“So are your books salacious?” she asked.
“Not particularly so,” he said thoughtfully, “at least not in the milieu of Gothic.”
“He likes demons and cults,” Gwinnie confided.
“That is true,” Lord Lakehurst said. “At least at the moment.”
“Excuse me, your grace, my lord and ladies,” said Mr. Harold from the doorway. “Dinner is served.”
“Excellent, I am famished,” Lord Lakehurst said as he rose from his chair. “Grandmother?” he said as he offered his arm to her. “Lady Blessingame, would you care to take my other?” he asked.
“I will,” Bella said affably.
“How come you never offer me your arm?” Gwinnie mockingly complained.
“Because you are you,” her brother said, leading the Dowager Duchess and Bella into the dining room.
With only four for dinner, the seating was casual, and conversation easily flowed among them.
“What brought you to London at this time of year, so late in the Season?” Lord Lakehurst asked Bella.
“Primarily, my solicitor—or rather, my late husband’s solicitor. He summoned me to London.” She made a face. “He said there was a codicil in Harry’s will that said it wasn’t to be read until he had been deceased two years.”
“It’s been over two years, as we’ve been back from Sicily for over two years,” Lady Malmsby said.
“Yes, doesn’t say much for them as solicitors, does it,” Bella drawled. “And the wording in the letter was quite peremptory. That did not agree with me well, either. But I thought it best to heed their summons and come. I was supposed to meet with him two days ago; however, he sent round a note saying to defer until tomorrow. To say I will acquire the services of a different solicitor when this is over is an understatement. The second reason I am in London is to personally tell Lord Candelstone to leave me alone,” Bella told them.
“What is Silly Willy doing now?” Lord Lakehurst asked.
“Silly Willy?” Bella repeated.
“That is my fault,” said Lady Malmsby. “He was a neighbor growing up and always around. He made the silliest pronouncements, swearing they were the truth. I started calling him Silly Willy. This was years ago. Naturally, I stopped when I discovered Catherine’s tendre for the man, but sometimes he makes my head hurt in exasperation. One day, when I was particularly exasperated with him, I repeated that name in Lake’s hearing and to my lasting dismay, that is now the name he insists on using. Proves the adage you can’t say anything around children—even twenty-seven-year-old children.”
Lord Lakehurst grinned at her. “But it is soà propos!”
“Please desist, Lake. Remember, he is your aunt’s husband. You should show some respect.”
“Maybe… someday,” Lord Lakehurst said, shrugging. “But tell us, Lady Blessingame, your experiences with my uncle.”
“Sir Harry Blessingame, my husband, was one of Lord Candelstone’s agents abroad.”
“A spy.”
“Yes, a spy. And as Harry’s wife, I assisted his work by providing cryptography for captured coded French communiques. When Harry died, Lord Candelstone convinced me to carry on his work, including the code-breaking and spying on the Spanish envoy in Brussels, Vizconde Miguel Carrasco-Torres. I did, but after Waterloo I quit. He wants me to come back and work for him again.”
“But I thought he had retired—or as rumors said, been forced to retire.” Lord Lakehurst said.
“He had,” said Lady Malmsby. “It appears he is trying to form a private network of spies. That is what we discovered last month at my house party. I really should request he be given an overseas assignment far, far away. I just can’t bring myself to do that to Catherine.”
“Sic Aidan on the problem,” Lord Lakehurst offered casually.
Bella cocked her head. “Why would you say to sic Mr. Nowlton on him? I know they don’t like each other, but what would you have Nowlton do?”
“Oh, I don’t know, but he’d figure out something. He always does when we need something done.”
Gwinnie nodded. “Uncle Aidan is our fix-it person. We need a problem solved, we need something done that is distasteful or boring to do, we ask Aidan to do it.”
“Why?” Bella asked.
