Mr. Blakely, however, had been quite solicitous in his attentions. He had visited twice and a threatened thunderstorm had ruined plans to go to Hyde Park. This had brought up memories of another storm that had caught her in the arms of Mr. Grant. The thought left her restless.
"I hope the weather will clear soon," Genie sighed, sitting with her aunt and cousin in the sitting room.
"Yes, the streets become ghastly. Why, I added an inch to my pattens just for Town wear," commented Lady Bremerton.
The formal butler entered with a bow. "For you, Lady Bremerton," intoned the butler, handing her a large envelope.
She broke the seal and gasped.
"Is something wrong?" asked Genie.
"No, no, it is most wonderful!" Lady Bremerton looked up with a glorious smile. "We have all been issued vouchers to attend Almack's tomorrow night!"
Genie smiled radiantly in return. It must have been the workings of Mr. Grant.
***
"You do not look at death's door. I was promised a man in ghastly health, but you look well enough." Grant surveyed the duke with a critical eye. He and Thornton had decided to visit Marchford in his bedchamber since the rumor had circulated that the duke was ill. "Though that waistcoat was a mistake."
"Wrong color or cut?" asked the duke.
"Yes," replied Grant. "Brought it with you from the Continent, I can tell."
"I did indeed. I thought it well enough."
Grant shook his head sadly. "You have been gone too long, dear friend. I will give you the name of my tailor. He will set you to rights."
"You never gave me the name of your tailor," objected Thornton.
"I thought you had no concern for fashion my friend. I had always pictured your raiment as a protest against fashionable society in defense of your Scottish bloodlines."
"'Tis just a coat, Grant."
"‘Just a coat'? And you wonder why I would not subject my tailor to you."
Thornton's brows furrowed and he turned to Marchford. "Returning to the point of the visit, we were told ye were ill. Are ye well?"
"Yes, yes, I am well, but I must keep to my room."
"If you reveal some contagion, I fear I shall run screaming from the room," said Grant, pouring himself a whiskey. "Your story appears to be a long one. I fear I may need refreshment before you are through."
"I would invite you to help yourself, but I see you have anticipated me."
"Why must ye keep to yer room?" asked Thornton, ignoring Grant's distractions.
"I am trying to catch a spy."
Grant took a hearty swig. "I was right. A drink was needed."
"I appreciate the modifications you made the other night to the study directly below. I have continued your good work. If someone tries to remove the letter in the safe, it will pull a cord and a bell will ring there." Marchford pointed to a brass bell mounted on the wall with a cord running down the wall and disappearing under the floorboards.
"I thought this might be the direction ye were going," said Thornton. "But how will ye get down in time to catch the thief?"
"See here," Marchford opened a narrow panel in the wall which revealed a spiral staircase. "It leads to the study."
"Very cloak-and-dagger," said Grant with feeling. "When did you have this made?"
"My grandfather commissioned it when the house was built. I would like to say he had nefarious intent, but apparently he did not walk well in his later years and wished to have a shorter route from his study to his bedchamber. In any event, it is useful."
"So you have been waiting to see if the letter is stolen?"
"Yes, and look here. Remember how I asked you to drill a hole in the ceiling?" Marchford motioned to a spyglass on a letter table. He slid a small panel and stepped back to let Thornton take a look.
Thornton pointed the spyglass down. "Why, I can see the whole room. Clever thought to put a spyglass here."
"So you are spending your time locked away in your room spying on your own study?" asked Grant. "How dull."
"Yes, actually it is," admitted Marchford. "I had anticipated the thief would make an attempt on the room soon, but so far I have been disappointed."
"How long do ye intend to play the role of invalid?" asked Thornton.
"Yes, well, therein lies the rub. I cannot rightly stay here too much longer without society taking notice. Already my grandmother has insisted that a physician be called. I fear my acting ability may not be up to the task."
"So get someone else to sit here and wait for the spy-really quite a simple solution. They must have people who do this sort of thing." Grant waved his hand in a dismissive manner.
"Yes, indeed. But I suspect a spy has infiltrated deep into the Foreign Office. I do not wish to use anyone from official channels."
Grant put down his drink. "I do not like where this is going."
Marchford smiled at his friends. "I know you have been wondering what you could do to help win the war against Napoleon."
Thornton raised an eyebrow and Grant reached for the decanter to refill his glass. "If you can say that with a straight face, you have nothing to fear from your acting abilities."
"I fear the thief will not strike until I am out of the house. It is imperative we find the spy. You are the only ones I trust."
Grant shook his head. "You go too far. I cannot fathom sitting here, doing nothing all day."
"I understand." Marchford nodded. "It is a dangerous assignment. I would not wish to put you in harm's way."
"What are you suggesting?" asked Grant.
"Nothing, nothing at all. It is perfectly natural, since you have been enjoying a life of ease that you would become … " Marchford looked up at the ceiling as if in thought.
"Soft? Fearful? Cowardly?" supplied Thornton. He shrugged at Grant's glare. "Just trying to help our friend find the right word."
"Let us simply say you are out of condition. I would not wish you to get hurt if you are not physically capable or do not have the mental fortitude-"
Grant put up his hand to stop Marchford. "Enough! Say no more or I shall be forced to retaliate in kind. Do you truly believe impugning my honor would entice me to sit in your bedroom, waiting for a thief?"
"Did it?" asked the duke.
Grant sighed and flopped on the couch in the sitting area of the master bedroom. "Suppose I should get comfortable. But how is the thief going to open the safe to ring the bell? I thought you had it locked."
"I do, but one of my keys was stolen."
"Stolen?" asked Thornton in alarm.
"By a sly little opera singer."
"The one you went to see the other night?" asked Thornton.
Marchford nodded.
"That little minx." Grant shook his head.
"Yes, she was-" began Marchford.
"Not her, you!" declared Grant. "You purposely allowed her to seduce you, so she could steal the key and give it to the thief!"
Marchford merely shrugged.
"All in the line of duty to King and Crown?" Thornton raised an eyebrow.
Marchford smiled. "Long live the King."
***
"Thank you for seeing me."
Lord Bremerton gestured for the young man to sit in one of the high-back, comfortable chairs in his study. "What can I do for you today, Mr. Blakely?"
"I have had several pleasant conversations with Miss Talbot. Am I correct that you are serving as her guardian here in London?" asked Mr. Blakely.
"That is correct."
"I understand there is interest in seeing her engaged quickly."
Lord Bremerton said nothing, neither confirming nor denying the statement but gazing at Mr. Blakely with a confident air of the aristocracy.
"Miss Talbot is a sweet girl and very pretty. I should be the happiest man alive if she would consent to be my wife. However, I have run into some financial embarrassments since coming to London."
"Been betting deep and lost," said Lord Bremerton without emotion.
"Yes. And to be honest, I haven't the blunt to repay the debt."
"And how is it you expect me to help you with this problem of yours?"
"It pains me greatly to ask you this, but the circumstances involved force me to present my case in a manner most vulgar. I fear I must ask, if a man was engaged to Miss Talbot, if her dowry might be available even before the wedding?"
"You want to become engaged to Genie and collect early on the dowry to pay off your vowels."
"You must understand how wretched I feel in even asking this of you." Blakely's voice trembled and he gripped his own hands in tan kid leather gloves.
"Once the engagement has been accepted and announced, you shall have access to the funds to discharge your embarrassments."
"I much appreciate it, Lord Bremerton."
"I would much appreciate it if you took her off my hands and let my household get back to peace." Lord Bremerton returned to his paper.