Page 51 of Masquerading with the Duke
‘That won’t stop the speculation.’ Ramsay rotated his neck and Jared heard his bones crack. ‘Why not give your brother the financial help he needs?’
‘Give in to blackmail, you mean?’ Jared scowled. ‘Not a chance! Besides, he’ll only go straight back to the tables and lose all over again. He’s an addict and can’t help himself. No, I won’t act as Arthur’s private bank. Besides, I have earmarked all my spare capital to put this place back in order. I don’t have anything like enough to bail Arthur out as well.’ Jared tapped his fingers restlessly against his desktop. ‘There has to be another way.’
The two men looked at one another and spoke at the same time.
‘John!’ they said in unison.
‘We must find a way to use his disloyalty to our advantage,’ Jared said alone.
‘Well, if you’re keen to keep the enticing Miss Martina out of Redrow’s clutches…’
Jared rolled his eyes. ‘Go on,’ he said.
‘Seems to me you think she’ll be in danger at the masquerade, but you’ve overlooked the fact that the duke will be opening up his estate the day before to all the villagers. I’ve heard a lot of talk about that annual event in the local taverns. Seems it’s jam packed, very informal and the gentry make a point of rubbing shoulders with the hoi-polloi.’
‘You’re right, damn it!’ Jared threw his head back and cursed. ‘It will be much easier for Redrow to get his grubby hands on her there.’
‘It would also be ideal cover for you to meet with your foreign contact,’ Ramsay said, grinning. ‘Yours truly dressed in disguise.’
‘Now that is an inspired suggestion.’ Jared gave a nod of approval. ‘Chat with John about the duke’s open day. Pick his brains. He’s a local man. Presumably he’s attended before and will be glad to show off his knowledge. Mention something about the crowds being an ideal cover for the delicate negotiations; something vital to the government’s standing and my own reputation.’
‘Make it sound like you’ve discovered the identity of the traitor and await final confirmation from a French contact who you plan to meet at the duke’s open day.’ Ramsay nodded. ‘That might draw Redrow out. He will be aware that a French delegation has arrived in London and can’t take any chances.’
‘Exactly. He knows I suspect him, but he can’t be sure I don’t have proof of his double-dealings and will have to stop that meeting from taking place.’
‘It might just work.’
‘It will if you’re convincing enough to make John believe you.’
‘You should do the same with Lord Romsey; take him into your confidence, that is. No point Redrow turning up to try and stop your meeting unless there’s someone there to witness it.’
Jared shook his head. ‘Redrow won’t come anywhere near me if I’m with Romsey.’ He squared his jaw. ‘We’ll get Redrow alone and he’ll talk; especially when I tell him that I know he’s manipulating Arthur. He’ll either attack me or try to buy my silence.’
‘What of your Miss Martina?’
‘This is absolutely nothing to do with her and I want her kept out of it,’ Jared said, more forcefully than had been his intention.
‘Very well,’ Ramsay said, grinning as he left the room.
*
Martina returned to the Park in a distracted state of mind.
‘Lady Romsey has arrived,’ Ariana said, smiling as they entered the house. ‘I can hear her voice.’
‘I thought the guests were not due to start arriving for another few days.’
‘Perhaps Lord Romsey has business with the duke,’ Ariana said with a negligent shrug.
Yes, very likely, Martina thought, wishing there was something she could do or say to convince Lord Romsey that Jared was an honourable man. She tried to take comfort from the fact that Mr Ramsay knew everything she had overheard and would by now have enlightened Jared. But what he could do about it was less certain. She sensed a lot of the suspicion hovering over him was a result of jealousy. He had unexplained wealth but Martina was absolutely convinced that he had not earned it through disreputable means.
The right thing to do would be to call here and discuss the matter with Lord Romsey as soon as he learned of his arrival. But Martina sensed that he was too proud to ask for help; nor did he feel obligated to explain himself. He had left the diplomatic service for precisely that reason.
She followed Ariana up to their room, removed her bonnet and tidied her hair in an abstracted manner.
‘We should go down and pay our respects to Lady Romsey,’ Ariana said. ‘I expect she brought her children’s nurse with her, but if she did not then our services might be required in the nursery.’
‘Very well.’
