The King's Falcon (Roundheads & Cavaliers Book 3) (55 page)

Hyde nodded gloomily. ‘How many of them do you suppose there are?’

‘Copies?
 
I’ve no idea.
 
Hopefully only two – but it’s impossible to be sure.’
 
Ashley picked up his hat.
 
‘I’ll tell His Majesty --’

‘Wait.
 
You’re seeing the King now?’

‘Yes.
 
He’ll be impatient to know if my mission prospered.’

‘Ah.
 
Indeed.
 
Yes.’

Hyde dithered so obviously that Ashley could have sworn he saw the wheels turning.
 
But finally, he said abruptly, ‘His Majesty has brought it to my notice that you’ve received no payment for your many services to the Crown.
 
As you’re doubtless aware, he wished this omission to be rectified.’

Having a fair idea where this was going, Ashley shrugged.

‘He said something to that effect, certainly.’

‘So I believe.
 
Sadly, as I’m sure you’ll understand, it isn’t possible to reimburse you … retrospectively.’
 
He paused again and, when Ashley declined to help him out, added long-sufferingly, ‘However, we can, in some small way, recognise and reward your
current
services.
 
Consequently, His Majesty has asked me to give you this.’

Ashley was so completely taken aback that he nearly dropped the purse Hyde handed to him. He hadn’t expected it.
 
He’d forbidden himself even to
hope
for it.
 
He was also, as yet, far from being able to appreciate the fact that the Chancellor would have cheerfully withheld the money were it not that Ashley was bound for the King’s rooms – and the King would most assuredly ask.
 
Shuffling his thoughts into some sort of order and putting the coming month’s rent and his overwhelming desire to give Athenais a Yuletide gift at the head of the list, he pocketed his pride and said smoothly, ‘Thank you, Sir Edward. I’m grateful.’

‘Grateful enough not to enlist under Turenne while this possible assassination plot is still unresolved, I hope,’ replied Hyde testily.
 
‘I’ll ensure you receive some regular income.
 
It may not be much – but hopefully it will serve.
 
And now you’d better take the King his letters.’

*
 
*
 
*

Charles received Ashley with a look of impatient optimism.

‘Well, Ash?
 
Did you find them?’

Wordlessly, Ashley handed over the beribboned bundle and watched the King’s hand close convulsively over it.

‘Thank God,’ Charles murmured.
 
And, looking up, ‘And thank you, too.
 
You’re the only man I could ask to do something like this and have any hope of both total discretion and a successful outcome.’

‘I appreciate your confidence, Sir.’

‘Sit down and stop being so formal.
 
Did you have any problems?’

‘Aside from very nearly getting caught in Mistress Walter’s bedchamber?
 
No.
 
But I could have done without being forced to make my exit through a window.
 
It’s been a number of years since I last found that necessary.’

‘That’s a sad admission.’

‘No, Sir.
 
Actually, it isn’t.’

The dark eyes rested on him with perfect comprehension.

‘Well, about time.
 
I was beginning to wonder whether you’d taken a vow of some sort.’

Ashley blinked.
 
‘I’m not sure I follow.’

‘No?
 
You’ve met a girl, haven’t you?’

There was a brief silence and then Ashley said wryly, ‘Not
a
girl, Sir.
 
The
girl.’

‘Ah.
 
That’s … different. Is she pretty?’

‘She’s beautiful.’

Charles leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

‘So why don’t you sound happier about it?
 
I find it hard to believe she won’t have you. Not being an ugly fellow like myself, I imagine the ladies fall at your feet in droves.’

‘Not that I’ve noticed.
 
As for the rest, my relationship with the lady is all I could wish – but the circumstances surrounding it are not.’ Ashley suspected that the next question would be one he didn’t want to answer because it was likely to result in Charles turning up at the theatre to see Athenais for himself. So he got to his feet and said, ‘Forgive me, Sir.
 
I’d rather not discuss the details.
 
I’d much rather say how grateful I am to you for speaking to Sir Edward on my behalf.’

‘Don’t be.
 
Over the years, you’ve more than earned whatever Hyde has been able to scrape together.
 
These alone,’ he tapped the bundle of letters, ‘are worth any price.
 
So don’t thank me, Ash.
 
The gratitude is all on my side.’

*
 
*
 
*

During the course of that evening’s performance, the thin covering of snow turned to ice – thus giving Francis the perfect excuse to put a steadying arm about Pauline’s waist.
 
She glanced sharply at him, opened her mouth as if to object and then looked away, apparently thinking better of it.

He murmured, ‘That’s a promising start.
 
Do you think, if I ask very nicely, I might be granted that kiss tonight?’

It had been a week and she’d started to wonder if he’d changed his mind, insisting to herself that it would be a good thing if he had.
 
The trouble was that, as soon as he murmured those words in her ear, every nerve in her body reacted in wild anticipation that told her how very badly she wanted to say yes.
 
He’d told her that, when he asked again, she would know that he meant it. She hoped that might be true … but still couldn’t quite let go of her instinctive caution.

She said, ‘I suppose so – if it will get it out of your system.
 
Will it?’

His arm tightened about her and laughter warmed his voice as he said, ‘I think that is very unlikely.
 
But hold on to the possibility, if it helps.’

A few steps behind them and held close at Ashley’s side, Athenais tilted her face up to him and whispered, ‘Do you think there is anything going on between them?’

‘I suspect that Francis might like there to be.’
 
He grinned and dropped a kiss on her hair.
 
‘I also suspect that Pauline is not making it easy – so the outcome should be interesting.’

The four of them had barely reached the steps of number sixteen when the door was thrown open and Archie said, ‘Thank
Gawd
! ’E’s been ’ere ’
alf
an hour and more, pacing up and down and driving me and Jem demented. Says your lordship knows ’im but won’t say what ’e wants. ’E’s dicked in the nob, if you ask me.’

Drawing Athenais in out of the cold, Ashley said, ‘Who is?’

‘’Im.’
 
A jerk of the head indicated Sir Hugo Verney erupting into the hall from the parlour.

‘Francis!
 
At last!
 
I have to – it’s urgent that we – I need to speak to you privately.’

Francis looked coolly at his sister’s lover, becoming aware that the man’s face was as white as a sheet, his coat unevenly laced and his hands visibly shaking. As for the expression in his eyes, it was the look of someone standing on a cliff-edge while the ground gradually crumbled away beneath him.

He said, ‘If you’re here to ask me to take responsibility for Celia because you no longer --’

‘No!
 
For Christ’s sake, Francis – please!
 
It’s bad.
 
Do you think I’d be here if it wasn’t?’

‘You’d better hear him out,’ said Ashley.
 
‘Go into the parlour.
 
The ladies and I will wait in the kitchen until you’re done.’

‘No.’ Francis was beginning to find the wild desperation in Verney’s face a little alarming.
 
‘In view of everything … I want you there.’

Ashley nodded, cast a reassuring smile at Athenais and Pauline, then followed Francis and Verney into the parlour.

‘Well?’ asked Francis.
 
‘What’s all this about?’

‘It’s Celia.
 
I’ve been away at St Germain for a couple of d-days.
 
I only came back this evening and Celia … she …’ He stopped, fighting for breath and shaking now in every limb.
 
‘She s-started screaming at me about all m-manner of things.
 
I couldn’t … she wouldn’t l-let me answer.
 
She just kept on and on, shouting accusations. That I’d been unfaithful – that I was going to l-leave her. Other things.
 
I don’t know. She was shouting and raging and I c-couldn’t make her listen.’
 
He stopped, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve.
 
‘Francis … you must know how she can be.’

‘Just come to the point.’

Sir Hugo shut his eyes and, for a moment, Ashley wondered if he was going to throw up.
 
Then he said raggedly, ‘I was half-way up the stairs when she launched into me.
 
I tried to get her to go back to our rooms with me but she wouldn’t.
 
She – she was totally out of control.
 
She kept screaming obscenities and pummelling my chest with her fists.’
 
He stopped, his chest heaving.
 
‘I didn’t touch her, Francis – I swear I didn’t.
 
I don’t know how it happened – whether she missed her footing or got her heel tangled in her skirts.
 
I don’t know.
 
But she – oh God, it all happened so fast.’
 
He swallowed as if the words brought bile to his throat.
 
‘She fell.’

Ashley moved to stand beside Francis and laid a hand on his shoulder.

Francis said, ‘She fell?
 
Down the stairs?
 
Is she hurt?’

And felt the hand on his shoulder tighten its grip as Verney said, ‘No.
 
Francis, I’m sorry.
 
I’m so, so sorry. She’s … dead.’

~
 
*
 
*
 
~
 
*
 
*
 
~

Silence stretched out on invisible threads while Francis simply stared at Sir Hugo, immobilised by shock.
 
Finally he said stupidly, ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.
 
She …’ Verney stopped again, struggling with the words. ‘She hit her head on – on the stone newel.
 
She … I think her neck’s broken.’

‘Francis.
 
Sit down.’
 
Ashley pressed him on to the sofa.
 
He looked across at the other man, noting that there were tears in his eyes – though whether from grief or some less acceptable emotion, he couldn’t tell.
 
He said crisply, ‘You and Celia fought on the staircase and then she fell.
 
Were there any witnesses?’

He saw fear cross Verney’s face in the second it took him to shake his head.

‘No.
 
That is, I don’t think so.’

‘So Celia was shouting but no one came out to see what was happening?’

‘N-no.
 
N-not until … until she fell.
 
Then people came running.’

‘Who?’

Hugo swallowed again. ‘What?’

‘
Who
came running?’

‘Monsieur and Madame Jourdan from d-downstairs and – and their maid, I think.’

‘But they weren’t there when Celia fell?’

‘No.
 
I don’t know.
 
What are you saying?’

‘I think,’ said Ashley grimly, ‘that you know exactly what I’m saying.’

Francis stood up again.
 
‘Where is she?’

‘In our rooms.
 
We l-laid her on her bed.’

‘She’s alone?
 
You left her
alone?
’
 
Even as he said it, Francis wondered why that should matter whilst somehow knowing that it did.

‘No.
 
The maid said she’d stay until I got back. I didn’t know what to do for the best.
 
It – it seemed to me that you should know.’
 
He looked back at Ashley, his hands hopelessly unsteady. ‘I don’t know how she came to fall – but it was an accident.
 
Why are you suggesting that it – that it wasn’t?’

‘I’m not.
 
I’m merely pointing out that, in the absence of any witnesses, you can’t prove that it
was
.’

‘But I don’t need … surely no one could think that I’d … that I would hurt her?’

‘Did you?’
 
It was Francis who asked, his face blank of all expression but his voice ragged as a saw-blade.
 
‘
Did
she fall?
 
Or did you push her … or trip her … or just move out of the way so that --’

‘She fell, I tell you!
 
I swear to God, Francis – it wasn’t my fault.
 
She was in a terrible temper and she fell.
 
Why would I lie about it?’

‘To avoid being tried for murder is a fairly convincing reason,’ remarked Ashley.
 
And then, ‘Francis … we’ll come back to this later.
 
Right now, there are other things to consider. I imagine you’ll want to see Celia and perhaps send a message to your mother.’

‘I’ll send a message – for all the good it will do,’ said Francis. ‘But yes.
 
I need to see Celia.
 
I seem to be having trouble believing that this is real.’
 
He stopped as if trying to think. ‘I should go now.
 
Will you tell Pauline for me?’

‘Of course.
 
And then I’m coming with you.’

For the first time, some emotion showed in the dark blue eyes.

‘Thank you.
 
I’d appreciate it.’

‘Now you’re being insulting,’ said Ashley, calmly.
 
‘Give me five minutes and we’ll be off.’
 

*
 
*
 
*

For two long hours while the men were out, Pauline and Athenais sat in the parlour awaiting their return and indulging in desultory conversation.

‘What do you think really happened?’ asked Athenais.

‘You mean – did she fall or did Verney push her?’

‘Yes.’

Pauline shrugged.
 
‘It could be either one.
 
We may never know for certain – though I’ll wager the Colonel is doing his damnedest to find out.’

They fell silent for a time and then Athenais said, ‘This is going to be very hard for Francis. I’m glad Ashley went with him.’

‘Did you think he wouldn’t?’

‘Not for a moment.’

‘No more did I.’

Finally, at a little after one in the morning, Francis and Ashley came home.

Before the front door had closed behind them, Pauline was on her feet and out into the hall, followed more slowly by Athenais.

Ashley’s expression was as grim as it had been when he’d come to tell them.
 

Francis looked positively drained.

Without stopping to think, Pauline crossed the tiled floor to take his cold hands in hers and said, ‘Come inside.
 
We’ve kept the fire going and there is brandy waiting.
 
There’s no need to talk if you’d rather not – but you should come and get warm.’

He stared down at her hands surrounding his.

‘Thank you.’

She shook her head and drew him into the parlour and the seat nearest the fire.
 
Behind them, Athenais lingered with Ashley to say, ‘How bad was it?’

‘It wasn’t good.’
 
He hesitated and then added, ‘By the time we got there, the doctor had arrived. She has a broken neck and some serious damage to her skull.
 
No one could have survived that.’

‘And Francis?’

‘Is managing well enough for the moment.
 
In one sense, it’s fortunate that they weren’t close.
 
In another, perhaps not.
 
We’ll see.’
 
He smiled at her.
 
‘I thought I heard mention of brandy …?’

‘Of course.
 
Come inside.
 
You’re freezing.’

‘I daresay you won’t mind warming me.
 
But first, the brandy would be very welcome.’

Francis looked up as they entered the room and said, ‘I know you said it could wait until tomorrow – but I can’t let it rest.
 
I need to know what you learned from the people you questioned and what conclusions you’ve drawn from it.
 
Celia may not have been a very nice person or even an especially good one … but if there’s a likelihood that Verney murdered her, I can’t ignore it.’

‘I wouldn’t expect you to.’
 
Ashley took the glass Athenais offered him and leaned against the mantelpiece.
 
‘I spoke to everyone in the building that I could find.
 
A number of them heard the quarrel.
 
The couple downstairs even opened their door so they could listen properly without being seen.
 
But no one actually went out into the hall until they heard Celia scream as she fell – which means that no one saw exactly what caused the fall.’

‘So he could have pushed her?’

‘He
could
have … but, to be honest, I can’t see why he would.’

‘To be rid of her so that he could marry his rich widow?’ suggested Francis bitterly.

‘Perhaps.
 
But he didn’t need to kill Celia in order to be rid of her,’ replied Ashley. ‘All he had to do was to walk out of the door.’

‘You’re saying you think he’s innocent?’

‘I’m saying that it’s the most logical explanation.
 
People don’t generally commit murder without a very good reason and accidents happen.
 
On the other hand, it’s difficult to entirely acquit him of not managing to grab her when he realised she was falling – or, at least, trying to.
 
It’s an instinctive reaction, wouldn’t you say?’

‘For you, I daresay.’

‘For anyone, Francis.
 
Earlier this evening you saw Pauline about to slip on the ice and instantly reached out to steady her.
 
You didn’t think about it – you just did it.
 
Perhaps Verney had no warning or was just too slow.
 
I don’t know and neither do you.
 
But I suspect that the worst we can lay at his door is that it’s possible he didn’t try.
 
And that, if you want my opinion, doesn’t say anything good about him.’

Francis drained his glass and watched Pauline fill it again.
 
He said, ‘I’m not sure getting drunk is the answer.’

‘It isn’t,’ she said calmly. ‘But you’ve a way to go yet.’

He shut his eyes and thought for a moment.
 
‘Eden.
 
He’ll need to be told.’

Ashley nodded.
 
‘We’ll send Nick back.
 
I’ll speak to him in the morning.
 
Anything else?’

‘No.’ The blue eyes opened again, frowning a little. ‘You saw her.
 
Do you think it was quick?’

‘Instantaneous.’

‘Well, that’s something, I suppose.’
 
He sat up and managed a wry smile. ‘It’s odd. I can’t honestly say I’ve loved her for a very long time … and yet the strangest things seem to matter.
 
I wonder why that is?’

‘Family,’ said Ashley, as if it explained everything. ‘Get some sleep if you can.
 
There’s nothing more to be done tonight and it will all still be there in the morning.’

‘Yes. I’ll go to bed in a little while.
 
And thank you again.
 
A brother, if I had one, could not have done more for me tonight.’

‘Some wouldn’t have done as much,’ came the barely audible reply, as Ashley shepherded Athenais from the room.
 
‘Goodnight.’

Francis was left looking at Pauline.

‘He has a brother?
 
I had no idea.’

‘He mentioned him once,’ she said, deliberately vague.
 
‘I got the impression there wasn’t much love lost between them.’
 
And then, ‘If you’d rather be alone, I’ll go.
 
Or … I could stay, if you wish. We don’t need to talk.’

‘Stay, please.’

Nodding, she sat down on the arm of his chair and said nothing when he leaned his head against her arm.
 
After a while, he said, ‘I’m finding that this is one of those times when things you’ve said come back to haunt you. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve told Ashley that I could murder her or that I’d like to strangle her … or some other similar thing.’

‘You never meant it.’

‘I don’t know whether I did or not.
 
She was so downright infuriating that, more often than not, I wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled.’

‘But you didn’t.’

‘No.
 
I didn’t. But just now I’m wishing I’d been – if not kinder, then at least more tolerant.’
 
He sipped the brandy and handed it to her.
 
‘Join me, will you?
 
Help me to remember the nice little girl she once was.’

Pauline drank and passed the glass back to him.

‘Was she?’

‘Yes.
 
She was pretty, if a little plump.
 
And she was cheerful and uncomplicated and free of artifice. That was before Eden and I went to Angers.
 
By the time we came back, she wasn’t plump any more.
 
She’d learned to flirt and flutter her eyelashes and care about nothing but her clothes, her looks and how to make herself the centre of attention.’
 
He paused. ‘Eden didn’t see that, of course.
 
In truth, I’ve never been very sure
what
he saw.
 
But he fell head over ears in love with her and would have given her anything she wanted – except the keeping of his conscience.
 
He chose the Parliament.
 
And she wouldn’t forgive him.’ Another pause.
 
‘And when she walked out on him … when, in all these months, I never once knew her give her children even a passing thought …
I
couldn’t forgive
her
.’

‘And now you feel you should have done?’

‘No.
 
That’s just the trouble.
 
She’s dead … but I don’t feel differently about it.’
 
Francis moved to set the glass down on the hearth and turned to face her.
 
‘I’m sorry.
 
None of this is what I envisioned saying to you tonight.
 
But I thank you for having the patience to listen.’

And that was when Pauline’s heart melted and her defences crumbled and she thought,
How was I ever arrogant enough to think I could resist you? If I’m what you want … even if only for a night or the sake of a little comfort … I’ll count myself fortunate.