Jane Austen Mysteries 09 Jane and the Barque of Frailty by Stephanie Barron

Author:Stephanie Barron [Stephanie Barron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Lit
ISBN: 9780307486523
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2006-12-13T05:00:00+00:00

WE WERE ARRIVED IN SLOANE STREET WELL BEFORE I succeeded in convincing my gallant Earl that such perfidy as deliberate sabotage was possible among honourable men. Indeed, I do not think I convinced him of it. Lord Moira was inclined to regret his confidences--his freedom with both speech and memory--and to regard me as an interfering woman. It was only as he helped me to step down from the curricle--and I declared my ankle already mended as a result of his solicitude--that he said, with a visible air of trouble, "I should not regard our conversation, Miss Austen, as of the slightest consequence--the merest exchange of trifling incident between mutual acquaintances of a very singular gentleman. How I wish we still had Harry among us! But alas--"

"Indeed," I returned equably. "But allow me to confess, Lord Moira, that his lordship knew me for a close-mouthed creature of no mean understanding; else he should never have entrusted me with such a legacy, on the very point of death. I spoke to you, my lord, in the same spirit of trust I should have adopted in speaking to Lord Harold. The treason I intimated--"

I broke off, as the Earl glanced about us apprehensively, lest the child-strewn streets of Hans Town inform against him--"the treason I intimated, has in all probability continued unabated. Reflect that it has, in large measure, proved successful."

"What? Tush! The case is entirely altered with the Regent come into power--"

"Lord Castlereagh's desperate campaign in the north was foiled by lack of confidence," I continued implacably, "yet it drew off men and arms that might better have combated the French in the Peninsula-- thereby achieving a double blow against England's hopes. But a few months later, two great minds-- Castlereagh's and Canning's--were forced from governance and allowed to prey upon each other as the objects of frustrated ambition and policy. The Kingdom was the true victim of that duelling ground, when the two ministers met to defend their honour in the autumn of 1809. Neither has been returned to high office since, and policy has floundered. And now, as the Regent would take up his chance, and consider of appointing these two gentlemen once more--Lord Castlereagh's reputation is besmirched by rumour and murder."

"Princess Tscholikova." Moira said it heavily, as tho' the name were a curse. "But the coroner has declared that she killed herself!"

"Pish! I no more credit the notion than you do. It was here in Sloane Street, I think, that you remarked upon the singularity of her death--and how it must delight Lord Castlereagh's enemies. You are a Whig, sir--one of the most highly-placed in the land--and can have no love for Lord Castlereagh's politics. But you have served in government, and comprehend the intrigues of those who place power above all else--even country. Surely you might compose a list of Lord Castlereagh's enemies?"

The Earl hesitated, his gaze focused on something beyond my visage; I believe he saw in memory a pantomime of the past, replete with images whose significance he only now apprehended.

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