Chapter 7

Y ou’ve arrived. Excellent! Welcome,” Osbourne said when he opened the door to the Paris apartments. “Come in, come in.”

They filed through the door, and James set his bag down while Sparks brought the others’ bags in.

“Lady Anna, please allow me to present Mr. Phillip Osbourne, my friend and colleague here in Paris,” James said. “Osbourne, this is Lady Anna Clifton, daughter of the recently deceased Humphrey Clifton, Earl of Westbury. Also, two of her servants: Sparks and Mary.” James was glad they’d finally arrived and he could put a bit more space between himself and Lady Anna for his own well-being. The urge to pull her into his arms had taken a toll on him.

“Lady Anna,” Osbourne said, bowing over her extended hand and then nodding in recognition of Sparks and Mary. He turned back to James and gestured with his head in Lady Anna’s direction. “I can see why you were so keen to assist the lovely Lady Anna, my friend. I daresay I would have been equally inclined.”

“It’s kind of you to say so,” Lady Anna said.

“Not at all, Lady Anna,” Osbourne said, his eyes gleaming, blast him. “I daresay there isn’t a male around who wouldn’t do your bidding if asked.”

“You think so?” she replied, dropping her voice as though she were sharing the most intimate of secrets. “Mr. Jennings is, therefore, a rare male. Dare I say it? He spent a great deal of time informing me of my foolhardiness at our first meeting.”

Osbourne grinned. “My friend Jennings is a hard case, Lady Anna. He has avoided the Marriage Mart for years—though I daresay there were plenty of ladies who would have fallen and did indeed fall at his feet—”

“Exaggeration, Osbourne, and you know it.” James shook his head.

“As I was saying,” Osbourne said with a chuckle while Sparks hid his own grin behind his hand and Mary pretended to be deaf. “Despite your claims, Lady Anna, you seem to have captured him since.”

“Now, Osbourne—” James said in warning.

“For here she is, and here you are. Together,” Osbourne said directly to James before returning his attention to her. “Trust me, Lady Anna, when I repeat that you are a rare beauty, and have the ability to cast a spell over every gentleman you meet. You have most certainly cast a spell on me.”

“And you, my friend, are an accomplished charmer,” James said.

“I believe Mr. Jennings is correct in his assessment of you,” Lady Anna said with a mischievous smile. “You are indeed most charming, Mr. Osbourne. Please allow me to thank you in advance for your hospitality to us.”

“My pleasure,” Osbourne said with such flirtation that he practically oozed it, which irked James to no end.

“Careful, my friend. At least one man here will take you bodily apart if you are too forward with Lady Anna,” James said.

“’Tis true,” Sparks said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Two gentlemen, to be precise, I presume,” Osbourne added with a sly grin.

“If ye don’t mind, sir, I be taking whatever room is closest to Lady Anna’s and Mary’s,” Sparks said. “Just to keep an eagle eye on things, so to speak.”

“Of course,” Osbourne said with a little less flourish than he’d been using before. “Allow me to show you to your rooms. Our apartments here in Paris are ample, owing to the lofty company we keep and the fact that we are never sure how many of us will be here at any given time.” He shot James an ironic glance when he said those words.

“Point taken,” James said.

Osbourne then led Lady Anna and Mary to the suite of rooms usually reserved for Aylesham, and Sparks took a smaller room nearby. James’s own rooms were his usual ones, at the opposite end of the hall from Lady Anna’s. Ah, well. It was undoubtedly better that way.

He took a few minutes to freshen up and unpack a few things—and think. He knew Osbourne well enough to know that the cogwheels of his friend’s mind had started turning the moment he’d been introduced to Lady Anna. And when the cogwheels of Osbourne’s mind were turning, it was time to be on guard—in more ways than one.

Anna collapsed into the upholstered chair next to the window in her assigned room. It was an elegant room—much more ornate than any of the ones she’d stayed in along their journey and, frankly, one of the most elegant spaces in which she’d ever been. She’d heard Mr. Jennings mutter something to Mr. Osbourne about Aylesham’s rooms being at the opposite end from his own and wasn’t that convenient for Osbourne. So apparently, she was enjoying the luxury reserved for a duke. She wasn’t of a mood to ponder what was or wasn’t convenient for Mr. Osbourne.

It almost made her laugh, for all she wanted at present was a nice cup of tea and a nap to revive her spirits. She could have slept nearly anywhere; she definitely didn’t need the trappings of this room, although compared to what few naps she’d gotten in the carriage the past few days, she wasn’t precisely complaining.

She also wasn’t of a mood to ask Mr. Osbourne about tea, so she removed her shoes and stockings and moved to the bed, which was covered in soft pillows and silky quilts, and snuggled deeply into their lushness, pulling a coverlet over the top of her ...

The next thing she knew, there was a tap on her shoulder, startling her into sitting upright. She rubbed her eyes. Had she fallen asleep?

“Lady Anna,” Mary said softly. “Ye’ve been asleep for three hours, and Mr. Jennings is asking after ye.”

Goodness! She had fallen asleep, and what a sleep it had been—deep and dreamless, and for those few hours, she had been in heavenly oblivion, freed from her woes and worries about Avery. But those woes came flooding back now.

“Thank you, Mary,” she replied, laying her hand across her forehead. “I just need a moment.”

She eventually slid out of the lovely comfort of the pillows until she was sitting on the edge of the bed, and then she moved slowly over to the washstand and sat again so Mary could straighten her coiffure.

There was a knock at the door. “Lady Anna?” a male voice called—it must be Mr. Jennings. “Lady Anna, are you well?”

“I’m fine, Mr. Jennings; just a moment.” She shot one last glance in the mirror before standing and opening the door.

“Lady Anna!” Mary hissed.

And then Anna watched as Mr. Jennings’s eyes moved from the crown of her head down, down to her bare feet.

Bare feet! She’d entirely forgotten to slip her stockings and shoes back on in her haste. It was unseemly and even provocative.

“Oh dear,” she heard Mary murmur behind her.

Mr. Jennings’s gaze, which had been fixed on her bare feet, then meandered back up to her face, and their eyes locked. She had watched his eyes darken, and now they smoldered. She began to shiver.

“Are you cold?” he asked in a low, husky voice.

“No,” she said on a breath. Quite the opposite.

“You’re shivering,” he said.

“I’m—”

The door to Sparks’s room opened. “I hope ye had a good rest, Lady Anna,” Sparks said, looking intently at Mr. Jennings.

“The guard dog arrives,” Mr. Jennings replied. He took a step back and seemed to straighten.

Anna took a deep breath.

“I did, thank you, Sparks,” she said even though she couldn’t look away from Mr. Jennings.

“I was about to inform Lady Anna of our supper plans, Sparks,” Mr. Jennings said with decidedly cooler tones than he’d used when he’d asked her if she was cold. Remembering his voice made her shiver again. “Osbourne has suggested we visit the Café de la Régence near the Palais-Royal. It is rather fine, albeit a bit quiet, considering it is known as a center for chess playing, of all things, which makes it rather unique and, perhaps, uninteresting to those looking for livelier entertainment. It will allow us some peace as we discuss the next steps toward finding your brother.” He turned to Sparks. “And you and Mary are free to join us, if you like. The French are quite egalitarian in their views since their revolution thirty or so years ago. ‘ Liberté, égalité, fraternité, ’ as they are wont to say. Or you and Mary may dine with the other servants here, if you prefer. You have been invited to do so by the landlord.”

Mr. Osbourne entered the hall after that exchange and nodded in greeting to Anna. “Ah, good, you’re awake, Lady Anna. I presume Jennings has informed you of our plans for the evening. If they are not to your liking, we can alter them.”

“Supper at the Café de la Régence sounds lovely, Mr. Osbourne,” she said. “I am quite revived from my rest this afternoon and intend to enjoy my first evening in Paris with you both.”

“And perhaps you will meet some interesting characters—different from those you may have encountered at home, or even in London.” Mr. Osbourne shot a glance at Mr. Jennings, and Anna wondered what that was about. “I should think that would be rather new and exciting for you. Jennings and I will be ready to translate for you, should you require it. But there are many in this fair city at present who speak excellent English, so you needn’t worry exceedingly.”

Now Anna shot Mr. Jennings a glance, for had he not tried to convince her that she would be at a loss not speaking French were she to travel on her own? Although, truly, despite her protestations, she was actually grateful he had agreed to join them, for the past three days had been grueling enough and would have been much worse if his knowledge of French hadn’t come to bear on several occasions—not that she was going to admit it to him quite yet.

“The dress is formal,” Mr. Osbourne continued, “but not overly elegant. We shall save your most elegant self for other occasions, perhaps. Come, gentlemen, let us leave Lady Anna so she may dress and ready herself”—he glanced down at her bare feet, and one of his eyebrows shot up, making Anna blush—“as we shall do ourselves.”

“Thank you,” Anna said.

She turned to go back inside her room, and as she closed the door behind her, she and Mary both heard Mr. Jennings speaking to the others in a low hiss. “Neither of you will say anything about her bare feet to anyone. Is that understood?”

Anna covered her face with her hands in embarrassment, not sure whether she should cry or laugh, but then felt herself shiver once again as she remembered Mr. Jennings’s deep, scorching look.

“ Osbourne, well met. And Jennings, too, I see.” Karl Phil-ipp, the prince of Schwarzenberg and Austrian field marshal, rose to his feet and walked toward the three of them when they entered the Café de la Régence.

“Schwarzenberg, what a surprise to see you here,” James said, all the while thinking that he would be speaking—firmly—to Osbourne when they had a quiet moment together. He fully suspected Osbourne had known Schwarzenberg would be here at the café tonight. Frankly, without Aylesham or Castlereagh with them, James was surprised the prince acknowledged them. But as he watched Schwarzenberg’s eyes wander to Lady Anna and Osbourne and back, James began to suspect that Osbourne had an ulterior motive for bringing Lady Anna, in particular, here this evening, although James wasn’t sure why.

“Allow me to introduce you to our lovely guest,” Osbourne said. “May I present Lady Anna Clifton, daughter of the Right Honorable Earl of Westbury, recently deceased, sadly. She is an acquaintance of Jennings and is here in Paris for a few days. Lady Anna, may I present Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg, one of our allies in the Coalition. In fact, Schwarzenberg was one of the generals in the final battle here in Paris that forced Napoleon to abdicate.”

Lady Anna offered a deep curtsy, and then the prince bowed and pressed a kiss on her hand.

James had never noticed how charming Schwarzenberg could be, and even though the prince was married and wasn’t known to be a libertine, a lot of doors tended to open for beautiful women. James’s teeth—and hands—clenched. With all his might, he straightened his fingers and attempted a smile. His encounters with Schwarzenberg had been amiable ones, and the prince was an exceptional ally. It would not do to be disagreeable, even if, at the moment, he wished to take Lady Anna by the arm and march her out of the Café de la Régence.

“A great pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Anna,” Schwarzenberg said. “My condolences on the death of your father. You are a rare beauty, if I may be so bold to say it. I imagine you gather flocks of admirers wherever you go, even while wearing the sad attire of mourning.”

The prince is exceedingly elegant, with impeccable manners too , James thought, feeling even more irritated.

“Thank you; you are too kind,” Lady Anna said.

“Not at all,” the prince replied. “I but speak the truth.”

James thought he might be ill.

“You know the Café de la Régence is well-known for its chess matches, Lady Anna,” Schwarzenberg continued, showing clearly with whom he’d rather engage in conversation. “I was about to watch some excessively talented players. Do you play chess? Perhaps you may watch with me—for a while only, as matches can last, oh, so very long, and I wouldn’t wish to command all of your time.”

“What a generous offer. I would like nothing better,” Lady Anna said, sounding to James as though she chatted with royalty frequently. “I have played chess on occasion, although I confess to being rather unschooled at it. We were about to dine, however. Perhaps you’d care to join us?” She smiled at the prince, and James saw Lady Anna in all her glory and prayed that Schwarzenberg would refuse.

“Ah, but I have already dined,” Schwarzenberg replied, to James’s great relief. “Perhaps afterward, then. I should delight in pointing out these masters’ great skill to you.” He smiled. “Adieu for now, mademoiselle,” he said with a nod of his head. “Gentlemen.”

Of course, Schwarzenberg would use French, the language of romance, when saying goodbye to Lady Anna , James thought as he, Osbourne, and Sparks offered their own bows to the prince.

The ma?tre d’h?tel hurried over once the prince walked away from them. “I will show you to your table now,” he said in a thick French accent and then proceeded to lead them to a spot in the north end of the café.

Osbourne, the rascal, stepped ahead of James and assisted Lady Anna with her chair. Once they were all seated—and it wasn’t at all surprising that Osbourne had commandeered the chair closest to Lady Anna—Osbourne sipped from his goblet and then turned toward her. “Lady Anna,” he said, “I must agree with Schwarzenberg’s observation that you gather flocks of admirers wherever you go. Our acquaintance is but a few hours, and I must say, I am already an admirer—as, I suspect, is the happily married prince.” He smiled. “Not to mention my associate, here.”

“You are overstating the truth, Mr. Osbourne,” Lady Anna said. “I daresay I’ve seen no flocks of admirers.”

The waiters arrived with their first course, and conversation stopped while they were served.

Once the waiters left, Osbourne returned his attention to Lady Anna. “In fact, I am not at all convinced, Lady Anna, that there is not a bevy of admirers you left behind in England, missing you and ardently awaiting your return.”

She looked at Osbourne with a serious expression on her beautiful face. “I can assure you, Mr. Osbourne, that at the present time, my mind is less taken with how many admirers I do or do not have than with finding my brother before his rightful inheritance falls into the hands of a villain.”

She then turned to look at James, and her eyes, in the low restaurant light, glowed like hot sapphires.

She was exquisite.

The waiters soon arrived to remove the first course and serve the next.

“Best eat quickly, Lady Anna,” Osbourne said in a low tone once the waiters left. “It appears your latest admirer, whatever you may say, is looking to steal you away so that you may witness the finer points of chess.”

Lady Anna responded with but a smile.

And James intended to use a portion of the time she was with the prince to speak more frankly with Osbourne about his reasons for dining specifically at Café de la Régence this evening.

“ Mr. Osbourne, I strongly suspect that you set me up to be prey at our dinner this evening,” Anna said as they rode in the carriage back to their lodgings. “The prince of Schwarzenberg is charming, but watching a chess match for nearly two hours while he explained the strategy behind each move was a bit much. And based on a few comments he made, he has dined regularly at Café de la Régence since arriving in Paris. That would have been, at least, since the beginning of April. As it is now the second week of May, it is knowledge I’m certain you already had.”

Mr. Osbourne shrugged. “You have found me out, Lady Anna,” he said. “I admit I took advantage of your beauty in the hopes that Schwarzenberg would enjoy meeting you.” He paused in his justification for what he’d done. Mr. Jennings looked as though he might challenge his friend to a duel, his face was so red and his mouth so set.

“Why?” she asked.

“To be frank, being included in Schwarzenberg’s inner circle when neither Aylesham nor Castlereagh is present is something the prince is less likely to consider when it comes to Jennings and myself. I hoped that having a rare beauty like our new acquaintance”—he gestured toward her with his hand—“might appeal to his gallant, masculine nature.”

“Well, you are indeed fortunate, then,” she said, feigning indifference when she felt more inclined to slap Mr. Osbourne for his presumptuousness. “He invited me to a soiree being held at his residence tomorrow evening, which you undoubtedly knew all about, and was generous enough to allow me to invite the two of you to attend with me.”

Mr. Jennings made a growling sound deep in his throat—yes, it was definitely a growl. It sounded like something Sparks would do.

Mr. Osbourne shrugged again. “Guilty as charged,” he said. “You are not only a rare beauty, Lady Anna, but a new face in Paris and, as a result, have given us admittance to the prince’s soiree, which was what I had hoped. But before judging me too harshly, allow me to state my reasons: his guests will be those with whom we must further our acquaintance. Napoleon may be in exile, but there is much to be done in the way of unifying all parties in a peaceful manner.”

“It isn’t right to use people without their knowledge in such a way,” Mr. Jennings said.

“I didn’t do anything other than take a calculated risk,” Mr. Osbourne said. “Lady Anna, I assure you that had Schwarzenberg shown no interest, I would not have pushed the matter. The Café is an excellent place to dine, as is obvious by the fact that the prince was there at all. The cuisine was delicious, wouldn’t you agree? But the fact that he did delight in making your acquaintance—as we all have, I might add—works to our advantage, for the Coalition and, therefore, for England.”

“Ah, I see. The peace of the Continent falls into the hands of one simple female, it would seem,” Anna said with great irony. “Thank you for your explanation.”

Mr. Osbourne actually laughed, which Anna supposed was an appropriate response, especially from someone who was used to using his charms to draw people to his way of thinking. “Lady Anna,” he said, “trust me when I tell you there is nothing simple about you in any sense of the word. You’re a rare jewel, and your arrival couldn’t have been more timely.” He turned to Mr. Jennings. “She’s a true find, Jennings. I’d keep her close, if I were you.”

Anna only shook her head. Mr. Osbourne was a likable gentleman, but his words held little veracity with her.

“Indeed, Osbourne, I believe you’re correct,” Mr. Jennings replied.

Unlike Mr. Osbourne’s words, Mr. Jennings’s made Anna’s heart swell within her.

Anna found herself faced with a dilemma, which grew in size and anxiety the farther they got from the Café de la Régence and the closer they got to their lodgings. The dilemma, along with Mr. Jennings’s words, overwhelmed her thoughts. She stared out the carriage window at the passing scenes of Paris at night, wondering what she should do and trying to determine her feelings about it.

“Are you troubled, Lady Anna?” Mr. Jennings asked, interrupting her thoughts. “If you are angry at Osbourne here, which I consider justified, you may vent at him to your heart’s content.”

“Truly, Lady Anna,” Mr. Osbourne said, “I should think it an honor that such a luminary—a war hero, no less—would wish to meet you and be inclined to include you in his party. But you may do as Jennings here suggests, if it will make you feel better.”

She shook her head. “I am resigned to attending the soiree, if your being in attendance will further peaceful negotiations. I confess to not knowing much about any of that. My concerns are of a more personal nature.” She sighed and turned to look at the two gentlemen seated across from her. “The prince wishes for me to put off my mourning attire in order to attend. My eldest brother has been gone but four months, my father barely six weeks. How am I to justify this? How do I honor my father and brother by donning a cheerful color? Is it not enough that I attend?” She turned to stare out the window again, but now, instead of seeing the landmarks of Paris at night, she saw only her own darkened reflection.

“What precisely did the prince say?” Mr. Jennings asked softly.

“He said that his soiree is in celebration of the victory over Napoleon, that everyone has lost loved ones in this horrific war, and that black would be a damper on the spirits of the others in attendance. He encouraged me to be a source of joy for those who were there. How am I, who am only here in France in the hopes of finding the last member of my immediate family alive, supposed to be a source of joy for others? And yet I told the prince I would attend. I feel as though I am being unfaithful to the memory of Papa and John and, perhaps, though I dare not think it, to Avery.”

“Don’t you think your father and brothers would wish you to celebrate the end of decades of battle and loss?” Mr. Osbourne asked her.

His words didn’t help. “I’m sure that, to you, mourning is little more than an armband or a cravat, Mr. Osbourne. But everything I have is black. And yet, to please a prince I didn’t even know until this evening, I am to appear out of mourning so as not to dampen the spirits of his guests. It would be better simply not to attend, yet I have given my word. I do not converse with princes on a regular basis, you understand. I should have little trouble saying no to you , Mr. Osbourne, were you to request something of me I feel I cannot do, but I have less confidence when it comes to dealing with royalty.”

Mr. Jennings leaned forward in the carriage seat and laid his hand atop hers. “Lady Anna, we can send our regrets to Schwarzenberg, if you prefer. There undoubtedly will be other soirees and balls in the near future—probably more than we would care to attend.”

Anna saw Mr. Osbourne shoot an unhappy look at Mr. Jennings.

“Lady Anna, if it is a lack of suitable attire you are concerned about, there are shops aplenty in Paris that can provide you with a gown for tomorrow,” Mr. Osbourne said. “Jennings and I are happy to escort you to any—or many—of these shops to procure a gown and anything else you may need. I am also certain the talented French modistes in Paris, of all cities, will be able to find something in a half-mourning color that will meet your sensibilities and also suit Schwarzenberg’s request.” He nodded encouragingly at her. “What say you, Jennings? Do you not agree? We have met many fine ladies while here in Paris whose style of dress would not only fit the decorum of one who has lost family but would also lighten the spirits of those who have endured so much.”

The man excelled at presenting his case, Anna thought begrudgingly. “I thought it was Mr. Jennings who was the lawyer, not you, Mr. Osbourne.”

He chuckled. “I studied the law, Lady Anna, although I have never practiced it, as my esteemed friend here has.”

“But the decision is entirely up to you, Lady Anna,” Mr. Jennings interjected. “Despite Osbourne’s words of persuasion here, it is you who must be at peace with your decision. I, for one, will support you in whatever you decide.” He shot another glare at Mr. Osbourne.

“He speaks true, Lady Anna,” Osbourne said. “I may wish to persuade, but I most certainly would not use force.”

Anna stared out the carriage window again. They were nearing their lodgings, she could tell. What would you have me do, Papa? she thought to herself.

She waited, truly hoping that, somehow, he would provide her with an answer.

No answer came.

Was she intending to dress in a manner to draw attention to herself? No. Was she trying to further her cause in finding Avery? Always, yes. Would lifting the spirits of those here in Paris from all over the Continent be deemed helpful or frivolous?

She sighed deeply. “Very well. I am willing to consider finding a gown that is not black to wear tomorrow evening—but only if I feel it is also respectful to Papa and John.”

“Excellent!” Mr. Osbourne said.

“But only if I feel the gown is respectful to my father and my brother,” Anna repeated.

“Understood,” Mr. Osbourne said. “We shall fully explain the situation to the modistes when we begin our search tomorrow. Ah, here we are.”

The carriage came to a halt, and the footman opened the door. Mr. Osbourne hopped down first, followed by Mr. Jennings, who then turned to assist Anna from the carriage.

“Do not feel unduly pressured, even if the request did come from Schwarzenberg,” he said softly to her as she descended from the carriage with her hand in his. “You must do as you see fit, and I will support you in your decision.”

He continued holding her hand a bit longer, which was comforting and reassuring. “Thank you, Mr. Jennings,” she replied.

“Come along,” Mr. Osbourne called. “Tomorrow is going to be a busy day and an even busier evening.”

Mr. Jennings gave Anna a long look and then brought her hand to his lips—and Anna wondered how it was possible to feel breathless and worried and eager and calm all at the same time.

Oh, Mr. Jennings!