'He is helping to negotiate with anyone who might help. Now do you believe me?'
Elinor nodded slowly. 'I believe that he is alive, and you come from him,' she said slowly. 'I cannot believe you are right that Francis wishes to marry me merely as a trap for Kit.'
'That is a lot to accept, and I am sure Francis desires you for yourself,' Sir Talbot said dryly. 'Dare you risk it?'
Elinor shook her head slowly. 'I cannot decide what to do.'
He smiled, and she realised yet again how attractive he was when his eyes crinkled at the corners.
'Then you will at least come with me and see Kit? I mean to take you whether you wish it or no, but it will be pleasanter travelling if you are sensible.'
*
They left the von Groots a few days later. Elinor had great difficulty in being as grateful as she should, for Mistress von Groot was hinting slyly that her recovery was largely due to her husband's attentions, and Elinor was both angry and embarrassed.
She rode silently, her anger partly against Sir Talbot who had compromised her, and barely spoke until they reached Ingatestone and he asked if she wished to rest there.
'I am not tired. How far is it to London?' she replied curtly.
'When we reach Brentford we shall be half way. It isn't much further, we could dine there and be in London this evening.'
However, when they reached Brentford she was so stiff she would have fallen if Sir Talbot had not kept his arm about her as he lifted her down from her horse.
'We'll sleep here tonight,' he decided, and refused to listen to her protests that she would be fit enough after a meal.
'It is stiffness only, and I have delayed you long enough,' she said crossly.
'Yes, you've been a confounded nuisance,' he agreed with a laugh. 'We stay here tonight. I've no wish to find myself your nursemaid yet again,' he added provocatively.
She almost flounced into the inn. The landlord appeared and Sir Talbot ordered dinner in a private parlour and two bedrooms for himself and his niece. Elinor, who had only just begun to consider how they would manage that night, tried haltingly to thank him. He grinned at her.
'I've had quite enough of sleeping on a truckle bed,' he pointed out. 'If mine host thinks I am somewhat young for an uncle he cannot disprove it.'
She considered him as he sat staring thoughtfully out of the window. Previously she had given no thought to his age, but now she guessed he was in his late twenties, a few years older than Kit. When he laughed he looked young and carefree, but as he frowned abstractedly she decided he might pass as a young uncle.
His curt command to her to cease daydreaming and come to the table might have been part of his deception, she decided, for when the landlord and maid had left the room his manner changed and he began asking questions about her life in Norfolk.
'They believe Kit to be dead?'
'I am certain Uncle Edward did, though Aunt Theodora hoped not. She was fonder of us.'
'And Francis never hinted he knew Kit was alive?'
'I've only your word that he knew,' she retorted, still unwilling to accept Francis had deceived her.
Sir Talbot had acquired a book from somewhere, and became engrossed in it while the maid cleared the table, and Elinor set to making slight alterations to her other gown. He was preoccupied at supper, and when immediately afterwards he suggested she ought to retire she meekly went to her room. She had not felt tired, but fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
*
She woke early, to brilliant sunshine and the delighted laughter of children in the garden. When she looked out of the window she saw two little girls playing with some puppies in the small walled garden behind the inn. Smiling, she determined to join them, and dressed hastily, tying her curls back with a blue ribbon Matt had thoughtfully provided along with the gowns.
She went to the door and lifted the latch. Nothing happened, and it was some seconds before she realised it was locked. Sir Talbot must have locked her in.
Furious, she beat on the door and shouted for help. Footsteps approached, and the key turned in the lock.
'My dear child, there is no need for such a commotion,' Sir Talbot chided, a gleam of amusement in his eye as he surveyed her own bright ones and her flaming cheeks.
He was wearing only his shirt and riding breeches, which emphasised his dark good looks, but Elinor was in no mood to appreciate them.
'How dare you lock me in?' she stormed, and suddenly became aware of an interested audience consisting of the landlord, his wife, two maids and the potboy. The landlord approached hesitantly.
'Is there a problem?' he asked deferentially.
Sir Talbot turned to him. 'Not at all, my niece thought the door was locked when it was merely sticking. Elinor, breakfast is ready, I will join you in the parlour when I have finished dressing.'
She stalked angrily past him, and in a very short while he followed her into the parlour. She swung round towards him.
'How dare you!' she demanded again.
'I dare because I promised Kit. I could not risk your trying to escape. Now sit down and eat.'
'I am not hungry,' she replied angrily.
'Don't be childish,' he said firmly. 'Sit down or I will force you to.'
'I'll not sit with you!' she replied, turning to stare angrily out of the window.
She tried not to flinch as she heard his footsteps approach nearer, but she gasped when he caught her from behind and swung her into his arms. Frantically she kicked out as he carried her across the room, but he merely laughed and dumped her unceremoniously into a chair. When she sprang to her feet and tried to beat his chest with her fists he seized them and held her helpless, while she spluttered with impotent fury.
'You are a bully, you're vile and hateful!' she raged.
'And your uncle, remember, who will chastise you as you deserve. I'd take pleasure in teaching you obedience, my dear!'
She stared up at him, suddenly still, knowing he meant what he said. Then she took a deep breath.
'You dare not,' she challenged him quietly. 'I'll tell them the truth, I'll charge you with abduction.'
'Then I'd better revert to the tale that you are my wife, and send to Mistress von Groot for confirmation.'
She bit her lip. That would seem to prove his story. Before she could think of an answer the door opened, and he swiftly pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest and his lips enforcing her silence as they captured her mouth. Taken utterly by surprise Elinor did not move, and the door had closed again by the time he released her.
'Merely the coffee, my dear,' he said mockingly. 'We have made a runaway match. The landlord has a streak of sentimentality in him and will respect my confidence, and accept the explanation that we have been travelling as uncle and niece to throw your guardians off the scent. Now sit down before I revert to avuncular persasions.'
Shattered by the storm of emotion that had swept over her while she had been held in his embrace, Elinor complied. She ate and drank what he put before her, her thoughts whirling chaotically as she tried to understand why she felt so odd, both weak and exhilarated as she had never felt before.
*
Chapter 5
Throughout the morning Elinor barely spoke. They rode through the busy market town of Romford, with the noise and bustle of farmers and their livestock, and the wild silence of Epping Forest. She was confused, unable to understand why this man's kisses had evoked such new sensations within her, and consequently seethed with frustration. He had been angry, his hard lips and imprisoning arms had left her in no doubt of that. Was that why she had felt helpless, her legs weak and her heart pounding in unison with his as he had held her close? She tried to forget it, but despite her efforts the comparison of his kiss and those which Francis had given her could not be dismissed from her mind. Francis's kisses, gentle and adoring, had stirred her no more than the casual greetings of her brother. Finally she concluded that some alchemy had transferred Sir
Talbot's anger to her, which explained the restlessness of her mind and limbs.
Elinor was able to thrust these reflections to the back of her mind when they came nearer to London. Near Bow Bridge the many new country houses were evidence of the growing prosperity of the London merchants, who retreated to them to escape the noise and smoke and stench of the city.
'Is this London?' she asked in awe, breaking a long silence.
Sir Talbot emerged from his own abstraction. 'No, we have some miles yet to go.'
'But there are so many people!' she protested.
'And will be more. Do you know any towns?'
'I know Norwich, and that is the second largest town in England.'
'London is probably twenty times larger, and there are many towns and villages round about, separated sometimes by only a few fields.'
Elinor stared as they joined other travellers, in carriages, riding and walking. Carts and waggons loaded high with all sorts of provisions jostled with herds of cattle and sheep, and fluttering squawking flocks of geese.
When they reached Aldgate and passed the massive Tower Sir Talbot roused himself again to tell Elinor something of the history of it. She exclaimed at the myriads of masts visible beyond it in the Pool, and conceded that London must indeed be far larger than Norwich to sustain such a vast amount of trade.
'Where are we going?' she asked rather diffidently as they continued through seemingly endless narrow streets.
'A house beyond Covent Garden, near Leicester Fields,' he replied briefly.
'Is that near Bishop's Gate?' she asked suddenly, recalling that Francis had lodgings there. If she could find him she might be able to discover the truth from him. Sir Talbot eyed her in amusement.
'No, that is to the north-east, we shall be at the other side. I doubt if you and Francis will meet.'
Elinor pursed her lips together.
'Who do we stay with, and am I to pass as your niece, your wife or your prisoner?' she demanded.
He grinned in a manner she found puzzling. 'An old friend will shelter us, who is well aware I have neither wife nor nieces. I shall require your promise not to leave the house without me, otherwise I shall hold you prisoner.'
'And if I refuse to promise?' she asked rebelliously.
'Your accommodation will be – shall we say unpleasant? There is an excellent cellar, not many rats or spiders. I think you will be sensible, my dear.'
*
She shivered, then forgot her troubles as she gazed at the many fine buildings they passed, especially the churches rebuilt by the famous Christopher Wren after the huge fire which had destroyed much of London fifty years earlier. The New St Paul's had only recently been completed, Sir Talbot explained, and the aging Sir Christopher was still Surveyor-General.
When they had passed over the noxious Fleet River, an open sewer, the streets widened and the air was fresher. Sir Talbot left the wide Strand, threading his way through several narrower streets until he halted before a new, flat fronted house, one of a terrace four storeys high.
Matt led away the horses and Sir Talbot trod up two shallow steps to knock on the door. A servant in smart blue livery opened it, smiled in welcome, and stood back to permit them to enter.
'Come, Elinor,' he said briskly, and she tried to suppress her apprehension as she went into a narrow hall.
Almost at once there was a rustle of silk skirts from the back of the hall where a flight of stairs curved upwards, and a woman with flaming red hair, dressed in an ivory coloured gown with the widest skirts Elinor had ever seen, came running towards them.
'Talbot, my love!' she cried, flinging herself into his arms. 'I've missed you so!'
He caught her to him and swung her off her feet, then kissed her heartily, oblivious of Elinor and the servant. At last he disentangled himself from her clinging embrace, but he left his arm about her waist as he turned towards Elinor.
'Belinda, I have brought a guest. Mistress Elinor Dakers, Kit's sister. Elinor, Mistress Belinda Froome.'
Belinda smiled, holding out one hand while she kept the other tucked in Sir Talbot's arm.
'Welcome, Mistress Elinor. I met your brother in Paris. How rude you must think me, but I truly did not see you, and this naughty man has been away from me for so long! Come, both of you, we will have wine and I will arrange for rooms.'
She cast a mischievous glance at Sir Talbot and suddenly Elinor was sure only one room would be prepared. It was clear Mistress Froome considered Sir Talbot her own property. They sat sipping wine, and while the others talked of mutual friends Elinor studied Belinda unobtrusively. She had a voluptuous figure, tightly laced but with a fairly modest neckline. Her features were very lovely, delicate and perfectly proportioned, and when she listened to Sir Talbot she had a trick of catching her lip between pearly white teeth. No wonder he was entranced, Elinor thought, and had that fatuous smile on his face.
'Robert has gone to Nottingham but he wants to see you. I said I expected you. I fear he will be here soon!' she added, laughing.
He grinned. 'Are you bored? Have you no part now?'
'Not until next week. I hoped you would be here before then.'
'Belinda is an actress,' Sir Talbot explained, suddenly conscious of Elinor's silence. 'if we have to remain here long I will take you to one of her performances.'
'Aunt Theodora disapproved of the theatre,' she replied sharply. He treated her as a child, she thought, offering a reward for good behaviour so that he was free to sport with a wanton. He would soon discover she could not be so cajoled.
He laughed. Elinor coloured, aware he had read her thoughts exactly. She was relieved when Belinda took her up to a small pretty bedroom at the back of the house, next to her own, she said, and promised to call her when supper was ready.
Elinor was glad to lie down, for the last two days had been exhausting after her illness. At first, through a half doze, she was aware of people talking against a background of many other noises, but when a woman laughed she was suddenly sure Sir Talbot was with Belinda in the next room. She tried not to listen to the mingled voices, his deep and low, hers lighter, but during the many lengthy silences she found herself imagining Belinda clasped in his arms, kissing him and being kissed as ruthlessly as he had kissed Elinor.
Aghast at the trend of her thoughts, Elinor tried to blot them out, but they returned forcefully during supper. Belinda wore a green silk gown and a fabulous emerald necklace, and Elinor wondered scornfully whether she afforded such jewels and maintained this very elegant house on an actress's wages. She forced herself to respond cordially when Belinda spoke of Kit.
'I met him at St Germain just after he was married. So sad for them to be parted so soon afterwards. His wife is charming.'
'I understood King James had been forced to go to Avignon?' Elinor said, puzzled.
'Yes, and most of his friends left France because they were an embarrassment to the Regent. The Queen Mother remained, however, and James needed trustworthy friends near her to bring influence on the Duc d'Orleans. Kit, wed to a French girl, could remain without suspicion.'
'Then why did he go to Spain?'
'To report directly on conditions in France.'
'We are more likely to receive help from Charles of Sweden,' Belinda commented. 'If only some of his soldiers could be brought here George would scuttle back to Hanover. Our miserable army would take one look at them and disperse!'
'They would not!' Elinor denied indignantly. 'Francis says they are as good as in Marlborough's time!'
Sir Talbot looked amused. 'Most are the dregs of society, and so many men have been recruited recently half of them don't know one end of a musket from another. The officers are inefficient, and most of them do not care. If Mar in Scotland or Forster in Preston had been good leaders the invasion must have succeeded, but they threw away every advantage.'
'If he is so short of good officers why has the Hanoverian dismissed Bolingbroke? He was good and we have now lost a friend,' Belinda
commented.
'He should know better than to share his mistress with French Ministers,' Sir Talbot said angrily. 'Bolingbroke revealed our plans without being aware of what he did, and the accommodating Claudine passed them on to the Abbé Dubois. He is violently in favour of George. Far too much was known in England of our plans.'
'Poor Bolingbroke. A good soldier, who probably believed the bedroom was a respite from war!' Belinda laughed, with a provocative glance at Sir Talbot.
'Some men can combine business with pleasure,' he responded. 'I contrive to.'
She chuckled. 'Indeed, but we embarrass Elinor. Where is James now?'
'In Italy, at Urbino. George threatened the Pope's Italian lands if he did not remove his guest further from England. He hopes to push James to Rome, which would alienate those English Protestants who see no threat to their Church.'
'So Protestant Swedes would be preferable to Catholic Spaniards,' Belinda mused. 'I hear the Legation here is involved in plots.'
'I know nothing of that. Robert must bring me up to date with developments.'
The talk went on, but Elinor contributed little, being preoccupied with plans for discovering where Francis lodged. She could not be content until she had confronted him and discovered whether he had known Kit was still alive, and if so why he had not told her. She had only Sir Talbot's word for any of it, she reminded herself. Belinda's talk could be part of some mad plot.
If she could leave this house she could begin inquiries at the Tower, near to Bishop's Gate, where there was a garrison. Full of plans, she was abstracted for the rest of the evening, and retired to bed in a comparatively cheerful frame of mind.
*
Next morning Elinor found Sir Talbot alone in the dining room.
'Help yourself,' he gestured to an array of cold meats on a marquetry-decorated walnut table.
Elinor took some ham and sat opposite him. 'What happens now?'
'We wait for Robert Greystoke. He may have a mission for me.'
'A mission? Then you may not go to France?'
'Indeed I will, my dear. I fully intend to deliver you to Kit. I may have messages to carry.'
'I would like to see something of London while I am here. I never will be again since Francis is unlikely to wish to marry me,' Elinor said in a carefully casual voice.