“Alliswell. Damnation. I thought married life would bring me peace.”
Grenville laughed at me, blast the man. “ Marriage is hardly the definition ofpeace. With a beautiful, accomplished, lively woman, still less so. Guard what you have. Believe me, I take my own advice. Marianne may do with me as she pleases.”
I sensed a new lightness in Grenville, yet tension also. He was happy, but the price of his happiness was fear of losing it.
“I will explain things to Donata,” I promised him. “Thank you, once again. Good night.”
Grenville gave me an encouraging nod and took his leave. I squared my shoulders and walked upstairs, making for Donata’s chamber.
The door was locked. I tapped on it, and after a time, Jacinthe opened the door a crack. “My lady is abed,” she told me.
I did not believe her, but now was not the time to force my way in. “Please tell her ladyship to sleep well, and that I look forward to speaking with her tomorrow.”
Jacinthe could summon a blank expression to rival any empty-eyed statue. “Yes, sir. Good-night, sir.”
That seemed to be that.
I sought my own room only to be stopped by Bartholomew. “Mr. Brewster has returned, Captain.” His young face held disapproval. “He wishes to see you on the moment.”
I wanted my bed, exhausted by the day’s events, but Brewster would not disturb me were it not important. Retaining my dressing gown and slippers, I went downstairs.
Brewster, as usual, had refused to enter the sitting room, so I met him in the foyer. “His Nibs wants to see you,” he said.
I studied him in perplexity. “Mr. Denis is in London. He can’t mean for me to travel there tonight.”
Brewster was already shaking his head. “No, guv. He’s here, in Brighton. At my digs, in fact. Wants to see you—now.”
Chapter 13
Isaw that Brewster expected me to rush off immediately, perhaps without even bothering to dress.
“It is late,” I said. “Make an appointment for me to speak to Mr. Denis in the morning. He can call here for breakfast if he wishes.”
Brewster scowled. “Now you’re joking with me. He’s come a long way and is not in the best temper. It’s only gone midnight.”
“We retire early in the provinces. Tell him you could not move me.”
“He won’t believe that, guv. You know I can wrestle you there or strike you down and carry you, so do me a favor and walk yourself. I’m not in the mood to strain me back.”
“Oh, very well.” I’d already known I’d give in. “My wife is furious with me, so remaining home tonight will not be comfortable. But you will wait until I dress myself. If Donata decides to bolt the doors permanently once I’m out, I prefer to have something more to wear than a banyan.”
Brewster did not find me amusing, but he conceded to give me ten minutes to shovel myself into clothing with Bartholomew’s assistance.
Brewster’s lodgings lay around the corner from Donata’s, in a narrow but pleasant lane with cozy houses, each with a patch of garden in front. The garden before Brewster’s cottage held clumps of geraniums and sweet-smelling stocks, with vines of climbing yellow roses pale in the moonlight.
Several men as large and hard-eyed as Brewster lingered near the house, and one leaned on the railings that separated the garden from the road. A dark carriage waited on the street.
Lamps lit the house inside, and the landlady and Mrs. Brewster were hastening through the tiny foyer, bearing trays of coffee and food. Mrs. Brewster looked relieved as we entered.
“There you are, Tommy.” She shoved her tray at him. “Make yourself useful. Mr. Denis brought an entire troop of his men, Captain, and they all want feeding.”
Mrs. Brewster took another tray from the landlady, sent the woman off to the back stairs, and led me and her husband into a small dining room.
A table nearly filled this chamber, with little space left for the narrow sideboard. The fireplace was cold and dark, but candles filled sconces and pewter candlesticks on the table, brushing warm light over all.
James Denis had commandeered one end of the dining table, where he sat quietly, writing on a sheet of paper. I reflected that almost every time I responded to the man’s summons, he contrived to be scribbling something when I entered.
Two large men had fit themselves awkwardly on the far side of the table, against the shuttered windows. Denis never went anywhere without bodyguards.
