Realising she had no choice, Henri favoured her bird-witted grandfather with one last hard stare and suggested they all sit down. Then, hesitantly at first, she told Raphael what she’d overheard at the Poulton’s Hotel.
For a few seconds after she’d finished speaking, the Frenchman didn’t say anything, and the room was silent aside from the noise generated by Finn as he bounced up and down in his chair.
‘Was it your impression that these men knew about Tristan?’ Raphael asked at length.
‘I… I assumed they did,’ Henrietta stuttered, surprised at the question.
‘Assumption is the mother of many disasters,’ the Frenchman retorted drily. ‘Did you simply assume because you heard them mention the name Montclair?’
Henri opened her mouth to say yes, but then paused, thinking back to the scene. A second later, she closed her eyes in an effort to transport herself back to the tearoom and allowed her mind to replay the sequence of events. The name that attracted her attention wasMontclair. The men spoke about her father’s ship and finally, she heard them say that someone was onboard. Was there anything else - anything at all?
Frowning, she looked over at Raphael. ‘I think I heard them mention a fountain. Does that mean anything to you?’
The agent’s response was immediate. ‘You’re sure you heard that word –fountain?’
Henrietta nodded, alarmed. ‘But it actually sounded more likefuntain.’
‘Merde,’ Rafe swore softly and shook his head. ‘I had hoped he would not yet know.
‘ThisFuntainis a man?’ queried the Reverend.
‘Exactement,’ Raphael retorted, reverting to French in his agitation. ‘Claude Fontaine, to be precise. He is Tristan’s uncle and the current steward of the Montclair estate.’
That the Duke of Blackmore’s arrival coincided with that of the as yet unaware Marquis de Montclair was no accident. On receiving Roan’s request, Tristan had actually returned to Blackmore to seek Nicholas’s counsel before travelling on to Torquay together. Though neither had any idea why they’d been called urgently to Redstone House, both believed it had something to do with Raphael Augustin’s suspicions concerning theRevisionistplot.
Neither had even considered that Tristan might prove to be heir to a title, and even the Duke’s legendary aplomb slipped a little when Raphael broke the news.
Tristan, on the other hand, laughed out loud – until the agent showed him a small drawing of the murdered Marquis that had been printed in a newspaper at the time of the attack. Though the article itself was heavily censored in line with Napoleon Bonaparte’s taste for propaganda at the time – even going as far as declaring the untimely murder a victory for the regime – there was no mistaking the resemblance.
Looking at Philippe de Montclair was like looking at Tristan.
Naturally, convincing Tristan of his real identity had only been the beginning of the debate. Raphael’s decision to leave them to speak further without his presence was a calculated risk, but at the end of the day, he needed these people to trust him. He’d done himself no favours by his initial approach, but in fairness he hadn’t suspected that he might find himself in a position where he dared trust no one in his network. Not to mention the fear that there might actually be someone high up in the BritishGovernment involved in a conspiracy he’d never even bloody well heard of.
Rafe directed his mind towards the information Henrietta had just given him. He hadn’t yet revealed to anyone the information he’d discovered in his father’s diaries, and the knowledge that Claude Fontaine could already be one step ahead of them made him want to cast up his account. Where had thebâtardlearned about their plans to sail to France? In truth, it could only be through knowing his nephew was still alive… Raphael gritted his teeth. His fear that they were sailing into a trap increased a hundredfold.
Especially as he now knew that one ofFaith and Fortune’s crew was a traitor.
Eight
When Roan came looking for Raphael, he didn’t hide either his surprise or his suspicion on discovering the Frenchman with his father-in-law and daughter - and his wariness certainly didn’t lesson when the agent immediately asked Henrietta to close the library door.
It was then that Roan caught sight of Percy and Finn. After the briefest of hesitations, he greeted them both warmly, though his welcome was followed with alooktowards his father-in-law hinting at theintimatediscussion they’d be having in the very near future. The Reverend’s expression was that of a man who’d been caught with his hand in the collection box, though when Roan added, ‘I’m certain Augustus will not object to sharing his bedchamber with you both since the house is currently full,’ his expression swiftly went from shifty to horrified, causing Roan to chuckle inwardly.
Ignoring his father-in-law’s sputtered objections, Roan turned towards Raphael and waited for the explanation he assumed would be forthcoming. The last thing he expected was for the Frenchman to suggest they postpone any further familydiscussion until the morrow, and he instinctively began shaking his head, however, on catching the Frenchman’s sombre expression, he hesitated and frowned, before finally shrugging and nodding. ‘You’re right. Everyone is tired, and I think a little lighthearted conversation over dinner would benefit us all. You will stay, of course, Mr Augustin?’
Raphael nodded in turn, then after a slight pause, added, ‘I believe that since we could well be risking our lives together, it is time for you to call me Rafe.’ His voice was dry, but underneath, there was an uncertainty Roan hadn’t heard from the Frenchman before.
The sea captain raised his eyebrows but bent his head in agreement before turning back to his beleaguered father-in-law and drily suggesting the Reverend take his guests to get settled in.
After smothering a half smile, Henrietta offered her help, while Finn bent down to pick up Flossy saying, ‘Ye ken that, lass, we goan tae be sleeping together – all o’ us.’ Augustus Shackleford looked about to cry as the procession made its way to the door.
As Roan made to follow them, intending to inform the rest of the family of their decision - and his wife of their unexpected additional guests, Raphael held him back, requesting in an undertone that they hold a quiet meeting once the rest of the household had retired. After favouring the agent with a hard stare, Roan acquiesced before suggesting that in addition to the two of them, they invite Nicholas, Tristan and Gabriel. Forcing down an unaccustomed awkwardness at hearing the men’s given names, even though he himself had invited the casual intimacy, Rafe agreed.
In truth, Raphael had avoided getting too close to people throughout the whole of his adult life. It was infinitely easier to hold them at a distance and thus avoid potentially messy complications.
Such as an unexpected attraction to the daughter of the house…
With an inward grimace, Rafe suggested that the best way to instigate the meeting would be for Roan to casually propose one last glass of port before bed to the other three men…
