Innocence and Impropriety

by Diane Gaston

  Katy helped her on with the dress and brushed her hair, tying it back in a ribbon. They were soon entering the supper room. Flynn, clean-shaven again, was seated with Madame Bisou.

  The madame sprang from her chair and hurried over to Rose. ‘How are you feeling, Rose, ma petite? What a fright you gave us.’

  ‘Just a little shaky, Madame,’ she said.

  Flynn stood and pulled out a chair for her. ‘I will fix you a plate. What would you like?’

  ‘Some toast and jam, perhaps?’

  Flynn brought her the food, and Madame Bisou poured the tea. They said little while she nibbled on her piece of toast. She ate slowly, feeling a touch of nausea.

  Flynn finally spoke. ‘‘We must consider what to do next. I confess, I do not want you to go back to your father’s house.’

  ‘Of course she must not go back there!’ cried Madame Bisou.

  ‘My father will be worrying about me,’ Rose said.

  ‘Mr Flynn can send word to him that you are in a safe place.’ The madame grasped her hand and squeezed. ‘You must stay here, Rose, dear, for as long as you like.’

  Flynn nodded in approval.

  ‘I…I thank you, Madame,’ Rose said, moved by the woman’s generosity. She glanced at Flynn.

  Flynn gave her a steady look. ‘You must let me deal with your father. He will want to follow Lord Tannerton’s wishes. Trust me, Rose. We will keep you safe.’

  With Tannerton’s name and Flynn’s energies, Rose had no doubt anything could be done.

  Chapter Fourteen

  When Flynn walked into the Audley Street town house, Tanner was just descending the stairs.

  ‘Where the devil have you been?’ Tanner’s typical affable tone was notably absent.

  Flynn glanced at the footman in the hallway who was making an ill-disguised effort to appear as if he were not listening to every word. ‘I’ll tell you the whole, if you have a moment. In the library?’

  Tanner led him directly to the library. He turned to face Flynn as soon as Flynn closed the door. ‘My men said you left them in Vauxhall and that you had Miss O’Keefe with you.’

  Flynn answered, ‘That is so. Wiggins and Smythe told you about the rescue, no doubt. Greythorne drugged her wine. I brought her to Madame Bisou’s and stayed to make certain she was recovered. I thought that a better plan than taking her to her father’s residence.’ Flynn felt a pang of conscience. His actions had been more complicated by emotion than this dispassionate explanation implied.

  Tanner gave him a level gaze. ‘You could not have sent word to me of this last night?’

  Flynn felt his face grow hot. ‘I confess, I never thought of doing so.’ His mind had all been on Rose.

  Tanner waved his hand. ‘It is of little consequence. She is well, I hope.’

  ‘Yes. She’s unharmed.’

  Tanner sank into a chair. ‘I was up half the night imagining Greythorne had done you an injury. Finally sent one of the men to his residence, but all was as I had intended.’

  ‘Greythorne seemed more worried about his soiled clothing than about chasing us.’

  Tanner grinned. ‘That is what Wiggins said. He said, “the man was cursing something awful, m’lord.”’ Tanner mimicked his footman’s accent perfectly.

  Flynn peered at Tanner, the earlier comment just registering in his brain. ‘You sent someone to Greythorne’s residence?’

  Tanner crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair. ‘I do occasionally rouse myself to have a thought or two. If Greythorne had done a mischief, I wanted to be prepared to deal with it.’

  Or to send someone else to deal with it, Flynn thought.

  Tanner absently swung one leg up and down, certainly not exerting himself at this moment to think through what they must do next. Flynn felt out of patience with him, although Tanner was truly not behaving at all out of the ordinary.

  Flynn spoke more sharply than he intended. ‘We must make plans, my lord. There is Greythorne to consider. He is certain to try again. And we cannot return Miss O’Keefe to her father. He is not strong enough to protect her.’

  Tanner grinned. ‘Oh, we need not fear Greythorne.’

  Easy for Tanner to make light of this. He had not seen Greythorne’s hands all over Rose.

  Flynn frowned. ‘He is an unpredictable enemy, Tanner. He cannot be expected to behave like a gentleman.’

  Tanner laughed. ‘Indeed!’

  ‘Some gravity, if you please, sir.’ Flynn started to pace. ‘Miss O’Keefe’s well being is at stake.’

  Tanner’s leg swung up and down, up and down. ‘It is not as bad as all that. You might be shocked to discover, my dear Flynn, I have actually exerted myself to deal with Greythorne.’ He looked heavenward. ‘An inspired solution, I might add.’

  Flynn stopped pacing. ‘What did you do?’

  Tanner uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, mischief in his eyes. ‘I asked his Royal Highness, the Duke of Clarence, to require Greythorne’s company.’ He pulled his timepiece from his pocket and opened it. ‘In fact, they ought to be on the road to Brighton this very hour.’

  Flynn gaped at him. ‘You asked the Duke what?’ He laughed. ‘Greythorne must accompany the Duke to Brighton?’

  Tanner grinned. ‘His Royal Highness is somewhat of a romantic, you know, so he was quite willing to foil Greythorne’s ungentlemanly interference in my interests. Greythorne was mad as a hornet about it. Saw him at White’s.’

  Flynn gaped at his employer. ‘I am all admiration. That was well done, indeed.’

  Tanner’s expression turned pensive. ‘Not quite so well done. I fear my machinations precipitated that rash act of his. I had not thought he would sink so low.’

  Flynn frowned. Luckily they’d known enough to keep watch over her.

  ‘I need to speak to her father.’ Flynn started pacing again, half-frustrated, half still annoyed at Tanner. ‘It is that Dawes woman who is the real problem there, however.’

  Tanner shrugged. ‘Give them money.’

  Flynn turned around.

  Tanner gave him a patient look. ‘Regard me, Flynn. Miss Dawes is motivated by greed, and the father is weak. If we cut them out, the woman will remain a thorn in our sides, plaguing us, Miss O’Keefe and her father from now until the girl reaches her majority. I say give the father an outrageous sum of money, send them off to Bath, and be done with them.’

  Tanner’s approach would be effective. It was a rare problem that could not be solved by throwing great sums of money at it. It was typically Flynn’s job to find some more economical solution.

  Flynn would be happier to see Greythorne—and Miss Dawes—transported to Botany Bay, although the law would likely not consider their offences as warranting such a punishment. The rights of one minor girl were practically nonexistent, after all.

  ‘You are certain you wish me to spend your money in this way?’ Flynn asked.

  Tanner shrugged. ‘Send them to Bath. Unless you think you can pack them off to Scotland.’

  Scotland? There’s an idea, thought Flynn.

  ‘I’ll attend to it right away.’

  After donning clean linen, Flynn set off for Langley Street to confront Rose’s father. He entered the building and climbed the stairs with determination. As he neared the door, he heard voices and sounds of movement inside.

  He knocked and all sounds ceased. ‘Mr O’Keefe?’ he called through the door. ‘It is Flynn.’ More silence. ‘Please open, sir. You will want to see me.’

  He put his ear to the door and could hear footsteps approaching.

  ‘Are you alone?’ O’Keefe asked through the closed door.

  ‘I am alone,’ Flynn replied.

  Flynn stepped back from the door and watched a shadow darken the keyhole. O’Keefe was peeking through it. The door opened a crack, and Mr O’Keefe peered out before opening it wider.

  ‘So sorry. I must be careful, Mr Flynn.’ O’Keefe said.

  ‘Careful of what?’ Flynn asked.


  O’Keefe stepped aside to let the younger man enter. ‘Do you know where my daughter is?’ he asked. ‘She went off with some fellows last night.’

  ‘She’s safe,’ Flynn assured him.

  Her father patted his arm, his eyes moist.

  Flynn walked in. The room was in disarray. Clothes strewn about. A trunk half-filled. Papers piled on tables. Letty Dawes, looking haggard, walked out from the bedchamber carrying a portmanteau.

  ‘You are leaving.’ Flynn surmised.

  ‘Indeed we are.’ Miss Dawes gave a dramatic huff. ‘No thanks to that girl of his.’ She gestured angrily towards O’Keefe. ‘Ran off last night, she did. Left that rich Lord Greythorne, mud all over him, spitting mad, I’ll tell you. He said he’d make good his threat and I’ve a mind he means it.’

  ‘His threat?’ Flynn asked.

  Mr O’Keefe spoke up. ‘Threatened our lives if Mary Rose did not return and accept his money—’

  ‘He was going to give us money, as well. More than that marquess,’ added Miss Dawes. ‘Just like her to go off with some no-good fellows. Common blokes, his lordship told us. Flirting with her while she was supposed to be cosying up to him. I tell you, she did it on purpose, just to cut her poor father out.’

  O’Keefe looked away, shamefaced.

  ‘I am beginning to understand.’ Flynn frowned. ‘But I cannot yet comprehend why you are leaving.’

  O’Keefe glanced at him. ‘He said he would kill us if we don’t give him my Mary Rose.’ His voice broke.

  ‘As if we knew where to find the girl.’ The wattles on Miss Dawes’s neck shook with emotion. ‘In some common man’s bed, giving it away just to spite us! If that marquess of yours had only made his offer sooner. I do not care if he is rich and has a lofty title, he is a slow-top and a fool!’

  ‘Letty,’ O’Keefe said in a low voice. ‘Mr Flynn says Mary Rose is safe.’

  ‘Hmmph!’ She put her fists on her hips. ‘Well, that does not help us, does it?’

  Flynn barely maintained his bland, negotiating demeanour in the face of this outrageous woman. ‘You feel Greythorne will make good his threat?’

  Miss Dawes wailed, ‘Of course he will! That girl has all but destroyed us, and what do we have to show for it? The paltry sum his lordship gave us for her to be nice to him last night. And trinkets!’ She thrust her hand in his face, the emerald ring still on her finger. ‘I’ve half a mind to take her dresses with us and sell them. If we had a bigger trunk that is exactly what I would do, but that trunk she had in her room is much too small.’

  Flynn spoke quickly, thinking even faster. ‘I am certain the marquess would lament this turn of events. He is a sympathetic man.’ This was a deal Flynn never guessed he’d be making.

  ‘We will die of starvation!’ Miss Dawes cried. She flung herself into a chair.

  ‘Now I can still work, Letty, dear.’ O’Keefe patted her shoulder.

  ‘I concur that you must get away,’ Flynn broke in. ‘The marquess with help you. Where would you like to go?’

  ‘Where can we be safe?’ wailed Miss Dawes.

  ‘Glasgow,’ said Mr O’Keefe in a quiet voice. ‘It is a big city.’

  ‘Glasgow?’ Miss Dawes huffed.

  ‘I could find work there,’ said O’Keefe.

  Flynn dipped his hand into his coat pocket. ‘The marquess will help you.’ Flynn withdrew the money he’d been carrying. ‘Five hundred pounds.’ He handed it to Mr O’Keefe. They could survive on the interest of five hundred pounds.

  Miss Dawes snatched the notes from O’Keefe’s hand and counted.

  ‘Glasgow,’ Flynn repeated. There was opportunity in the Scottish city. Many a merchant there became rich from the city’s easy access to shipping, and would want a rich man’s entertainment. A musician like O’Keefe might well find work.

  ‘Glasgow.’ Miss Dawes smiled, clutching the bank notes to her ample breast.

  Later that afternoon, Rose gazed out of the bedchamber window where she’d spent the night. Flynn had assured her she need not miss her voice lesson if she felt well enough to attend. Her head ached just a little, but not enough to keep her away.

  She caught sight of Flynn crossing the street at the end of the road. Leaning against the window frame, she watched his progress. He moved with such purpose, tension in his stride, as if he were so intent upon where he was going, he never stopped to think if that was where he wanted to be.

  As he approached the door, Rose could no longer see him without hanging out of the window. She stepped away and smoothed her skirt. She hurried to the mirror, checked her hair, and pinched her cheeks to add some colour to her face. After one more quick look in the mirror, she left the room. As she descended the stairway, she heard laughter. When she reached the hall, Katy had her arm through Flynn’s.

  Katy glanced up and saw Rose. ‘Look who is here, Rose! I’m trying to steal him away, but he’ll have none of it.’

  Rose found no humour in Katy’s jest. ‘Mr Flynn goes where he pleases, I am sure.’ She bit her tart tongue.

  Katy laughed some more. ‘He ought to go where he pleases.’

  Katy released Flynn. Rose felt her insides melt as his gaze followed her progress down the stairs.

  ‘I am ready,’ Rose said in a quiet voice.

  ‘Are you certain you feel well enough?’ His expression was full of concern.

  She nodded. ‘I want to attend the lesson.’

  ‘Let us go then.’ He offered her the arm that Katy relinquished.

  ‘Enjoy yourself, Rose!’ Katy exclaimed.

  Feeling guilty for her jealous thoughts, Rose stepped away from Flynn and hugged Katy.

  When they were outside, Flynn said, ‘We should find a hack.’

  ‘Can we walk?’ she asked.

  The day was warm, but it felt good to be free of the confines of the four walls. Besides, it would give her more time with him.

  ‘As you wish,’ he said.

  They started on their way and, while they walked, he told her about his visit to her father.

  ‘Is my father in danger?’ she asked, her brow furrowing.

  ‘I doubt it.’ He pulled her arm tighter through his. ‘Greythorne is no fool. Murder would be a foolish risk.’

  Rose thought Greythorne very capable of murder. Anyone who could do what he did to Katy…

  ‘I am glad my father is leaving,’ she said. ‘I am wanting him to be safe. But Greythorne will come after me, will he not? He will be coming to Vauxhall.’

  Flynn placed his hand upon hers where she clutched his arm. ‘No need to fear. He is gone for the moment.’ He explained the trip Lord Tanner had arranged for Greythorne.

  She widened her eyes. ‘Lord Tanner knows the Prince so well to ask such a favour?’

  ‘I suppose he does,’ Flynn said.

  Then surely Tannerton would be successful in convincing the Prince to employ Flynn.

  Flynn went on, ‘All that remains is to find you lodgings and hire servants to attend you.’ His voice was matter of fact, but Rose felt like a door was slamming.

  ‘I have sent one of Tannerton’s maids and a footman to your father’s building to pack up your clothes and your pianoforte and have them sent to Madame Bisou’s.’

  He had remembered her most precious possession—her pianoforte. ‘Thank you, Flynn.’

  It was bittersweet to have Flynn walking next to her, the man she wanted to love her, when she was more and more destined to be in the bed of another. She delighted in Flynn’s touch, his scent, and how the sun lit his face. The memory of how he’d looked that morning, rumpled and unshaven, made her tremble.

  At King’s Theatre Miss Quinn and Signor Angrisani were all smiles at her progress. They rehearsed her in the chorus part, walking her through it, showing her where she would stand, how she should move. She would perform on Saturday. She would perform in King’s Theatre, as her mother had done.

  When the lesson was over, Mr Ayrton escorted her through the theatre, but instead of fi
nding Flynn waiting for her, Lord Tannerton stood there. Flynn was nowhere in sight.

  ‘My lord.’ Rose curtsied.

  ‘Miss O’Keefe.’ Tannerton smiled at her.

  Mr Ayrton spoke to him. ‘She must practise each day this week, but she is welcome to join the chorus on Saturday.’

  ‘So I heard you say.’ Tannerton offered his hand to the man. ‘Thank you.’

  When Ayrton left them, the marquess said, ‘My carriage is waiting. I came to escort you to Madame Bisou’s.’

  She could not refuse. It was time for her to accept what he offered.

  Inside the carriage, she said, ‘I have much to thank you for, my lord.’

  He waved a hand. ‘I assure you, all was easily done.’

  Easily done by Flynn. She caught herself in the unfair thought, remembering what Tannerton had done. ‘Greythorne is far away, because of you,’ she said. ‘Flynn said you asked the Duke of Clarence.’

  He laughed. ‘Flynn told you of that, eh? It was an inspired idea, I’ll agree.’

  She could not contain her curiosity. ‘And did you convince his Royal Highness to employ Mr Flynn?’

  ‘I did,’ he said proudly. ‘Have not told Flynn yet, however.’ He gave her an impish look. ‘You must keep the secret a little longer.’

  ‘Yes, my lord.’

  She could not help but be disappointed that he’d been successful so soon. As long as Flynn remained in Tannerton’s employ, she’d at least be able to see him, even if it was as Tannerton’s mistress. When Flynn went to a Royal palace to work, she would never see him again.

  Tanner smiled at her. ‘Would you allow me to escort you to Vauxhall this evening? Perhaps afterwards we could eat supper there.’

  Of course she must accept this invitation. It would be churlish not to. Would he think she was accepting more?

  ‘My lord,’ she began, ‘so much has happened. I…I am not certain I am…’

  He seemed to take no offence at her discomfort. ‘If you like, Flynn and your friend Katy can come as well.’

  She released a relieved breath. ‘Then I would most graciously accept.’