Amara (Carlton House Cartel Book 2)

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘Absolutely not! Amara has been quite shocked, but it is good education for her. It might help to make her think for herself. As for me, I shall probably return. I cannot abandon Amara, even though she will soon be a married woman. No one understands her as well as I do.’

  ‘You are very considerate. And the fact that Amara has stood up to her maid is an excellent start.’

  Eva grinned. ‘I am inclined to agree with you.’

  ‘I am very grateful to have made your acquaintance, and Amara’s,’ Sabine said, her expression sobering, ‘but I cannot help sharing Chance’s view that the prince, in inviting Amara to remain in this country, is in danger of exacerbating the tension between our two countries, despite his intention to heal the rift.’

  ‘You can be sure that my brother will exploit it for all it’s worth,’ Eva agreed, ‘but what is done is done, so we might as well make the best of our situation, Amara and I, and enjoy ourselves.’

  ‘Here I am.’ Amara floated into the room, looking fresh and vibrant in striped muslin and with her thick black hair tamed into an elegant style. It was a dull day, but it felt to Eva as though Amara brought sunshine into the room with her. ‘And you will be pleased to hear that I put Cora well and truly in her place.’

  ‘Good girl!’ Sabine smiled and stood up. ‘Eva and I have been so caught up with our conversation that I completely forgot that I am still wearing my breeches. Whatever must you think of me? Excuse me, it comes from living alone, doing as I please and not caring if I shock my servants. Give me ten minutes, ladies. That is all the time it will take for me to transform myself.’

  ‘Take as long as you need to, Sabine,’ Eva replied. ‘We are completely at our leisure.’

  ‘How can Papa possibly insist that all Englishmen and women are debauched?’ Amara asked, watching Sabine scamper from the room. ‘Sabine is a delight. Fresh and outspoken and all the things I would most like to be. I am so happy that we came here.’

  ‘And also living outside of wedlock with her lover,’ Eva pointed out, smiling.

  ‘Pah! As if that sort of thing doesn’t happen just as openly in Greece between previously married people. How many offers have you rejected, Eva?’

  ‘I agree with you, but then you are looking at the situation rationally. You and I both know that when it comes to the English, rationality deserts your father.’

  ‘True.’ Amara paced about the room, stopping every so often to admire the view, her expression pensive. ‘Why does Papa so dislike the English? I have never understood his bias in that regard. There are neighbouring countries to Greece that he has more cause to dislike, given his ability to cause offence. I was not aware that he had set foot in this country; at least not since before I was born.’

  ‘He has not shared his views with me, my dear. Only imagine, a Greek man confiding in or accepting advice from a mere woman.’

  Amara laughed. ‘I confess that I cannot.’

  ‘Someone probably offended him in his youth. You know as well as I do that your father has perfected the art of holding a grudge.’

  ‘There is that.’

  The door opened and Sabine joined them, beautifully coiffured and attired.

  ‘That was a quick transformation,’ Eva said, smiling.

  ‘I cannot abide spending hours preening in front of a mirror. I always seem to find something more interesting to do. Anyway, ladies, if you are ready, shall we brave the elements?’

  ‘By all means.’

  ‘There is a very pretty walk that I would like to show you that isn’t too far and that will afford us an excellent view of the sea, if you shall not mind being blown about.’

  Eva assured her that they would not and so, having donned bonnets and pelisses, they set forth.

  Chance sat with Louis and Robert Sterling in one of the many small ante-rooms in the prince’s pavilion, out of arguments and persuasion and severely worried.

  ‘There has to be a way to change George’s mind that we haven’t considered,’ he said, rubbing his chin. ‘Liverpool will have a conniption if he involves himself.’

  ‘We just spent over an hour trying,’ Louis pointed out, ‘but you know as well as I do that when he makes up his mind to meddle in affairs that he doesn’t understand, there’s no stopping him.'

  ‘We need to send an express to Castlereagh,’ Robert said, referring to the foreign secretary. ‘He needs to be made aware that an invitation will be forthcoming, despite our best efforts to prevent it. If he can’t stop it from reaching the delegation, then at least he will be forewarned.’

  ‘It will put Miss Kazan in danger, damn it!’ Louis thumped his thigh with a clenched fist. ‘That cannot be allowed to happen.’

  ‘She won’t be in any physical danger,’ Chance replied, ‘but it will seem as though she’s being used as a pawn, and I agree that we have to find a way to avoid that situation.’

  ‘The Greek deputation has got here awfully quickly,’ Robert said, wrinkling his brow in suspicion. ‘It’s almost as though they were waiting across the channel, ready to wade into the political skirmish over those blasted marbles.’

  ‘Cheer up, Louis,’ Chance said. ‘At least Kazan is not one of their number.’

  ‘Not yet,’ Louis replied gloomily. ‘I advised Miss Kazan to return to her sightseeing when we found a moment to speak alone last night. She did not take the suggestion well, for which I cannot blame her. She’s had enough of men telling her what to do and when to do it. That’s my guess, for what it’s worth. Besides, she is enjoying herself in England. Anyway, it seems her father is coming in his yacht to collect her in London in a month’s time, so she cannot leave before then.’

  ‘And we cannot deter George from inviting the Greeks to Brighton until after her departure.’ Chance sighed. ‘Because she is essential to his ridiculous plot to broker peace between the two countries.’

  ‘She sings like an angel, there’s no disputing that fact,’ Louis replied, ‘but the Greeks will say that she is their angel and that she should not be exposed to the vulgarities of George’s court; a point of view that holds some credibility.’

  ‘I’ll dash off a few lines to Castlereagh now, unless we can think of a better way to spike George’s guns, gentlemen.’ Chance looked at each of them in turn and they both shook their heads. ‘Very well.’

  Chance moved to the escritoire in the corner of the room, thought for a moment, then penned his note and rang the bell. He had the footman who answered it bring Murphy to him and asked his man to have the note sent to Whitehall by express.

  ‘Well, gentlemen,’ he said, stretching his arms above his head when Murphy went off to attend to the matter, ‘time is getting on. We’ve spent far too long arguing with George and Sabine is expecting us this afternoon.’

  Louis brightened at the prospect. ‘Then let’s be on our way,’ he said.

  Chapter Nine

  Louis and Robert travelled to Falkirk House in Louis’s carriage. Chance rode alongside, his stallion prancing sideways, shying at the traffic and at his own shadow as he fought for his head.

  ‘Damn fine horse, that,’ Robert said, sending Legacy an admiring look as the animal tossed his head and attempted to snatch the reins from Chance’s hands.

  ‘A little too strong-willed for my taste,’ Louis replied, his thoughts a million miles away from horseflesh.

  The business with the Greek delegation obviously changed everything, meaning that Amara no longer had the luxury of a month’s grace. He couldn’t allow her to remain here in Brighton and become embroiled in a political spat. She needed to be kept well away from George’s inept efforts to rectify a situation that minds far sharper than his were struggling to get to grips with. All that now remained was for him to somehow convince her of that fact. He gave a mirthless little laugh that caused Robert to cock an enquiring brow.

  ‘Ignore me,’ Louis said. ‘Just trying to straighten things out in my head.’

  ‘Good luck with that one, my friend,’ Robert rep
lied with feeling.

  It was late afternoon when they arrived at Falkirk House. They found the ladies in the drawing room, taking tea and chatting as though they had been friends for years rather than days. Women had a happy knack of forging friendships quickly, Louis had often noticed, whereas men tended to be more circumspect. He was grateful to Sabine for going out of her way to put her guests at their ease, aware that Amara was a bundle of contradictions—duty warring with the thrill of rebellion—and that the calming influence of the two older ladies would help to settle her nerves.

  ‘There you are,’ Sabine said, smiling at them all but allowing her gaze to linger upon Chance for a protracted moment. ‘We began to think that you had either got lost, forgotten how to get here or succumbed to the charms of the ladies in the prince’s court.’

  ‘None of the aforementioned,’ Chance replied, returning her teasing smile. ‘George is being especially demanding today, and it took the combined diplomatic skills of the three of us to make him consider the bigger picture.’ Chance let out a prolonged sigh. ‘Whether or not we succeeded remains to be seen.’

  They had agreed not to mention the Greek delegation straight away. There was still an outside chance that George would take their advice on board, have second thoughts and not invite them to Brighton. Chance had ensured that word would reach them here at Falkirk House as soon as he reached a decision.

  In the meantime, Louis had to decide whether to try harder to make Amara leave Brighton, given that she had already made it clear that she resented his interference in her affairs. He glanced at her lovely profile, watching her smile at something Chance said to her, and died a little inside. If their time together was limited, he didn’t want to spend it arguing with her—especially since he couldn’t tell her why he felt such a pressing need to have her leave. But if he failed to make his point and harm came to her in the shark infested waters of political intrigue, he would blame himself for the rest of his days.

  ‘We have been taking advantage of the break in the weather to explore the grounds,’ Sabine told them.

  ‘Sabine has been educating us on the varieties of local flora and fauna,’ Mrs Costas explained. ‘I now fully intend to have an English garden back home in Greece.’

  ‘If that is your desire, you would be better advised to remain in this country,’ Robert told her. ‘Your climate will not agree with many of our varieties.’

  Louis noticed that he had taken the chair beside Mrs Costas and appeared to be hanging on her every word. He allowed himself a few moments of speculation.

  ‘Very likely, but I won’t have to do much of it myself, I feel ashamed to admit. Besides, I am a widow so that means I am allowed to be eccentric.’

  Everyone laughed.

  ‘Widowhood certainly grants one a modicum of freedom,’ Sabine said, nodding emphatically. ‘If I had remained single when I inherited this house from my father, everyone would have raised their eyebrows about my living here alone and felt sorry for me because I couldn’t attract a husband, despite my wealth.’ Chance grunted. ‘My widowed status makes it respectable though.’

  ‘In other words,’ Amara said, ‘your choices are dictated by the views of society. A woman who remains unmarried becomes an object of pity and an embarrassment to her family. It wouldn’t occur to anyone that she might have chosen that course.’

  ‘Precisely,’ Sabine agreed.

  ‘I feel we are under attack, gentlemen,’ Chance said, ‘for no reason other than we happen to be men.’

  ‘You are forgiven,’ Sabine said, smiling at him in a manner that made Louis feel like a voyeur. ‘Our observations were merely intended to point out the different rules that apply to the sexes. You gentlemen all remain unmarried, but no speculations abound as to your inability to find suitable brides.’

  ‘Quite the reverse,’ Robert said, shuddering. ‘We are targeted all the time by mothers determined that their daughters should not become inconveniences.’

  ‘How tiresome for you,’ Mrs Costas said with an arch smile.

  ‘What is it, Agnes?’ Sabine asked when a maid entered the room.

  ‘I thought you would want to know that the Greek woman just asked to be taken into Brighton. Said she had an errand to run for you, miss,’ she added, turning to Amara.

  ‘I didn’t give her anything to do,’ Amara replied, sharing a concerned look with her aunt.

  ‘Let her go,’ Chance said, ‘and have Murphy follow her at a distance. I want to know where she goes and whom she talks to.’

  Amara looked very concerned and Louis ached to comfort her, even though this latest development played into his hands insofar as it emphasised the inadvisability of her remaining in Brighton, where she was surrounded by people who were not trustworthy.

  The next hour or so passed in lively conversation that allowed no opportunity for private discourse. Louis’s head told him that was just as well, but his heart put up a spirited argument.

  Agnes returned to say that Cora had come back, not looking very pleased.

  ‘When does she ever?’ Amara said quietly.

  ‘She barely had an opportunity to reach Brighton before turning round and coming straight back again,’ Chance said.

  ‘True enough,’ a mud-splattered Murphy said, coming into the room. ‘She went to your old lodgings, Miss Kazan, looked around as though expecting to find someone there—’

  ‘Lykaios,’ Mrs Costas breathed. ‘I’m surprised, given the speed with which we took her away from Brighton, that she managed to arrange a time to meet with him.’

  ‘If she expected him to be loitering there, she was disappointed. Perhaps Lykaios got held up. Or maybe she did,’ Chance said. ‘That is more likely the case, otherwise she would have set out earlier, when there was less possibility of her being missed. As it was, she couldn’t afford to linger, Miss Kazan, since she knew she would be required to help you change for dinner. I’m sure she didn’t think that anyone below stairs would mention her trip into Brighton to you.’

  ‘I cannot bear the thought of being in the same room as her, now that her disloyalty is confirmed,’ Amara replied, looking angry and frustrated, ‘and yet I cannot afford to send her away either.’

  Louis nodded his understanding. While the maid appointed by her father and his sister both remained with Amara, her reputation would be assured, even if her independent decisions did not meet with parental approval.

  ‘Come, my love.’ Mrs Costas stood and beckoned to Amara. ‘We had best go and change before Cora has a chance to regain her composure. It will be interesting to ask her how she has occupied her time and see what she has to say for herself. Excuse us please, gentlemen.’ She waved a hand. ‘No please, don’t get up.’

  Amara managed the suggestion of a smile and begged to be excused also.

  ‘There is something the gentlemen are not telling us, I think,’ Amara said, biting her lower lip in concern as she climbed the stairs at Eva’s side. ‘Something to do with the prince, which is what kept them in Brighton for so long. Well, we know at least that much because Lord Jonas said they had been with him, but I cannot help feeling that whatever delayed them has something to do with us.’

  Eva nodded as they paused on the first floor gallery, speaking in low voices even though there was nowhere for anyone to hide and little chance of their being overheard. ‘The same possibility occurred to me. There is a tension about them, and they tried a little too hard to appear relaxed.’

  ‘Well then, you will just have to convince your Lord Robert that we are not wilting violets and would prefer to know the truth. That, I think, would be better than allowing our imaginations to run away with us.’

  ‘He is not my Lord Robert, darling.’

  ‘I suspect that he would like to be, and that you would not be entirely averse to the prospect,’ Amara replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘After all, he wants you to stay in England and grow a garden.’

  ‘Nonsense! We are here for your benefit, not mine.’r />
  ‘The two don’t need to be mutually exclusive.’

  ‘Amara!’

  ‘Sorry—well actually, I am not. You never speak about your marriage, but I know it was not a happy experience for you.’ Amara squeezed her aunt’s hand, her moist eyes a testament to her emotions. ‘We all deserve to take what happiness we can from our fleeting time on this earth, so I give you full permission to grill Lord Robert and find out what it is that the gentlemen have gone to such pains not to tell us.’

  Eva smiled and kissed Amara’s cheek. ‘Only if you promise to subject Mr Harland to a similar interrogation.’

  Amara looked away, her smile quickly fading. ‘He has already tried to persuade me to return to London and wait for Papa’s yacht to come and collect us.’ She closed her eyes to prevent tears from falling and threw back her head. ‘I was mistaken about him. He cares only for the prince’s interests.’

  ‘Oh, Amara, how wrong you are. Has it not occurred to you that he most definitely does not want to part with you, but is concerned for your wellbeing, to say nothing of your reputation? That, to me, speaks volumes about both his integrity and his feelings.’

  Amara pouted. ‘If his concern is for me then he has a strange way of showing it. I find his attitude baffling. Why can he not simply say what he is thinking and be done with it?’

  ‘These things are never that simple, especially when emotions get in the way of common sense.’ Eva chuckled. ‘Anyway, confusion is good. It makes the game more interesting.’

  ‘Well if this is a game, I wish someone would have the courtesy to acquaint me with the rules.’

  ‘Where would the fun be in that?’ Eva pinched Amara’s cheek. ‘Now off you go to change for the evening. Wear something to beguile your Mr Harland. Something to distract him and make it easier for you to extract the truth from him. I am sure you have more chance of succeeding with him that I do with Lord Robert, although I promise I will try.’