"Is there anything I can do?"
If they were going to be found out, it would be now.
"Not at all," Elyse replied in that same lowered voice without turning around. "Everything is under control. My friend has a tendency to over-indulge. I do have to keep an eye on him, promised his wife I'd have him home early."
"I don't believe we've met, sir," Jerrold said, coming round to stand beside her.
The uncomfortable moment drew out as she opened her coat and reached inside, retrieving a gold cigarette case. Her concentration wavered for only a moment as she saw another man coming toward them from across the room.
There was only the slightest trembling in her fingers as she flicked open the case and retrieved a cigarette. Beside her, she heard Lucy's sharp intake of breath.
They hadn't rehearsed this part. Elyse hadn't wanted to leave the scent of smoke in her grandmother's house which surely would have raised questions. She pulled out an elegantly rolled cigarette and tapped it against the gold case as she'd seen Jerrold do on several occasions.
"Of course, you remember," she explained. "I was with Sir Laughton at the races last month, his cousin from York," she began what she had rehearsed. "You said if we had the occasion, we should join you at your club in London." She glanced around as if giving the interior of the club inspection.
"We've just come up from the country."
She knew he'd been seen with the Laughtons at the races. In fact, had been seen with Lady Laughton on several occasions. She saw the confusion at Jerrold's face as he signaled one of the club's attendants. He'd undoubtedly been so caught up with Lady Laughton he didn't remember meeting anyone at the races. It had been slightly irritating when she’d found out about it. Now she used it to keep their disguise.
The young man appeared at Jerrold's elbow, quickly producing a match and striking it.
"Ah yes, the races." Jerrold responded vaguely. He turned as St. James joined them.
"May I present the cousin of an acquaintance..." He hesitated.
Elyse nodded. "Stephen Mortimer," she said, pulling a name out of the air. "And my companion, Lucien de Villiers."
She quickly made the introductions, knowing what her grandmother's reaction would have been to her using the name of an author of one of the French language texts she'd studied with such disastrous results.
The French language had practically been her undoing. Lucy, on the other hand, had an impressive command of it. She hoped that she remembered enough of it in her current state of distress.
Jerrold curtly nodded to them both and introduced St. James.
Elyse inclined her head as she'd seen gentlemen do when greeting each other. "A pleasure, of course." She held her breath when St. James seemed to hesitate a moment longer than necessary.
"Have we met before?" Zach's gaze narrowed slightly as he studied the young man before him.
"I'm certain I would remember, sir."
The reply was polite. And the second young gentleman seemed to be afflicted with great nervousness. Barrington apparently didn't notice.
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance," Lucy greeted him in flawless French and he responded in the same language. That look narrowing on both of them.
"Well." Jerrold smiled. "Since we are acquainted, please join us. And a little later, there will be some exciting... entertainment."
Elyse caught the slightly bemused expression of Sir William.
Preceding them across the large room, Jerrold turned and leaned toward them both.
"Several young ladies will be joining us. I think they will prove exciting even by French standards,monsieur.Tonight," he said, glancing toward St. James, "is a night to forget all other women you have ever known. I guarantee, the young ladies who will be joining us will be like no others you have ever experienced."
Young ladies? Elyse thought. She ignored Lucy's look of panic, her thoughts scrambling for a way to extricate them from this. She had hoped to observe St. James from a distance, and possibly learn more about him. This was not part of the plan.
"Lord Barrington has been teaching me the basics of a game known as Battle," he explained as they reached a table. "Have you played before?"He reached for the deck of cards that lay there and spread them fanlike.
Elyse shook her head. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure," she replied, continuing their deception.
He smiled. "It's a fascinating game, filled with all manner of traps and deceptions. One must be very careful in order to play." He watched the'young man'across from him and his companion who stood behind him.
