Free Intriguing Lady by Leonora Blythe Page A

but he wouldn’t treat Mrs. Ashley in the insolent fashion with which he would treat her.
    *
    Sir Nicholas’s lodgings, spartan when compared to Lord Bromley’s luxuriously appointed town house, suited his present needs to perfection. He seldom spent more than two nights of any week there, yet it was safe enough to house the documents and papers that were necessary for his work. He kept two servants: Jenkins, a butler, who doubled as a groom, and Davids, a valet, who was also his chef. Both men he regarded as faithful watchdogs, and he trusted them implicitly.
    When the mood for a grander style of living came upon him, he took himself off to Stanway, his estate near Tewkesbury. Whenever he stayed at Stanway, Sir Nicholas was content to accept the unsophisticated entertainment offered by the local gentry, for it provided a pleasing contrast to the life his work forced him to lead in London. For the moment, though, he was content to be in Town.
    After Williams had set him down in Albemarle Street, he had been whisked away by his two servants and had allowed them to tend his wound. It pleased him to discover it wasn’t as serious as he had first suspected. He had refused to go to bed. Instead, he ordered Jenkins to stoke up the fire in his study and asked Davids to prepare him a tempting meal. He was hungry, but he had a lot of work to do. Then, when he was alone, he pulled out the papers he had brought with him from France and spread them out on his desk.
    By early evening, his eyes had tired from studying the hieroglyphics, and he pushed the papers to one side. He stood up and stretched, letting out a loud oath when he jammed his injured shoulder. He was rubbing it ruefully when Jenkins entered.
    “Is dinner ready?” Sir Nicholas asked, suddenly remembering his hunger.
    “In twenty minutes, my lord,” Jenkins replied as he held out a silver salver on which reposed a thick ivory vellum envelope. “This came for you an hour ago.”
    Sir Nicholas took the envelope and slit it open slowly. He scanned the spidery writing and then whistled in surprise.
    “Will that be all, Sir Nicholas?” Jenkins inquired. “I told the messenger not to wait and that we would send a reply if it was necessary.”
    “No, there is no need for a reply. My presence at Grosvenor Square at eleven tomorrow morning will be answer enough.”
    “Lord Bromley?” Jenkins exclaimed in surprise.
    “No; Roberta, his niece, or should I say his niece’s companion, Mrs. Ashley, requests the dubious pleasure of my company.”
    “I see, Sir Nicholas,” Jenkins said, his face resuming its impassive expression. “I didn’t think Lord Bromley had returned from Mr. Lambert’s funeral.”
    “It’s no good trying to pump any answers out of me,” Sir Nicholas said with a laugh, “for I must confess I have no idea what this note means. When I parted company from the two ladies this morning, I thought I had seen the last of them. I suspect Miss Rushforth is behind this summons, though, and that I find intriguing.”
    “Will you be taking Davids with you?”
    Sir Nicholas shook his head. “I’ll go on foot. I hardly think I need any protection from Mrs. Ashley.”
    “But the comte. Will he not be looking for you?”
    Sir Nicholas arched an eyebrow disdainfully, giving Jenkins the clear impression he was not concerned over that possibility. “I can hardly prevent him from walking the streets of London, can I, Jenkins? He has no proof that it was I he saw leaving his chateau, so I think it unlikely he will accost me in public.”
    “Your injury?” Jenkins interposed.
    “Unless he is able to strip me, he will never see it. Look,” he continued as he rotated his arm slowly, “the stiffness has almost disappeared. In another day or two, I will be as good as new. Now tell Davids I am ready to eat.”
    The matter was closed, as far as he was concerned, and he watched in some amusement as Jenkins, with an unhappy sigh, withdrew.
    Roberta watched the