Chapter 7 #2
Charity allowed herself a small smile. “On the subject of unconventional warfare… how did Thorne do with your assignment?”
“Better than I thought he would! Of course, with the fine figure he cuts, all he really had to do was stand there and allow himself to be admired—and the Grand Duchess did. Ravenscroft is half tempted to campaign for a barony for our knight errant at this rate, and if Prinny has any idea how much peace the man bought him yesterday, he might actually grant it.”
Selina’s thumb grazed the corner of her lip, fondly diverted by the memory. Coughing into her fist to cover a chuckle, Charity asked about their upcoming task.
“The Pulteney has spaces for guests to mingle. Yesterday, I sent a tendril of inquiry… and I received an invitation to pay a call,” Lady Normanby explained.
“Your… ‘old friend,’” Charity murmured, and received a nod of confirmation.
“Maximilian and I… we have some history. He is an attaché from Prussia who visits London occasionally. At any rate, he is here once more, and he will provide us with a convenient excuse to loiter in their coffee room, seeing what there is to see. Perhaps we can form a connection to someone else.”
“Is this at all what you did for the Order, Lady Normanby?” Charity asked, fluttering her eyelashes at the older widow.
Selina gave Charity a small smirk. “Forming connections? Oh yes, Duchess. Granted, most of my efforts dealt with our politicians. But occasionally, there are foreign visitors in the area that require more of a… woman’s touch.”
The carriage slowed in front of the hotel, where Cossack guards stood at attention on either side of the front entrance.
“No matter what happens, keep your wits, and show respect where due,” Selina reminded Charity while they waited for the footman to open the carriage door.
“While I talk with Maximilian, keep an eye on the room. See who is talking with whom. There is more of a game afoot than simply Lady Fitzroy’s presence in the court, but we have to catch it. ”
Informed of their appointment, the hotel footman led them to the coffee room, where clusters of individuals sat drinking the hot, bitter drink. “Your other guest will be here soon,” they were informed. “I was instructed to ensure you were served while you wait.”
“Prince Paul and Prince Leopold seem thick as thieves,” Charity noted.
The princes of Württemberg and Saxe-Coburg sat with their heads together, and she and Selina nodded respectfully in their direction, though they went unacknowledged.
“Perhaps he’s getting advice about playing cards.
I heard that he lost a sum on his first evening here. ”
Selina bit her lip slightly, saying nothing until the footman who brought the pot of tea left.
“More likely, he’s looking for an ally in Württemberg’s survival.
In Vienna, the maps of Europe will be redrawn.
And after spending so many years fighting for Napoleon, King Frederick of Württemberg has the task of proving he is worthy of retaining territory and title. ”
Charity considered that as she stirred her cup. “An ally in Saxe-Coburg?”
“More likely, in the Tsar,” Selina corrected, lifting her chin in the direction of Leopold as she settled her fingers around the teacup in front of her. “Prince Leopold is one of the emperor’s favourites. And it would be a subtle way to secure favour.”
The marchioness may have preferred snooping in domestic matters, but it was clear she was rather well informed of what was happening on the continent. She had most likely worked more closely with Xavier, the Order’s former spymaster, than she implied.
As they waited, Prince Paul got up and joined another table with some of the generals from the Alliance.
She did not know their faces well enough to know who.
But it was obvious that there was a great deal of political discussion afoot.
Two men whom Charity recalled as being Russian ministers were joined by an older man with keen eyes that flickered over Charity and Selina, seated together.
He had a slightly knowing, intense expression.
“Is that Baron von Gentz staring at us?” Charity asked, keeping her lashes lowered. When she glanced up again, though, the older man’s attention had turned towards the Russians.
“Mmm,” Selina agreed, her voice very low. “Austria openly consorting? Interesting. It is almost as if they do not care if the English learn what they are about.”
It did not feel like they were in English territory, despite the location of the Pulteney. Just one other Englishman was in the room, a rich industrialist Charity remembered from the ball at Burlington House.
And then, a group of people entered the room. The Grand Duchess of Oldenburg and Princess Charlotte stood at the front of it, causing Selina—and many other people present—to rise to their feet. Charity got up from her chair with alacrity, giving a respectful curtsy to the women, her eyes lowered.
“Her Royal Highness and Imperial Highness thank you,” said another woman’s voice as the princess and grand duchess continued on.
A familiar voice.
Charity straightened to see Marian Fitzroy standing before them. Marian gave Charity and Selina a saucy wink… and then proceeded to sit with the Grand Duchess and Princess Charlotte.
Horror and consternation crawled along Charity’s throat. Marian Fitzroy was rubbing shoulders directly with the Princess of Wales. To what end? Was the princess safe?
Watch yourselves—something is happening. Peregrine’s voice in her thoughts brought her to attention.
Marian Fitzroy was too canny a creature to do something that would endanger herself or her own plans, so the princess was likely in no immediate danger. But there was a sense that a stage was being set here, like an opera whose curtain was about to rise.
“Lady Normanby, I have a hunch something unpleasant is about to occur,” Charity confessed in the lowest voice she could manage.
Selina’s expression did not change, but she held so perfectly still that Charity saw that she, too, had a presentiment of disaster about to strike. And as Charity watched Lady Fitzroy, Marian leaned over the table beside her to whisper in the ear of someone sitting there.
The table beside them also had several women, some of whom were facing away. But the one Lady Fitzroy had whispered to glared over at Charity and Selina. Charity struggled to recall her name. Countess Orlova?
Selina held very still as Countess Orlova pointedly leaned forward to speak with the woman whose back was to them. Stiffly, that woman got up and crossed the room to speak with a man seated alone, reading a paper.
Folding the paper and setting it down with a sharp snap, the man stood to straighten his jacket.
Then he marched over to both of them, according them slight bows.
“Lady Normanby,” he said crisply, his voice cold as winter.
“I was told you wished to visit Herr von Steinbach. Alas, he cannot come—he is in a new role in Berlin, and I have taken his place.”
The marchioness made her face wide and guileless. “That is quite all right. I am sorry not to be able to renew our acquaintance, but—”
The man’s bark of laughter cut off her words. Curious faces began to turn their way.
“I am sure you are sorry, Lady Normanby. Or should I say, Fr?ulein Normanby? For in my country, a title such as yours is not earned in a bedchamber.”
Around the room, jaws dropped open. Charity dared to look directly at the table where Lady Fitzroy sat.
Nothing could be trusted about Lady Fitzroy.
She had orchestrated this somehow, for certain.
Princess Charlotte’s face was very pale.
And the Grand Duchess… her face was… a study.
Whatever this charade was, it was as surprising to the Grand Duchess as it was to Lady Normanby.
But the Tsar’s sister cloaked her expression quickly.
“I—I beg your pardon!” Selina finally stammered, outraged.
This nameless Prussian attaché, who had not bothered to introduce himself, clasped his hands neatly behind his back.
“When he was here in London the spring before last, Maximilian made the acquaintance of an extraordinary woman. So extraordinary, in fact, that he was compelled to spill state secrets upon her pillow. We might never have known about his indiscretion… except it seems that somewhere along the way, the Home Secretary was sold those secrets too.”
Selina’s face was expressionless, but her countenance was pale. This man had named her as a spy, a manipulator, and a prostitute in front of all assembled in this room. Finally, Lady Normanby got to her feet, calmly collecting her gloves and lifting her chin.
“I deny these baseless accusations,” Lady Normanby ground out, not looking down at Charity.
“You, sir, use the moral outrage of an audience to replace the evidence you lack to prove this scandal. And in your cowardice, you attempt to smear the name of a good man who is not here to defend himself in the bargain. Enjoy your coffee. I have better things to do than provide your afternoon entertainment.”
She stalked out of the room without a backward glance, leaving a trail of rising whispers.
Stunned, Charity sat there for a long moment, the subject of some uncomfortable speculation. Selina left to protect her, she realised belatedly. A quick departure without explanation had made Charity’s surprise real.
But this was terrible for Lady Normanby, and for them. Until Selina found a way free of this scandal—assuming she could—no one of standing would receive her. And any who risked it would likely suffer by association.
The rumour would spread, and Selina would be unable to show her face for the remainder of the sovereigns’ visit. Peregrine’s mother had ruined Lady Normanby so thoroughly, she would be unable to help them or Sidmouth. Perhaps Marian had done enough to ruin the woman completely.
For Charity, the scandal would likely pass her by. But for now, she could bear the stares and whispers no longer, and she got up from her seat to leave.
“Are you all right, Your Grace?” Lady Fitzroy asked. Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Peregrine’s mother had stepped closer while Charity’s thoughts had been whirling. “I am so sorry you were subjected to that awful woman’s comeuppance.”
Charity pulled away before Lady Fitzroy’s outstretched hand could land on her arm. “Yes. I am well, thank you.”
Lady Fitzroy stepped closer, the very picture of a concerned friend.
“I could have told them why Lady Normanby did it, but I think it is more useful to keep that secret in reserve. Herr Krüger and the Prussians will wish to avoid sharing that Lady Normanby gave two of their spies to Lord Sidmouth in exchange for Peregrine’s life. ”
Lady Fitzroy wanted her to see this: the terrifying reach of her web. From across an ocean, Lady Fitzroy had discovered who thwarted her attempts to have Peregrine charged and executed.
Marian also appeared to have her fingers within the Home Office, since she had discovered exactly what information had been traded to save Perry. The Home Secretary was going to be furious.
All works of genius require an audience to properly appreciate them, Sparkles, Perry’s voice murmured in her thoughts.
“It must be terribly frustrating to you to see that your son is able to earn people’s loyalty,” Charity said, her lips stiff with anger. “Especially when the only way you can earn such things is through fear. Excuse me, Lady Fitzroy.”
Peregrine would be furious that she kept baiting this monster, but she couldn’t seem to stop doing it. The slightest flare of Marian’s delicate nostrils was the only sign that betrayed the woman’s ire. She did not stop Charity when she tried to leave.
Surely Selina would warn Sidmouth; this would affect him nearly as much as it did her. Charity had to get home and write to Ravenscroft. She wouldn’t be able to get a note to Peregrine in time before he left for Ascot to warn him that one of their closest allies had already fallen.