Chapter Five

“Y ou’ve what ?” Delilah stared at Felicia as they met in the hallway before dinner.

“I’ve invited Antonia Macy to dine with us on Tuesday.”

“But why?” Delilah didn’t know whether to wail or stamp her foot.

“Lucy asked me to. She thinks it will be good for Julius.”

“It won’t,” Delilah said between her teeth. “The woman is poison.”

“I rather liked her. More to the point, so did Lucy.”

Delilah closed her mouth. It was true Lucy had a knack that amounted to a gift of being able to gauge someone’s character almost instantaneously. No one was infallible, of course, but it did mean Delilah should probably give Antonia a chance. People did silly things when they were young. It didn’t make them monsters. Necessarily.

“Her friends, Miss Talbot and Lord Linfield, are invited, too.”

“Linfield,” she said aloud without meaning to.

Felicia raised her eyebrow. “Another objection, Delly?”

“No, no,” Delilah said, willing away the heat rising to her face. “It’s just that he called this afternoon asking for you.”

“Did he?” Felicia’s mind seemed to have already moved on. “I wonder why?”

*

Leaving the hotel the following morning to escort Elaine and her companion to church, Denzil witnessed the arrival of a modest lady and gentleman. They stepped out of their uncrested carriage and sailed through the front door of the hotel, which Denzil held open for him.

The lady, who was undoubtedly the Princess of Hazburg, inclined her head by way of thanks, and Denzil wished he had not agreed to take Elaine to church. She and Antonia could just as easily go without him. However, the aim had always been to preserve the princess’s anonymity, so he merely offered his own ladies his arms and strolled around to St. Andrew’s.

The Vales, he saw at once, were out in force, including the twins, scrubbed much cleaner than the last time he had seen them. They grinned at him by way of acknowledgment. So did Mrs. Maitland and Miss Lucy Vale, and Aubrey. Delilah did not appear to notice him.

Elaine had already accepted an invitation for all three of them to dine at Black Hill on Tuesday, so he would have to make a plan before then. Especially now that the Princess of Hazburg had arrived in Blackhaven.

Mr. Grant, the vicar, led an uplifting service, his sermon apparently light and yet thought-provoking. He was worth listening to, and Denzil did just that, until he became distracted by Delilah, several rows in front, on the other side of the aisle. Her attention turned toward the clergyman, and still, her beauty hit Denzil like a blow in the chest.

Gentle, vulnerable, and oddly prickly, she touched him in some way he could not grasp. She was also fiercely intelligent and clever with languages. The translations he had glimpsed yesterday had been incisive, some from Russian script, some from English, all into German. But surely there was no pretense in her?

She could not be the real sinner here. She was being used.

And yet if he warned her, and he was wrong, she could warn them and provoke catastrophe.

Something ached in him—a lost chance, a profound regret, though he didn’t even know for what. Sir George Vale had been proud of his eldest daughter. And of all his children—the hardworking, the heroic, the charming, the clever…

And none of that mattered. Denzil had a task to perform to keep the world safe, and his own feelings did not matter beside that. There would be time afterward to…

To what? To know her better? Court her? The idea excited him. He had paid court to many women over the years, but never with serious intent. Delilah Vale was no pleasure-seeking lady of power or influence waiting to be seduced. No merry courtesan. She was doing her best to retire into spinsterhood, as though she did not deserve even the innocent pleasure of dancing.

A sharp nudge in his ribs dragged his attention back to his sister.

“Shall we go?” she suggested.

The service was over. People were leaving the church, gossiping with friends as they went. Delilah Vale walked past him, her head bent toward Leona, who was chattering at her side. Her skirts brushed against him. He caught the faintest whiff of perfume, light and yet arousing.

What the devil’s the matter with you, Talbot ? he asked himself severely as he stood aside to usher out his sister and Mrs. Macy.

*

It was later in the afternoon before he sent his card to the princess’s apartments and was invited to join her and her husband for tea in their sitting room.

Princess Irena of Hazburg was in her thirties, the mother of two young daughters who did not accompany her on this occasion. Neither regal nor particularly beautiful, she could have been any country gentlewoman—until one looked into her bright, intelligent eyes. Her people loved her for her care and her compassion. Her fellow rulers in Europe admired her ruthless acumen. One underestimated Princess Irena at one’s peril.

Her husband, also a great admirer, beamed as Denzil entered and bowed first to the princess and then to him.

“Lord Linfield, a pleasure to see you again,” Irena said in her perfect English, giving him her hand.

He bowed over it. “The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness. I trust your travels have not fatigued you too greatly?”

“We find being incognito quite liberating, do we not, Friedrich?”

“Much more fun,” Prince Friedrich said, his eyes gleaming mischief. He offered Denzil his hand. “How do you do, Linfield?”

“Please sit and tell me how arrangements progress,” Irena said, pouring tea into the hotel’s porcelain cups. “Is my brother in England?”

“I believe he is in York, Highness, still gathering intelligence.”

“About what?”

“Everything. The political situation in Hazburg and throughout Europe. He has no intention of coming to you in ignorance.”

“Do we have any idea what he wants? Apart from to come home.”

“A position in your government. Which position is unclear, but it is bound to be one of influence and opportunity. And I presume he will want some estates. Obviously these are matters for you to discuss.”

“And have you found any indication that he means me harm?”

“Only the whispers we warned you of earlier. But…” He hesitated, wondering why this felt like betrayal. “He is using a new and previously unknown translator. In time, this should give us access to his true intentions before he or his representative reach Blackhaven.”

“My brother could save himself a lot of trouble if he simply bothered to learn other languages.”

“He never saw the need,” Friedrich said with a flash of contempt. “He expected to inherit a large staff to do all the work for him. He never expected to be deposed and replaced. To be frank, he brings nothing to Hazburg except dissent. Irena knows my views. I do not wish to see him back in any capacity.”

“He might have changed,” Irena said. “People do, sometimes, when faced with reality. And…he is my brother.”

Friedrich patted her hand. “I know. We shall see in the fullness of time.”

“There is one other thing,” Denzil said. “Elizabeth, the widowed Princess of Rheinwald, also lives in Blackhaven with her new husband. I believe you have met, but she has promised to betray no recognition should you encounter each other during your visit.”

“I should like to see her again,” Irena said. “Perhaps you could arrange something discreet, Lord Linfield?”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Denzil finished his tea and set down the cup. “In the meantime, although I have discovered no hint of danger, you should be vigilant and wary of strangers. Is there anything else I might do for you to make your stay pleasurable as well as safe?”

Prince Friedrich asked, “Is there a theatre here? We love the theatre.”

“There is a small theatre here in Blackhaven, a larger one in Whalen. I believe there is a new play opening next week with Helena Hampshire.”

Irena laughed. “How fortunate, Friedrich! Your favorite actress.”

“I saw her in Paris,” Friedrich said. “Such emotion, such depth. She brought tears to my eyes.”

Denzil rather suspected Hampshire made her daughter weep, too, though for entirely different reasons.

*

Ridiculously, as the dinner party at Black Hill approached, Delilah felt butterflies in her stomach. She assumed they were caused by anxiety over Antonia’s return into Julius’s orbit and distracted herself with work. A consultation with Dr. Lampton over the odd lapses in her eyesight proved to be comforting.

“I have come across such symptoms before,” he assured her. “Similar to migraines but accompanied by little or no pain and suffered for relatively short periods at a time. My guess is that it occurs when you concentrate too hard on close-written documents, perhaps accompanied by anxiety of some kind. I can prescribe a tonic that may help with the anxiety, though in such matters there are no guarantees. Either way, unless you notice some kind of change, I would just sit down, close your eyes, and wait for it to stop.”

“Thank you,” Delilah said happily, “that is just what I thought.”

Leaving the doctor, she thought of calling on her mother, who had sent her theatre tickets for the following Monday. She wondered if there was something wrong with her that she was still so pathetically grateful for such notice, even when she had long since given up on her mother’s affections. She should probably scowl at Reggie again too, to be sure he was staying away from Nell’s rival.

Or perhaps she would just wait and go to the theatre—though with whom? Aubrey, perhaps, the least judgmental of her brothers. She hesitated to take her sisters into the company of an actress.

Still considering her options, she ran into Lucy and took her to the hotel for tea instead. Lucy was up to something, though she didn’t reveal what.

The following day, while juggling translation work with preparing the house for its first formal visitors, Delilah sustained an unexpected visit. Lady Alice Conway, the Earl of Braithwaite’s sister, had come, Delilah suspected, on account of Cornelius, which was intriguing. She liked Lady Alice, not least because of the young woman’s interest in her hardworking brother.

The twins had been right. Going to the ball seemed to have added new dimensions to everyone’s lives…although they could have done without Antonia Macy. Still, Delilah acknowledged that she did not know the woman. Lord Linfield seemed perfectly happy with her company for his sister, and they had traveled across Europe together. Antonia must be given the benefit of the doubt. At least until the end of tonight’s dinner party.

Delilah had picked out her newest, most matronly evening gown. However, Leona surprised her by following her into her bedchamber and scowling at the dress with clear disapproval.

“Frumpy,” she pronounced. “And designed to be worn with one of those horrid caps middle-aged women wear.”

“Since when did you even notice fashion?” Delilah demanded.

But Leona, already raking through Delilah’s wardrobe, merely shrugged. “We notice lots of things. Here, this one.” She drew out an older lilac evening gown that had once been a favorite. “It always suits you.”

“It is several years out of fashion,” said Delilah, who refused to be manipulated.

“Oh, well, if you wish to outshine everyone…”

“Give it to me,” Delilah said resignedly. If it was out of fashion, then she was clearly not trying to impress Lord Linfield.

Leona handed it over with a radiant smile and skipped off.

Damn, thought Delilah, torn between amusement and annoyance. I have been manipulated.

Even so, she caught herself pinning her hair high on her head in a soft style that Papa and Felicia had both said suited her best and peering into the looking glass for signs of imperfections.

What is the matter with me? she thought irritably, and strode out of the room to join their guests.

On the way, however, she suddenly decided she should send what translation she had done by tomorrow’s post. By doing so, she hoped to receive a fee more quickly, and therefore be able to help her mother if it turned out to be necessary. So, she went into the morning room, wrapped up her work with the original documents, tied the parcel with string, and addressed the whole to Mr. Charles in York.

It made her uneasy that she was putting off her drawing room entrance when the event was important to Felicia and Lucy, whatever it was to Julius. Accordingly, she placed her parcel on the hall table with the rest of the post, which would be taken to Blackhaven first thing in the morning, then walked straight into the drawing room.

Although her mind was fixed on Antonia and Julius, it was Lord Linfield she saw first. In perfect evening attire, he was handsome enough to take anyone’s breath away. Somehow, he was utterly, overwhelmingly distinguished, and she, who had greeted emperors and princes with equanimity, felt the world tilt dizzyingly.

No migraine. Merely powerful physical reaction to his presence. She appeared to have offered her hand, for he held her fingers in a light but firm grip and bowed.

“My sister, Miss Talbot,” he murmured, and Delilah was both relieved and disappointed to be forced to turn her attention elsewhere.

“How do you do, Miss Talbot?” she managed.

Linfield’s sister was tall like him, past her first flush of youth, perhaps, but attractive for all that. Her eyes smiled and her words of greeting sounded genuine, which was, Delilah knew, an art form in itself. But then, as Delilah had assisted her father, Miss Talbot had assisted Linfield.

One of the world’s formidable spinsters. It is what I should aspire to, if on a lesser scale .

“My friend, Mrs. Macy,” Miss Talbot said, and Delilah rather liked that she avoided the belittling inherent in the term companion by introducing Antonia as her friend.

Delilah curtsied to the woman who had so devastated her brother’s happiness ten years ago, and knew at once that here was a completely different kettle of fish. She recognized her from the ball, but up close, Antonia was lovely. Keeping the smile on her face, Delilah felt her heart sink.

The twins had openly cajoled them all into the ball for Julius’s sake, but it struck Delilah now that they were in the midst of several more plans. Especially when they attached themselves to Antonia as everyone strolled in the half-finished formal garden before dinner.

Oh no . They weren’t trying to promote a rekindling of Julius’s old engagement, were they? They knew nothing of the damage they could cause…

Delilah had already seen the shy smile in Antonia’s eyes when she looked at him. Worse, she had seen Julius watching Antonia when he thought he was unobserved. It all added to Delilah’s unease. Her good intentions to leave well alone, at least for tonight, flew out of the window.

Walking with Miss Talbot, she gave the twins a few more minutes with their prey. Then, leaving Miss Talbot to answer some question of Cornelius’s about plants, she strolled on and made sure she came upon Antonia and the twins at the end of the path.

“Don’t monopolize Mrs. Macy,” she told her siblings. “Surely it is Lord Linfield’s turn?”

The twins took the hint and ran off, although Leona glanced back over her shoulder, her face troubled. Delilah ignored her.

“Sorry,” she said lightly to Antonia. “I’m afraid you have been ‘twinned.’”

Antonia smiled. “Don’t apologize for them. They are delightful.”

“And ruthlessly inquisitive. Especially about Julius, since he is the brother they know least and admire most.”

“I suppose that must be true of all of you, since he spent so long at sea. You must be very glad to have him home at last.”

“Yes. It is good to be together. To support each other,” Delilah added significantly.

Antonia met her frank gaze with a spark of understanding. She knew Delilah did not want her here, but rather than cringe or melt into the background like a good companion, she tilted her chin. “If you wish me to go, of course I shall. Only, I wish you had not invited me in the first place.”

“I didn’t,” Delilah said bluntly. “Lucy invited you. But, of course, I am not so rude or inhospitable as to ask you to leave. I ask you only to leave him alone.”

Antonia’s eyes widened, but interestingly, she didn’t back down. “Make the same request of your brother. If you dare.”

Spirited. Unafraid. In other circumstances, Delilah would have admired that. But she had already seen Julius destroyed by this woman. She would not stand back and let it happen again if she could prevent it.

“It isn’t a question of daring, Mrs. Macy,” she said. “We are all here to pick up the pieces. But I don’t want to do it again. Come, let us catch up with the others. It is almost time for dinner.”

Antonia walked beside her in silence, and that suited Delilah perfectly.

On the other hand, dinner was an oddly tense affair, and not just because Delilah had been unforgivably rude to one of their guests. The tension came from Julius and Antonia. They were so unsure of each other that it struck Delilah she had had no need to warn the woman off. Besides which, she had made the party awkward for Felicia.

Yet somehow the informality seemed to make the meal not only bearable but pleasant. Felicia was an excellent hostess, the twins were their bright, amusing selves, and both Linfield and his sister, no doubt with experience of defusing fraught diplomatic dinners, were entertaining guests.

Until Linfield spoke of Papa.

His stories were amusing, showing Sir George’s humor and quick thinking, and yet they were told with such clear respect that Delilah found her eyes filled with tears. Missing Papa was an ache that never truly went away. More than any of her siblings’, her life had been wrapped up in her father’s.

Slowly, trying to block out the conversation, she blinked to be rid of the tears before they betrayed her. When she heard laughter around the table, she forced a smile, glancing warily about. Linfield’s gaze met hers for an instant, then he turned to Lucy.

It was something of a relief when Felicia rose from her place at the foot of the table, and the ladies left the gentlemen to their port. Delilah found herself beside Miss Talbot, with whom she discovered she had much in common. The woman had a dry wit, a quick mind and appeared to be interested in Delilah’s opinions. So it was some time before Delilah realized Antonia was not among them.

“Do you suppose Mrs. Macy is quite well?” she said.

“I expect she went to the cloakroom,” Miss Talbot said, beginning to rise. “I’ll make sure she has not been taken ill.”

“No, let me,” Delilah said, suddenly suspecting that Antonia had managed to detach Julius from his guests. “I would hate her to be unwell…”

Only when she was out of the room did she realize that she had already done everything she could to keep Antonia from Julius. Interrupting them would change nothing. In fact, warning her off achieved nothing either. She had merely been horribly rude.

Antonia was not in the cloakroom. A twinge of guilt smote her. She began to cross the hall toward the garden door when some faint sound from the morning room distracted her. Who would be in there at this hour?

She changed direction and pushed open the morning room door.

Lord Linfield walked toward her.