The Fashionable Spy (20 page)

“A mother protecting her own is a fearsome thing,” Sir Edward commented.

“A natural instinct, I am told,” replied Victoria with spirit. “Had I been blessed with children, I should feel quite the same. As it is, I wish to defend myself and my family.”

“Ever the tigress, I suspect.” He paused at her side, looking down at her, his dark eyes with a totally unreadable expression. Victoria wondered what went on in his mind.

The group that clattered down the stairs to the entry did not appear in high spirits. Rather, they were silent, serious, and properly worried.

The front door opened, and Lord Leighton stepped inside. At the sight of Sir Edward surrounded by the Dancy girls, he stopped in his tracks. “Egad, Hawks-wood; starting a harem?”

Edward ventured a faint smile. “We are going out to Burton’s meadow for a bit of shooting practice. Care to join us?” He held up the gun case, opening it to reveal three small, if deadly, pistols.

The jaunty smile immediately left Leighton’s face. “This is serious. What has happened?”

“I can explain with Miss Dancy’s help on the way out. We do not wish to delay the trip.”

Leighton immediately fell in with their plans, offering his phaeton for the trip, so they all need not be crowded into Sir Edward’s carriage.

“Julia and I could go in the phaeton,” Elizabeth offered. “I am accredited to be a fair whip, and will drive with utmost care.”

Clearly that was not what Leighton had in mind, but he merely nodded at her suggestion. If he were to know the gist of the affair, he would have to travel with Miss Dancy and Hawkswood. “By all means, ladies.”

Elizabeth beamed, bustling up to the phaeton with a proud tilt of her head. Since all knew the way, and Victoria doubted if the intruder of last night wished to do them physical harm, Elizabeth and Julia went ahead. The others followed.

By the time they reached Burton’s meadow, Leighton had been apprised of all that had transpired. In the inquiries Edward had performed regarding Leighton, he had become impressed with the younger man’s excellent reputation and sound head. Why Miss Elizabeth had taken such a smashing young man, and a highly eligible one at that, into such strong dislike was indeed puzzling. Of course, Leighton was a bit of a tease, ‘twas true.

Once the target was set up by Sir Edward’s groom, with a bit of help from Sir Edward and Leighton, the girls were ready to begin.

Julia went first, her aim less than perfect. Yet she persisted with admirable determination until she improved.

Victoria followed in turn. She aimed with care, squeezing the trigger just so, yet with the speed that would be required in an emergency such as she might face. How gratifying to see her bullet go to the center more often than not.

When Elizabeth stepped forward, her gun ready and primed to go, she hit dead center every time. No matter where or how she stood, her bullet went true to the dead middle of the target that sat in the midst of a mass of wildflowers. That it was an incongruous sight mattered to no one.

The two men exchanged guarded looks, then joined the women once the last shot had been fired. “From where we stood, it seems that Miss Elizabeth is the best shot.”

The young woman in question gave Leighton a defiant glance, then turned on her heel to replace her gun in the case.

“I suppose if we are practical, Elizabeth is the logical one to stay in my room in the event that the intruder will return to hunt for whatever it was he sought and failed to find.” Victoria placed her gun in the case as well, thus missing the look of horror that crossed the men’s faces.

“Quite so,” replied Elizabeth in a doubtful voice.

“We shall see,” Sir Edward said, after placing a cautioning hand on Leighton’s arm when the younger man looked about to explode in protest.

Somehow Leighton and Elizabeth ended up in the phaeton, while Julia, Victoria, and Sir Edward drove in his carriage on the return trip to London.

Elizabeth gave the man who now drove the elegant phaeton an offended look. “I thought you trusted me to drive, sir.”

“I wished to talk with you.” He didn’t excuse the change of drivers. “I cannot like the notion of you hiding in Victoria’s bedroom with the intent of shooting at the thief.”

Elizabeth nodded her agreement. “I suppose I ought to be willing, but I fear I mislike the idea of truly shooting at a man. I am not a bloodthirsty person, in spite of what he has done or the threat he offers.”

“You prefer the game of shooting at a target.”

“Precisely,” Elizabeth replied, pleased that someone understood the matter. “A bit like archery.”

They jogged along in silence for a time, and Elizabeth felt almost in charity with Lord Leighton. While she did not forget for a moment that he was a frightful rake and a provoking tease, she found the day too lovely for argument. Forgetting herself, she began to hum a gay little tune.

Only when she became aware of the pained expression of the man at her side did she abruptly cease. “Oh, I
am
sorry. Victoria insists I have a tin ear, and I daresay she is right. Julia sings tolerably well, and Victoria warbles like an angel. I guess when the voices were handed out, they ran out of musical ones for me.”

“It is well to know one’s strengths and weaknesses. Miss Elizabeth,” he replied with admirable restraint, rather than his customary gibe.

She tilted her pretty nose in the air and remained quiet the rest of the trip, in spite of his efforts to charm her out of her silence.

In the rear carriage that held back to avoid excessive dust. Sir Edward studied Victoria. “You do not actually intend to allow your little sister to remain in your bedroom waiting for the villain to return. What if he is able to avoid the bullet she fires at him? Can she reload in the dark? Could she fight him off were he to tackle her, engage her in a contest of strength? What if he has a knife?’’

Victoria stared at Sir Edward with a pale, worried face. “Well ...”

“Of course she cannot permit such a thing,” Julia interposed.

“Julia is right. I could never permit her to place herself in such danger. I shall be there. With all three guns at hand, I shan’t worry about missing.”

Sir Edward shook his head. “I suggest a different plan. Not but what you could not handle the task,” he added with diplomacy. “I would never rest if I thought that for one moment your life was in peril.”

“What do you propose?” Victoria queried. “I confess I do not relish facing the intruder again. Anticipation is worse than the actuality, I suspect.”

“I intend to take over your bedroom—with your permission, of course.” He leaned forward in his seat, giving what he hoped was an earnest and convincing look at Victoria. “I have greater strength, even if I am plagued with a bad knee.” He tightened the grip on his blackthorn cane. His knee had been much improved these past days, but it was far from back to normal. “I am reckoned to be a good shot. And I should present a more menacing shape than a woman would.”

“True,” Victoria admitted readily.

“It is kind of you to take such a risk,” Julia added. “But perhaps we ought to consult a Bow Street runner, sir? Would such a person not be the logical one to do such work?” She clenched her hands in her lap and looked more worried than ever, if possible.

“Possibly. Yet I am loath to bring in an outsider. Each night I shall conceal myself in your room. We should not tell the servants, other than Evenson—I shall require someone to let me in once it is dark. But you can see that the fewer who know about it, the better.”

“I could sleep in the guest room, or perhaps with the children, for there is a cot in there that is not in use, and it would create less talk,” Victoria said, her growing acceptance for the scheme evident.

“The very ticket,” Sir Edward exclaimed with approval.

By the time they reached the Dancy house, matters had been settled to the last detail. Sir Edward would spend an evening with the family, to get to know the layout of the house better, and the habits of the servants, and such. Then later he would return for the night.

Victoria drew a sharp breath as she considered the threat to him. “I trust you will not be injured, sir,” she said as they were about to enter the house.

“I find it touching that you are concerned, Victoria.”

Her frown at his use of her Christian name made him smile. With all her unconventional behavior, at heart she observed Society’s dictates.

He appealed to Julia. “Do you not think it would be acceptable if we resort to Christian names during this time, at least? The servants will take note of it, and I will be far less suspect as I roam about.”

She nodded her head. “I believe that would be agreeable. I, for one, have no objection.”

“Since you are the proper one of the family, who am I to disagree?” murmured Victoria with good grace.

Elizabeth and Lord Leighton sat in the drawing room. Teacup in hand, she kept a discreet distance from Lord Leighton. A freshly brought tea tray waited for the others.

Immediately Victoria plunged into an explanation of what they planned to do.

All agreed. Sir Edward hastily swallowed his tea, then rose to depart. “There are a number of things I must take care of before this evening. It will be feasible at that time?”

The girls exchanged looks. Julia admitted, “We had intended to visit the opera this evening. Sir Edward.”

“Edward,” he corrected automatically. He frowned in thought for a few moments, then looked at Leighton. “What do you say to an evening at the opera, David? By the bye, we had decided that for the nonce we shall all be on a Christian-name basis. There are good reasons.”

Obviously delighted to be included in the venture, Lord Leighton nodded, his eyes sparkling as when he ribbed Elizabeth.

“We had best meet here for dinner first, then. Sir Edward will have that time to prowl about beforehand, and still accomplish what he hoped.”

“Excellent thinking, Victoria.” He smiled at her, the sort of smile that melted her insides.

She gave him a tentative smile as he departed, reflecting that he was a most engaging, compelling man. How she was to rid herself of her fascination for him, when he persisted in being underfoot, she didn’t know. Perhaps with familiarity would come disillusionment. On both sides.

The cook raised her hands in horror when Victoria informed her of the change in dinner plans. A dash of soothing and a dollop of flattery, with an ounce of coaxing, worked the trick. That and a promise of an extra half-day off.

Thus it was that when the guests assembled for the evening meal, an excellent array was presented for their enjoyment. All ate with pleasure, yet with an awareness that this was no ordinary dinner party with ordinary intent.

Following the meal. Sir Edward wandered down the hall, Victoria at his side, to explore the morning room, the neat library, and cast a glance into the area behind the green baize door.

Satisfied for the moment, he joined her in a walk up the stairs, with a look about the first floor, then up to investigate the second. He peered out windows, checked wardrobes, and in general did not miss much.

When they came to Victoria’s room he stopped, studying the layout with keen eyes. His glance skittered over the bed. “Shall I have Sable with me? Do you usually sleep with the dog in here?”

“Sometimes. Julia thinks it terrible of me, claims he will bring in fleas or something. But we bathe him from time to time, and indeed the dog is not allowed to run free any old place.”

Edward opened the wardrobe, checked the contents with an experienced eye, then poked about in the back. He glanced at her. “Just in the event I must conceal myself, you know.”

Thinking of the aerophane crepe dress that lingered in the back of the wardrobe, she gave him a strained smile, then nodded. “What if he decides to try another room next time?”

“I thought of that. Leighton could bed down in the library if you have no objection.”

“None in the least. However, Elizabeth might take exception to the plan.”

“Then I suggest you don’t tell her. She can’t argue if she knows nothing about it.”

“Wise man. Tell me, how did you become so knowledgeable about women?” she said with amusement. Then she immediately realized the impropriety of her question, and blushed as she stammered, “Do not answer that, I beg you.”

He chuckled as he drew her into his arms, placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. “Sisters and cousins and a mother about the house.”

“I feel foolish, sir.” At his look of rebuke, she amended that to “Edward. My brother was easy to tease, and I suppose I became used to it.”

“You miss him a great deal, I suspect.”

“I do,” she admitted freely. “He is between Julia and me in age, and a bigger torment one could not find, as far as a brother is concerned, I am sure. But he was always good to us, and looked after us when things went bad. One of these days ...” She turned to leave the room after catching a glimpse of her clock and the time.

“Do you want to take your night things out now, or wait until later?”

For some peculiar reason, the query about her night-clothes affected her more than that chaste kiss had done. She colored a fiery red, and murmured something about later. Surely she had blushed more in the past few weeks than in the past year.

They walked down to the first floor together, side by side.

Edward leaned on his cane more than usual, and Victoria fretted about his knee and his health all the way.

“Are you certain you feel up to all of this?” Victoria chided him before they entered the drawing room.

“Hush, I shall be fine.” Edward covered her hand with his own, and she became oddly still, searching his face with worried eyes.

“If you say so.” Victoria moved away from that tense encounter to join the others. She urged them all to the waiting carriage. At the opera house she fussed over Elizabeth.

“Victoria,” her dear sister cautioned at last, “I am quite fine. Please?”

“I wish Julia were with us.”

“She felt it incumbent upon her to remain with the children. I doubt she would have enjoyed one note, what with worry over the girls.”