What a relief. She could sing. Personally, he preferred Dora’s artless voice with its soaring tones, but someone had taken the trouble to train Ruby in the operatic style. It might not fill a Covent Garden or the Haymarket, but it would do for a small room like this. Her delivery was polished and disarming. He could tell the audience were loving her. The choice of song, ‘In uomini, in soldati’ was mischievous and apposite. Despina asks if in men, in soldiers, women hope for loyalty. It ends with the phrase ‘Amiam per comodo, Per vanità!’, or ‘Let’s love for convenience, for vanity!’ Was that what Ruby had decided? He feared so.
She would be gratified by the applause, particularly as several gentlemen stood to shout ‘brava!’. That was the currency she enjoyed the most, Jacob knew, even more than his brother’s wealth.
They were coming to the climax of the evening. Ruby was joined on stage for the final number: ‘Over the hills and far away’. It was a well-known tune that had the audience clapping along. Eliza Austen was beaming at the triumph of an evening, looking like she would need little persuasion to get up and start a reel. Seeking out her even more interesting sister-in-law, Jacob found Jane at the side of the room, watching the audience as much as she did the performers, a sardonic smile on her lips. She had not forgotten for a moment that this was no ordinaryconcert; as inHamletit was a mousetrap to catch a villain. Or two.
Neither should he take his eye off the ball. Affairs of the heart had to take second place to affairs of state. It was time he got into position.
Chapter Thirty-Five
The majority of the concertgoers went to supper with Mrs Austen in the breakfast room. She was ably escorted by Knighton while a select few followed Henry into a little-used drawing room downstairs. It was normally thought to be too dark and cold for entertaining, but it served their purposes well for this auction. The guests upstairs were unlikely to wander down here and it was possible to leave quickly if necessary.
Dora slid into the back of the room, joining Jane by the window. They used the heavy drapes to conceal their presence. This was Jacob’s show, with his performer, Henry, about to take centre stage. Neither of them wanted to upstage this carefully laid scene.
‘Are you crossing your fingers?’ Dora whispered.
‘And my toes,’ confirmed Jane.
The gentlemen and three ladies who had indicated that they were taking part in the bidding took seats at the front. Jacob had told Dora who they were during the intermission. The Swede, the Prussian, the two Russian women, the men from the Foreign Office and Michel Percy were all expected to be present. He hadbeen surprised to find Portugal had sent a representative in the comely form of a Miss Rodrigues, a lady that Thornbury had muttered was their head of intelligence, known for her seductive ways. Many a minister and general had got into trouble with her. Jacob stood next to Henry, the print of Vesuvius in his hands.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ said Henry, ‘now to the very interesting conclusion to the evening.’
Julien arrived, gave the room’s occupants a hard stare, and stalked down to the front. He took the seat that had been prepared for him, facing them. The young man had grown up quickly over the past few days.
‘You are all aware of the tragic murder of the Comte D’Antraigues’s parents last month,’ continued Henry. ‘You are also aware that the latecomtewas a man of unparalleled sagacity as far as it stretched to predicting the outcome of political and military events. He was due to submit a report on this on the very day that he was killed, and you were all bidden to pledge what you would give for his insights.’
‘Almost all of us,’ said the Swede. ‘I do object to the presence of a Frenchman in the room.’
Henry spread his hands. ‘I am exceedingly sorry, Your Excellency, but I have to abide by the terms of the will. Thecomtespecified that all diplomatic personnel were to be invited. He did not foresee that the French envoy would make use of this loophole, and I am unable to go back to get the will amended. I do know, however, that the presentcomteis unhappy at his presence. Monsieur, will you leave to spare a son further distress?’
Percy looked apologetic. ‘I am devastated that thecomtewould think my presence here hurtful. I have something to offer that I believe he will want to hear.’
Henry huffed as if he were annoyed that Percy was sticking. ‘Very well, then we may proceed. Dr Sandys, the report?’
Jacob stood forward. ‘You will have noticed that there was a delay in calling you together. That was because our friend here did not know where the report had been concealed by his father. He had a cryptic clue but did not know how to unravel it. My partner and I were engaged to find out and we located it yesterday. It is here.’ He flourished the print. ‘The winning bid gets this picture and the report which we believe is concealed inside.’
‘You believe?’ asked Miss Petrovna. Her eyes narrowed on the print.
‘Yes. It is a transparency but look…’ Jacob held it to a candelabra. ‘No change. The report is folded between the two layers. We have ascertained that it is there but gone no further. Thecomte’s instructions were strict on this point. Only the winning bid gets to read it.’
‘And you expect us to believe you?’ asked Percy dryly.
‘I’m not sure anyone here has a choice but to believe me. You are free to leave if you object. No? What I can promise on my honour is that this print contains a copy of thecomte’s report in his own handwriting.’
Jacob stood back, letting them mutter among themselves as they absorbed this information.
Henry came forward again. ‘Your bids please.’
Each representative placed their envelope on a silver tray that he passed round for the purpose, all apart from Percy who sat back with an amused smile. Henry handed the tray to Julien who broke the seal on each. His eyebrows winged up as he read what were doubtless impressive figures.
‘Do we have a winner?’ asked Henry.
Julien nodded.
That was when Percy made his move. ‘My apologies for my tardiness,monsieur le comte, but I could not seal my bid. I can only present it.’ He pulled a rolled document out of his insidepocket and placed it on top of all the other bids. ‘I have here a letter returning to you all your ancestral estates in France and her colonies. I offer not only the monetary value of those estates, but the return of your honour and prestige in France!’
Dora could have laughed. How like their wily Frenchman! From their past dealings in the Elgin investigation during which he kept wrong-footing them, they knew Percy would have a surprise up his sleeve, something that would help him win the bid, and he had not disappointed them. They had anticipated a heap of gold, not this offer of restoration of the family. They could only hope Julien was not seduced by it into revealing their plot.
The young Comte D’Antraigues unrolled the document. He looked hard at the seal. ‘This is valid?’
