Behind the Mask (House of Lords) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to your confinement.”
    “It is no trouble, Lady Sidney.”
    Miss Chesney stepped up next, embracing the duchess and then taking the duke’s hand. “It is so good to see you both again. I feel as though it is an age since we said goodbye.”
    The duke smiled, but his attention was fixed on Colin.
    “Your Graces,” Lady Sidney said, “may I present Lord Colin Pierce? He is a friend of Leo’s, traveling up with us from town to view Sidney Park.”
    “Of course,” the duke said, extending his hand. Colin took it, looking him directly in the eye, realizing that he was being weighed and measured. “Good to have you,” Danforth said at last. “Welcome to Starling Court.”
    When all the girls had been welcomed, they went into the grand foyer of the house. Though it was not truly his purpose, Colin still had to appreciate the architectural beauty of Starling Court, with its large great hall extending clear up to the top of the house. The duchess led the women off into a parlor, and Colin was left standing with the duke.
    “Come into the study,” Danforth said. “It’s not too early for a brandy.”
    When they were both seated before the great fireplace in the duke’s study, Danforth looked thoughtfully at him. “Well?” Colin said. “Have I been found wanting, Your Grace?”
    The duke grinned. “Call me Charles, if you would. You seem like a decent enough fellow. And Leo trusts you, which is perhaps more important than anything else. I value his judgment.” From his pocket Charles drew a letter, still neatly folded, and handed it across to Colin. “Read it if you like.”
    Colin unfolded the paper. It was a short note from Leo, explaining in bare terms the basic purpose of his mission. He is one of us , Leo wrote at the end. Trust him as you would trust me.
    Nodding, he handed the paper back to Charles, who said, “I can tell you that there have been no suspicious visitors to this area. I rode out with my steward this morning after I got this letter and we visited most of the houses in the parish. I would imagine, though, that the men you seek would put in closer to Gorleston.”
    “That was my guess as well,” Colin said.
    “And who do you believe they are?”
    Colin thought for a moment. He had been instructed not to reveal his purpose to anyone except Leo, but Leo trusted this man implicitly. It would do no harm to tell him the truth. “A group called the Serraray. It comes from the Berber translation of a phrase from the Quran, the Muslim holy book, roughly translating as ‘We hear and obey’. They are a fringe group devoted to the overthrow of the French occupation of Algeria.”
    “I see. How will murdering Princess Victoria help them to achieve that end?”
    Colin shrugged. “It won’t, at least not directly. It is a show of strength, an act of intimidation. They have an opportunity, and they mean to take it.”
    Charles sat back in his chair and rubbed a hand thoughtfully over his chin. “Was there no thought of asking the Duchess of Kent not to take her daughter on this journey?”
    For a moment Colin stared at him. “Have you never met Sir John Conroy?” he asked.
    Charles laughed. “I have met the man. I assume you mean to imply that when that viper gets an idea in his head it is well nigh impossible to dissuade him, and I suppose you are correct. But could not the Foreign Secretary appeal to the duchess for her daughter’s safety?”
    “I am afraid that question is above my pay grade,” Colin said ruefully.
    Now Charles leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, a conspiratorial look in his eye. “Why is it,” he said, “that the heir to the Earldom of Townsley even has a pay grade?”
    Colin tried not to bristle at the question. “I find the work fulfilling,” he said. “Far more fulfilling than idling about London waiting for my father to die.” When Charles frowned, he added, “Forgive me. I did not mean—”
    “No, no,” Charles said, holding up a hand. “I