Free The Blue Diamond by Joan Smith Page B

asked, naming another cousin’s wife. Then he laughed, to show her he was joking.
    “You know I didn’t mean Claudia,” she said, and put on her baby-talk face. “Googie means herself,” she said, and pouted furiously.
    “Googie is drunk,” he answered, looking desperately about for help.
    “Whee! Googie’s drunk!” she laughed, rather loud. “Do you like my new hairdo, Tatt? The Prince de Ligne adored it. He said he thought I was Harvey’s brother. Only fooling of course. He’s ill, by the by. Serves him right, but I hope he makes a rapid recovery, for he is so amusing. Oh dear, I must sit down. Take me out, darling Tatt. Find us a nice dark corner where we can be alone.”
    She was close to staggering, but it seemed to be the heat and crowd that caused it rather than the wine. When they got out of the dancing hall, she regained her stride, and looked about for a dark, private corner. Her attention was diverted to a flock of black coats. Following her glance, Moncrief saw Chabon to be amongst the pack. Googie let his arm drop and walked towards the Frenchman, as though in a trance. As this new personage was featuring in his life now—Googie’s beaux were bound to devolve on him in some manner at this period of international turmoil—he strolled forward to make Chabon’s acquaintance.
    Lady Palgrave was at her most killing, with her seductive eyelids at half mast, her lips open to reveal her white teeth, and her bodice cut low to display her bosom, which vied for attention with a splendid diamond pendant of pear shape. It was impossible to know which feature the throng of gentlemen were admiring, but certainly their eyes were below her neck. She adopted a modified version of her baby talk, usually reserved for serious seduction. The words were adult, the lisping accent was childish, as Moncrief presented her. It was the merest chance that he knew one of the gentlemen, and could initiate introductions. When finally they got round to Chabon, Googie said, “Wicked Harvey! He had known Monsieur Chabon all along, and didn’t tell Googie.”
    Chabon, though French, was uneasy at the lady’s flagrant manner. He looked to Moncrief with a question in his eyes. “I had the honor of meeting Lord Palgrave at a party shortly after his arrival in Vienna.”
    “That is the likeliest place to meet Palgrave,” Moncrief replied unhelpfully.
    “Googie likes parties too,” Lady Palgrave said with a winsome smile. “Googie likes waltzing. Waltz with me, Monsieur,” she ordered, and latched on to his arm, to draw him into the ballroom, with a triumphant look over his shoulder to Moncrief, who hunched his elegant shoulders and breathed a sigh of relief. Pity the wench wouldn’t be satisfied with her French lover, and forget about blue diamonds for the duration of the Congress.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    The subject under discussion as Moncrief sat with his English colleagues was what section of Saxony might feasibly be preserved without completely alienating Prussia and Russia. Castlereagh had mixed emotions on the matter. A strong Prussia would prove a good ally and rival to Austria, but on the other hand, General Blücher was itching for war, and must not be given too large an army. Talleyrand was advocating a much weakened Prussia, in the interests of French national safety. The squabble reminded Moncrief forcibly of the infighting for Cabinet positions that occurred from time to time at Whitehall. When the discussion was finished and the gentlemen going off to their various duties, Castlereagh said, “Stay a minute, Moncrief. There’s a matter I must discuss with you."
    “What is it?”
    “Charles tells me your cousin is borrowing money. I would be happy if you would discourage your and his mutual friends from lending him any.”
    " Palgrave borrowing money?” he asked, with a blank stare. It were as though India were borrowing people, or the Arctic asking for the loan of ice.
    “Yes, he has hit up a couple of his