Sweet Revenge Part 40

1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350F. Generously b.u.t.ter ramekin or 1 m.u.f.fin cup.

2. Cook b.u.t.ter (1 tablespoon), cream, chocolate, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, cayenne, and a pinch of salt in a 1- to 1-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in egg until combined. Fold in bread cubes and let stand 5 minutes.

3. Fill an 8 ounce ramekin with bread mixture and bake until puffed and set around edge but still moist in center, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving. Serves one.

The thump of approaching steps jarred her out of a dreamlike haze. She raised her cheek from Saybrook's shoulder and stepped back. "What-"

"Reinforcements," murmured the earl.

Before he could elaborate, Henning burst out of the darkened tunnel, brandishing a cavalry pistol. Behind him was a band of ragged men armed mostly with cudgels, though one or two naval cutla.s.ses glinted in what light was left.

Skidding to a stop, the surgeon surveyed the chaos. "h.e.l.l and d.a.m.nation. I promised the laddies that they would get to kick a few lordly a.r.s.es, and here you have gone and spoiled all the fun."

"My profound apologies." said Saybrook dryly. "Next time I shall be more considerate of your men's tender sensibilities." He nodded at the ex-soldiers and sailors. "You can still lend a hand by carrying this corpse outside."

"What about that bilge rat?" asked one of the men, pointing to where c.o.c.kburn lay curled in the corner.

"Leave him for now," replied the earl. "Baz, perhaps you could tend to his scratches. We wouldn't want him to bleed to death before we hand him over to the authorities."

At that, c.o.c.kburn's whimpers grew louder.

The surgeon blew out a huff of disgust. "I'd rather cut off his cojones. But I suppose we ought to let justice take its proper course." He gave a curt wave at Gavin's lifeless form. "Haul the carca.s.s away, laddies. And keep a close guard on things outside until we decide how te deal with this night's work."

"It was all Gavin . . . he forced me . . . I can explain . . . ," began c.o.c.kburn.

Ignoring the appeal, Henning turned to Arianna. "What about you, la.s.sie? Are ye hurt?"

She shook her head. "No. A few b.u.mps is all." She chafed at her arms, feeling a chill seep through her skin now that the warmth of Saybrook's big body was gone. "And perhaps a slight headache from the Devil's Delight."

The surgeon brushed a callused fingertip to her cheek. "I've got some arnica salve in the carriage. It will keep the bruising down." To the earl he added, "I thought ye were going to keep her safe! Did ye stop fer a wee dram along the way?"

"Don't badger the earl," she murmured. "He was . . ." A storybook hero? No, that made her sound like a sentimental schoolgirl. "He was . . . quite efficient, especially considering his recent injury."

"Yes, well, we have chocolate to thank for a happy ending to this affair," quipped Saybrook. "I owe my restored strength to its potent healing properties."

Healing. For all her aches and bruises, Arianna realized that she felt remarkably free of pain.

"Help me! I'm dying." c.o.c.kburn's piteous whine interrupted their exchange.

"Ye deserve to," muttered the surgeon, reluctantly shuffling over to the marquess.

"I swear, it was all Gavin's idea," repeated c.o.c.kburn, as Henning began to tend to his injured hands.

"Indeed?" said Arianna. She imagined that Saybrook would subject the dastard to a thorough interrogation, but first she had some questions of her own. "We've already figured out the basics of the stock scheme, and I now understand why Prinny was poisoned. But how did Major Crandall fit in? Why did he try to kill Lady Spencer's chef?"

"C-Crandall was my cousin." c.o.c.kburn groaned as Henning staunched the bleeding with strips of linen torn from Gavin's cravat. "He was recruited to keep us informed about state security activities."

"So it was he who told you about the upcoming secret meeting of allies?" asked the earl.

"Yes," answered c.o.c.kburn. "The timing seemed perfect, and he was supposed to ensure that the chef was blamed for the Prince's demise. But when you were called in to investigate, it was decided to eliminate the chef. You see, Gavin worried that the cursed fellow had spotted him sneaking into the kitchen."

Arianna thought back to the night, and the other shadowy figure she had seen with Concord in the corridor. "So Concord knew nothing about the poisoned chocolate?"

"No, nothing at all. We-That is, Gavin made up an excuse concerning the Devil's Delight narcotic in order to arrange for a clandestine meeting at Lady Spencer's town house. He claimed it was urgent business, but he didn't want Lady Spencer to know of the partnership, lest she demand a cut." c.o.c.kburn drew a deep breath. "As we told you, Concord was unaware of our plans for a New World trading company. He only became suspicious when Kellton panicked over Crandall's death and ended up revealing more about the scope of the business than he should have."

How ironic, thought Arianna. Once again, the echo of her father's laugh began to whisper in her head, along with the lines of his favorite poem. The best laid plans of mice and men . . .

"And Lady Spencer had no idea about any of this, either?" she asked.

"No. She was only involved with Concord and Kellton on a minor deal to supply cheap boots to the army at premium price. Her role was to persuade the Prince to award them the contract."

Saybrook shifted his stance, throwing his face deeper into shadow. "Kellton was brought in because of his experience with the East India Company, correct?"

"He was very clever with numbers and had a great deal of experience with drafting shipping records," confirmed c.o.c.kburn. "But more than that, his amorous relationship with Lady Spencer allowed him to gain access to certain important financial papers. Her grandfather was-"

"We know who he was," interrupted Arianna. "Just as we know his papers were key in helping you create your new company's calculations."

"How-," began c.o.c.kburn.

"Never mind that," said Saybrook brusquely. "I want to know more about Crandall. He was Grentham's lackey, so does that mean that the minister is one of your conspirators?"

"G.o.d, no. If Grentham has a weakness, it is not money." c.o.c.kburn grimaced. "Nor anything else that I could discern. I was delegated to judge whether he might be tempted to join our group, but in the end, I advised that it was too dangerous to try."

"So it was you, from your position in the Foreign Ministry, who made contact with the French?" pressed the earl.

"N-n.o.body in Europe is going to stop Napoleon," responded c.o.c.kburn evasively. "His new army is going to thrash the Eastern opposition. So it was in our country's best interest to engineer an end to this interminable conflict and sue for peace." His voice grew more wheedling. "Think of all the lives that would be saved."

"And what of my father?" asked Arianna softly. "Why did you and Gavin decide that he should die?

c.o.c.kburn wet his lips. "I swear, it wasn't my decision. I was quite fond of Richard-really I was. But he cost us a great deal of money by refusing a reasonable fee to handle the mathematics for a very lucrative deal with a Baltic supplier of naval supplies."

Her father's blood, calculated in buckets of pine tar and spruce spars.

"And then, he threatened to expose the arrangement. So, well . . ." c.o.c.kburn gave a beseeching lift of his shoulders. "I was an ocean away! Had I been there, I would have tried to use reason. But as you saw, Lady Arianna, Gavin could turn violent when crossed. If only Richard hadn't pushed him."

If only. Arianna couldn't find her voice. She looked away, only to catch a fleeting glance of Saybrook's lidded gaze darkening to the color of coal.

"Getting back to the present crimes, you must have a French contact here in London. Who is he-or she?" demanded Saybrook, darting a sidelong glance at her. "For I've learned not to underestimate the female intellect."

"I-I don't know, I swear! Gavin arranged it all. I only know his code name. R-renard."

The fox.

"How very crafty of you," murmured Arianna. "Did you think a plea of ignorance would excuse your treason?"

"Gavin was just a lowly baronet, and had become obsessed with acquiring wealth and power above his station-he went too far! I couldn't stop him." c.o.c.kburn was babbling now, and appealing to the earl with a wave of his newly bandaged hands. "Surely you see that, Saybrook. He wasn't a true gentleman, not like us. G.o.d help me but I was as much a victim as anyone. I agreed to skim a few profits, not be party to murder. Once it began, I had no choice but to go along with his plans. You'll help me explain it all to the authorities, because . . . because . . ."

"Because of the bonds of blue blood?" suggested the earl. "The fraternity of t.i.tled families whose heritage stretches back centuries?"

"Yes. Precisely." Expelling a sigh of relief, c.o.c.kburn flashed a sweaty smile. "I knew you would understand."

"Ah, but you forget that I am a mongrel." Saybrook grimaced in disgust. "And you-you are a contemptible cur."

c.o.c.kburn's jaw went slack.

"Take him away, Baz. Before I succ.u.mb to the urge to kick his b.l.o.o.d.y teeth out through his a.r.s.e."

The echo of the receding steps seemed to distort in the heavy air, for to Arianna, the thuds suddenly sounded like soft claps that were coming closer and closer.

"Bravo, Lord Saybrook." Grentham emerged from the gloom, his leather-clad hands coming together in mock applause. "Bravo. A most entertaining performance. Normally, I dislike it intensely when a crisis demands that I leave the comforts of my office and take charge of an actual mission. But I wouldn't have missed this one for the world."

Saybrook swung around with a scowl. "How edifying to know that I provided you with such amus.e.m.e.nt. Would you have enjoyed an extra laugh had the lady's throat been cut?"

"It was imperative to have c.o.c.kburn confess to his crimes," replied the minister. "By the by, you did an excellent job of drawing the details out of him. As I said, I much prefer to let my underlings mop up the muck, so it saved me a great deal of bother."

"Be grateful that I don't ram those supercilious words right back down you gullet," growled Saybrook. "You, too, have some explaining to do."

"Do I?" Grentham arched an imperious brow. "Actually, I don't answer to anyone. The Prime Minister has entrusted me with state security and doesn't much care how I get the job done."

"Officially speaking, you may be right." Saybrook flexed his b.l.o.o.d.y hands. "But at the moment I'm not in the mood for word games, Grentham. Why did you draw me into this mess?"

For a moment, it appeared to Arianna as if the minister wouldn't answer. Then, with a slight shrug, he said, "I suspected Crandall was spying on me, but hadn't yet figured out why. I needed someone outside my department to put pressure on him and his fellow conspirators. I had overheard your uncle mentioning your interest in chocolate. I knew of your war record, of course, and your intelligence work with Wellington's staff. So, seeing as chocolate was the agent used for the poisoning, I took a chance on bringing you in."

"Figuring you had nothing to lose," said the earl. "Whether I made a mull of it, or got myself killed, it didn't really matter."

"I did all I could to aid your investigations."

"Right-the dossier on Kellton." Saybrook frowned. "How long did you know about Lady Arianna?"

"That was, I confess, an unexpected twist. . . ."

Arianna felt his cold gaze flick to her.

"Not that it really matters who she is," added Grentham.

"G.o.dd.a.m.n you," growled Saybrook. "If anything had happened-"

"Tut, tut, surely there wasn't any real danger. After all, you a.s.sured me on several occasions that you were quite capable of defending yourself." Grentham shot another faintly contemptuous look at Arianna. "And the females who are under your protection." The acrid air quivered with a deliberately drawn-out pause. "You seem quite fond of surrounding yourself with less than respectable ones."

A crystalline crackle broke the silence as Saybrook took several quick strides over the broken gla.s.s, bringing him nearly nose to nose with the minister. "Excuse us for a moment, Lady Arianna, while Lord Grentham and I step outside for a word in private."

After a slight hesitation, the minister followed him into the tunnel.

"Well?" drawled Grentham, his breath forming a pale puff of vapor against the netherworld shadows.

In answer, the earl seized him by the lapels and slammed him up against the rock wall. Chalk dust blossomed from the fissures, coating Grentham's well-tailored shoulders with a sprinkling of grit.

"Having done your dirty work for you, I'm anxious to go home and wash my hands of Whitehall and its sordid games. But before I do, let us get a few things straight. First of all, leave my family alone. Or do you wish to have your own peccadilloes made public?"

Grentham's nostrils flared. "Don't try to taunt me with vague threats, Saybrook. You heard c.o.c.kburn-I had no involvement in his filthy scheme."

"Perhaps not, but you, of all people, nursed a traitorous viper-several, in fact-at the very bosom of the government's highest ministries. At best, you will look like a b.l.o.o.d.y fool. At worst . . . well, I shall leave it to the newspapers to debate the possibilities. There is, after all, still the matter of an unknown French operative loose in London."

The earl's words wiped the last trace of smugness from Grentham's face.

"Second, I will not have Lady Arianna suffer for finding herself caught in this intrigue. Is that understood?"

"Let a murderer go free? Tsk, tsk, where is your n.o.ble sense of justice now?" Seeing Saybrook's jaw tighten, the minister added, "Oh, yes, I've figured that one out. Henning is a clever surgeon, but so is the fellow I employ for certain tasks."

"She has paid more than enough for her father's sins. If now she wishes to take her rightful place in Society, you will do nothing to stir up trouble for her."

"Trouble? Lady Arianna has created her own trouble." A note of malice had crept back into the minister's voice. "Even if I were to agree to your demands, she can hardly appear in London, claiming to be Richard Hadley's daughter. Not after parading around Mayfair these last few weeks as the Widow Wolcott."

The earl remained grimly silent.

"And be a.s.sured that no explanation of this affair will ever be made public. It will be reported that Gavin perished in a carriage accident, fleeing after killing Concord in a drunken fight over gambling debts." The minister dusted a speck of chalk from his lapel. "And alas, c.o.c.kburn will suffer a hunting accident at his country house. A faulty cartridge, I believe. Yes, yes, it will explode his new rifle, taking off his hands and head."

"Plausible explanations," agreed the earl. "a.s.suming I agree to stay quiet. But if I don't . . ." Despite the murky spill of smoke and shadows, his low murmur carried clearly. "The blood in my veins may be less than blue, amigo, but I'm still the Earl of Saybrook."

It was Grentham's turn to remain mute.

"So, it seems to me that despite our personal antipathy, it's of mutual benefit to cooperate. In return for my silence, you will leave Lady Arianna alone."

"I am not in the habit of leaving stray pieces around that may come back to embarra.s.s the government," answered Grentham slowly. "Or worse."

"Nonetheless, in this case you will allow me to arrange things as I see fit. You have my word that neither the government nor your own precious reputation for efficiency will suffer any consequences." Saybrook allowed a small pause. "Do we have a deal?"

"For now." Grentham took a candle from his pocket and struck a flint to the wick. "But be advised, I expect you to make this complication go away. Quickly."

The earl nodded grimly. "I'll take care of it."

"You had better, Lord Saybrook." The flame burned bright in the still air, a hot spot of color in the darkness. "For I shall be watching you very carefully from now on. And waiting for you to make a slip."

Closing her eyes, Arianna slumped back against the leather seat of the earl's carriage, undecided if the feeling pulsing through her body was exhaustion or elation. Henning had forced her to drink a bit of brandy, and in truth, the heat of the spirits was pleasantly pooled in her belly, and radiating out to her limbs. . . .

Or perhaps the warmth was coming from Saybrook. He had drawn close, and her head was tipped onto his shoulder.

"Feeling better?" he asked quietly.

"Mmmm. Yes. Thanks to you." She shifted. "How did you know where I had gone?"

"Lady Spencer," he answered. "I also stopped to have a chat with Ashmun, to make sure he was telling us the truth. And when it came out that Gavin was one of the most dangerous of your father's friends, I feared you might be in more trouble tonight than you bargained for."

"But Ashmun never mentioned Gavin in our meeting!" she exclaimed.