Finessing the Contessa

by Wendy Soliman

  Lady Denby joined them and drew Electra into conversation. “You’d think I was the first lady in the world to breed,” the marchioness said, laughing.

  “You’re fortunate to have such a caring husband,” Electra replied. “Most men take little interest.”

  “I’m sure you’re right but sometimes I feel as though he’s a little too interested.”

  As though on cue, Lord Forster joined them and placed a caring hand on his wife’s shoulder. “You were late down. Are you all right?”

  Lady Forster rolled her eyes. “See what I mean,” she said to Electra.

  “She’ll be the death of me,” Lord Forster replied, also addressing his remark to Electra.

  “If you must know, I’ve just been up to check on Julia,” Lady Denby said. “She was almost asleep. The journey tired her, the poor scrap. I promised her that tomorrow we’d talk about her helping me visit the tenants. I also said that if she behaved properly for the next few days then she could sit down to a family dinner with us.”

  Lord Denby sighed. “Leah!”

  “There’s no need to look at me like that, Hal. I fully intend to instil a sense of duty into Julia. Deep down she’s just a lonely little girl, unsure how to behave because she’s never had proper guidance. I shall make something of her, just see if I don’t.”

  “Well, Leah, if anyone can achieve it, it’s you,” Lord Denby said before returning his attention to his conversation with his brothers.

  “When are you due, Lady Denby?” Electra asked.

  “I have another two months of Hal’s overbearing protection to endure yet.”

  Electra was filled with the despondency that claimed her whenever she thought of her beloved Augusto. His arrival had been as anxiously anticipated as Lady Denby’s child’s obviously was. Electra had loved the chubby baby with every fibre of her being from the moment he’d been handed to her by the midwife, only to have him taken from her in the cruellest of circumstances.

  Dinner was announced and Lord Robert materialised at her side, proffering his arm. The meal passed in a blur, full of lively conversation and good-hearted banter. Electra was made to feel included, not just by Lord Robert, but by the entire family. They wanted to know what she thought of English fare and how it differed from Italian. Diplomatically, she told them that the comparison was favourable, even though she much preferred the more flavourful food she was accustomed to at home.

  Having lived for so long in the formal Gravina household, she’d forgotten that such closeness and such freedom to express one’s opinions without fear of censure was possible. She relaxed as course after course of beautifully prepared food was placed in front of her and the wine flowed freely.

  When the gentlemen rejoined the ladies, Leah and her sister excused themselves and Electra was left with the three brothers for company.

  “I hope you don’t mind, Lord Denby,” she said, “but Lord Robert said it would be all right if I asked for any post sent to my London lodgings to be redirected here.”

  “That’s perfectly all right,” Lord Denby replied. “Are you expecting important correspondence, Lady Falzone?”

  “No, but if my brother should happen to escape Maynard, he will try to contact me before he does anything else. He won’t know where I am, so—”

  “I understand completely. Ask for anything addressed to you to be sent by express, if it puts your mind at rest.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t possibly—”

  “We insist,” Lord Robert said. “In fact, I should have thought of it myself.”

  “About my brother,” Electra said, twisting her hands together in her lap. “As you can imagine, I’m very concerned for his welfare.”

  “But if what Rob tells me is correct, Maynard and your father-in-law need him to continue with the business they have in common.”

  “Yes, but even so—”

  “Calm yourself,” the marquess said. “Maynard will know that you arrived here safely. Rob very sensibly had you insist upon seeing your brother in person before passing on details from my report.”

  Electra nodded. “Yes, but I still don’t see—”

  “He will know you’re here but will have no idea when Turner’s due to join us. He needs to know what’s in that report before it makes its way to Whitehall, where details will inevitably leak out.”

  “Ah, I think I see what you mean. He will need to act quickly?”

  “I fully expect you to receive word here tomorrow from Maynard, inviting you to meet your brother in the village that same day.”

  Electra smiled. “That soon?”

  “I would imagine so,” Lord Robert said. “That’s what I’d do in Maynard’s position.”

  “If we’ve set your mind at rest,” Lord Denby said, “it’s now my turn to ask a favour of you.”

  “By all means. What do you need from me?”

  “We’d like to ask you a little more about the Gravina family. We understand that your father-in-law suffered financial losses during the war. Is that right?”

  “Before Napoleon spoiled things, the marchese’s family was at the forefront of the Marsala wine trade.” She lifted her shoulders. “I would imagine a lot of his other interests were similarly afflicted. As a small island we’re dependent on the sea to transport our produce, and when the British took occupation—”

  “We adversely affected such trade,” Lord Denby concluded for her. “Unfortunately, war is no respecter of business interests.”

  “Yes, but I think the marchese’s problems went deeper than that,” Electra said pensively. “I’m not sure what they were, but it was said that he made some unwise investments. I heard him argue several times in private that he thought Napoleon would come out victorious and that it would be short-sighted to support British interests to the exclusion of the French.”

  The brothers exchanged a prolonged glance. Lord Robert looked almost smug.

  “But he still continued with some business over here, I collect?” Lord Denby said.

  “I believe so. I would also imagine that’s why he’s so keen to see your recommendations. He wishes to mend bridges with the right people.”

  “I can understand that.” Lord Denby stood up and paced the length of the room, clearly deep in thought. “But something else concerns me.”

  “What is it, Hal?” Lord Robert asked.

  “A matter of geography. When my report’s presented, things will happen quickly. If the marchese is still in Sicily, how can he get here in time to bend the right ears?”

  “I don’t think he’s actually in Sicily,” Electra said. “In fact I’m convinced from a few remarks Maynard let slip that he’s in France, waiting just across the Channel so he can be in England as soon as he knows which way the wind blows, economically speaking.”

  “Then why doesn’t he just come across now and start making his presence felt?” Lord Gabriel asked.

  “Because he isn’t a patient man, and wouldn’t waste his time dealing with people who can be of no help to him. Besides, he’ll want the right people to think that he’s been their supporter from afar throughout the war. If he’s seen speaking with others, that myth will be harder to perpetuate.”

  “Even so, he could still be here, laying up somewhere and waiting to hear from Maynard,” Lord Robert said.

  “No, he’d be seen by someone,” Lord Denby replied. “He isn’t the sort to keep a low profile.”

  “I agree,” Electra said.

  Lord Robert frowned. “I really don’t like the sound of this individual. Contessa, you told me you couldn’t understand why he allowed you to leave his household without putting up too much of a fight. That happened fairly recently?”

  “Yes, shortly after my husband and my...” She gulped back her anguish. “And my son were killed.”

 
“I didn’t mean to overset you.” Lord Robert’s fingers briefly made contact with the back of her hand, as soft and soothing as a caress. “Do you suppose he allowed you to live with your brother because he...forgive me, anticipated using you in England in the way he is now?”

  A red mist blurred Electra’s vision as his words filtered through her brain. How had she not seen that possibility before now? “Yes,” she said through tightly gritted teeth. “Now that you mention it, I think it’s a very real possibility.”

  “He knew you wanted to come to England to play chess and probably had Maynard manipulate your brother into choosing this particular time to come.”

  Electra shook her head, holding back tears of anger by the sheer force of her will. “And I thought I was free of him.”

  The terse silence that ensued was broken by Lord Denby’s voice. “If the marchese broke his links with Englishmen in a position to help him, he couldn’t rely on anyone he considers his equal to offer him hospitality.”

  “Oh, he didn’t sever all links.”

  Three blond heads turned in Electra’s direction. “What are you saying?” Lord Robert asked.

  “He continued supplying limited amounts of wine to England throughout the war, thanks to his partner on this side of the Channel.”

  “Partner?” Lord Robert frowned. “You didn’t mention a partner.”

  “Oh, I beg your pardon, I thought I had. His name is Lord Pallister.” She shared a glance between them. “Are you acquainted with him?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rob stared first at the contessa, then at Hal. “Are you absolutely sure about Pallister?”

  “Oh yes. I met him once a few years ago when he came to Sicily as a guest of my father-in-law’s.” She wrinkled her brow. “You’re all looking terribly grim. Is something wrong?”

  “Pallister is known to us. I was aware of his interest in the wine trade but hadn’t made the broader connection.” Hal paused, glowering at the fire. “I should have.”

  “Lord Pallister and this family are not the best of friends,” Rob explained. “While defending clients accused in a high-profile robbery case last year, my sister’s husband, Darius Grantley, discovered that Pallister’s son was actually the guilty party. Pallister tried to intimidate and bribe witnesses and even burned down a barn on Darius’s estate.”

  The contessa gasped. “How terrible!”

  “Pallister’s son then attacked our sister in the gallery of the Old Bailey, and Darius was badly injured when he rescued her,” Rob added.

  “So to say that Pallister and I aren’t the best of friends is something of an understatement,” Hal said grimly. “He certainly wouldn’t be able to resist aiding Gravina if it meant gaining even a small modicum of revenge against the Forsters. His honour and position were severely affected by events in that courtroom.”

  “Pallister sounds like a terrible person, which would make him a perfect ally for my father-in-law. May I ask how you intend to discover where they’re holding my brother?” Lady Falzone asked.

  “We won’t need to.”

  “Oh, but I thought—”

  “I intend for you to feed snippets of information to Maynard that he’ll be convinced are true. You’ll tell him you can’t give him the actual report because it would be immediately missed. If that happened I’d know you were the one who’d taken it.”

  Rob nodded. “You could tell Maynard you saw where the marquess hid the report, took a look at it and copied down the relevant information.”

  “Do you think he’ll be deceived?” the contessa asked in a dubious tone. “He’s nobody’s fool.”

  “The quality of the information will ensure he is,” Hal replied. “It will be the truth, with a few vital exceptions, and will certainly be sufficient to ensure your brother’s safety.”

  “Until Vincenzo and I return to Sicily. Once we’re there, we’ll be at Gravina’s mercy once again.”

  “Then perhaps you should consider remaining in England,” Rob suggested.

  She met his gaze. “How could I possibly do that? Everything I own is still in Sicily. Besides, why should I be driven out of my own country by a bully and a tyrant?”

  “It’s something for you and your brother to consider when this farrago has been resolved,” Rob replied.

  Hal turned to the contessa. Rob knew he still didn’t trust her and was testing her. He was taking a considerable risk, and doing so for his sake. They hadn’t discussed the matter, but explanations were unnecessary. “Gravina wants your intelligence to be true and so won’t be hard to convince, especially if I include information you couldn’t possibly have known about without being privy to private documents.”

  “But how will this help Vincenzo?”

  “When you meet, tell Maynard that Turner’s due the following day. That will put him in a panic, but you’ll placate him by saying you’re confident of gaining a glimpse of the report before then. You know it’s locked in my desk but have seen where I hide the key.” Hal strode about the room, scrubbing a hand down his face as he articulated his thoughts. “Promise to deliver your findings to him at the same time the following day, but only if he brings your brother along and releases him.”

  The contessa gasped. “Can it really be that simple?”

  Hal shrugged. “I see no reason why not. They will have what they want, and your brother can hardly tell anyone what’s happened without risking being clapped in irons. We’ll discuss your brother’s future when he’s here with us.”

  The contessa sighed. “You gentlemen make it sound so easy. I’ve been out of my mind with worry, and was genuinely prepared to steal that report from Lord Robert if that was the only way to get my brother back.” She blinked rapidly. “I’m ashamed to think about what I’ve been reduced to.”

  “In your situation any one of us would have considered doing the same thing.” Hal’s use of the word considered wasn’t lost on Rob. His cautious brother was still hedging his bets. “Family is more important than anything else to us and so we perfectly understand your dilemma.”

  “You’re too kind, gentlemen,” she said, standing. “If you’ll excuse me, it’s been a long day.”

  All the brothers stood and she bade each of them good-night.

  Rob watched her retreating figure as she made for the stairs in a rustle of silk, as always leaving the aroma of gardenias in her wake. With her hand on the newel post, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. Rob took a moment to compose himself before returning to his brothers.

  “Pallister,” he said, scowling. “I might have known he was up to his neck in this mess. I assume we’ll follow Maynard back to France to see where he leads us.”

  “You will,” Hal replied. “I won’t leave Leah. I’m willing to bet that Pallister’s been sniffing round Whitehall, trying to find out what’s in my report.”

  “With his network of contacts, Pallister would know I was going to Dartmouth and that Turner would also be there,” Rob said.

  “Precisely. And I’m sure Turner told someone or other at Whitehall that he’d collect my written report at that time.”

  “And that information would find its way back to Pallister,” Gabe surmised.

  “Yes,” Hal said, “which is why I didn’t commit anything to paper. By the time they realise they’ve been tricked, the genuine report will have reached Whitehall and it will be too late for them to do anything about it.”

  “Yes, but I still don’t understand where our stepmother comes into it all,” Rob said, uncomfortable at the thought of her having any involvement, however tenuous, in the contessa’s affairs.

  “Pallister needs his partner’s cooperation to ensure that he gets his share of the spoils. So it’s vital to his interests that Gravina believes the contents of my report.” Hal set his jaw. “I think Lady Den
by has been sent there as a supposed expert on the Forsters, especially me.”

  “But that’s rubbish,” Gabe said.

  “Of course it is, but Gravina doesn’t know that. They will expect a written account of my recommendations, and Lady Denby will probably be required to authenticate my handwriting. I suspect she’s also been sent there to flirt with Gravina and keep him sweet while he waits for matters to develop.”

  Rob snorted. “That’s a position she’s entirely qualified to fill.”

  Hal turned towards Rob. “Is Gravina a ladies’ man?”

  “I’ve no idea, but I can ask the contessa. If the report actually was stolen, would the government still proceed with your recommendations, knowing it had fallen into the hands of those who seek to profit from it?”

  “Probably.” Hal said wearily. “They want what’s best for British interests. They’ll do their best to ensure that others don’t benefit from early knowledge of their intentions, but they won’t lose too much sleep if that happens.”

  “So cynical, big brother,” Rob said, twisting his lips into a wry smile.

  “So, Rob,” Hal said, stretching. “If Lady Falzone is right about Gravina being in France, presumably Maynard will lose no time in hopping across the Channel and reporting to him. We’ll have someone follow Maynard once he has the report and see where he’s bound for. Then you can take The Celandine and beat him to it.”

  “What about—”

  “Lady Falzone and her brother will remain here until your return.” Hal smiled. “Don’t worry, she’ll be perfectly safe in my care.”

  “But not necessarily in mine,” Gabe added, waggling his brows at Rob.

  * * *

  Electra was alone in the small sitting room when Lord Robert found her there the following morning. It was a delightful room with a fine view of the grounds. The decorations were pleasing, and Electra sensed Lady Denby’s touch. It was supposedly a favourite room of the marchioness’s and Electra could understand why.