Women had a sense about such things, even “‘bad” women such as Desiree. And what of her? She was French and could very well be one of Napoleon’s agents.
Daisy entered the bedchamber that was now serving as an infirmary. There was no help for it, she’d have to rely on Graelem’s judgment. Fortunately he was as alert as one could possibly be in a laudanum-induced stupor, sitting up with tears streaming down his face as he gazed intently at Laurel.
Her uncle was back in the room, and he and Mrs. Peebles were beside Laurel, her uncle’s medical bag open while he rubbed a foul-smelling liquid on a metal implement that looked like an instrument of torture. The hot, dank room reeked of foul alcohol. Rose and the twins were standing quietly in a corner, their hands clasped together. Oh, no! Oh, no!
Daisy knelt beside Graelem. “Take a look at this note. Please, it’s important.”
“Not now, Daisy.”
“You must.” She knew he was despondent over Laurel. “Please. It concerns Gabriel. He may be in danger.”
“Damn, I’m so fuzzy-headed.” A savage expression crossed his face as he took it from her hands and read it. “Where did you get this?”
“Desiree St. Claire.” Daisy felt her cheeks heat. “She’s here, in your library. Can she be trusted?”
He glanced at the parchment again. “How did she get it?”
“She wrote it down, claims she overheard... a certain gentleman visitor seeking to become her new benefactor.”
His expression turned hard as stone. “Help me to my feet.”
Daisy forced him back in the chair. “Are you mad? You can’t walk.”
“Help me,” he ordered. “You don’t understand.”
“I do. If Gabriel’s in danger, he needs to be warned.” Assuming it wasn’t already too late. “You’re in no condition to do it.”
“I must. Blast it! Hand me a cane.” He tried to stand, but his face contorted in pain and he fell back with an anguished yelp.
“Can she be trusted?” Daisy repeated. “I’ll deal with the rest.” She tried to sound confident and efficient, but didn’t know quite what to do. Should she report the matter to the Prince Regent? Or was Desiree part of the trap?
Graelem nodded. “She can be trusted.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. I may have said my brain was fuzzy, but this note sobered me up fast. Tell Billings to wake the groomsman and saddle my horse. Help me up. I have to warn Gabriel before his ship sails for France.”
Daisy once again forced him back in the chair, ordinarily an impossible feat, but Graelem wasn’t at his best just now. “How do you propose doing it? By hopping across England like a demented frog with a busted limb? I’ll go. He’s my husband.”
“You can’t go. You’re just a girl, and there are dangerous men on the road, ruffians and cutthroats who are just as dangerous as any French spy.”
She glanced at her uncle, studying him as he worked with the midwife. “It has to be me. Uncle George can’t be spared.” She refused to say aloud what they were all fearing, that Laurel would die without him at her bedside. “Amos will accompany me.”
“Fetch me paper, ink, and pen,” Graelem ordered. “Wait! Bring Desiree up here, too.”
Daisy’s eyes rounded in horror. “Graelem! Think of your wife!”
“I’m thinking of her and the safety of every Englishman.”
“I don’t know what you two are bickering about,” Mrs. Peebles said with a glower, “but if ye think ye’re going ta bring one more person in here, yer sadly mistaken. M’lord, I’ll toss ye down those stairs m’self if ye utter a word of protest.”
Graelem sighed. “Who was the gentleman with Desiree this evening?”
Her heart sank into her stomach. “I didn’t think to ask.” In her own defense, Desiree’s appearance had rattled her.
“Well, ask her now. Quick.”
She hurried back to the library, hoping Desiree hadn’t grown skittish and fled, but she needn’t have worried. Desiree was standing in the same spot she’d left her, and now she was wringing her hands. The strain showed in her porcelain cheeks.
“His lordship wishes to know who came to see you.” She ought to have been jealous of this woman and the intimacy she’d obviously shared with Gabriel, but it all seemed inconsequential at the moment.
“Auguste Malinor.”
Daisy gasped. Auguste? Of course, she ought to have guessed. The blackguard meant to destroy Gabriel, first proposing to her and now trying to take Gabriel’s mistress. But was he merely jealous of Gabriel and eager to see him hurt, or did he plan to betray England as well? She hurried back to Graelem, who already appeared to be instructing her sisters as he related the news to them. He set to work at once, scribbling several letters. “Rose, as Lady Emory you’ll be granted an audience right away. I need you to take this letter to the Prince Regent. Use my carriage and take two of my footmen for protection.”