Beth rose. “Of course not. I only came here because I hadn’t thefaintest idea how to bring about anything illegal and I thought Blanchemight.” She turned to the actress. “Do you?”
“Not from first-hand experience, no,” said the actress dryly. “But Ihave a few disreputable friends. Including, it would appear, Lucien deVaux.”
He grinned unrepentantly. “And Hal Beaumont. He’s at Nicholas’s.” Hewinked. “Why don’t you come with us?”
Blanche blushed again. “I have lines to learn for tonight.”
“Coward,” teased Lucien.
Blanche glared at him.
Beth stood and shook hands with the White Dove. “I’ll see you againsoon, my friend.”
“No, you won’t,” said Lucien.
“When you’re Mrs. Beaumont,” said Beth firmly.
“Which will be never,” retorted Blanche. Beth simply laughed at both ofthem.
When they arrived at Lauriston Street, the house was crowded as usual.Eleanor rolled her eyes at Beth. “Have you heard? They’re all quite mad. Iexpect to live to see them strung up in a row.”
“I think we have a slightly less dangerous plan to offer,” Beth said.As she took off her bonnet, she watched Eleanor, but if she noticed thebruise she gave no sign.
When they were settled in the drawing room Lucien gave Beth the floorto explain her plan. Despite her belief in equality, she felt rathernervous to be addressing a large group of men ? six members of the Companyof Rogues, Peter Lavering, and a rotund little man called TomHolloway.
When she’d explained, however, everyone approved.
“I like it,” said Nicholas. “It has subtlety and I do like subtlety.Apart from planting the will in Deveril’s house, there’s no real danger. Iknow an excellent forger I can trust.”
Tom Holloway said, “We’ll need a sample of his writing, Nick, and ithas to be done quickly. If the will’s found in his desk as soon as thebody’s discovered, it’s less likely to be questioned than if it suddenlyturns up after the event.”
“I wonder if Clarissa has anything he wrote,” said Lucien.
Beth gave a little gasp. “Probably not, but I have!”
“What?” he asked.
“When Clarissa first came to see me she brought a letter he’d writtenher. It was more like a list of rules for his wife. A horrible thing. Sheleft it and I forgot all about it. It’s between the leaves ofSelf-Control.”
“Remarkably inappropriate,” said Lucien. “We’ll send it over and trustNicholas to handle the rest of it. If you don’t mind, Nicholas.”
“Not at all,” he replied. “There’s little to connect me toDeveril.”
“And what’s more,” said Beth, “once this succeeds, it should make sureClarissa keeps the secret. To let it out would lose her the fortune.”
Lucien looked at her and shook his head. “You seem to have lost allmoral scruples,” he said. “A case of galloping depravity if ever I sawone.”
Beth couldn’t help but smile at the memories his words evoked, and shesaw him take a sudden breath. “Having settled this unholy pact, Beth,” hesaid quickly, “we’re leaving.” To Nicholas he said, “We’ll send over thehandwriting.”
Nicholas and Eleanor walked them to the door. “Mad adventures suit youboth,” Nicholas said and yet Beth was sure he had seen the mark on herface and interpreted it truly. In dismissing it, of course, he was quitecorrect. It was a mischance along the way, nothing more.
“On the whole,” said Lucien, “I think I prefer a quiet life. I died ahundred deaths yesterday after seeing Beth sitting there with a pistoltrained on her.”
“Love can be the very devil, can’t it?” Nicholas said, wrapping an armaround his wife.
“But on the whole, it’s all it’s cracked up to be,” said Lucien,drawing Beth to him, “once one’s got the knots worked out, that is.”
“Have I been such a tangle for you, Lucien?” Beth inquiredsolicitously.
