Read Online Mademoiselle At Arms by Elizabeth Bailey - Free Book Online Page A

had leapt into the major’s mind.
    ‘Oh, peste ,’ she cried out in distressed tones. ‘You
make me talk, you make me talk. Diable .’
    Then she jammed her hat on her head all anyhow and ran from
the room.
    Hilary started after her, but Gerald stopped him.
    ‘Let her go. Did you warn Frith?’
    ‘Yes. He’s waiting.’
    ‘Good. When he’s found out where she’s staying, I’ll have him
keep an eye on Valade’s residence in Paddington, I think.’ Then memory hit and
he stared at his friend. ‘And just who is Leonardo?’
    ‘How in God’s name should I know?’ demanded Roding irascibly.
    ‘He can’t be Valade, that’s certain,’ mused Gerald, unheeding.
‘She obviously likes Leonardo. Which means after all that she did not expect to
marry Valade. But in that case, why the raging jealousy about Madame having
taken her place. Unless—’ Something clicked in his mind and he stared at his
friend without seeing him. ‘Lord in heaven, could it be so?’
    ‘Don’t look at me,’ exploded Hilary. ‘I don’t know what the
devil you’re talking about.’
    Gerald ignored this. ‘She knows them. Both of them. And if
the woman is not a rival, she must be—yes, that must be it.’ He became aware of
his friend’s face before him. ‘What do you think?’
    ‘What do I think?’ repeated Captain Roding. ‘I think you’ve
gone stark, staring crazy. Why can’t you let it be?’
    Gerald grinned at him. ‘What, and miss getting myself
murdered?’
    ‘She said she wouldn’t murder you.’
    ‘Don’t you believe it. She’d have thrown this thing if you
hadn’t stopped her. My thanks, by the by.’
    The captain shook his head. ‘I just don’t understand you, Gerald.
If you know her for the vicious, scheming wretch that she is, why in God’s name—?’
    ‘She’s not a vicious, scheming wretch,’ Gerald said calmly. ‘She’s
an evil-tempered little termagant, yes, but there’s no malice aforethought. And
she’s pluck to the backbone.’
    Hilary stared at him. ‘You’re either mad, or in love.’
    ‘ What ?’ gasped Alderley in shock. ‘In love? I? Don’t
be ridiculous.’
    ‘Then you’re mad,’ Roding said flatly, and suddenly grinned. ‘But
I’ve known that for years.’
    Gerald laughed and clapped him on the back. ‘Lucky I have you
to keep me from Bedlam, then.’
    ‘Don’t count on it. You’ll end there one day, mark my words.’
Then Hilary became serious again. ‘Well, I can see you won’t let it alone, so
what do you propose to do about the wench?’
    ‘I’ll die before I let it alone,’ Gerald vowed. ‘As for what
to do, I wonder if young Charvill would be worth a visit. And I think I must
pursue my acquaintance with the fulsome Madame Valade.’
     
    Mrs Chalkney, a long-time friend of the late Mrs Alderley,
had been delighted to oblige that lady’s son. ‘Get you invited to a party where
the French émigrés will be present? Nothing easier, dear boy. I am
having them to my own soirée on Monday.’
    ‘Excellent,’ Gerald had approved.
    ‘I did not send you a card because in the normal way of
things you rarely attend such affairs.’
    ‘Ah, but I have a special reason for doing so this time.’
    Mrs Chalkney lifted her brows. ‘Indeed?’
    Gerald grinned. ‘Yes, dear Nan, a flirtation. But don’t run
away with the idea that I’m hanging out for a wife at last, because I’m not.’
    ‘Gracious heaven, Gerald! If your dear mama could not drag
you to the altar, I am hardly likely to succeed.’
    ‘In any event,’ Gerald told her, with a grin, ‘I can’t marry
this one. She’s already spoken for.’
    He endured the inevitable scold with patience, saluted Mrs
Chalkney’s faded cheek, and went off to endure the necessary delay with what
patience he could muster. What more was to be done? Frith’s investigations had
proved fruitful, and the man was now keeping an eye on Valade. Gerald hoped he
had covered all options and had resisted the temptation to pay