Polonaise (42 page)

The man looked appalled. ‘You mean, you don't know?' His face closed. ‘You'd best ask the Pani Peverel.' And he would say no more.

‘The Brotherhood?' ‘A hunting lodge south of Warsaw?' Glynde had called on Jenny to ask her what Lech had meant. ‘They kidnapped you and took you there? You must have been terrified!'

‘Yes.' She looked at him, faintly amused, over her glass of wine. ‘I was frightened at the time. Well – I still am, of the Brotherhood. But I think this has to be good news about them, Mr. Rendel. I have thought, for a long time, that they suffered extraordinarily from divided command. It would be so easy, don't you see? All that dressing up, that disguise, those masks. Prince Ovinski was a member. While he was alive, I thought they veered between the French and the Russian side, but that could not explain the attack on you on your way here. I would have thought only the Prussians would want Casimir to grow up a little fool.'

‘The Prussians! There's a secret society there called the
Tugendbund
; it started in East Prussia, I believe, at Königsberg when the court was there. You think they might have managed to infiltrate your Brotherhood?'

‘Not my Brotherhood,' she said drily. ‘Though, it's true, they have intervened in my favour in their time. But I can't say my heart is going to bleed much over any deaths among them, on whichever side. I wonder if it is the French or the Russians who are in control now.'

‘You don't imagine it could be the Poles?'

‘Never the Poles!'

Two days later Marylka brought her the Brotherhood's first message for a very long time indeed. ‘I am to tell you that they have set their house in order and that we are under their special protection. If you ever need their help, you have only to let me know. And they have reestablished their secret courier service, both to the west and to the east.'

‘And what in the world would I be needing a secret courier for?'

‘They seemed to think that the Pan Rendel might.'

‘Oh, they did, did they?' And then, ‘I suppose you aren't allowed to tell me how you would get in touch with them.'

‘No, pani.' Marylka looked frightened.

‘Frankly, I'm just as glad not to know.' It had been the most enormous relief to leave the little house by the stream, where she had always been aware of the secret tunnel, blocked off it was true, but still there. ‘Mr. Rendel must know about this. I'll see him after school.' And then, as Marylka still lingered, ‘What is it, Marylka? Is there something else?'

‘Yes, pani. I had news of Marta the other day.'

‘From the convent? Is she happy?'

‘Happy! She's a drudge, Pani Jenny; starving for a crust. The endowment that was promised with her was never sent. They put her into the kitchen to earn her keep. She asked me to speak for her. We're kin, of course, in a backstairs kind of way. But, pani, I dare not. Besides, it would do no good.'

‘No,' said Jenny thoughtfully. ‘The question is, do I dare?'

‘I thought, perhaps, you might have a word with Pan Rendel? The Princess listens to him.'

‘When she's here.' But it was true that the Princess had given Glynde an absolutely free hand in his arrangements for the boys in his charge, and, so far, they were working out wonderfully well. He had formed them into what he called his band of Knights Crusaders, training for some mystic unspecified future purpose, their leader chosen weekly by a parliament of the whole group on the basis of reports from masters and boys alike. Casimir was often, but by no means always, the leader and Jenny had been amazed at how well he took his occasional demotions, and had said so to Glynde.

‘Oh, I think he is beginning to understand,' Glynde had told her. ‘He's a rational being, that boy.'

Looking for Glynde now, she found him in the boys' big common-room telling them stories before bedtime. Seeing her hesitant at the door, he smiled an apology across the spellbound heads and ended his story: ‘So the Prince George killed the dragon, and took the kingdom, and married the Princess, and they lived happily ever afterwards.'

‘But, sir,' a hand went up. ‘How did he kill it? With his lance?'

‘No, his sword, idiot!'

‘But there's a picture in the chapel at home, with his lance in its mouth –'

‘Silence,' said Glynde, and got it. ‘You may ask the Master at Arms, with my compliments, what he thinks the best method for killing dragons. Personally, I believe I would favour a long lance, because of the fire he breathes.'

‘Or a pistol? Better still?' suggested Casimir eagerly. ‘Or do you think that would be cheating?'

‘I think that would depend on what the dragon had done,' said Glynde. ‘Perhaps you should discuss that with Father Ignatz, Casimir. Now, make your bows to Miss Peverel, and off to bed with the lot of you. Marylka will be waiting.' He smiled at Jenny. ‘Come and join me by the fire, and tell me what I can do for you.'

‘It's something Marylka told me.' Jenny settled in her usual chair. ‘Do you remember Marta?'

‘The Princess's companion? Of course I do. Lord, what a long time ago.' He was grateful for the heat of the fire, masking the rush of colour to his face. It was Marta who had fetched him to his assignations with the Princess. But it had also been Marta who had lured Jenny Peverel into what he now realised must have been an ambush by the Brotherhood. ‘What of Marta?'

‘Marylka has heard from her. She's starving, a penniless drudge in her convent. Her endowment was never sent. She begs for help, for a word said to the Princess.'

‘And you and Marylka have chosen me to bell the cat?'

‘Well.' Surprised. ‘If you want to put it like that. I'm sorry! I'm telling my story back to front. I was so distressed to hear about poor Marta.'

‘Poor Marta, who got you ambushed by the Brotherhood?'

‘Oh! You worked that out?'

‘I'm not entirely a fool, Miss Peverel, though I do sometimes seem to behave like one. So what is the front of your story?'

‘A message from the Brotherhood. Marylka brought it. They say they have got their house in order, and we are under their protection. And that they have re-established their
secret courier service, both to the east and to the west. They seem to think that would interest you.' She smiled her friendly smile. ‘There's a good deal you haven't told me, is there not, Mr. Rendel?' She got up and walked over to open the door and make sure that Marylka and the little boys were all safe upstairs. ‘You're really a secret agent of some kind, are you not? I do devoutly hope it is for the British that you work?'

He looked at her strangely. ‘Frankly, Miss Peverel, so do I.'

‘He ate nothing but artichokes.' Anna Potocka had dined in state with the Emperor and new Empress at Saint Cloud, and summoned the Princess next morning to hear all about it. ‘As fast and untidy as you please. And hurried us through our dinners so that the poor little Empress never even got her ice! Sometimes I almost feel sorry for that girl. I'll tell you someone else I was sorry for. Your old friend Davout, on duty as Captain of the Guard. Do you remember the royal airs he used to put on in Warsaw? Now I was the honoured guest, and he was just part of the retinue. I gave him my very friendliest smile as I passed him on my way into dinner. Have you seen him?' she asked casually.

‘No, not yet.'

‘I thought not. Playing the family man, like his master. And your other old friend, Murat, busy being King of Naples. Sad for you. Napoleon was kindness itself to me last night. He said he did not think I should trouble myself too much about this ukase of the Emperor Alexander's, this threat to confiscate the estates of absentee landowners. No hurry about packing my bags, he thinks. I told him I must await my husband's permission, of course. Lucky you, to have no husband to defer to.' She did not mean this, as both of them knew.

‘All very well for Napoleon to talk.' Isobel ignored Anna's last remark. ‘But suppose we don't return to our Russian-held estates, and they really are confiscated, as the Tsar threatens. I'd never forgive myself.'

‘No.' Thoughtfully. ‘In fact the estate near Vilno is your son's, is it not? I suppose you could send orders for him to move there.'

‘Without me? Never.' She was interrupted by a page, announcing the Prince of Benevento.

‘Monsieur Talleyrand,' said Anna. ‘He will know what we should do for the best.'

But first Talleyrand had to hear all about last night's party. He was such a good listener that Anna remembered more of the conversation. ‘It was all hints,' she said. ‘There was talk of the Indies. As if Napoleon meant to get there by way of Russia. Someone – I'll leave you to guess his name asked me what I would like brought back from there. “From Moscow or Petersburg?” I asked him, playing the innocent.'

‘And what did he say?' asked Talleyrand.

‘Oh, he turned it off with a joke about the Pyramids, but everyone seemed to be sure in their hearts that war with Russia is inevitable. So what should we Poles do for the best?'

‘It won't come,' said Talleyrand comfortably. ‘But on mature consideration, I believe you ladies might be wise to pay some heed to the Tsar's threats. It is never wise to flout a monarch's wishes. And if enough of you great families who hold lands on both sides of the border show yourselves able to cooperate with both France and Russia, it must help put an end to this mad talk of war.'

‘You really think it is mad?' asked Isobel.

‘Dear lady, I am sure of it. Now may I have the pleasure of seeing you home?'

Outside: ‘I don't care about Anna Potocka, but I think you should go,' he told her. ‘Though I am sorry to have to advise it, when your presence here gives such pleasure to your friends. But, perhaps, a brief visit to Vinsk, to show the young Prince to his people? There will be no difficulty about crossing the border, I can promise you. Oh, by the way, I heard an interesting bit of news about your Mr. Rendel the other day. His father is dying, his brother ill, too. Your head tutor may suddenly find himself Lord Ringmer. I leave it to you, Princess, to decide whether to tell him of this, which is merely a rumour, come by underground channels from England. It would be a pity if he were to decide it was his duty to abandon his interesting charge and risk his life trying to get back to England.'

‘Lord Ringmer? His brother is still childless then?'

‘Yes. There was some tragedy. A huge estate, I believe. A
barbarous district, mind you, Sussex. The worst roads in the country, but full of possibilities.'

‘How very interesting.'

‘I thought you might find it so.'

‘How he has grown!' The Princess ruffled her son's dark hair. ‘And more handsome than ever! I couldn't bear to stay a day longer than necessary in Warsaw! Have you been minding your books, Casimir?' She turned to Rendel and Jenny without waiting for an answer. ‘I can see I have to thank you both for excellent care of my son.' She smiled at Jenny. ‘Talking of sons, I heard in Warsaw that your friend Marie Walewska is actually taking her little by-blow to Paris to meet the Emperor his father, despite the rumours that the Empress is pregnant. Poor Marie, will she never learn?'

‘Oh, poor Marie indeed. What will happen to her?'

‘And the child! Suppose this is the last straw and Walewski disowns him after all. One could hardly blame him. Oh, Jenny, that reminds me, an old friend of yours gave me his company from Paris. I am sure you remember Paul Genet. Yes,' she saw Jenny's colour rise, ‘I can see you do. Well, he's coming tomorrow, having finished his business in Warsaw, to stay with us until it is time for us to move, and then accompany us to the frontier, to make sure that we have no trouble there.'

‘The frontier, Princess?' asked Glynde. ‘What move?'

‘Fool that I am!' The Princess put a dramatic hand to her brow. ‘Can I really have forgotten to say? But you must have heard of the Emperor Alexander's ukase?'

‘News from Russia is hard to come by, Highness,' said Glynde. He had had only one letter from Jan since he had left, and it had merely established the line of communication, said very little. ‘What is this ukase?'

‘Owners of estates in Russia must return to them, or they will be confiscated. I have been advised to take Casimir to Vinsk for a short visit, to let him see his people. You'll enjoy that, won't you, my darling?'

‘To Russia? No!' He pulled away from her. ‘They're murderers, mother! Devils! Do you know what the Cossacks did to Karol's family? Shall I tell you?'

‘I think not,' said his mother coldly. ‘Jenny, will you take
Casimir away and talk some sense into him, while Mr. Rendel explains to me what kind of history he has been teaching his charges? I can see it's more than time I took Casimir to Vinsk,' she went on, as Jenny removed him, still protesting.

‘Not history, Highness,' said Glynde ruefully. ‘It's life. It was perhaps a pity there was not more chance to investigate the backgrounds of the boys you chose for Casimir's companions.' It was the nearest he thought it safe to go to an actual reproach. ‘I knew Karol was a very unhappy child; I only learned the reason the other day when we were, in fact, studying history, and I thought I would enliven the lesson for them by a description of the Tsar's visit to you here. It was too much for poor Karol. He suddenly came out with the whole horrible story of how his home was sacked by the Cossacks three years ago, before Eylau. His nurse hid him in the cellar, but he heard what happened to his family; heard his mother and sisters scream, saw their bodies afterwards. I hope you were not thinking of taking the whole school to Vinsk, Highness. Casimir is a reasonable boy. I think I will be able to persuade him that it is his duty to go and see for himself. But I do not think it would be wise to take the others. Most certainly not Karol.'