‘Of course, your ladyship.’
‘In fact, would you bring up some tea for us all . . . to help settle her nerves?’
Jenny bobbed a curtsey and left.
‘What do you think?’ asked Johnny anxiously. It was most unnerving to hear his deep voice issuing from the bonnet. ‘Was she fooled?’
‘I think so,’ said Lady Elizabeth, taking a seat by the window. ‘Women are always the hardest to deceive, but if she had thought you were a man, she would have run from the room screaming.’
*
After breakfast, Lord Francis came to announce the arrival of the carriage. He could not resist smirking at Johnny and was cuffed by the seamstress for his rudeness.
‘Sorry, ma’am,’ he said, giving Johnny a deep bow. ‘I won’t do it again.’
‘And I won’t give you the opportunity again,’ growled Johnny, picking up his skirts and following Lady Elizabeth down the corridor with a sturdy stride.
‘We had better be quick!’ warned Lord Francis. ‘Papa was still reading the newspaper when I left the table, but he could be out at any moment.’
We descended to the foyer without incident and were almost at the front entrance when a door to our left opened and the Duke of Avon strode out, newspaper tucked under his arm. ‘CAPTAIN SPARKLER STILL AT LARGE!’ read the headline.
‘Morning, Lizzie!’ he said, kissing his daughter on the cheek. ‘Off out so early?’
‘Yes, Papa. I have to return some calls. Frightful bore, but there you are.’
The duke’s eyes turned to Johnny.
‘Ah, this is my seamstress, Papa,’ she filled in quickly.
‘Not the one that keeps sending in such scandalously high bills, I hope? Madame what’s-her-name?’
‘Madame Martine,’ said Lady Elizabeth as the duke gave the seamstress a hard stare.
‘Is she good?’ he asked turning back to his daughter.
‘The best.’
‘Well, in that case, I suppose she’s worth the money. Enchanté, madame,’ he said gallantly, bowing and kissing Johnny’s gloved hand.
‘Merci, monsieur,’ said ‘Madame Martine’ in flawless, if somewhat gruff, French.
The duke now looked at me.
‘Miss Royal, isn’t it? What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were in the house.’
‘Cat . . . I mean Miss Royal . . . came early on my request. We are paying calls together. All my friends want to meet her,’ said Lady Elizabeth.
The duke now took in my new finery and a small frown appeared on his brow. My cheeks reddened.
‘Hmm,’ he said disapprovingly. ‘I’d like to have a word with you when you return, Lizzie. There’s something we must discuss.’
The duke dismissed us with a nod and retreated into the breakfast room. I could guess what he wanted to talk to his daughter about: he was going to warn her against introducing girls like me into her intimate circle. I had a very dubious position in society and my company would do nothing to enhance her reputation.
Lady Elizabeth led the way down the steps to the carriage. Hanging on the back, next to the stable boy Jenkins, was Pedro. He jumped down and opened the door for us. Lord Francis handed each of us in and climbed in last.
The coachman had already raised his whip to lick the horses into a trot when there was a respectful cough at the streetside door.
‘Your lordship, might I have a word?’
All of us turned to look at the speaker. I saw to my horror that it was Constable Lennox, the Bow Street runner who had called in at Drury Lane yesterday. He was now standing by the side of the carriage watching us closely. I lowered my head to hunt for something in my reticule. Johnny put a handkerchief to his eye as if wiping away a tear.
‘Yes, constable?’ said Lord Francis in a surprisingly crisp tone. I had never heard him sound so lordly before. ‘Call back later and I will see you then. I have an engagement this morning that I must not break.’
‘I understand, sir, but I wonder if I might be so bold as to have a look at your carriage? I received a report from one of our informants that two fugitives fled to your house last night in the company of a third person. That person was followed back here this morning. I’ve already searched the stables but found nothing. That leaves me to conclude that they might be secreted somewhere in this carriage.’
‘Are you serious, sir?’ said Lady Elizabeth, sounding suitably concerned. ‘How terrible! Lady Catherine, can you imagine it?’ She turned to me, her eyes wide. Though surprised to find myself so rapidly ennobled, I gave a shudder by way of agreement. ‘Of course you must look, constable. Shall we alight so that you can examine the carriage thoroughly? Countess, would you mind?’ This latter remark was directed to Johnny, who was now applying smelling salts to his nose as if overcome by fright.
‘I’d be much obliged, my lady,’ said the runner.
Johnny, Lady Elizabeth and I dismounted from the carriage and waited on the pavement while Lord Francis supervised the officer, who began checking under the seats.
‘Nothing,’ the runner said at length when he had exhausted all possibilities. ‘Though, if you don’t mind, my lord, I’d like to question your black servant.’
‘My servant? What has he to do with it?’ said Lord Francis imperiously. ‘Haven’t you wasted enough of our time today, my man?’
The runner looked awkward. ‘It’s just that my informant saw a black boy here last night and followed the same boy here this morning.’
‘Are you sure it is the same boy? Gustavus did indeed go on an errand for me but I can swear that he was with me last night. Your informant must be wrong.’
‘True, he might,’ said the runner, scratching his chin. ‘And you say this boy, Gustavus, was with you last night?’
‘Yes, wasn’t that so, Jenkins?’ Lord Francis called over to the stable boy.
‘Yes, my lord,’ lied Jenkins cheerfully.