he was a spy, he must be a good actor.

  ‘Miss Towers, in spite of all your – er – visits, you appear to be in good health. However, I fear that will not continue if you do not eat at least something.’

  Kitty looked down at her plate. The food lay untouched. She made a show of cutting up a morsel of chicken. To avoid actually eating it, she murmured, ‘What a pity your friend, Mr Thatcham, cannot be present tonight.’

  Theo’s brows snapped down over his commanding nose. ‘To waste his time gazing in helpless adoration at your friend?’

  Kitty glared back. ‘That was not my meaning. I believe I already said that it is unfair to blame Miss Warrington for the looks nature bestowed on her.’

  ‘I do not blame her for that, but it irks me to see the effect she has on Greg. He is a moth to the flame and she is quite indifferent.’

  Kitty opened her mouth, shut it again and looked at him. Before she could decide how to reply, Theo continued, ‘I wish you could keep her out of Greg’s way, poor fellow.’

  ‘Poor fellow?’ gasped Kitty, outraged. ‘And, pray, how can I do anything?’

  ‘Come now, Miss Towers. You are the stronger personality, you can easily persuade her.’

  Kitty’s eyes flashed. ‘You are very busy on your friend’s behalf—’ She swallowed and added, ‘even though he has not been seen around for several days now. I do not forget that he had one unfortunate accident. And now, he has disappeared completely. Did you have anything to do with that?’ Did he understand her meaning. She watched his face darken and almost shrank from the anger she felt radiating from him.

  ‘What are you implying?’ he growled. There was a moment of painful silence. His head was bent down and he seemed to be struggling with himself. Then he took a deep breath and looked her firmly in the eye. ‘This is a matter I do not speak of but for now I will make an exception. Without Greg’s help, I would have died on the battlefield,’ he grated out, somehow keeping his voice low. ‘He risked his life to snatch me to safety. That makes a debt I will spend my life trying to repay.’ He grasped his wineglass and downed the contents.

  Kitty glanced round the table anxiously. Everyone appeared absorbed in their own conversations. Her eyes burned with unshed tears at the sincerity in his voice. Looking down she gradually realized her food was still untouched. She cut up another piece of chicken, but it was impossible to eat it. Her hands trembled so much that it was an effort to lay her knife and fork down without clattering them on the plate. After a moment she risked another look at Theo. He gave her a cold glance then turned his head away.

  The rest of the meal seemed like a nightmare to Kitty. She felt so many conflicting emotions that she hardly knew how to stay in her seat. The conversation rose and fell around her. At last the hostess stood up and the ladies withdrew. Kitty kept her head high as she followed, but it seemed a long journey from the table to the door.

  In the drawing-room she slipped into a quiet corner, desperately needing time to compose herself. She had made a grave accusation based on gossip. Theo had reacted so angrily she could not doubt he understood what she was implying. The fact that he had told her about his rescue showed how deeply she had wounded him with her comments. Kitty closed her eyes in anguish.

  She was miserably aware that Theo had withdrawn from her. Now she realized how much she valued his good opinion. In fact, she told herself, without his regard, the future s
eemed very bleak indeed. How did it come about that each time they met, it ended in an argument? When he had first come up to her, he had seemed so pleased to see her.

  The sound of a lively tune broke in on her thoughts. The young ladies had already begun the musical entertainment. Just then there was a soft touch on her tightly clasped hands. Kitty opened her eyes to see Amelia’s concerned face.

  ‘You are terribly pale,’ she murmured. ‘Do you have a headache?’

  Kitty nodded. ‘But it is my own fault.’ Her voice trembled. ‘I m-made him so angry. Oh, Millie, I wish we had never come to London.’

  Amelia patted her hand. ‘Do not feel too distressed. It will not seem so bad in the morning, I assure you. You know they will soon be asking you to play and it will cause comment if you refuse.’

  Kitty drew a deep breath. She rubbed her cheeks. ‘Does that look better?’ Amelia sat down and kept up a gentle flow of comments about the meal, the guests and their fashions. It was soothing and gradually Kitty was able to focus her mind on the ladies and the music. When their hostess called upon her to play and sing for them, she took her place at the pianoforte with a polite smile on her lips.

  She played a popular tune. Her voice was sweet and well trained. There was an enthusiastic request for her to play and sing again. She was halfway through the second ballad when she glanced up to see the gentlemen entering the room. Theo was standing just inside the door, his eyes fixed on her. Hastily, Kitty lowered her head. She finished the piece and rose from the pianoforte.

  She could not help glancing towards Theo again. Her heart leapt at the softened look on his face. But then he blinked and turned away. Kitty watched as he joined a group of men chatting in an alcove. She made her way back to her seat and glanced around. He had disappeared. Her head throbbed unmercifully.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN