A.Mallet.
She wasn’tto be seen in town again.She doubted that a change in their work habits would quiet gossip.She didn’t care; he might.She placed the missive on the mantel in her sitting room.
At least the work was to continue.The thought no longer filled her with contentment, and she couldn’t say why.Work, Georgiana.It is about the work.
She called for Chambers, her capable butler, and gave him instructions to sort out space for their work in her home.Her dainty upstairs sitting room wouldn’t do.They would find a place on the ground floor.
On the sixth day, an unexpected visitor broke the silence of Helsington Cottage.Jamie Heyworth might be shallow and drink too much, but his charm and thorough knowledge of everyone in the upper ten thousand never failed to amuse.Once she would have welcomed him gladly.
Now, however, she glowered at him over her tea and his sherry.He came as Richard’s emissary.She couldn’t forget that Jamie served as Richard’s eyes and ears in Cambridgeshire.
The charming wastrel pretended not to notice her mood.He managed a smooth flow of conversation in spite of her monosyllabic answers.“On m’way to Newmarket,” he said.“Hoping to make a few quid on a sweet goer I saw run in a challenge race a while ago.The race is in three days, so I thought I would pop in and see how you go on.”
Georgiana’s thoughts were as sour as the lemon with which she flavored her tea.She wouldn’t have believed such a clunker even before Andrew’s revelations about her brother.No man about town, least of all the utterly poverty stricken, Jamie Heyworth, Baron Ross, would admit he had nothing else to do but “pop in” on the spinster sister of a friend in her maiden household.
“I take it my brother is still too busy at Whitehall to come himself.”Her sharp eyes dared him to contradict her.
Jamie colored but didn’t deny it.“He worries about you, Lady Georgie, alone here.Says you never have visitors.I know Her Grace doesn’t like to leave London, especially during the Season.”
“And you know perfectly well she prefers her embarrassingly gauche and sharp-tongued elder daughter stay buried in Cambridgeshire.Let us spare ourselves some effort and take care of business.What exactly are you here to find out?”
He looked away first.
“Are you well, Lady Georgiana?He wishes to know if you are well, and I do too.The last time I came here and the last time Glenaire visited himself, you were pale and ill.It worries him.It—it worried me too.”His handsome countenance, no longer youthful and untouched, looked sincere enough.“You look better, I must say.Color in your cheeks, all that, but looks deceive.”
“Notthis time.Your observations are correct.I am somewhat better.You may thank my brother for his kind referral.His Mr.Peabody treated me every bit as well as Richard expected him to.I told him that myself when I wrote.”She paused and sipped her tea.“What else, Jamie?”
“I beg your pardon, my lady?”
“What else does Richard want to know, Jamie?Come, come, let us come to the end of this farce.”
“He asked after your work.Have you been able to find assistance?”Heyworth schooled his features in a look of innocence.
“Richard never asks about my work and has no interest in what sort of help I might need.What did he tell you to find out, Jamie?”She stared him down again, but this time he didn’t speak.“It isn’t your fault, you know.I am aware you have to do his bidding.”She went on relentlessly, no longer attempting to spare his feelings.“Obviously the Hayden family honor holds his great interest.What is it you are required to find out?I would much prefer that you do not question my servants.”
He couldn’t stand against the force of her determined assault.“Andrew,” he said at last.“Have you seen him?”
“Yes.”
He waited for more.She allowed the silence to stretch.
“I’ll thank you to leave now,” she said as she rang for the footman.She turned.“Jamie, there is one more thing.”
“For you, Lady Georgie, anything.”His practiced smile melted away under the determined glare of her direct gaze.
“Andrew’s face.What happened to it?”
All pretenses fled.His eyes flew open.“He prefers notto talk about it.”
“I know that.And now I know that you know the answer.What happened?”
Heyworth colored.“I may dance to the Hayden family tune, but this time you have to ask the man himself if you want an answer.”He blustered, but she didn’t back away.“I will tell you this much.The French held Andrew prisoner for months after Salamanca.Richard got him out on a sliver of luck.He never talks about it to any of us, at least not when he’s awake.”
I have nightmares?Did I speak?She remembered the fear in his voice when he said it.
Jamie shook his head when she continued to watch him, and her mind raced to form questions.“No, you don’t.No more questions.Isn’t mine to tell.”
“Just one.When the French captured him, was he doing Richard’s bidding?”Her brother’s work at Whitehall had tentacles even then.
“Not mine to tell.”He repeated, determined not to speak this time.She couldn’t tell if he shook his head in denial or disgust.
She remained seated when he left the room.
“Damn you, Richard!”
