Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave - Stephanie Barron [137]
I had not quite forgiven such a man. “I should have preferred us to work in concert, my lord,” I said tartly, fingering my bruised throat. “Was that so impossible?”
“Not without exposing you to extreme danger, such as you have only just escaped,” he returned, glancing at Madame. The lady could only appear ridiculous at this point, despite her murderous hands; her costume was torn, her wig discarded, and a quantity of false cobwebs fluttered about her face. In her eyes, however I read still her talent for evil.
Even Harold Trowbridge was sobered by a look in Ma-dame's direction. He turned back to his tale with obvious relief. “I remained at Scargrave long enough to ascertain that it was Madame Delahoussaye who harboured the chief interest in Crosswinds—and as its trustee, this was not altogether remarkable. I lacked proof of her malevolence, however, until the day before I left—having pressured the Countess into signing a worthless paper, as a final nasty flourish with which to make my exit. For my true purpose had been satisfied the previous evening, when Madame had approached me with a provocative proposition.”
There was the sound of a throat clearing in the corner, and with a profound venom, the bound woman spat. A pustule of phlegm landed on the floor just short of Lord Harold; with infinite grace and irony, he smeared it to nothing with his boot.
“She told me that however much I preyed upon the Countess, I should never obtain the property I sought without her own consent—and a handsome fee. From her elliptical questions regarding my motives, I perceived that Madame believed that it was the port I wanted—until that moment, I had not known the port was so valuable—for reasons of my own; but I little understood then that she, too, had designs upon the port, of a far more destructive nature, and on behalf of a far deadlier client. I knew nothing of the true nature of her schemes, and thought only that she wished to extort a princely sum for her consent to the sale. Having considered her demands—which were enormously high—I was to wait upon her in London after the holiday.
“I left Scargrave the next day, and consulted my brother—who, despite his fatuous appearance, is a man of probity and sense much valued at the Ministry of War—and it was Bertie's view that I should accompany him on a mission he had only then received, of parlaying with his French counterpart regarding the disposition of the French Navy. While in the country, I should endeavour to learn what I could about deep-water ports in the West Indies; and so I agreed.
“I had not been long abroad when it became clear to me why Madame had fenced with me so guardedly—why, indeed, a port attached to the property should be so valuable. She had nothing less in train than the betrayal of the British Navy—and she intended to be paid for it twice. Having bartered the port to me, she should as readily offer it to Buonaparte—and trust that the French Navy should discourage any thought I might have of pressing my claim. I returned in haste to England, intending to play her like a fish until she should betray enough to incriminate herself; and she very soon waited upon me at Wilborough House, to learn my decision. She had a new impatience about her that I judged to arise from fear; though what had caused her to become anxious—when the trial of her niece was so nearly achieved, and my own suspicions so closely guarded—I could not comprehend. But I have since learned from Mr: Cranley that you, Miss Austen, precipitated her