“Blanche,” said Lucien.
Nioholas’s smile widened. “One can always rely on a good woman.” Helooked around. “It seems to me we can do our bit by tidying up. Get rid ofthe body and all that. I think you should take these ladies away. Who’swith the heroine?”
“Hal,” said Lucien and shrugged. “He says he’s going to marry her.”
Beth could tell Lucien was relieved to have reinforcements,particularly Nicholas Delaney. Beth shared the feeling. Nicholas just gavethe impression that everything would turn out well.
“I approve,” Nicholas said. “We need more viragos in our circle. Forone thing, a woman could probably fix that toy grenadier. None of us can.”He stepped carefully around the glass on the floor and shepherded Beth anda very dazed Clarissa towards the hall.
He wrapped an arm about Clarissa and gave her a brotherly, but veryfirm, hug. Beth realized that while she had been hugged and comforted byLucien, and Blanche by Hal, no one had looked after Clarissa until now.“I’m Nicholas Delaney,” he said to the girl. “You must be ClarissaGreystone. Don’t worry about anything. I think it’s all going to workout.”
Clarissa clung to him and mumbled something incoherent.
Beth saw his hand come up to rub firmly at the back of the girl’s head.“Yes, I know. But the worst is over. The best thing for now may be for youto go back to your family.”
“No!” protested Clarissa, pulling away from him.
“They have been most cruel to her,” Beth protested.
“If you take her home,” Nicholas said, “and she pretends to berepentant and willing, I don’t think they’ll be too angry. Make it clearshe has the support and friendship of the de Vaux. The Greystones willhesitate before offending you.”
He looked at Clarissa. “You won’t have to be enthusiastic aboutmarrying Deveril, that would be uncalled for. Just act cowed. If we’reclever, his body won’t be found and identified for days. When his death isdiscovered you will have some time before your parents can come up withanother such. By then matters may well be different anyway.”
“How can things change?” Clarissa asked, but it was clear his tone ofcalm confidence was giving her courage.
“In all kinds of ways. For one thing, somewhere in Belgium the greatbattle is over.”
“There’s news?” Beth and Lucien demanded in unison.
“Only the vaguest. Nathan Rothschild knows something. He sold heavilyand now he’s buying at low prices. They say he uses pigeons while thegovernment relies on riders. As well, a man called Sutton who captains apacket out of Ostend has brought word that the battle was well under waysome days since and wounded were already arriving in Brussels and Ghent.There’s little firm news.” After a moment he added, “I spoke to him. Hesays the 42nd were hit hard.”
“Con’s regiment,” said Lucien.
“Yes.” Nicholas gave a movement of frustration. “It’s all happened, ofcourse. Somewhere in this same world the living are rejoicing, the deadare dead, the wounded are suffering under the knife. . . . And maybetomorrow or the next day we’ll find out about it.”
“Is it a victory, though?” asked Lucien.
“It’s always a victory for somebody,” Nicholas said wryly. Then hesnapped out of his philosophical mood. “The indications are yes, but theStock Exchange is hesitant after Rothschild’s little foray. The odds are,however, that definite news will break at any minute and London will be inturmoil for the next few days. Excellent conditions for concealing ournefarious plans. Take the ladies away, Luce, and let us clean up.”
“That reminds me,” said Lucien. “There’s a lad of mine, Beth’s maid,and Blanche’s housemaid downstairs.”
“Will they keep their mouths shut?”
“Blanche’s Agnes will keep mum. She saved her from the workhouse. Robincan be trusted, I think.” He turned to Beth. “What about yourabigail?”
“I think Redcliff will hold her tongue. It would be as well, though, ifshe didn’t realize the full extent of what has occurred.”
Lucien thought for a moment. “Why don’t you and Clarissa leave by theback way. You can pick up Redcliff and Robin. I’ll take the curricle andmeet you at the end of the lane.” He drew Beth into the warm comfort ofhis arms, kissed her gently, then left.
Feeling wonderfully strengthened, Beth shepherded Clarissa down intothe cozy kitchen. There they found the two maids and Robin. Both the maidsleapt up and began to gabble at once, but Beth quelled them.
“Silence! Agnes, your mistress is unhurt but she does not wish to bedisturbed at the moment. You are not to go upstairs until you aresummoned. Redcliff and Robin, we are leaving.”
“Yes, milady.”
As soon as they were out of the door and walking through the smallgarden to the back lane, Beth said, “Neither of you is to breathe a wordabout anything that happened here today. Do you understand?”
A bright-eyed Robin said, “Yes, milady.”
