The Disgraceful Mr Ravenhurst

‘Good afternoon, Elinor.’ Lady James hardly glanced up from her work table as Elinor came in, a rustic jug with the wild roses in her hands. She looked around for a free flat surface, then gave up and stood them in the hearth.

‘Good afternoon, Mama. Did you have a good day?’

‘Passable. Those sketches of yours are acceptable, I do not require any of them redone. What was the church at St Père like?’

‘Of as late a date as you supposed,’ Elinor said indifferently. At least she did not have to spend any more time squinting into shadows in the basilica. ‘There are the ruins of the old church next to it, but nothing of any interest remains.’

‘You were a long time.’

‘Cousin Theo and I went for a walk. I found the exercise invigorating after so much time spent drawing.’

‘Very true. A rational way to spend the day, then.’ Lady James added a word to the page, then looked up, apparently satisfied with the sentence she had just completed. ‘What have you done to your hair?’

‘Oh.’ Elinor put up a hand, startled to find the softness against her cheek. ‘My hair net caught on a twig and was torn. I had no hair pins, so braiding it seemed the best thing to do.’ In for a penny… ‘I ordered some new gowns while I was in the village. Cousin Theo’s landlady is a dressmaker.’

‘Nothing extravagant, I trust. There is plenty of wear in that gown for a start.’ Clothing, especially fashionable clothing, was not just an unnecessary expense, but a drug for young women’s minds, in Lady James’s opinion.

‘They are well within my allowance, Mama—a positive bargain, in fact—and they are practical garments.’ She had lost her mother’s attention again. Elinor half-stood, then sat down again. Normally at this point she would retreat and leave Mama in peace, but today, after the experience of spending hours with someone who actually understood the concept of a reciprocal conversation, she felt less patient.

‘Mama, Cousin Theo tells me that there is a most interesting chateau in St Martin, a village beyond St Père. He has an introduction to the count and thought you may like to accompany him tomorrow and see the building.’

‘Hmm?’ Lady James laid down her pen and frowned. ‘Yes, if that is the Chateau de Beaumartin, I have heard of it. I believe it has an unusual early chapel, a remnant of an earlier castle. Tomorrow is not convenient, however.’

‘It is the day Cousin Theo will be visiting. That and no other, he says, so I am afraid we will have to be a little flexible if we are not to miss the opportunity.’

‘Flexible? He obviously has no concept of the importance of routine and disciplined application for a scholar. Very well. I never thought to see the day when I would have to accommodate the whims of a scapegrace nephew.’

‘I believe he is calling on business, not for pleasure, Mama. And he is a most accomplished artist,’ she added, feeling the need to defend Theo in some way. He would be amused to hear her, she suspected. Somehow he seemed too relaxed and self-confident to worry about what one eccentric aunt thought of him. ‘He will be here at ten, Mama.’

‘Indeed? Well, if we are to spend tomorrow out, then we have work to do. Those proofs will not wait any longer, not if I am to entrust them to what passes for the French postal system these days. It pains me to find anything good to say about the Corsican Monster, but apparently he made the mails run on time.’

‘Yes, Mama, I will just go and wash my hands.’ It did not seem possible to say that she would rather spend the remainder of the afternoon while the light held in working up some of the rapid sketches she had made during the day. The one of Theo drawing, for example, or lying stretched out on the river bank with his hat tipped over his nose, or the tiny scribbled notes she had made to remind her of the way that blue creeping flower had hugged the ground.

Never mind, she told herself, opening the door to her little room on the second floor. They would still be there in her pocket sketchbook, and her memory for everything that had happened today was sharp. All except for those soft, vague minutes while Theo had been plaiting her hair and she had fallen asleep. That was like the half-waking moments experienced at dawn, and likely to prove just as elusive.

She splashed her face and washed her hands in the cold water from the washstand jug without glancing in the mirror. She rarely did so, except to check for ink smudges or to make sure the parting down the middle of her hair was straight. Now, as she reached for her apron, she hesitated and tipped the swinging glass to reflect her face. And stared.

Her nose was, rather unfortunately, becoming tanned. Her cheeks were pink and her hair… She looked at least two years younger. Which was probably because she was smiling—not a reaction that looking in the mirror usually provoked. Or was it that?

Elinor assumed a serious expression. She still looked—what? Almost pretty? It must be the softness of those ridiculous tendrils of hair escaping around her forehead and temples. Looking pretty was of no practical use to a bookish spinster. On the other hand, it was rather gratifying to discover that her despised red hair could have that effect. And the unladylike tan at least disguised the freckles somewhat.

What would have happened five years ago during her disastrous come-out if she had dressed her hair like this instead of trying to hide it? Nothing, probably. She was still the younger daughter, destined to remain at home as Mama’s support. And she had always been studious, which immediately put men off. It took a long time, and numerous snubs, before she realised she was supposed to pretend she was less intelligent than they were, even when their conversation was banal beyond belief. But she never could bring herself to pretend. It was no loss; she would be bored to tears as a society wife.

The apron she wore when she was working was still in her hand, the cuff-protectors folded neatly in the pocket. She looked down at the sludge-coloured gown and tossed the apron on to the bed. The gown was going, it might as well go covered in ink spots.

Elinor ran down the twisting stairs, humming. Even the waiting proofs of A comparison between early and late eleventh-century column construction in English churches did not seem so daunting after all.

‘Pink roses?’ Lady James levelled her eyeglass at the crown of Elinor’s villager hat, decorated with some of yesterday’s roses. ‘And ruby-red ribbons? Whatever are you thinking of?’

‘The ribbons match my walking dress, Mama. And I think the roses look charming with it. The dress is one of those Cousin Belinda persuaded me to buy, if you recall. I thought I should make an effort for our call.’

‘Hmm. Where has that young man got to?’ As the clocks had not yet struck ten, this seemed a little harsh.

‘He is just coming, Mama.’ Reprehensibly Elinor had her elbows on the ledge of the open casement and was leaning out to watch the street. ‘Good morning, Cousin Theo. You are very fine this morning.’

‘And you, too.’ He swept off his tall hat and made a leg, causing a passing group of young women to giggle and stare. Biscuit-coloured pantaloons, immaculate linen, a yellow silk waistcoat and a dark blue coat outshone anything to be seen on the streets of Vezelay on a workaday Wednesday morning. ‘Has the bonfire occurred?’

Jeanie, their Scottish maid who had travelled with them from London and who was proving very adaptable to life in France, came down the stairs, opened the door with a quick bob to Theo, then vanished down the street with a large bundle under her arm.

‘Unnecessary, as I told you.’ Elinor whispered, conscious of her mother behind her gathering up reticule and parasol. ‘Jeanie’s on her way to the used-clothes dealer right now.’

‘Do you intend to converse with your cousin through the window like a scullery maid, Elinor, or are we going?’

‘We are going if you are ready, Mama.’

‘I am. Good morning, Theophilus. Now, then, who exactly are these friends of yours?’

‘Good morning, Aunt. Not friends, I have never met the family. I did business with the count’s late father earlier this year, just before his death. There are…complications with the matter that I need to discuss with the son.’

Lady James unfurled her parasol, took Theo’s arm and swept off down the hill, leaving Elinor to shut the door and hurry after them. ‘Count Leon is about my age and lived almost entirely in England since just before the Terror.’

‘His father obviously had the sense to get out in time.’

‘The foresight, certainly. He moved his money to English banks and his portable valuables he placed in hiding in France. The estates and the family chateaux were seized, of course. Most of the furnishings and paintings were dispersed.’

‘And your business with the late count?’

‘Mama!’ Elinor murmured, cringing at the bluntness of the enquiry. Theo was hardly likely to answer that.

‘Why, helping him retrieve the missing items,’ he answered readily. ‘I had some success, especially with the pictures. They are easier to identify than pieces of furniture.’

‘Ah, so you have located some more items,’ Lady James said, apparently happy now she had pinned down Theo’s precise business.

He did not answer. Which means, Elinor thought, studying the back of his neck as though that singularly unresponsive and well-barbered part of his anatomy could give her some clue, Mama is not correct and his business with Count Leon is something else entirely. How intriguing.

Waiting at the bottom of the hill was a closed carriage. Theo’s own? Or had he hired it especially? Determined not to be as openly inquisitive as her mother, Elinor allowed herself to be handed in and set to studying the interior.

Dark blue, well-padded upholstery. Carpet underfoot. Neat netting strung across the roof, cunningly constructed pockets in the doors and pistol holders on either side. Theo’s own, she was certain. Her cousin was a man who enjoyed luxury and valued practicality, she deduced, her gaze on the swinging gold tassels of his Hessian boots and her memory conjuring up the contents of his sketching satchel. But what sort of life encompassed carriages of this quality and the need for rabbit snares?

She lifted her eyes to find him watching her, one dark brow raised. She had been wrong to think he would not do that, she thought. Today, far from the comfortable cousin of yesterday, he was a society gentleman and a rather impressive one at that.

‘I was admiring the appointments of your carriage,’ she said calmly, in response to the raised brow. ‘Although I cannot see the container for the game you snare.’

He gave a snort of laughter, the gentleman turning back into Cousin Theo again. ‘You guessed it was mine?’

‘I am coming to know the style,’ she said, and was rewarded by a smile and an inclination of the head. He looked rather pleased at the compliment.

‘Whatever are you talking about, Elinor?’ Lady James did not wait for a response, but swept on. ‘How far is it, Theophilus?’

‘Another five miles, Aunt. I do not suppose I can prevail upon you to call me Theo?’

‘Certainly not. I do not approve of shortening names. Most vulgar.’

Under cover of brushing his hair back he rolled his eyes at Elinor, almost provoking her to giggles. She frowned repressively and set herself the task of talking her mother into a good humour before they arrived. ‘Do tell me about this chapel, Mama. I am sure I will not appreciate it without your guidance.’ This time Theo crossed his eyes, making her cough desperately and be thankful that the interior of the carriage was dim enough for Mama not to notice.

He was back to being the perfect gentleman again by the time they rolled past the outlying farmhouse, through the gatehouse and into the courtyard of the chateau. ‘I sent ahead yesterday to apprise them of our visit; we should be expected.’

As he spoke the great double doors at the top of the steps swung open and a young man stepped out, two women dressed in mourning black just behind him. Elinor did not like to stare and with the fuss attendant on having the steps let down, retrieving her mother’s reticule from the carriage and following her up the steps, it was not until she was within arm’s length of the count that she saw his face.

It was only the tightly tied garnet ribbons under her chin that stopped her jaw dropping: the Comte Leon de Beaumartin was quite the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

Chapter Five

The pain in his right hand recalled Theo to the fact that he needed to be making introductions, not reacting to the look in Elinor’s eyes when she saw the Count. He relaxed his grip on his cane and removed his hat. His cousin was once more demurely composed; he doubted anyone else had noticed her widening eyes. The count had been looking between them as though to assess their relationship. Now a polite social smile replaced the assessment.

‘Monsieur le Comte?’

‘Monsieur Ravenhurst. I am delighted to meet you at last. My father, unfortunately, told me so little about you.’

I’ll wager he did, Theo thought grimly. ‘Aunt Louisa, may I introduce Comte Leon de Beaumartin? Monsieur, Lady James Ravenhurst, my cousin Miss Ravenhurst.’

The count switched his attention to the ladies, and more particularly to Elinor. Theo was close enough to see his pupils widen. And, of course he has to kiss her hand. Lady James received an elegant bow, Elinor the full flourish ending with a kiss a fraction above her gloved hand. Why the hell does she have to look so damnably pretty this morning? And she doesn’t even realise.

‘Lady James, Miss Ravenhurst. Allow me to introduce my mother, the Countess Christine, and Mademoiselle Julie de Falaise.’ Theo bowed, the countess and Lady James bowed, the younger ladies curtsied. It was all extremely proper. Now all he had to do was engineer an invitation to stay for the three of them and he would be able to search the chateau from garrets to cellars for his property. It was what he needed to do, yet suddenly his appetite for it was waning. Surely that beating he got when the object was taken hadn’t shaken his nerve?

‘We will take coffee,’ the countess pronounced, leading the way across a stone-flagged hallway.

‘My aunt is a notable scholar of ancient buildings,’ Theo interjected smoothly, pulling himself together and following the ladies. ‘As I explained when I wrote, the purpose of our visit is largely that I had hoped you would be willing to show her your famous chapel, ma’am.’

The countess stopped, turned to Lady James and positively beamed. ‘But it is our family pride and joy, madame, I would be delighted to show it to you.’ Her English, like her son’s, was fluent, although accented. Hers was a heavier accent; the count’s, Theo thought darkly, was precisely the sort that sent impressionable English ladies into a flutter. Elinor, of course, was made of sterner stuff. Or so he would have said half an hour ago.

‘Excellent. Kindly lead the way.’ Aunt Louisa thrust her parasol into the hands of the waiting footman, produced a notebook from her capacious reticule and stood waiting.

‘Before coffee?’ The question seemed rhetorical, the countess recognising single-minded obsession when she saw it. ‘This way, then.’

Theo followed them as they went through a small doorway and began to climb a spiral staircase. ‘If you don’t mind?’ he said over his shoulder to the count. ‘I would be most interested.’ And taking advantage of every legitimate opportunity to study the layout of the chateau was essential. He had no intention of creeping about in the small hours with a dark lantern any more than he had to.

He did not stop to see what the other man’s response might be, but ducked through the doorway in the wake of Mademoiselle Julie’s slight figure. There was silence behind him for a second, then the sharp snap of booted feet on the stone floor. Count Leon was coming to keep an eye on him, or was it Elinor?

The turret stair wound up, passing small doors as it went. At one point Aunt Louisa gave an exclamation and pointed to a change in the stonework. ‘Interesting!’ Then, when they had reached what Theo estimated must be the third floor above the ground, the countess opened a door and led them through into a dark, narrow passageway, through another door and into a tiny chamber blazing with coloured light.

Even Theo, who had some idea what to expect, was startled by the rose window filled with red and blue glass that occupied almost the entire end wall. On either side ranged columns with richly carved heads. ‘They are so like those at Vezelay!’ Elinor exclaimed, darting across to study one. ‘But in such good condition, and low down, so we can see them.’

Lady James, for once in her life, appeared speechless. ‘I must study this,’ she pronounced finally. ‘In detail.’

Theo strolled across to Elinor’s side and stooped to whisper, ‘Do what you can to engineer an invitation to stay. For all of us.’ She looked up, startled, then nodded. ‘I would appreciate it.’

The count was standing in the middle of the room, unmoved by Lady James’s ecstasies, his eyes on Theo. ‘Are you really interested in this, Ravenhurst?’ he enquired, his voice puzzled. Theo chose to treat the question as a joke, smiled warmly and continued to study the walls of the chapel. No cupboards, no niches, no apparent changes in the stonework to indicate a blocked-up hiding place. But then, he had not expected to find it here. It would take an atheist, or someone with a careless approach to their faith, to hide that thing in the family chapel.

There was another door on the far side from where they had entered. He strolled across, passing the count. ‘Shall we leave the ladies? There is something I would appreciate discussing with you. Through here, perhaps? I would prefer not to have to spin round another tower.’

Silently Leon led the way, opening the door on to a broad corridor. Theo followed as slowly as he dared, looking about until they reached a panelled door and passed through into what was obviously the study.

Theo suspected it had been the old count’s and hardly changed by his son in the month since he had succeeded. He took a chair on one side of a vast desk, noticing he was not offered refreshment.

‘To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit? Your letter was somewhat lacking in detail beyond your aunt’s interest in architecture,’ Leon remarked, dropping into the chair with its carved arms and high back. Darkly saturnine, he looked like the wicked prince in a fairytale as he frowned across the wide expanse of desk.

‘You will know I assisted your father in recovering some of the family artefacts lost during the Revolution?’ The other man nodded. ‘There was an item I wished to purchase from him, something that had remained in hiding throughout the family’s exile from France.’

Theo watched the count’s face for any betraying sign that he knew that Theo had in fact purchased that item and had lost it, in violent circumstances, a week after the transaction. He rubbed the back of his neck as he waited. The bruising and the torn muscles had healed, but the pain of having been taken completely off his guard still lingered. He had had not so much as a glimpse of the person who had struck him down. Was he facing him now?

’If you speak of the object I assume you are, it has vanished.’ Leon’s frown deepened, his well-modelled lips thinning. ‘My father was murdered the day after he arrived in Paris, having removed it from this chateau in circumstances of extreme secrecy. No sum of money equivalent to even a tenth of its worth was found on him, nor in the Paris house, nor with our bankers.’ He shook his head, his face grim. ‘I still find it hard to believe he could ever have sold it—it was an heirloom. And yet it is gone.’

‘Indeed? I can assure you he intended to.’ Either the man was a damn good actor or he did not know that Theo was the purchaser. ‘What use is an heirloom so shocking that you could never openly admit you had it? An heirloom that none of the ladies of the house must ever catch a glimpse of? Your father intended to sell it because he needed the money. I wish to buy it as the agent of an English collector who will pay handsomely.’

Who had, in fact, paid very handsomely indeed and was expecting the arrival of his purchase days ago. No one else knew about the sale except three rival treasure seekers, one of whom had been sharing his bed. He had not believed Ana, or the English couple, had realised why he was in Paris, his security had been so tight.

‘Perhaps he had already sold it,’ he ventured, probing. ‘Was there no receipt?’ Theo had certainly exchanged them with the count. His had been taken along with the item as he had lain unconscious on the inn floor.

‘There was no receipt in my father’s papers or on his person.’

‘How did your father die?’

‘A blow to the head. We hushed it up as the result of a fall. He was found across the hearth, the back of his skull against the iron fire basket. It may have been an accident,’ Leon conceded as though it caused him pain to do so. ‘But I want the Beaumartin Chalice back.’ He regarded Theo through narrowed eyes. ‘You think I killed him, don’t you?’

That was precisely what Theo thought. That the count had quarrelled with his father, had taken back the Chalice and was now pretending it had gone to cover his actions.

‘Indeed, that had seemed the most logical explanation to me. That you quarrelled with your father when you discovered that he had sold the Chalice, that there was a terrible accident.’ It seemed odd to be naming the thing out loud after months of secrecy, code words and whispers.

They sat looking at each other in silence, contemplating Theo’s cool suggestion. It was the count whose eyes dropped first. ‘I disagreed with him about this. Violently. But we exchanged words only, before he left Beaumartin. I did not kill him, even by accident.’

‘Of course,’ Theo said, injecting warmth into his voice. Now he spoke to the man he was inclined to trust him. Leon had been raised in England—did that mean he shared the same code of honour as Theo? Perhaps.

‘Why do you want it back—other than the fact you cannot trace the money that was paid for it if it was sold and not stolen?’

‘Do you imagine I want that thing out there, bearing our name? It has taken years for the rumours about the family to die down.’

‘It is a work of art and was no doubt destined for a very private collector.’

‘It is an obscenity,’ Leon snapped.

‘Indeed. And a valuable one. Too valuable to melt down and break up.’

‘When I get it back, it will go back into safe keeping, in the most secure bank vault I can find. My father, and his before him, kept it hidden here, in this chateau. After his death I checked—it had gone.’

It is not going into any bank, not if I can help it, Theo thought grimly. His client had paid Theo for the Chalice. It was now his, however much the count might deny it. His lordship would not even accept the return of his money. He wanted that Chalice, and what he wanted, he got.

It was an impasse. He thought the Court believed Theo did not have it, had not bought it in the first place and was here now attempting to locate it. Count Leon was convincing, too, when he said that it was missing and that he had not harmed his own father, but Theo had not been in this business so long without learning to trust no one. It could be an elaborate bluff to remove all suspicion from the family and keep the money.

And if the man did have it, he had no belief in Leon’s announcement that he would put it in a vault. Leon was a traditionalist—it would stay here, in hiding, as it had been for hundreds of years. He was still going to check. ‘Shall we rejoin the ladies?’