Chapter Twenty-Three

I tried to put my encounter with Pony out of my head the next day. One job at a time. That was what Uncle Mick always said.

Felix was absent today, putting the finishing touches on the map he was crafting.

He had, unsurprisingly, got on very well with Archie Blandings. There was an easy sort of boyish charm about both of them that put them at ease with each other.

Felix gave me few details about what the map would entail, but I had every confidence it would be enough to fool both the thieves and the Germans.

The thought of Germans wasting both time and resources trying to find a nonexistent deposit of a valuable mineral was extremely satisfying, and I hoped we would be able to pull it off.

And, with that goal in mind, I made my way to the major's residence that afternoon. I had brought along the dress I'd worn to a fancy affair with the major the previous year as well as everything else I would need to make myself presentable.

But first there would be tea with Noelle. I was looking forward to chatting with her. I only hoped I would be good company when my mind was preoccupied with the evening's job.

I could have canceled my meeting with her, of course. But she was going back to her children soon, and I thought it would be nice to wish her well on her way. We might never have the chance for tea again. I didn't know when she would next be back in London, and my work for the major was of a transitory nature.

Constance opened the door for me, and I entered along with a gust of cold wind.

"Hello, Constance," I said, pulling off my hat and gloves. I'd found an old pair of Toby's to replace mine for the time being.

"Hello, Ellie. Freezing out there, isn't it? I'm afraid the major isn't here at the moment, but I'm sure he won't be long if you'd like to wait."

"Oh, actually… I'm here to see Mrs. Edgemont."

"Oh, I see," she said. Whatever she thought of this, it was impossible to tell. I had the impression that Constance didn't necessarily approve of my crossing the personal/professional boundary, but perhaps I was just putting my own misgivings onto her.

As if on cue, Noelle arrived at the top of the stairs. "Do come up, Ellie."

I went up the stairs again and we entered the same little sitting room where we'd shared tea before.

"The weather continues to be dreadful," she said as we settled into our seats with our tea. "I'm not looking forward to going north."

"Have you decided when you're leaving?" I asked, picking up my cup.

"Tomorrow, I think. I've been away from the children too long as it is. It's just that… well, I've felt that Gabriel has needed some looking after. I feel better about leaving now, though."

"Yes, he seems to be healing," I said.

"That's not what I meant," she replied, her eyes meeting mine over her teacup. "I meant you."

I set my teacup carefully back on the saucer. "Me?"

She gave me a half smile that reminded me very much of her brother. "I haven't known you long, of course, but I know my brother. You're obviously special to him."

I flushed. "We… work together," I said.

"We both know it isn't just that. He works with Constance, and he doesn't look at her the way he looks at you."

I sighed, feeling deeply uncomfortable. I debated on my answer but decided the truth would probably be best. Noelle Edgemont was obviously fond of plain speaking. "There is, perhaps, a bit of… attraction between us," I said. "It doesn't mean anything."

"It always means something," she said, setting down her teacup.

"When two people are pushed into close contact frequently, it isn't unusual for…"

She shook her head, silently cutting me off. "It isn't like that with Gabriel. He doesn't fall into casual romances."

"There isn't a romance," I said.

She raised a brow. "No?"

She wasn't going to let the topic die, so it seemed I would have to tell her what she wanted to know. Apparently, persistence was a trait that ran in the Ramsey family.

"We did kiss once," I admitted. "But we agreed that it shouldn't happen again. I… come from a very different world than he does. I don't think we would suit."

She surprised me by letting out a derisive scoff. "Oh, tosh. This is 1941, not the Victorian era. That sort of thing doesn't matter, especially not in the middle of a war."

"But it might matter when the war is over," I said.

She gave me a hard look. "Did Gabriel say this to you?"

"He… he didn't have to," I said. I didn't want to tell her that it was more than social status. It was the fact that I was the child of a convicted murderess, that I had grown up to be a thief. That we had met because I'd been caught breaking into a house.

"Then he likely doesn't feel that way."

"He has said it would be inappropriate for us to have any sort of relationship," I replied. That was true enough. It was the reason he had given me after our kiss, that such a thing could not be repeated.

She sighed. "That does sound very much like Gabriel."

"We work well together," I said, trying to draw the conversation to a close. "It's a comfortable partnership, and I think we're both satisfied."

"I very much doubt it," she answered dryly.

As much as I wanted to change the subject, there was something I wanted desperately to know, and this might be my only opportunity to find out. Granted, it was none of my business, but I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"What happened between him and Jocelyn Abbot?"

She looked up at me. "You know about Jocelyn, do you?"

"I've met her," I said. "There seemed to be some… unresolved feelings between them."

She lit a cigarette as she considered what she was going to say. It reminded me of her brother, the careful way she thought about things before she spoke. Perhaps it, too, was a family habit.

"He met Jocelyn about five years ago. They met and suddenly they were inseparable. It was all rather whirlwind, I think. Unlike Gabriel. He's had romances before, of course, but nothing too serious. His first love has always been his career."

"But he fell in love with Jocelyn," I said.

"He is not the type to declare his feelings far and wide, but yes. I think he was very much in love with her. It was commonly assumed they would be married, but then the war started and Gabriel was called to North Africa. I don't think he ever officially proposed."

But he'd bought the ring. I knew that much.

"And then what happened?" I asked.

"She realized that he was not going to be what she wanted."

"What do you mean?" I found it difficult to believe that Major Ramsey was not what most women wanted.

"Jocelyn will always be a woman who thrives in society. She didn't want to be an army officer's wife. She wanted to be the wife of an earl's nephew."

"Oh," I said. We were talking of a world that was entirely foreign to me, and so the possibility had never really occurred to me. "I see."

"Since childhood Gabriel has been committed to a career in the military. He never wanted anything else. He was a soldier before the war, and he will be one after."

"Yes," I said. He had told me as much in an unguarded moment in Sunderland. Told me about his father's service and injury in the last war, about his desire to serve his country.

"I don't think either of them wanted to admit that they knew it wouldn't work long-term," she said. "And so they both went on ignoring the fact for years when they should've put an end to things. They finally broke it off while he was in North Africa. I knew it must have been very difficult for him, so far from home. But, of course, Gabriel was not going to mope about it."

"And he doesn't talk about her?" I realized that my interest in the topic of Major Ramsey's love life must be very transparent, but this might be my only chance to learn something about that part of him.

"I mentioned her to him a time or two, but he's always brushed the matter aside. He said that he knew it was over long before they ended it."

"All the same," I said. "I think he felt it very deeply."

"Perhaps. As I'm sure you can imagine, Gabriel has always been a bit reserved. We shared a womb; I imagine I know him better than anyone else in the world. But sometimes I can't figure out what's going on in that head of his." Her gaze met mine. "But it's been easy enough for me to see how he feels about you."

I took a sip of tea so I wouldn't have to respond.

I considered what she had told me. Just because he had known things wouldn't work with Jocelyn didn't mean he didn't still feel the loss of that love. I had never been entirely certain that, despite his insistence that things were done between them, there weren't some lingering feelings.

Another thought occurred to me: Was his hesitance to get involved with me because of what had happened with Jocelyn? Did he worry about the instability of wartime romance? I had to admit, it made sense.

Thankfully, Noelle changed the subject then. We talked easily for some time of trivial things and also of her boys and my cousins. She had me laughing over the antics of her young sons. I told her about Toby, and she said she would pray for his safe return.

At last, I realized it was time I start getting ready for the party. Her company had proven an excellent distraction, but now it was time to get down to business.

"I have a party to attend tonight, something to do with my work with your brother. Might you direct me to a place where I could dress?" I asked.

"Oh, a party," she said. "I'm so envious. I haven't been to a party in ages. Will you let me help you get ready?"

I hesitated, but she looked so delighted at the prospect that I couldn't very well say no.

"If you really want to," I said.

"We will make you the belle of the ball," she said, standing and moving to take my arm. "Come along. I'll make you irresistible, just leave it to me."

I had never particularly enjoyed dressing up. It wasn't something I'd had much occasion to do over the years, and, being the only girl in the family, not much emphasis had been placed on it.

Noelle Edgemont's enthusiasm was contagious, however, and it was rather fun allowing her to fuss over me.

Not only that, but she'd given me the loan of a brand-new dress.

I'd tried on the burgundy velvet for her, and she'd shaken her head. "It's too big. You'd need it altered."

I had lost a bit more weight than I'd realized over the past few months. I didn't think the dress was too big to wear, but if Noelle with her superior knowledge of fashion noticed it, it would probably draw the attention of others as well.

"I don't have another dress that will do," I told her honestly.

Her eyes had lit up. "I have just the thing. I bought it just before I left London, and I never had a chance to wear it. I think it will fit you perfectly."

"Oh, I couldn't—"

"You most certainly can," she said adamantly. "There's no use in a good dress going to waste. By the time I have a chance to wear it, it will likely be out of fashion anyway. Now wait right here."

A few minutes later, she was back with a glistening length of black fabric draped over one arm.

"It's going to be magnificent with your coloring," she said, holding it up in front of me. "I shall be ashamed to wear it after you."

At her urging, I went behind the screen and emerged a moment later. The dress was like something out of a fairy tale. But not one the princess would have worn. No, this was more suited to a villainous queen. It was black satin, fitted bodice to hip with a long skirt that was both loose and form-hugging all at once. Two black satin straps originated on the right-hand side, one going over the right shoulder, the other crossing my chest to go over the left shoulder. The two wide straps crossed to form an x across an open back.

I did a turn in front of the mirror, admiring how the black satin hugged my figure, the liquid darkness of the skirt against my legs. I hadn't liked my curves as an adolescent girl. I'd wanted to continue fitting in with my cousins, not be ogled by their friends. A couple of them had even been so brazen as to get handsy before Colm and Toby had knocked the stuffing out of them.

"Are you certain you don't mind if I wear this?" I asked for the third or fourth time, still observing myself in the mirror.

"Not at all. It looks wonderful on you. I'll be glad someone can get some use of it. I won't be wearing evening wear for some time when I get back to Cumberland. Everything is so very dull there."

"Thank you," I said. "I'll be careful with it."

She waved a hand. "Don't fret about that. Now, let me help you with your hair."

My unruly hair had always been my adversary, but it conformed readily enough to Noelle Edgemont. Even my curls bent to her will. She crafted an elegant and fashionable coiffure, wielding pins with ease until she'd secured the style just as she wanted it.

She stepped back to observe her work. "Perfection. Now, on to the makeup."

I powdered my face, darkened my already black lashes with mascara, and chose a dark red lipstick to complement the ensemble. I looked at myself for a moment in the mirror and was satisfied. I looked rather glamorous, I had to admit.

Glamorous was one of the last words I would normally use to describe myself, so I found the change amusing—and a little bit exciting.

Noelle had gone out of the room for a moment, and when she came back, she had a small box in her hand. "To complete the ensemble," she said.

Before I could reply, she opened the velvet box to reveal a glittering diamond bracelet. "You don't need a necklace with that neckline," she said. "But this will give you a bit of sparkle."

"Oh, no. I couldn't."

"Yes, you can. Give it to Gibby when you're finished with it. He can keep it for me until I'm back in London."

She put the bracelet on me, and I felt a strange little tug of emotion at the fact that she so easily trusted me with it.

"Gabriel's in the foyer with that profligate Frenchman," she said. "You should go down now and make an entrance."

I let out a little breath. I was not especially keen on that idea, but I did need to go downstairs. So I turned to Noelle. "Thank you so much for everything."

Impulsively, I gave her a little hug. She was cool and elegant like her brother, but it didn't stop her from hugging me back. "Good luck tonight, Ellie. And, if I don't see you again before I leave, I hope I see you again next time I'm back in London."

I nodded. "I hope so, too."

I took my handbag and left the room, walking to the top of the stairs. I could hear the men below, conversing in French, but when I started down the stairs the conversation stopped.

The black satin glided across my legs as I made my way down the stairs.

For just one moment, my gaze caught Major Ramsey's, and I felt a flush spread through me at the look in his eyes.

I looked away. I didn't want him to think I had been flaunting my appearance for his sake. Ramsey said nothing as I reached the foyer.

Aristide, however, had enough of a reaction for both of them.

"Ellie, you are a dream! A vision! A temptress and an angel!" He came to me as I reached the bottom of the stairs and pulled me into his arms. "I shall have to remind myself it is all an act, or I shall fall at your feet."

I laughed, pushing back from him. He was ridiculous in his flattery, but it was nice to be flattered all the same.

Only then did I look again at Major Ramsey. His expression was now carefully neutral, but his eyes had gone the flinty gray color they turned when he was annoyed. Was it annoyance at me or at Aristide? Perhaps both.

I smiled at him. "Your sister played fairy godmother and now I'm ready for the ball."

"I don't think you'll have any problem fitting in," he said.

"Thank you."

"I disagree," Aristide said. "She will not fit in. She will stand out, shine above all the women there. We ought not to have put you in that dress if we wanted you to escape notice."

I frowned playfully at him. "That's quite enough of that."

He shrugged. "I am yours to command. I am at your complete disposal." His eyes flashed and he leaned closer, lowering his voice so that only I could hear him. "In any way you should choose to use me."

Despite myself, I felt a little flush at his outrageousness.

"Dupéré has the map in the pocket of his dinner jacket," Ramsey said tersely. "When you're ready to get into Lazaro's safe, he'll give it to you."

I nodded. "I think we're ready, then."

"Wait a moment," Noelle called. She came down the stairs with a fur coat draped over her arm. "Put this on, Ellie."

"Oh, I don't think—"

"I will not take no for an answer. Put it on."

"Allow me." Dupéré took the coat from her and held it up. I slid into it, the soft mink collar grazing the bare skin of my back.

"You can leave that with Gabriel, too. I have no use for mink in Cumberland."

"Thank you, Noelle," I said again.

"Don't wait up for us, Ramsey," Aristide said as he slid an arm around my waist.

A muscle in the major's jaw jumped.

"Wish us luck," I told him over my shoulder as Aristide led me to the front door.

He didn't reply.