Chapter 15
“Those who tell the stories rule society.”
—Plato
Baron von Gentz was bold, Perry would give him that. Would Lords Castlereagh and Sidmouth want details on Marian Fitzroy's travels badly enough to agree to take Austria’s side against the Russians and Prussians?
Mulling this possibility, Peregrine walked his horse away from the man’s carriage, his eyes roving over the crowds. Ravenscroft had disappeared into the crowd to mark Charity’s progress; Perry was now playing the bait.
He had gone to some lengths to make himself easy to spot in a crowd, especially with the height he had sitting atop his horse.
So it was not surprising that Marian Fitzroy’s eyes had found him long before he spotted her in return.
He could practically feel the prickling weight of her malevolence, and he stopped, turning his head in her direction.
Marian Fitzroy was gloating, the tiniest smirk curling her lips as she fixated on him.
Go ahead, be smug. I know what your game is, Mother, Perry thought as he returned her stare. Enjoy yourself now, because I am about to turn the tables on you.
She caught the trace of confidence in his posture, even though he was attempting to conceal it. Even as her lips stayed fixed in that position of amusement, something changed in his mother’s eyes. They became colder and more cunning.
His mother was studying him, trying to decide if he was engaged in a covert plan of his own.
That’s right, watch me. You have never felt that my allies have been anything more than my eyes and ears, and you will fail to respect their capacity to act against you.
Her attention did flicker, but mostly to Sidmouth. The Home Secretary, trying not to be overly conspicuous following the incident with Selina, was watching the parade from the sidelines. Perry had passed him only a few moments ago.
Perry stopped looking in his mother’s direction, waiting tensely. The minutes dragged on, especially since he was uncomfortably aware of Marian’s attention spearing into his back.
Finally Ravenscroft slipped into the field of his gaze. The man looked relieved, which was enough to answer the question as to whether the gambit had been successful. But the magpie still scratched at his right ear. It had been the prearranged signal.
Perry scratched his ear in return, and then he turned to catch his mother’s gaze again. Staring directly at her, he let satisfaction ooze to the surface. Marian’s smile slipped.
And while she was fixed on Perry, Ravenscroft closed the distance to reach her side. He handed her the letter Peregrine had written. Then with a tip of his hat, Ravenscroft moved away.
Marian’s eyes dropped to her hands. Perry knew what she would be seeing—the folded letter sealed with his stamp in red wax. The single sentence that would be inside, a written declaration of war.
I have taken Lark into my keeping, as is my right as her guardian.
The basilisk lifted its eyes to Peregrine in response.
Perry felt the exhilaration of the hunt rising in him. He had survived his mother’s efforts to destroy him, and that had been a frustration to her. But she had maintained the upper hand in their battles.
Now—finally—the predator was sensing it had become the prey.
With a bob of his head, he turned and left, certain that his message had been received. Not caring about the rest of the parade, Perry took a ride through London’s streets. He needed time to think. To settle himself. And to figure out what to say to his sister.
Lark would need a moment to herself as well. She was strongly under their mother’s sway, plied with falsehoods. She would believe that the scandals their family had endured were the fault of others, and Marian would have fed her daughter steadily with vanity, flattery, and subtle threats.
When he was younger, his mother had plied him the same way. And when it had been no longer possible for him to ignore evidence of his mother’s crimes, Marian had quickly traded that velvet noose for an iron collar.
An hour later, he turned northward, taking the path back to St John’s Wood. He still didn’t know what to say, but at least he was prepared to take the brunt of his sister’s anger.
Quinn gave Perry a most expressive look when he greeted him at the door, taking Perry’s things. “Lady Normanby and Sir Nathaniel are waiting for you in the library, my lord. I trust you had an eventful outing.”
“You could say that. What of my sister?”
“She is safely confined to her room,” his butler said, voice droll. “You may wish to visit the library first; it will give her a chance to finish breaking the heavy objects before you open the door.”
Perry snorted softly. “Do you regret hiring on with me yet, Quinn? I daresay you did not expect your duties to encompass these sorts of… events.”
“If you are trying to determine if my loyalty is being shaken by what has transpired lately, Lord Fitzroy, the answer is no.” Quinn’s posture was relaxed.
“The challenges have been unexpected, but your morality is in good standing. Just think of the money I am saving by living in a chapbook instead of having to purchase them.”
Quinn seldom showed such humour, but since it eased his black mood, Peregrine figured his butler had earned the leeway today. “Fairly said.”
Perry began to turn towards the library but Quinn cleared his throat.
“One more thing, if I might suggest, my lord? I believe it might be wise to urgently consider hiring more staff.”
Wincing, Perry nodded. “I suppose if nothing else, I need to hire a lady’s maid or two.”
“Lady Normanby has anticipated your need, at least for a time; she sent one ahead for Lady Lark, and that is who is minding your sister. But given the circumstances, there is more of a need now to ensure that the house remains… secure.”
“I trust your judgement. See it done, carefully.”
“Very good. Tea?”
Perry nodded and made his way to the library, pushing open the door.
He expected them to be engaged and comfortable—judging by the cups sitting on the table, they had been served tea earlier—but he was surprised to find Thorne in a chair by the fire, a small book seated in his hand as he read to Selina.
“Perry,” Selina greeted him serenely. “I was just introducing Sir Nathaniel to Walter Scott while we were waiting for you. I thought he might appreciate the words of another man of the north.”
“You may borrow the book if you like,” said Peregrine, curious.
Thorne had closed the book on his finger, flustered, rather than using the ribbon. “Thank you, Lord Fitzroy.”
The man was stiffly formal, and Perry looked to Selina for guidance. Selina looked unbothered by Thorne’s stilted behaviour, so he put it down to general nerves.
“I owe you both a thank you for bringing Lark here. I understand you sent a maid for her as well, Sina.”
“Yes, well, I am rather glad I did. Saucy baggage, your sister is. I did not expect her to be a kicker, Perry.” Selina’s grin was mischievous.
Peregrine winced, wondering at the state of Thorne’s shins. No wonder the man was out of joint. “Let me apologise for her behaviour—and any bruising—”
“She was upset.” Thorne’s unhappy grimace was telling. “We were as gentle as we could be, but putting someone in a carriage against their express wishes and making sure they don’t jump back out again… involves a bit of unpleasantness all around.”
Quinn interrupted them with fresh tea, and Selina played mother, fixing cups for everyone.
“I should add that she was also upset when she saw no familiar faces among the staff,” Selina told him before Quinn exited, inclining her head in Quinn’s direction.
“My mother had most of them silenced.” Perry dragged a hand down his face. “The only one who survived was Edmunds. And that was because he came crawling to me for sanctuary, despite the fact I’d told him I never wanted to see him again.”
“How did Lady Fitzroy react to the news, when you told her that you had Lady Lark?” Thorne asked.
Peregrine recalled the look on Marian’s face. “We finally pierced my mother’s scales and drew blood. But she will be thrice as dangerous now. Before, she seemed almost of the opinion that my allies were nuisances. I don’t think she will ignore you any longer.”
“Will Lord Ravenscroft be all right?” Thorne asked, concerned. “I can go back and ensure that there’s another pair of hands to guard his household.”
Peregrine shook his head slightly. “No need. When Ravenscroft insisted on representing the Crown, he told me he will take Antoine and ask to be a guest of Carlton house for the near future.”
“You should take our knight errant here under your wing, Perry.” Selina’s voice was all business, but she was looking down, picking at a speck of dust on her skirts.
Realising they were watching her hands, she smoothed everything and set them down.
“If you managed to upset your mother, she might find another blade for hire. The more you can fortify yourself here, the better I will feel. Your house is too large and open to attack.”
Thorne shifted uncomfortably, splitting a glance between Selina and Perry. “You are not wrong that Peregrine could use more help here. But you should not be left vulnerable either, Lady Normanby.”
She gave him a small smile. “Your concern is appreciated. Do not fret, I have been dabbling in risky business a long time. Long enough to know the value of making my home a fortress. For now, I need to go and impose upon some royalty myself.”
Selina stood up, shaking out her skirts.
She was supposed to take Charity and visit the Queen. “You are bound for Atholl House?” Peregrine asked, both he and Thorne standing up.
“Yes, everything is proceeding as we wished it to. Charity bringing the news about Lady Lark should mollify the Queen. But if it doesn’t, I have one more card to play. Just before I left to meet everyone at Hyde Park, one of my gossips came flying to me with a very interesting piece of news.”
Perry arched an eyebrow. “News that you intend to share with the rest of us?”