Marigold Chain (20 page)

‘
Even to
admit when you’re wrong?’ Faint irritation crept into Sarah’s
voice. ‘Everything you said that day was out of pique. You didn’t
mean any of it.’

‘
Sadly,’
mourned Alex, ‘I’m very much afraid that I did.’

A purely
natural flush touched the rose-petal cheeks.

‘
Including marrying that sandy-haired schoolgirl? Don’t be so
foolish!’

He sighed. ‘Why
does no one ever believe me?’

‘
Because
you only talk for effect,’ she snapped. ‘Don’t you realise that
half the men in this room would give a fortune for what you’re
refusing?’

‘
Then I
suggest,’ smiled Alex, extending the fan on outstretched palms,
‘that you offer it to them.’

For a second
Sarah stared at him with utter disbelief and then, seizing her
property, stalked off without a word.

Chloë,
meanwhile, had been prised from the Queen’s side by Cousin Simon
who, it appeared was consumed with a burning desire to present her
to his patron. Bluff and good-natured but totally lacking his
brother’s subtle charm, James, Duke of York received Chloë warmly,
bestowed on her five minutes of amicable and wholly unexciting
conversation and then bade her ‘go and dance with this fancy
popinjay of mine’; which, being a sort of royal command, she
did.

It was when
they left the floor that she found herself confronted by Lady Sarah
Marsden, her hand on the arm of a swarthy gentleman in red and her
eye lit by a vengeful gleam. Simon greeted them with every sign of
affectionate pleasure.

‘
Sarah,
my dear! How perfectly ravishing you look. I simply don’t
understand how Marsden can bear to tear himself from your
side.’

She smiled and
spread her hands resignedly. ‘Oh – business. The estates, you
know.’ And, turning her attention to Chloë, ‘I have just been
telling your husband how fortunate he is. Poor Graham is forced to
be away from me a whole week.’

Chloë received
the implication with a blank stare.

‘
Oh? What
a shame. But I expect he enjoys the rest and the change of
air.’

The cornflower
eyes narrowed a fraction and, instead of replying, Sarah chose to
look up at her escort with a charming blend of coquetry and
contrition. ‘Oh George – how thoughtless I am! You don’t know
Mistress Deveril, do you?’

Dark,
insolent eyes moved lingeringly from Chloë’s face to her
d
écolletage
and back again. ‘I haven’t
had that pleasure.’

Sarah’s mouth
curved happily. ‘Then allow me to present you. My dear,’ she said
to Chloë, ‘this is Lord George Gresham.’

And that,
thought Chloë, explained a lot. Court gossip said George Gresham
was not only notorious rake but also extremely rich.

He kissed her
hand with unnecessary warmth.

‘
Charming,’ he murmured, ‘quite charming. But then, Devewil’s
taste always is.’ Which made everyone smile but Chloë who was busy
wondering how she could get away from the bad company into which
she had accidentally fallen.

‘
Mistress
Deveril,’ Sarah was saying kindly, ‘is still very new to our life
here so we must help her all we can. I vow Alex is so neglectful
that he doesn’t deserve so devoted a wife.’

Chloë looked
back reprovingly.

‘
Not
neglectful, my lady – merely trusting. He knows, you see, that he
can.’

George Gresham
was unused to being ignored by little ingénues and he had,
moreover, a score to settle with Mistress Deveril’s husband. He
said, ‘Weally? But perhaps he has had no worthy wival. I wonder who
might appeal to you, Mistwess? My lord Rochester, perhaps?’

‘
Or
Prince Rupert,’ suggested Simon, re-entering the lists with a
vengeance.

If Chloë
hesitated, it was only for a second.

‘
I
haven’t the pleasure of the Prince’s acquaintance. And then, in my
simple, rustic way, I find I’m more than satisfied with my
husband.’

‘
Such
loyalty,’ cooed Sarah. ‘Aren’t you jealous, George?’

Lord Gresham
smiled and his eyes caressed Chloë thoughtfully.

‘
I am
never jealous,’ he replied. ‘I am merely filled with a devouwing
cuwiosity to know Mistwess Devewil better.’

The submerged
unpleasantness of the conversation was beginning to annoy Chloë but
she still thought of and discarded three possible answers before
saying brightly, ‘How nice. You must come to supper some time. All
of you. And then we can all get to know each other better.
Including, it goes without saying, my husband.’ And was rather
pleased with the silence she produced.

A hand touched
her elbow and she turned to find Mr Fawsley’s blessedly friendly
face at her side. He greeted her companions politely but without
any enthusiasm and said, ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere,
Chloë. An old friend has turned up and I promised to take you to
him.’

‘
Oh? Who
is it?’ she asked eagerly while her eyes flashed signals at
him.

‘
Wait and
see,’ he replied obediently. He bowed stiffly to the others and
placed Chloë’s hand on his arm saying, ‘If you will excuse us?’ And
promptly led her away.

‘
Who is
it?’ she asked again as they moved out of earshot. ‘I suppose
there
is
someone?’

‘
Never
mind that,’ said Danny shortly. ‘What you do think you were doing
with that precious trio? You should know you can’t trust Simon –
and Sarah and Gresham are downright trouble-makers. She’s already
approached Alex this evening – though, judging from his mood, I’ve
an idea it didn’t do her much good – which is probably why she
introduced you to lisping George.’

Chloë shot him
a very direct glance. ‘What do you mean?’

‘
About
what? Gresham?’

‘
No. I
understood that. About Alex and Lady Sarah.’

‘
Oh
that.’ Danny grinned. ‘I’d say she was casting her bread on the
waters – if you see what I mean.’

She drew a long
breath. ‘Yes. I think so. And what about Mr - Alex’s mood?’

Rupert had
taught her a lesson she had not forgotten.

‘
Oh he’s
sickeningly cheerful. The way he always is when he’s found someone
to be bloody rude to.’ He grimaced. ‘Sorry.’

Chloë grinned.
‘For what? It’s the best news I’ve heard tonight.’

Danny steered
her towards the side of the room but he had no need to tell her who
the surprise visitor was for she saw for herself.

‘
Why –
Freddy!’ She smiled, holding out her hand.

Freddy,
uncomfortably conscious of the elegance of his surroundings and
company, the splendours of his new coat and the tightness of his
collar, took it and smiled back nervously.

‘
Hello,
Chloë. I say … you look different. Wouldn’t have known
you.’

‘
It’s
only skin deep,’ offered Danny cheerfully.

Chloë ignored
him. ‘It’s lovely to see you, Freddy. Is it just a visit?’

He nodded,
relaxing a little. ‘Tired of Oxford, you know. Thought I’d come and
see how you all were. Which reminds me.’ Gloom settled on his face.
‘Got a message for you from Ashton. But it ain’ the kind of thing
one likes saying to a lady.’

Caught in the
act of sipping his wine, Danny gave a splutter of laughter and
choked.

Chloë patted
him absently on the back and said, ‘Don’t worry, Freddy. My brother
can stew in his own ill-humour all he likes but I don’t have to
hear it.’

‘
What she
really means,’ explained Danny, ‘is that she’s got enough problems.
Alex has more humours than anyone. They’re just different, that’s
all.’

Freddy shook
his head dubiously. ‘Can’t – ‘

‘
Say
that!’ chanted Chloë and Danny in unison.

*

On the evening
of May the twenty-third, Chloë gave a small, informal supper to
which were bidden Lady Julia and Sir Thomas Blanchard, Giles, Danny
and Freddy. She had tried to persuade Mr Lewis to join them but
received only an acidulous grin and the information that he was
engaged with a party of friends at the Swan in New Palace Yard.

No disaster
occurred to mar Mistress Jackson’s culinary skills and Chloë,
exotic in peacock brocade, was able to sit serenely at table and
enjoy with her guests a menu of roast chicken, venison,
beef-and-oyster pie, Lisbon melons, syllabubs, fruit tarts and
cheeses, all washed down with light Rhenish wine.

Afterwards they
removed to the parlour where Julia, having been persuaded to bring
her lute with her, played melodies by Dowland, Morley and Wilbye
before turning her talents to more popular songs and encouraging
them all to join in. The evening passed in pleasant conviviality
until interrupted by a tap at the door, followed by Naomi’s head
and the intelligence that Mr Lewis had returned and expressed a
wish to speak with the master.

Mr Deveril and
Mr Beckwith exchanged a brief glance, then Alex said, ‘He’d better
come in then. Unless it’s a secret.’

The hayrick
head vanished and Matthew emerged through the doorway.

‘
It’s no
secret,’ he announced tersely. ‘I just thought you’d like to know
that they say the French are about to drop on us like bugs at
harvesting.’

There was
silence. Finally, Alex rose and poured a glass of brandy which he
gave to Matt.

‘
You were
right. Sit down and tell us.’

‘
I heard
it at the Swan from one of the Duke of York’s lads. He said Charles
Talbot brought the
Elizabeth
into Falmouth yesterday with a report of thirty-six French
sail under Beaufort approaching the Channel.’

Mr Deveril’s
eyes narrowed a little. ‘Does York believe it reliable?’

‘
Aye. And
what’s more, it seems His Highness thought it worth his while to
make a little contingency plan for it before he joined the fleet.’
Matt grinned sourly. ‘It makes your heart bleed for them. By all
accounts, York’s staff and the commissioners have spent all day
chasing their own tails trying to put it into operation. The King’s
sent an order to the Prince that he’s to stop Beaufort joining de
Ruyter’s Dutchies and – ‘

‘
Wait,’
said Alex. ‘Do we know if the Dutch are at sea or about to sail or
planning to holiday at home this summer?’

‘
No,’
said Matthew, ‘to all three. Lord Arlington hasn’t got any recent
news of de Ruyter’s movements. If you ask me, the man couldn’t get
the juice out of an orange.’

‘
Quite,’
said Mr Deveril bitterly. He looked at Giles. ‘It seems our
intelligence service is in perpetual hibernation. Christ! What the
hell to they think they’re doing?’

‘
What
they believe is their best, I imagine,’ said Tom Blanchard
pacifically. ‘Go on, Matt. How is Rupert going to deal with the
situation?’

‘
The
fleet’s to be split,’ answered Matthew without looking at Alex.
‘Albemarle’s to keep sixty sail in case the Dutch come out and the
Prince is taking twenty-four and hoping to get ten more from
Plymouth. They’re moving the whole lot from the Nore to the Downs
and His Highness will sail on south to intercept
Beaufort.’

There was
another long pause. Alex looked again at Giles.

‘
If
Rupert doesn’t get his extra ships he’ll be two against three … and
if de Ruyter
does
come out,
it won’t be with less than eighty sail which gives Albemarle
similar odds. I wonder,’ mused Alex, ‘how wise we are to put our
faith in Captain Talbot?’

Daniel, who had
listened throughout with an air of suppressed excitement, surged to
his feet. ‘Who cares? It’ll be one hell of a fight – and I don’t
intend to miss it.’

Giles directed
a lazy smile at him. ‘In which case we can’t lose.’

Danny grinned
back. ‘Glad you realise it.’

Freddy regarded
him with interest. ‘You ever been to sea, Danny?’

‘
Not
really. I don’t think just crossing the Channel counts.’

‘
Me
neither. Tell you what … if you go, I’ll go.’

He was
immediately impaled by six pairs of astonished eyes.

‘
You?’
asked Julia, laughing. ‘I don’t believe it.’

‘
Are you
serious?’ asked Danny.

Freddy
nodded.

‘
Are you
sober?’ asked Alex.

‘
No,’
said Chloë crossly. ‘Neither of them are.’

‘
Yes,’
said Freddy simply. ‘I am.’

Danny held out
his hand. ‘Done. We’ll go together.’

‘
Done,’
agreed Freddy, taking the hand. ‘When?’

Daniel grinned
sadistically. ‘Tomorrow. At dawn.’

*

Chloë managed
to seize a few minutes alone with Danny before he left.

‘
I wish
you wouldn’t go. You’re sure about it?’

‘
Of
course, I’m sure. I
want
to
go. You can understand that, can’t you?’

‘
Yes.
It’s just – oh, I don’t know.’ Then, irritably, ‘Yes, I do. I’ll
miss you, damn it!’

‘
Because
I’m the only one who dances the couranto without treading on your
feet?’ He paused and then pulled a face. ‘I’ll miss you
too.’

For a second
Chloë stood, still and demure in her blue-green gown and then,
without warning she put her arms around him in a fierce hug. ‘Good.
Then you won’t stay to fight the whole war.’