The Disgraceful Mr Ravenhurst

‘Packing? No, I have my work on the basilica to complete.’ The poor girl looked daunted, but she did not return the conspiratorial smile that Elinor directed at her.

‘Well, that is most satisfactory,’ Lady James pronounced, settled back in the carriage. ‘Four days should see a considerable advance in my researches. The chapel will provide a most valuable addition to chapter four.’ She took up her notebook and began to scribble, frowning as the carriage lurched over a rut.

‘You timed that announcement very neatly, Elinor.’ Theo was not smiling, however. He looked almost grim, she decided, puzzled. She had done what he had asked, hadn’t she? And the prospect of a house party at the chateau was something to be looked forward to, surely?

‘Thank you. I decided the only option to ensure they could not exclude you was to gush like that. Why did you assume they would not invite you? You knew the late count, after all.’

‘His son does not like me.’ It appeared to be mutual.

‘Really? I did notice a certain tension, but I assumed it was business matters.’ Tension was an understatement. The count had looked like the demon king and Theo positively dangerous. ‘He is very charming, and incredibly good looking.’

Her cousin regarded her through narrowed eyes for a long moment, but all he said was, ‘Who is Mademoiselle Julie?’

‘I am not entirely certain. A distant connection of the countess, I think. She seems to act as her companion.’

Theo lapsed into silence and Elinor recalled something she had noticed on their arrival at the chateau and had no opportunity to mention. ‘The driver of this coach is the man you hired to carry my things up the hill yesterday.’

‘Yes.’

‘He was waiting for you.’

‘Yes.’

‘And he is already in your employ?’ He nodded. Elinor opened her mouth to demand to know why Theo’s employee was hanging around the town pretending to be a stray loafer looking for casual work and then closed it again. Not in front of Mama. He nodded again in recognition of her tact, the glimmer of a smile touching his mouth. It was the first genuine sign of pleasure she had seen from him since they arrived at Beaumartin.

‘You could stop now and have a fitting for your new gowns,’ Theo suggested as the carriage rolled into St Père. It was far too early for even the most industrious sempstress working alone to have anything ready for a first fitting. He knew it and she knew it. Only Lady James, loftily above such trivia as gowns would not think it strange. Perhaps Theo was going to confide in her at last.

‘What a good idea.’ Elinor sounded suspiciously bright and breezy, even to her own ears. ‘Will you drive me back to Vezelay later in the gig?’

‘Yes, of course. Aunt Louisa, that will be all right, will it not?’

‘What? Oh, yes, whatever will waste least time on fripperies.’ Lady James went back to frowning over her notebook.

Theo stood watching the carriage vanish round the bend, leaving a cloud of dust and two yapping dogs in its wake, then fished a key out of his pocket and opened the door into the dressmaker’s shop.

‘Madame is not even here, is she? So, are you going to tell me what all the mystery is about?’

‘There is no mystery.’ Theo ignored her sceptical expression. ‘Just a confidential business matter. However, I need to talk to you about the count. It had not occurred to me that he may not be a suitable person for you to associate with. You should keep your distance from him throughout the stay. I could wish I had not involved you now.’