Free Bright Hair About the Bone by Barbara Cleverly Page B

heart sank. Far from it. William Gunning was far from grotesque. He was failing all the tests. And scuttling all her prospects.
    â€œShift those dogs off the sofa and sit down, girls. Letty, do leave off! The fire was doing very well by itself. Oh, Esmé, my dear, William might like some shortbread.”
    Letty was uneasy at the intimate use of his Christian name, uneasy also to see the haste with which her friend went to ply the stranger with biscuits. The girls settled themselves and waited for the blow to fall.
    â€œWell, I have to say, just for once, one of your ridiculous schemes seems to have been rather well judged, Letty,” Sir Richard said. “I’ll put you out of your misery at once and tell you that we’ve reached an agreement. William will accompany you to France. He will remain there for the duration of your digging enterprise. We’ll hammer out the details all in good time. We’ve exchanged as much information as is possible in an hour but there must be much more you want to tell him, Letty, so we’ll arrange for you to spend some time together to formulate your plans.”
    Gunning spoke in his clear voice: “Is Miss Esmé not to join us on this jaunt, Sir Richard?”
    â€œNo, no. Esmé is here for a short holiday only. The two are close friends and have not seen each other for months—Letty’s been away in Egypt. No, Esmé returns home to London next week…well, you tell him what you’re up to, my dear…”
    â€œI am to go up to the University next term, Mr. Gunning. University College, London.”
    â€œAh. My congratulations and best wishes, Miss Esmé. And is Miss Laetitia also to pursue an academic career?”
    â€œEr, no.” Sir Richard broke the girls’ embarrassed silence. “Laetitia
was
up at Cambridge for three years. Bit of a bluestocking, in fact, though you’d never guess it to look at her. But she was, I’m sorry to say, sent down…sacked—”
    â€œFor bad behaviour,” explained Letty sweetly.
    â€œI see,” said Gunning, nodding his understanding. “A tattered bluestocking?”
    Letty didn’t quite like to hear Esmé’s suppressed gurgle of laughter. “My friend has a good deal of reading to do in preparation for her coming course. We won’t detain you, Esmé, should you wish to return to your books.”
    â€œAnd
you
must prepare yourself, Letty,” said Sir Richard. “Some rather contrapuntal arrangements to be made, which I insist on helping you with. If your project is to go smoothly it must be run with military efficiency. Now, we’re envisaging a hostile scenario, I understand. Villains lurking round every corner, innocent young girl at risk…” Letty caught the amused glance he exchanged with Gunning. “I’m thinking that perhaps it would
not
be a good idea if the two of you appeared to know each other. Our notion was that you should travel together as far as Paris. There William will deliver you to your aunt Genevieve, where you will spend a week while he motors on to Fontigny. We can arrange for you to put up in the same guest house. You’ll arrive later by train, Letty, as befits a student.”
    â€œAnd how is Mr. Gunning to occupy his days?” asked Letty. “He surely cannot spend them observing me dig.”
    â€œThis is the beauty of it! He will be playing no part. No need for subterfuge or local colour. He will merely be
himself.
”
    â€œI’m sorry, Father, you will have to explain.
Which
of Mr. Gunning’s selves does he propose to show to the world?”
    â€œWilliam tells me he is a passable artist. Who will look twice at a wandering English clergyman working his way round the French countryside, busy with little pencil sketches, preparing perhaps an illustrated monograph on the ecclesiastical architecture of Upper Burgundy?” Sir Richard roared with laughter at his