Midnight Masqerade

by Shirlee Busbee

  It was only afterward, when Jason, having made previous arrangements with Josh, commandeered the library at Oak Hollow, that Dominic discovered the reason for the dinner. There were only four gentlemen in the library, Royce, Dominic, Jason and Morgan, and as they sipped appreciatively on some of Josh's finest brandy, Royce remarked, "What did you tell my father and Zachary to make them so willing to leave us alone?"

  Jason smiled, his dark face sardonic. "Merely that I needed to discuss something of great governmental importance with you."

  Dominic grimaced. "And have you really something of `great governmental importance' that Royce and I must know? Couldn't we remain in blissful ignorance?"

  "Well, I haven't that much to tell you, but I'm hoping you two can tell me something." At the expression of wariness that crossed the faces of the two younger men, Jason's green eyes gleamed with amusement. "Rest easy, it is nothing very personal. I merely wish to know about the Englishman, Julius Latimer. I understand that you two are fairly well acquainted with him?"

  "In a manner of speaking," Dominic conceded dryly, carefully setting down his half-filled snifter of brandy on a polished mahogany table. "But whether we can be of any use to you . . ."

  Leaning forward from the comfortable leather chair in which he sat, his bold features intent, Jason asked, "What sort of a man is he?"

  Without hesitation, Dominic said, "A scoundrel, a liar and a cheat."

  He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth before Royce echoed them, saying bluntly, "Unscrupulous, dangerous and not to be trusted."

  Jason's thick black brow arched. "That much of a blackguard?"

  Two heads nodded in swift unison. But it was Dominic who spoke. "His reputation in England is not the best-it is only because of his family connections that he is, or was, tolerated by the ton. I'm sure what family he has breathed a sigh of relief when he came to America."

  Morgan, who had remained silent up until now, entered the conversation, asking quietly, "Your opinion of him is based on mere rumor and gossip?"

  Royce and Dominic exchanged glances. "No," Royce said when Dominic showed no sign of explaining. "Latimer and your brother have faced each other on the dueling field-I was Dom's second. I don't think that you need to know all the reasons why they fought, but one of the causes of the duel was the fact that Latimer had vilified Dominic's character and spread some outright lies about him, painting him as a libertine and a fortune hunter and all manner of nonsense-so we know that he is a liar. As for the other ... Dominic gave him a nasty wound and Latimer was carried from the field swearing all kinds of revenge. Something that might be discounted if it weren't for the fact that two days afterward, in one of the most select areas of London, not a place where one would expect to find rascals and thieves, Dominic was set upon by several rogues whose only intention seemed to be to kill him."

  Morgan's blue eyes narrowed. "That doesn't prove that Latimer had anything to do with it."

  Wearily, Dominic said, "No, but that seems to be the way in which Latimer works-no one has ever proved anything against him-there had been other, similar incidents connected with him. Fortunately for me, Royce and a few other friends showed up in time to save me from having my skull bashed in, and we were able to capture one of the bullies." His face reflective, Dominic went on. "He was a crafty fellow, and while he would not name who had hired him, he did admit that he had been hired to kill me and that it had been a 'fine swell' who had done so. Now, I don't go around making that many enemies, so we all came to the same conclusion-Latimer had to have been the `fine swell.' "

  "But you didn't question the rogue further?" Jason asked sharply.

  Dominic shrugged. "We turned him over to the watch and he was taken to Newgate. We intended to, er, convince him to tell us the name of the man who had hired `m, but the fellow just happened to get into a fight while waiting to appear before the judge and was stabbed to death.

  "I see," Jason murmured softly, absently rubbing his chin. "Our charming Englishman does not seem to be the sort of man one would like at one's back in a tight situation. ..." He glanced across at Dominic and Royce. "Is he very wealthy? He has given that impression, and I would like very much to know how he manages to keep himself in such an elegant style so far from home."

  Thoughtfully Royce said, "In England, neither Julius nor his sister had much of a fortune; it was common knowledge that both were hanging out for a rich husband or wife." Very deliberately, Royce did not look at Dominic as he continued. "His sister, Lady Deborah, was finally able to snare a wealthy old man, but it did her little good. When he died she discovered the estate was entailed, and she was left with only a small sum of money. As for Julius, I don't think he particularly wants to find his fortune in the marriage bed. In London it was the gaming halls that held his attention, rather than the sedate rooms at Almack's. He is a very good gambler, although there are those, myself among them, who would say that he is also a very clever cheat. I know what I say because I watched him one night gull a young cawker up from the country out of a sizable sum. And as for what Latimer may or may not have inherited from his uncle, Weatherby, gossip has it that the only thing he got from that estate was the gaming voucher of Hugh's ... and a paid trip to America. "

  Jason and Morgan looked blank at the mention of the voucher, and briefly Dominic and Royce explained about the debt that Melissa and Zachary had inherited upon their father's death. When they had finished speaking, Jason nodded his dark head, as if their words had confirmed some inner conclusion of his own. "So it would appear that our Latimer has found some way of living quite elegantly without any money."

  His face sardonic, Dominic said dryly, "Well, that has changed-he was finally able to collect on Hugh's note."

  "And," Royce added slowly, "he has not had to expend a great deal of money while he has been in this area- +

  he and his sister have been staying with Colonel Grayson down the river."

  "Ah, yes, Colonel Grayson," Jason murmured smoothly. "The dear colonel who was once an officer in the King's Army and whose outspoken Tory sympathies caused him to be driven out of Virginia at the beginning of the War for Independence. A most interesting situation, wouldn't you say?"

  Both Dominic and Royce were obviously startled as the implication of Jason's words occurred to them. "Are you hinting that you think that Latimer is a spy?" Dominic asked incredulously. "He would make a poor tool, I would think. "

  "Think again, my young friend," Jason replied tartly. "Unscrupulous, a liar and dangerous; these would be definite virtues in a spy. And his supposed advocacy of our cause would give him a perfectly legitimate, even admirable excuse to be here in the United States for the duration of the present unpleasantness with England. And since be appears to have unlimited funds, he is also able to move about the country at will, traveling here and there ... visiting with this one and that. ..."

  His skepticism apparent, Dominic remarked sharply, "You have more information than that on which to base this theory of yours."

  Jason grinned. "And I thought I was going to impress you with my omnipotency."

  Gray eyes dancing with laughter, Dominic admitted, "Ten years ago, yes, but not now." The laughter fading from his eyes, Dominic said seriously, "Now tell us what you know."

  "Actually very little, but it is because of a letter I received *am our former President Thomas Jefferson that my suspicions have been aroused about Mr. Latimer's activities. It moms that from other sources Jefferson has been alerted about Mr. Latimer's discreet visits to many former Tories who the war have ostensibly thrown their lot in with the public. The visits that most concern him, however, are in Louisiana, where so many previous British officers chosen to settle. Mr. Jefferson, as you know, has a great for Louisiana. It was his administration that brought about the purchase of these vast lands, and he wouldn't want anything to happen that would see even a portion of these lands fall into British hands. . . . "

  Being the intent focus of three pairs of eyes didn't faze
Jason in the least, and in the suddenly tense silence that had fallen, he took an appreciative sip of his brandy. Then he said quietly, "If rebellion could be fomented here in the north to coincide with a British attack of the city of New Orleans, we all might find ourselves under English rule before we had time to realize what had happened. Defending New Orleans is going to be difficult enough, but if we have to fear betrayal at our back . . . "

  The conclusion was blatantly obvious, and, his voice tight, Dominic growled, "I could kill him. Our dislike of each other is not so well known here." He threw Royce a cynical glance. "And while I have been advised to greet him politely, it still shouldn't be very difficult for me to find an excuse to challenge him to a duel."

  "No," Jason said forcefully. "We don't want him dead-yet. We want to find out just how serious his activities really are and who may or may not be agreeable to his treasonous talk. We need you and Royce to keep an eye on him for us and to find out what you can."

  Dominic pulled a face. "Royce will be far more likely to be of any help to you. Latimer would be suspicious the instant I acted toward him in a friendly manner."

  "But you are quite friendly with the sister, aren't you?" Morgan asked slyly, reentering the conversation.

  If it were possible for a man of Dominic's years and sophistication to blush, he did so. Feeling like a youth caught in a misdemeanor, he sat there helplessly wishing he could simply sink through the floor or forcibly deny Morgan's statement. A spot of dark red color burning high on his cheekbones, he muttered, "That was a long time ago. She is a mere acquaintance now."

  "Ah, that doesn't seem to be my understanding of the situation," Morgan persisted lightly, the sapphire eyes alight with affectionate amusement. "At your wedding, I spent some time with the young lady, and she made it quite clear that she considered you a dear friend and that she had been overjoyed to make her reacquaintance with someone for whom she had once harbored, er, warm feeling."

  Dominic was not about to discuss his relationship with Deborah with Jason and Morgan. His chin set at a pugnacious angle, he demanded, "And? Is it a crime to have known an attractive woman in the past?"

  "Absolutely not," Jason said. "But since you cannot claim a friendship with Latimer, I would like to suggest that Royce attempt to insinuate himself into the Englishman's circle and that you concentrate on making yourself agreeable to the sister. She may not know everything that her brother is up to, but I am quite sure that she will prove a fount of interesting information about his activities."

  Distaste was clearly displayed on his handsome face as Dominic asked levelly, "Are you suggesting that I commit adultery? That I start an affair with her?"

  Understanding in his eyes, Jason said gently, "No. But it would be helpful if you could remain on good terms with her and keep your ears and eyes open. I realize that I'm asking a great deal of you, especially since you have not even been married a month, and I would not want you to do anything that would endanger your marriage, but if you could encourage Lady Deborah's interest in you and keep up some sort of sense of intimacy with her, I think that it would be a good idea." Commiseration in his voice, Jason continued. "I know that the timing is deplorable, but the situation is fairly urgent. If it is any consolation to you, this particular facade should not entail more than a few weeks, perhaps just a month or two of your time." When Dominic's face remained hard and set, his intense dislike of the proposition obvious, Jason added quietly, "Ask yourself whether you would prefer to participate in this unpleasant little charade for a short while or possibly see Louisiana lost to the Republic. ..."

  There really was only one answer to Jason's question,and, his voice harsh, Dominic snarled, "Oh, very well! I'll do it-I just hope to God that when this is over I still have a wife!"

  Chapter Nineteen

  IF MELISSA noted her husband's surly mood after the dinner at Oak Hollow, she wisely made no mention of it, but she was most curious about what the gentlemen had discussed. Perhaps even more curious since Josh and Zachary had obviously been banned from the discussion. Her tentative attempts to find out what they had been talking about had been met with such black looks of anger that her curiosity was even more aroused than it would have been normally.

  Melissa had enjoyed the evening at Oak Hollow. She had been dreading this first public appearance since her wedding, particularly because the situation between her and Dominic was so unsettled, but whatever reservations or fears she might have held were quickly dispelled as she was enveloped in Josh's hearty embrace and he boomed out his pleasure at seeing her. Josh's greeting set the tone of the evening which followed, and she found herself relaxing and entering eagerly into conversation with the other guests; and since, except for Jason and Catherine Savage. the others were all members of the family, it was quite a lively and informal evening. Thinking back over it and how much she had enjoyed talking with Leonie and Catherine, she was a bit saddened to realize that in a few days her new friends would be leaving-Catherine and Jason, in fact, had bidden the newlyweds good-bye that evening. extending a warm invitation for them to come and visit at Terre du Coeur when time allowed. And all too soon. Leonie and Morgan would be returning to Chateau SaintAndré in the southern portion of the state.

  The next morning, as she and Dominic enjoyed a cup of fragrant coffee on the gallery at the front of the cottage, Melissa asked almost wistfully, "Do you think that we shall really visit Terre du Coeur and Chateau Saint-André someday?" The notion that Dominic might intend to sequester her at Thousand Oaks had not been entirely dispelled, although she felt certain that he would never be deliberately cruel to her.

  His thoughts dwelling unpleasantly on last night's conversation with Jason and Morgan, Dominic replied testily, "It'll be a damned long time before I see that sly brother of mine and his crafty friend again, I can tell you!"

  At Melissa's look of astonishment, he added hastily, "Merely jesting, my dear! If you like, we may very well spend our first Christmas together at Chateau Saint-André. The house at Thousand Oaks will still probably be only half put together, and I'm sure that you will enjoy shopping in New Orleans for some new furnishings and whatnots."

  It was the first time that Dominic had mentioned Thousand Oaks in several days. Setting down her china cup, Melissa asked softly, "When do you intend for us to go n Thousand Oaks?" Shyly she added, "I should very much like to see my new home." Then, afraid that she might have slighted their delightful present abode, she said quickly, "Not that I am not quite happy right here!" Twisting slightly in her chair, she gazed with open pleasure at the front of the cottage. "It's such a dear little place, and I am sure that I shall miss it tremendously at times.'

  For reasons of his own, Dominic suddenly found the idea of going to Thousand Oaks immensely appealing, and pushing aside the thought that he might be acting in a wen manner, he said brightly, "What a splendid notion! I should have thought of it sooner! Of course you want to see your new home. We can leave just as soon as possible."

  Nearly prattling with delight at the prospect of putting several miles between himself and Deborah Bowden and the danger she represented to his fragile marriage, he stated happily, "The house there is in utter shambles, but you can make up a list of the most immediate items that you need, and then we shall travel to Natchez and see what is available. You may buy whatever you like."

  Melissa might have been taken aback by his enthusiasm, but she certainly harbored no suspicions of an ulterior motive being at the root of his ready agreement to remove to Thousand Oaks. Her eyes alight with mischief, she murmured, "You should not be so free with your promises I may prove to be a very greedy wife!" She had said the words in jest, but at the suddenly cynical expression that crossed his face, she wondered if she had been unwise. Some of her lightheartedness fading, she added quietly, "You need not fear that I shall be a spendthrift." Her soft mouth tightened. "My father's way of life taught me to be quite careful with money-I will not be wasteful with yours."

  The subject was dropped
, but her words gave Dominic much to puzzle over, and leaving her a few minutes later, he walked away with a frown on his face. One moment it seemed that she was indeed a grasping harpy, and the next ... A faint, tender smile tugged at the corners of his chiseled lips. And the next she completely disarmed him, making him believe that the ugly idea of marrying him for his fortune had never even occurred to her. Which, he wondered, not for the first time, was the real Melissa?

  Deciding not to waste more time in fruitless speculation on her motive, he turned his thoughts to more pleasant topics, such as their removal to Thousand Oaks. It appeared to be an excellent solution to many of his problems-he and Melissa would be so busy making the house habitable, it would eliminate some of the strain that presently existed in this intimate setting . . . and it would place him out of Deborah Bowden's path. Which particular aspect of the situation appealed to him more was hard to say, and he was whistling cheerfully by the time he reached the small stables.

  Unfortunately, his optimistic mood did not last, and before ten minutes had elapsed, as he rode toward Oak Hollow to tell the family of their plans, he realized reluctantly that he and Melissa could not leave for Thousand Oaks. To do so would be tantamount to ignoring a call to duty, and no matter how distasteful he found the prospect of encouraging Lady Bowden's friendship to learn what he could of her brother's activities-activities that could endanger his country-it was a task that must be done. How would he feel, he wondered heavily, if Jason's fears that Latimer was inciting rebellion here in the northern reaches of Louisiana proved to be true and he had blithely turned his back on the situation and run away to hide at Thousand Oaks? His mouth twisted. He had never run from a duty or a fight in his life, and resignedly, he knew that he could not and would not run from this one-no matter what strain it put on his marriage.