Jacob swallowed his mouthful, enjoying the tang of the cheese which was like a slap on the cheek. ‘I find it annoying that I am the one treated as if I’m breaking the rules when no moral code is infringed by marrying Dora– in fact, the Church rather demands it of us. I want a family with her, children I can acknowledge. I want to be able to go out and about with herand not have her cut by those who aren’t fit to tie her shoelaces.’
‘There will still be those that do that even with a wedding ring.’
‘Well, they can go hang themselves. I want to be her husband, not her bloody protector. That would break what we have between us.’ It was fragile and beautiful, so why did society so delight in crushing it?
William picked up his sandwich, looked at the egg and cress filling that was peeking out, then put it down, his appetite appearing to vanish. ‘You are in the right, I do recognise that. Morality is on your side. Arthur has no say in this, and you have every right to happiness with Dora.’
‘Thank you.’
‘But it is going to be difficult. As your older brother, I feel I must caution you about this. If Arthur is being particularly pig-headed– and I’ve no reason to think he won’t be– he’ll try to cut you out of the family, disassociate the Sandys name from you and your wife. He’ll claim Evelina and Felicity will be damaged by it.’ Their sisters were on the marriage market, one about to be wed, the other looking for a suitable spouse.
‘Whereas they aren’t hurt by his mistress’s name being in the society columns?’ It was unfair, but Jacob and William both knew that to be true. Society was breathtakingly hypocritical in that way. ‘We can’t control what Arthur does, and Evelina will soon be married.’ Jacob recalled his sisters’ reaction to the news that he was in business with Dora. When they had gathered for their father’s funeral, his sisters had taken him to task for making the Sandys name notorious in the ton. Ladies seeking to attract the right kind of suitor wanted not a hint of scandal to touch their families, so marriage would be a much bigger step in the wrong direction in their eyes. But could he live his life to please his sisters? That would be ridiculous. ‘Felicity will hate me for doing this, I’ve no doubt, but I hope she’ll come around when she falls in love herself and understands why I’m behaving in this way.’
William sighed. ‘I think Felicity is only hoping to fall in “like”. She doesn’t believe in love after having seen what society considers a good marriage.’
Jacob grimaced. ‘She’s no fool then, but perhaps I can educate her back into hope? I’d hate to see her in a loveless match.’
‘She’ll claim you are ruining her chances of even that by being the centre of this scandal.’
‘So, according to you, it’s a scandal now to marry a single woman, not because I have to but because I want to? The world is mad.’
‘Don’t be obtuse, Jacob. You know full well what the problem is: Dora is illegitimate, an actress and has been seen unchaperoned with you, so it is assumed, correctly I would guess, that you are lovers. She isn’t a sweet virgin from an impeccable family gliding down the aisle untarnished– that’s the only kind of bride that would get their approval.’
‘If people spent less time speculating about the doings of others and looked to their own behaviour, then we’d all get on much better. Don’t they read the Gospels? They whinge about the speck of dust in a brother’s eye when they have a plank in their own?’ He knew the complaint was pointless. Society lived to skewer and scoff at those it had decided to tear down. ‘The only saving grace about this whole business is that Dora couldn’t care tuppence about what other people think, unless they are her friends.’ Which was exactly why Ruby was such a threat.
He put his empty plate on the tray, conscious he had a Foreign Office man to catch before he went home for dinner. Time to get to the nub of the matter with William. ‘Will you receive us when we are wed even if Arthur tries to forbid it?’
William didn’t leap in with his assurances as Jacob had hoped. Instead, he rubbed his face wearily. ‘I will talk to Charlotte. You know me– I like to avoid conflict within the family.’
If Arthur pushed matters so that it was a choice of sides, it would harm William’s little family if they lost the favour of the viscount. Jacob was disappointed but he understood.
‘Send Charlotte my regards. I must go.’
William accompanied him to the door, grateful that the subject was put aside for now. ‘What are you investigating this time?’
‘A double murder.’
‘Lord! How grim!’ He wrinkled his brow. ‘Not that Frenchman and his wife, the opera singer? It’s the only recent double murder I know.’
Jacob nodded. ‘It is. What have you heard?’
‘Nothing definite but everyone agrees that they were not quite the thing. Oh, they had their own crowd– the musical and artistic lot– but they weren’t received in the strictest circles. At least she wasn’t because of her past as his mistress. He was more often seen with people of influence.’
‘Anyone in particular?’
‘Government types– those in military procurement and foreign affairs. I’d heard he was close to the Russians, spent some time with them on the continent somewhere– one of the German states, though I don’t believe I ever knew the details.’ He shook his head. ‘No, I can’t remember anything more about them.’
‘In what capacity was he with them?’
William smiled wryly. ‘Dear brother, isn’t it your job to find out?’
Chapter Eleven
Downing Street
The Foreign Office, 15–16 Downing Street, was identical to the town houses occupied by the ton when in London for the season, being at first glance two four-storey domestic buildings with the usual black railings and modestly sized front doors giving out onto a cobbled street. It was only when you got inside that you discovered the houses had been knocked through to create offices for the government servants dealing with matters from Brazil to Borneo, from Novaya Zemlya to Van Diemens Land. Adapting a house meant oddities, with some rooms too big for their purpose and some too small. Jacob was therefore not surprised to find Knighton’s friend occupied a room that would be regarded as inadequate for a boot room in his family’s castle in Westmoreland. A circular window set high cast a weak light over the desk.
A porter showed Jacob into his audience with the Second Senior Clerk to the minister.
