Lady Vixen (42 page)

They
had accomplished nothing in the months in Russia—absolutely nothing. And having
grown tired of waiting, he and Bayard had left John Quincy Adams in his role as
United States minister to Russia in St. Petersburg. The whole Russian trip,
Gallatin admitted to himself, had been a fiasco. He and Bayard had arrived
nearly a year ago in St. Petersburg to discover within the hour that the
British had refused the czar's offer. Intending to leave immediately for the
United States, they found to their dismay that diplomatic form obliged them to
stay. As commissioners to the court of St. Petersburg they had to be received
by the czar and present their credentials. Thereafter it was for the czar to decide
when his efforts at mediation might be considered at an end. And for the past
nine months, Gallatin and Bayard had been involuntary tourists. Yes, he did
indeed know "how these things are."

Christopher,
too, had his own idea how things were. Gallatin might think that the delay was
caused by mere circumstance and form, but Christopher had the uncomfortable
growing conviction that the British were deliberately stalling, playing for
time in which to strike a mortal blow against the United States. Yet, he could
hardly make any such statement in front of Alexander Baring. With that thought,
before he departed, he managed to make arrangements to meet privately with
Gallatin.

Gallatin's
and Bayard's arrival in London was something neither he nor Jason had considered.
It could do no real harm and in fact could lend more credence to his own
professed reason for being in London. He wondered, though, what the two men
thought they could accomplish.

Like
himself, they were visitors without diplomatic status in a hostile nation.
Naturally they would be excluded from all official receptions, and it seemed
they would be in a position to do little but exist on the fringes and glean
what information they could. For himself he expected as much, but then his
purpose was to infiltrate and, by whatever means were necessary, find out
exactly what the British plans were for the South, New Orleans in particular.

Gallatin
and Bayard were in a different situation entirely. They were appointed peace
commissioners, both directly serving the United State government. In his case
he was serving private interests, his own and Jason Savage's, despite Monroe's
fine letter of introduction.

Impatient
for the meeting with Gallatin, he was restless and on edge for the remainder of
the morning. And because he wanted no one to interfere with the coming meeting,
he avoided Cavendish Square and managed to waste the hours until it was time
for the meeting by wandering aimlessly throughout the streets of London.

He
presented himself at Gallatin's address some fifteen minutes earlier than he
was expected and was gratified when Gallatin had him instantly ushered into his
suite.

Christopher
eyed him closely, not unnaturally curious about this former secretary of the
treasury, whose appointment to the commission had been held up for so long and
had caused such a furor in Congress. Albert Gallatin certainly did not appear a
man who would normally be found in the middle of a partisan congressional
fight. He was a patient, temperate man, a thorough thinker, and one not given
to rash action. Christopher hoped that the other appointees were of the same
caliber.

Smiling
in welcome, Gallatin waited until Christopher had seated himself across from
him before asking, "Now, young man, what can I do for you?"

"I'm
not so certain you
can
do anything for me. I merely wanted to speak to
you in private."

Gallatin
looked somewhat surprised. "You have something to say that couldn't be
mentioned in front of Baring?"

Feeling
at a disadvantage but determined to express his own views, Christopher said,
"Yes. Yes, I do. I believe that Mr. Baring is working very sincerely on
our behalf, but I also feel quite strongly that this delay is deliberate."
And feeling that he might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, he finished
defiantly, "I think Castlereagh's government is willfully keeping the
peace talks from getting started. I feel very strongly that the British want
another outstanding victory in America to bolster their hand at the peace
table."

"Oh,
I'm quite certain that's exactly what they are planning."

"You
are?" Christopher said, his confusion at Gallatin's calm acceptance plain
to see on his face.

Gallatin
sighed tiredly. "Oh, yes, my young friend, I'm more than a little certain
our British companions have territorial conquest in mind. They have a strong
hand as it is, with the war with Napoleon at an end, but I'll also agree that
they would like to firmly trounce us."

This
will teach me, Christopher thought sardonically, to play at intrigue. He had,
it appeared, underestimated the quiet Mr. Gallatin.

Gallatin,
regarding him closely, guessed at his thoughts and said slowly, "I am
getting used to people saying one thing and doing another. I don't believe
there is anything that you and I can do about it. I am writing to Monroe of my
suspicions and hope he will realize that we will be lucky to hold onto our
boundaries as they were before the war, I intend to warn him very strongly that
the British will launch a massive offensive sometime this year and that we
would be wise to make peace as soon as possible. We may be in grave danger as a
nation if we do not. We had best forget any thought of the conquest of Canada,
before we find ourselves under British rule again!"

"My
idea exactly! I am relieved to know that you will be writing to the secretary
of state on this matter. Everywhere I go I see proof of British
supremacy," Christopher said earnestly. "And I'll confess I have
indeed been troubled over it. Our Congress must be living in a dream world if
they think we can gain anything further from this unpractical war."

Gallatin
sent Christopher a wry look. "Our Congress
does
live in a dream
world." Then as there seemed little more to add, he said, "I
appreciate your calling on me and letting me know your opinion—you have had
more opportunity to observe the state of things than I have, and I'll admit
that it is comforting to know that I am not alone in what I suspect. I only
hope I can convince Monroe and Madison."

"I,
too, express the same hope." Rising to his feet, Christopher added, "Sir,
if I can be of service to you, please do not hesitate to let me know. I would
be happy to do anything within my power to serve you." It was a sincere
offer, for Christopher instinctively respected and admired Gallatin.

Rising
to his feet also, he extended his hand. "I shall certainly call upon you
if the need arises. And don't you waste a second in coming to me, if I can be
of some help to you. We Americans must stick together, you know."

Christopher
smiled. "Especially when we are in a country that is at war with our
own!"

With
a laugh Gallatin agreed, "Especially, then!"

It
was a pleasant ending to the meeting, and Christopher went away feeling more
confident and assured that he was not on a foolish quest. There
was
going
to be an invasion. But when? And most importantly, where?

Understandably,
Simon was somewhat angry at Christopher's desertion on his first day in
Cavendish Square, and when Christopher appeared only moments before dinner,
Simon barked, "Well, now, it's kind of you to join us this evening.
Couldn't think of anything else that you had to do?"

Christopher
only grinned at him, which made Simon scowl all the blacker at him. The ladies
arrived a moment later, and the other object of Simon's displeasure came under
scrutiny. Glaring at his sister, he snapped, "What's this nonsense I hear
of a grand ball next month? Damnit, Gina, I warn you, I won't have my house
turned topsy-turvy by your machinations! You're here as my guest, don't you
forget it!"

"Oh,
pooh! This was once my home too! And how," she inquired reasonably,
"are we to present Nicole, if not with a grand ball? Anything else would
be paltry. Even Letitia agrees with me!"

"Oh,
yes, Simon, it is most necessary," Mrs. Eggleston broke in. "You
don't really mind do you?" she begged, her blue eyes very big and fixed
painfully on Simon's face.

Something
that perilously resembled a blush crossed Simon's lean features, and in
stupefaction Nicole and Christopher stared, as Simon melted beneath Mrs.
Eggleston's appealing look. Drowning in anxious blue pools he muttered,
"Ahem... ah... I don't suppose
one
ball would be too much of an
ordeal." Then frowning fiercely, he tore his eyes from Mrs. Eggleston's
and growled at Regina, "But remember, I don't want this house draped in
pink silk or some other such nonsense!"

Regina
merely smiled angelically, pleased with the outcome. But then she had never
doubted its conclusion for a moment—Simon had always been a fool where Letitia
had been concerned and Regina had quite shamelessly made use of the fact.

Not
a little startled at Lord Saxon's abrupt turnabout-face, Nicole glanced at
Christopher as if he could solve the mystery, and Christopher, guessing her
perplexity, mouthed, "Later."

It
wasn't until much later in the week, though, that he had a chance for private
conversation with Nicole. This particular evening, his grandfather had dined at
his club with several of his cronies, and after dinner in Cavendish Square,
Mrs. Eggleston and Lady Darby had closeted themselves in the blue sitting room,
busy with plans for the ball.

Nicole,
time heavy on her hands, had been listlessly practicing on the pianoforte in
the music room when Christopher, on his way out for the evening, entered,
expecting to find all three ladies present.

Seeing
Nicole was alone, he hesitated, but as the relationship between them had been
almost amicable of late, he judged that there was no cause to leave abruptly.
Shutting the door behind him, he walked across the room to where she sat behind
the highly polished rosewood instrument.

"Are
you planning on a musical career?" he asked, teasingly.

Nicole
grimaced. "Hardly! It is just that your great-aunt and Mrs. Eggleston have
banished me from their schemes after I asked why it was so important to invite
Princess Esterhazy and the Countess Lieven."

"Why
is it so important?" Christopher inquired interestedly.

An
impish twinkle in the topaz eyes, Nicole said demurely, "Well, you see,
they are both patronesses at Almack's, and Lady Darby says I simply
must
be
granted vouchers! There is a list made up for the invitations each week and if
my name is not on it, if I am denied, I will be ruined socially!"

At
Christopher's expression of scornful disbelief, Nicole said earnestly,
"It's true! Lady Darby even quoted a little verse about it. Let me see if
I can remember it." Frowning a moment, Nicole concentrated, and then her
face lightening, she said triumphantly, "I have it!"

"All
on that magic list depends;

Fame,
fortune, fashion, lovers, friends:

'Tis
that which gratifies or vexes,

All
ranks, all ages, and both sexes.

If
once to Almack's you belong,

Like
monarchs, you can do no wrong;

But
banished thence on Wednesday night,

By
Jove, you can do nothing right!"

Christopher
smiled in cynical amusement; Mr. Henry Luttrell's little ditty certainly seemed
to have made a lasting impression on Nicole. Dryly he asked, "And your
entire success depends totally on that list and those two ladies?"

"Yes,
as far as the list is concerned, but there are more patronesses. Lady Darby
mentioned a Lady Jersey, who she said is very flighty, and a Lady Cowper. Lady
Cowper is supposed to be extremely nice. There are others too, I believe, but
those are the only names I can remember right now. Lady Darby says there should
be no trouble, but if Princess Esterhazy or Countess Lieven prove awkward,
because of my aunt and uncle and this unorthodox situation, then she'll have to
approach Lady Jersey." A wry smile curving her lips, Nicole finished,
"Apparently, Lady Jersey likes to cause a stir and she might like to
patronize me, if for no other reason than to disturb the others. And your
great-aunt is very certain that if all else fails, Lady Jersey will do just
that."

"Hmm.
It appears my great-aunt has events well in reins." An expression of
mocking dismay on his face, Christopher mourned, "I sincerely hope she
doesn't decide to take me in hand!"

Nicole
giggled, feeling completely at ease with him for the first time in years.
"I know. She is the most managing woman ever—but so delightful about it
that one cannot help but agree with her plans. Even your grandfather, I
noticed, does not deny her."

"Now,
there you are wrong!" Christopher retorted derisively. "It was Mrs.
Eggleston who arranged for him to give his consent for the grand ball, as you
well know! You were there!"

Dropping
her gaze from the laughing eyes, almost deferentially, she asked, "Was
there something between them? I don't mean to pry, but your grandfather so
obviously agreed to the ball because of Mrs. Eggleston that I couldn't help but
wonder."