“Ye’d better,” came Albina’s reply.
There was some shuffling around in the room. Beau suspected that Albina was taking a seat at a writing desk.
“Now, wot do ye want me ta write,milord?” Albina asked with a giggle.
“Here, I’ve already written it. All you need to do is transcribe this. I intend to burn this one.”
Another sigh from Albina. “Very well. But this don’t change our plans, do it?”
“On the contrary, my dear, this letter is part of our plans. An important part.”
“We’re still leaving for France tomorrow, ain’t we?” Albina asked next.
Beau exchanged another tense glance with Marianne.
“Of course, my darling. My idiotic future son-in-law thinks he can purchase me with a pittance of an allowance. Little does he know I have myownfortune waiting for me. And this time I’m taking the letter to France myself, to avoid any surprises.”
Beau motioned for Marianne to go back toward the servants’ staircase. They’d already heard enough. Baron Winfield wasn’t planning on dictating the letter at any rate.
Apparently, Baron Winfield and Albina were planning to leave together for France tomorrow. Beau and Marianne would somehow have to find out what was in that letter. It was certain to be far from a simple task.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Beau and Marianne raced down the servants’ staircase until they made it to the back stoop of the property. Marianne led the way around the side of the building until they reached the street. Despite the late hour, they quickly flagged down a hackney coach, and Beau directed the driver to a certain unassuming address on Shepherd Street.
Not half an hour later, they were standing in front of their commanding officer, General Mark Grimaldi.Of courseGrim was there at that hour. The man did nothing but work.
They quickly informed him of the events of the evening, including the letter that Albina had written.
“You’ve no idea of the contents?” Grim asked, stroking his chin.
“No. We’ll need to intercept it before they leave for France,” Beau replied.
“We can’t,” Grimaldi shot back. “If we do that, they’ll be on to us, and they won’t go. We’ll have no way of knowing who Winfield is working for.”
“What are you saying?” Beau asked, but the excitement that rose in his chest told him he already had an inkling.
Grim clenched his jaw. “I think you know precisely what I’m saying. We need more than the letter, Bell. We need to know who Winfield intends to meet in France.”
Beau and Marianne exchanged yet another knowing look.
Grimaldi shook his head. “Damn it. It was Winfield all along, wasn’t it?” The general hated to be wrong. “I was convinced it was Hightower.”
“I suspect Winfield was working with Cunningham, too,” Marianne replied. “Someone had to give Winfield the information from the special council.”
“Yes, well, as soon as we get proof, the bastards will wish they were dead by the time I get through with them.” Grim turned to face both of them. “Now, as for the two of you, your orders are to follow Winfield to France, find out who he’s working with there, and secure incontrovertible evidence that he’s the Bidassoa traitor, starting with that damned new letter.”
“Yes, General,” they both replied with sharp nods.
Grimaldi’s nostrils flared. “Don’t let him out of your sight.”
* * *
It wasimperative for Beau to speak to Worth right away. After concluding their meeting with Grim, Beau had hired another hackney coach to rush him and Marianne over to the duke’s town house.
Now, standing at Beau’s side on the stoop, Marianne seemed uncertain about banging on the door of such a prestigious-looking town house in such a notable part of Mayfair at this hour of the morning.
“If you’re quite certain about this,” she whispered just before Beau began knocking.
