The Lady And The Military Man_Conquer My Heart Read online

  Her peculiar status in the households in which she worked was more that of a guest, rather than a servant. To keep the servants happy, she always provided generous vails.

  When the porter bowed her into the house, she told herself that the afternoon had been productive, and she would find some way of earning more money.

  When she reached her rooms, Lizzie was already there. "Ma'am — you've received a gift from Lady MacKenzie… Look, see?"

  She picked up a large, golden-hued, embroidered shawl, which she'd draped over a chair. "Is it is not wonderful… so soft. It's the loveliest shawl I've ever seen."

  "From Lady MacKenzie?" Jane accepted the shawl, and touched her cheek to it.

  "Let me." Lizzie took the shawl, and draped it around Jane's shoulders.

  It was soft, and warm, embroidered in autumn hues, to match the dark gold hue of the wool.

  "It's a Kashmir shawl my lady — so expensive. How kind, and generous, of Lady MacKenzie."

  Jane frowned, and buried her fingers in the wool. It was elegant enough to be worn everywhere. She would be the envy of everyone. But as Lizzie pointed out, such a shawl was expensive. Surely she had wronged Lady MacKenzie, when she had considered her to be her miserly…

  She shook her head. How very odd, she thought. "Was there a note?"

  "No note — a footman from Branxton House delivered it."

  Jane looked at herself in the cheval glass. The colors of the shawl suited her her complexion. "How very kind," she said. She'd need to send a thank you note to Lady MacKenzie immediately.

  Kelly had imagined himself on leave from service to the Duke of Wellington, but as one of Wellington's people pointed out, he wasn't free until he left the army. Perhaps, not even then.

  He had his orders, and they were blunt. "The woman needs to go back to the island, Kelly. She's refusing. See that she obeys."

  So here he was, escorting an expensive French courtesan around London. It would confirm his father's idea of him — a wastrel rake, who caroused around Europe. And wasn't it a shame that so many good men had died at Waterloo, while his younger son survived?

  A friend had made a gift of Ninon Parisi's services to Napoleon, and she had joined the former French emperor in his exile on St. Helena in 1816. Ninon was not pleased to be told that she would be returning to the island.

  After a visit to Horse Guards, and a couple of hours spent shopping, Kelly took her back to her house in Curzon Street.

  He tried to reason with her. "They're paying you enough money, Ninon — take the money. Six months, no longer, I promise you. Then you may return to London, or Paris, or Naples… go anywhere you please."

  "Non! Non! The house has rats!"

  Napoleon now lived in Longwood House on St. Helena, which was reputed to be cold and damp, and infested with rats.

  Kelly shook his head and tossed up his hands. "What do you care? Take a few cats with you. For goodness sake, you've survived worse, what's another few months? The time will pass quickly. You know that this is important."

  "Je suis fatigué. Me, I want to retire. Spying is much dangerous, Kelly. Je n'en peux plus."

  It was Kelly's job to make the woman see reason and put her on a ship back to St Helena. He sympathized with her. He had had more than enough of the life of a spy too. However, the idea that there was a French spy high in the English government horrified him.

  He'd been told that he had to see that the woman returned to St Helena and discovered the name of the spy. Someone in Napoleon's court — or the emperor himself — knew the man's name.

  He had to calm her. "What do you say we go to the opera tonight?"

  "Non — j'espère aller à milady Tinerbrow. C'est à Heath House."

  He knew why she wanted to go to Lady Tinerbrow's ball. She had her eye on her next protector. It was always all about the money for Ninon. Still, he chuckled at the woman's confidence. "You'll be tossed out, and so will I — no doubt it will be even worse for me. I'll be even more de trop than I am now if I dared to do such a thing. There would be demands for me to be cashiered."

  "Allons là-bas, c'est réglé."

  "Nothing is settled — you can't go, and that's that. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. The ship leaves in a few days from Portsmouth. I'll escort you there."

  "Certainement, mon ami… après milady Tinerbrow."

  Very well then. He had to make her see sense. "You don't have a choice. Either you board the ship, or you will be tossed into Newgate. Then, when you come up before a magistrate, you will be deported back to France. I don't need to add, that you will be deported in your shift, with not a sous to your name. Stop playing games. You know how things work."

  No need to add that there was another alternative if she didn't go back to the island. She might find herself dead, with her delicious body consigned to the Thames. She knew that as well as he did — she must do as she was asked, or suffer.

  "Non, mon ami." Nina slumped onto a sofa and put her face in her hands. Then she sat up, angry. "Je sais ce que je fais. Milady Tinerbrow."

  "You know what you're about? You're crazy — vous êtes fou!"

  He was supposed to debrief her yet again. Of course that had been done before, and several times, but they wanted him to go over everything she knew about the former emperor and the people on the island again. They had to know everything that she knew. A single fact, or one tiny detail, might put them on the track of the spy.

  Kelly was well aware that the spy could be one of his friends. The notion filled him with distaste — and fear.

  "Please. Lady Tinerbrow, the ball — juste un moment. We will go, and I will leave, yes? Quickly? Désolée, c'est un homme — I know he will be at Heath House. Il s'est fiancé récemment."

  Kelly felt like groaning. Of course. A man. What else could this fuss be about? Heaven keep him from a woman of pleasure who'd fallen in love. "Just become engaged, has he? Oh, very well. But — you must promise."

  He rested his hands on his hips, and stared at the floor. A ton event — he was crazier than she was. "Ninon — I will have your promise. The ball, for a few moments. Then, Portsmouth, and the ship. You'll be on the island for a few months, only — you might not need that long. Perhaps you'll be there just weeks, or even days. Give us the name, Ninon, and his grace the Duke of Wellington will throw a ball for you himself."

  She agreed.

  Catherine called Jane into her dressing room as soon as Jane had changed for dinner. That afternoon, Jane had written to her sisters, telling them how much she had received for the paintings and furniture, and promising to find the rest of the money to pay the mortgage.

  Her maid was completing Catherine's hair style. She looked Jane up and down. "My apologies, my dear — Lady Tinerbrow's ball, at Heath House. I forgot that the event is tonight — please accompany me. We've a little time, but change as quickly as you can — wear your wonderful Kashmir shawl from Lady MacKenzie…" She turned to her maid. "Bessie, you'll dress Lady Jane."

  "But —" Jane was about to say that the only ball gown she owned which was suitable had a ripped hem, when Catherine shook her head.

  "No protests. Of course you'll come. It's the ideal venue for us to start as few small whispers about Babette — you know what gossips people are… Bessie, find my sapphire and diamond hair clips for Lady Jane. Jane requires a simple style, but très élégante."

  Catherine paused, tapping her chin as she thought. "Let me see – how did it come about that Babette joined us in London? A distant cousin – I'll think of something. Once I decide on our story we'll hew as closely to the truth as we can. We'll hint that she's someone's natural daughter, in Grove's family. It won't hurt to suggest that she might have a royal connection."

  The fact that Jane hadn't been invited didn't concern Catherine at all. "You're coming and that's that. Barbara won't mind. She'll be pleased to see you. You're getting quite a reputation. Did you know that another one of your charges has just married an earl? It's a shame you've given u
p bringing out young ladies, because you're very good at it."

  "I've almost given it up. But I hope that I can help Babette. She's a lovely young lady."

  "She is. She's been well brought up, and has beautiful manners. A few dancing classes, perhaps some music lessons, and of course some riding lessons… and a little town bronze. By next March, she'll be a real threat to the other debutantes."

  What did Catherine intend doing about her husband?

  It was as though Catherine had read her mind. "You know, I've been thinking about it, and I don't think I'll tell Major Grove about Babette. There's no need for him to know – one day Babette can tell him of the relationship herself. When she meets him, she may find that she doesn't want to admit to the connection either. I'm sure that Melly, Elaine, and Anne will help me to dower the child. She's pretty enough, and with a decent dowery we're sure to be able to fire her off in some style."

  They left Babette at Eardley House and set out for Heath House after dinner.

  Barbara Tinerbrow was an old crony of Mrs. Eardley's. The two matrons had made their come outs together, so her ladyship was a good friend of the entire Eardley clan. She smiled a welcome at Jane when Catherine introduced her. "Welcome, my dear, I'm so glad you could come. I'm been wishing to meet you this age. We must have a comfortable chat later — I've a niece making her come out next year. I'll welcome any advice you can give me."

  Ten minutes later, Jane was shocked at her own popularity. Her dance card was full. Then she remembered. In the beau monde, connections were everything. Somehow, she had found herself with impeccable connections to families and men of consequence, the Duke of Sommerforth and Earl of Linton among them.

  An hour passed, and Jane realized that she had danced two dances, and hadn't paid any attention to her partners at all. She pushed the thoughts of the mortgage and Major Baker-Cornhill out of her mind. Just for one evening, she would enjoy herself, because she was a guest, and had no duties to manage a debutante.

  She sighed inwardly at how difficult it was to stop thinking about Major Baker-Cornhill. She had been warned that he was a rake, but she was nevertheless tempted to ask Catherine what she knew about Ninon Parisi. She had to stop thinking about the man.

  No sooner had she decided that, when she turned and saw him at the top of the long staircase which led to the ballroom. The courtesan was with him. He hurried her down the stairs. Lady Tinerbrow had stopped receiving, so the major and the courtesan weren't announced.

  Gradually the room became silent; the musicians stopped playing. "What's happening?" Her partner, a young lordling who was partnering her in a country dance, dropped her hand, and craned his neck.

  Jane couldn't see the major and his companion, who'd reached the bottom of the staircase. Forcing herself to relax, she released her breath in a long sigh. Kelly must be ape-drunk — he couldn't bring a famous courtesan to a ton event — it was outrageous. Beyond anything.

  Swiftly, the atmosphere in the room changed. "Pardon me, your lordship," she said. She had to find Catherine.

  Gliding around couples and groups, she reached the back of the ballroom, where Catherine had been chatting to her friends.

  Catherine saw her. "The fool," she said to Jane, under her breath. She took Jane's hand. "Come. We have to get to Kelly, or he'll ruin himself."

  Chapter 5

  Jane found herself pulled along in Catherine's wake.

  Kelly and the courtesan stood at the bottom of the staircase. A tall man in regimentals was remonstrating with Kelly. He'd grasped Kelly's arm — when had she started thinking of him as Kelly?

  Kelly's mouth thinned, and he shook off the restraining hand. Then Kelly looked straight at Jane.

  It was as if his glance had speared her in the solar plexus. She placed her hand underneath her breast and couldn't look away from him until he coolly winked at her. He visibly relaxed when she smiled at him.

  Catherine took Kelly's other arm, and smiled at the officer on his other side. She looked very small beside the two large, and angry, men. "Excuse me for a moment," she said to the officer. Her tone was firm and confident.

  Then she looked up at Kelly. "My dear Major Baker-Cornhill — you've brought Madame. Thank you! I had begun to be concerned, but I knew that you would not fail us. Now, where is her ladyship…" Catherine looked around and waved when she saw their hostess moving towards them.

  Lady Tinerbrow looked a little pale, Jane thought.

  Catherine went on speaking. "There you are, Barbara — and here's our dear Kelly, and Madame. Just when we were ready to give them up… I was about to thank Madame Parisi for her kindness." She smiled at the courtesan behind her.

  Ninon Parisi ignored Lady Tinerbrow. Frowning slightly, she studied the faces of the men who'd quickly surrounded them.

  Who is she looking for? Jane wondered.

  "His grace the Duke of Wellington hasn't yet arrived?" Catherine asked.

  Kelly's brows lifted. He was obviously startled at Catherine's words. Then amused. He glanced at Jane, and gave her another wink. When he spoke, his deep voice was casual. "With so many demands on his time, his grace is often delayed. I've brought Madame Parisi to you Lady Tinerbrow, as requested by his grace… Now, may I leave her with you, my lady? I have no doubt that his grace is on his way… I'll go and wait for him."

  Lady Tinerbrow smiled graciously at the courtesan. "Madame, a pleasure. I am honored." She glanced at the major. "Yes, Kelly — I'll take madame to the small receiving room… we'll wait for his grace's arrival there. Come."

  Jane glanced at Catherine who was still smiling, although she wore an abstracted air. She knew that look. Mentally, Catherine was already writing the story of the ball for The Times and five other newspapers. Jane bit her lip so that she wouldn't laugh out loud.

  She and Catherine followed Lady Tinerbrow and and the courtesan into a small receiving room.

  A footman closed the door behind them.

  Catherine rounded on the courtesan immediately. "Are you quite out of your wits? Would you ruin Kelly? Whatever possessed you to come here?"

  The courtesan glided to a chaise longue, as cool as a duchess, and sat down. She looked up at Catherine from under her eyelashes. "I've heard of you. You are Madame Grove. You write for newspapers, n'est-ce pas?"

  Jane rubbed her forehead. What if the duke wouldn't come? He might not even be in London. Then she remembered that Catherine had eyes everywhere; a network of paid informants. She would know where Wellington was, wouldn't she?

  Lady Tinerbrow sat on a straight backed chair at small table. She shook her head, then rested her elbows on the table and put her face in her hands. "Oh my heavens… what will we do?"

  Catherine narrowed her gaze on the courtesan. "A fine story this will make for readers to munch on during their breakfast. You'd better pray that Kelly can find the duke. Otherwise we're all ruined."

  "He will find the duke." Madame Parisi lifted her hands above her head and stretched. Then she yawned. "Monsieur le duc is with a certain young lady tonight."

  She smirked. "A proper young lady, of society. He told me she wrote to him about his famous war horse, Copenhagen. Monsieur's use of the horse to win silly women is infamous — another story for your newspapers… So, the major will find the duke, and he will come to your ball, milady…"

  Madame Parisi straighten on the sofa, then waved to Catherine to sit beside her. She patted Catherine's arm. "Enfin, écoute moi, you must write this — so that people will know, oui… They will know that monsieur le duc wishes me to go to that horrible island, St. Helena, to speak with the ci-devant Emperor Napoleon. So, I do a kindness for the English government, and yet I am treated so badly at a fashionable event that monsieur le duc must rush to my aid."

  Catherine's eyes opened wide. "You are going to St. Helena?"

  "Oui, madame. In three days. I do not wish to go, but I am commanded by his grace — what can I do? I must do as I am bid. His grace is always very kind, and most generous to me."


  Jane had to bite her lip to prevent a giggle at the preening self-importance in the courtesan's tone.

  "Stop giving yourself airs," Barbara Tinerbrow said bitterly. She sat up, and glared at Ninon Parisi. "Well… I can't quarrel too much with you because you've given my poor event a real cachet. Whatever happens, I'm sure to get invitations galore, for a time… Catherine, will the duke come to us?"

  "He has a wicked sense of humor, so I daresay he will — Jane, go out to the front door please, and see if you can find Kelly – tell him that the duke is with his latest mistress, and to send a message there. I daresay Kelly's sending footmen running all over London."

  "Of course."

  Jane found Kelly standing on the front steps of the vast mansion. For the moment, he was alone, coolly smoking a cigar. When he saw her, he smiled immediately and tossed the cigar away. "Lady Jane — Mrs. Grove has everything well in hand? I don't imagine a stray courtesan or two presents much of a challenge to her."

  She walked up to him. "Will the duke come, do you think?" She asked quietly.

  "He will. He needs the Parisi woman… I'm sorry."

  "Whatever for? I've never been to a more exciting ball."

  He laughed out loud at that. "I admit that I had a bad moment at the bottom of the staircase until Catherine arrived."

  "I've a message for you." Jane spoke quietly, so that they were not overheard.

  He bent down towards her. She inhaled his scent of bergamot and amber. Floris. She lowered her voice even more. "Catherine asked me to tell you that the duke may be with his latest mistress."

  "I've already sent someone there… If he is there, he should be with us in half an hour."

  "I'll let Catherine know."

  "Thank you," Kelly's large hand restrained her. His hand was very warm on her arm, and his eyes were smiling when he looked down at her. He squeezed her arm gently before releasing it.