“No, Yer Grace, I don’t,” the valet said as he had been told, nodding vehemently.
“He may have ale with his supper, but don’t go allowing him to get drunk,” the duke instructed the innkeeper. “Hawkins does like his ale, don’t you, Hawkins?”
“I do, Yer Grace,” the valet said enthusiastically with a grin.
“Of course, Your Grace. Everything will be just as you require, Your Grace. You needn’t worry.” The innkeeper bowed again, then led them to their suite.
There they found their friends awaiting them.
“Ohh, this is so exciting!” Caroline said.
“Do you have the costumes?” Eunice inquired.
“Yes,” Allegra answered her, “and when you see them, you will not believe it. Everything is so real. Honor is coming with us.”
“Your maid?”Eunice and Caroline spoke in unison.
“Honor speaks quite good French,” Allegra explained, “and as a servant, will know more about the common folk than we do.”
“How amusing that your Honor should speak another tongue,” Caroline said. “Why it is almost like having one’s own French maid,” she giggled. “Even if she does come from Worcester.”
“Can we see our costumes?” Eunice asked.
“Honor, get the little bag with our special clothing, and let us show Lady Walworth and Lady Bainbridge,” Allegra instructed her maid.
The bag was brought, opened, and Honor pulled out a skirt, a sash, and one of the mobcaps. Caroline snatched the headpiece, and pulled it over her curls. Eunice wrapped the sash about her narrow waist. They stared at each other and burst out laughing.
“This is not a jest,” Allegra scolded them. “If we are caught we could all face the guillotine. These revolutionariesare not respecters of nationality. Being English will not protect us. Are you two certain that you want to go? As Quinton keeps reminding me, this is a dangerous game that we are playing at. We must travel eight miles from the coast to arrive at the d’Aumont estate. Then we must gain custody of the countess and her children from whoever has them. And finally we have to travel back to the coast without being caught, reach the yacht, and sail back to England without attracting the suspicions of anyone. I will not think badly of either of you if you have changed your minds.”
“No,” Caroline said. “She is my cousin.”
“No,” said Eunice. “I will admit we are both nervous about this undertaking, but not once has either of us considered crying off, Allegra.”
“But how are we going to get to the countess?” Caroline asked.
“We shall be bloodthirsty peasant ladies from Harfleur who have come to bring the countess and her children before the revolutionary tribunal for justice. The Committee for Public Safety in the town has sent us to fetch the woman, Citizeness d’Aumont, and her brats. If the people holding the countess and her children attempt to stop us, we shall become very aggressive and threatening toward them. France is ruled by fear. The mere threat that her captors are not concurring with the local authorities will bring about their immediate cooperation, I am certain,” Allegra told her friends. “Remember, despite their revolutionary talk, these people are used to obeying their superiors. We shall have to be very convincing, however.”
While the women continued to speak among themselves, the gentlemen were also making their plans.
“When do we sail?” the duke asked the Earl of Aston.
“Captain Grant suggests we leave on the evening’stide. It is just before midnight. The weather is good, the winds fresh. If it all holds, we should reach France the day after tomorrow.”
“Is he familiar with the territory into which we are venturing?” Quinton Hunter asked his friend.
Marcus Bainbridge smiled. “He knows a hidden cove right near the town of Harfleur. We will anchor there.”
“And just how is he aware of such an ideal anchorage?” Lord Walworth wondered aloud.
“Damn me, Adrian, where do you think that fine French wine you like so much comes from?” the earl chuckled. “You surely don’t think the damned French can cut off an Englishman’s supply of good wine? When I don’t need the yacht, and frankly nowadays, I don’t use it a lot, I allow Grant to make little trips for his own amusement. If he brings me back some wine, so much the better.”
“In other words, Marcus, your captain is smuggling,” Lord Walworth said. “This situation becomes more dangerous by the moment. If your yacht is recognized by the authorities, could we not all be in terrible peril? I do not like it at all.”
“Grant has only done a wee bit of smuggling, Dree, and he has never been caught. Not even pursued. The Froggies are too busy killing each other and destroying their society to worry about an English captain out for a bit of wine. It is perfectly safe.”
“If this were not Caroline’s relation,” Lord Walworth said, “I should not allow it.”
“You are free to remain here,” the duke told his friend.
