Amara (Carlton House Cartel Book 2) Read online

  ‘I will send my carriage back to Brighton, have your possessions packed and brought back here with your maid,’ Louis said.

  ‘You are very kind,’ Miss Kazan replied, meeting his gaze and smiling.

  ‘Not a bit of it. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall make those arrangements. You are not required at the pavilion again until the day after tomorrow and so you will have time to settle in here.’

  Chance watched the exchange between Louis and the lovely Greek lady and knew that his friend was in deeper than he probably realised himself. Chance was certain of Louis’s commitment, because he recognised the grim determination to keep Miss Kazan safe in his expression. He had felt the same way about Sabine when she had been in danger and knew that Louis would already be feeling torn between duty and his personal feelings.

  He stood as Sabine excused herself with the intention of showing the ladies to the rooms that would be prepared for them, sensing their need to get to know one another better. Chance chuckled, suspecting that Sabine would find out more about Miss Kazan’s circumstances in half an hour than Louis had managed in the entire time she had been his responsibility.

  Left alone with Ace, Chance fell to contemplating. The situation was potentially volatile and they must somehow protect the prince from undermining his own position, to say nothing of creating a diplomatic incident that would embarrass a government already embroiled in the Elgin business.

  He noticed the ladies strolling in the grounds but decided against joining them. Sabine, in his opinion, was far too isolated here when he wasn’t around to keep her company, and it would do her no end of good to have someone else’s problems to wrestle with. He retired to what had once been Kendal’s library. It had been rearranged so that it bore few traces of the man’s presence, and Chance settled himself behind the desk. He had letters to write and they occupied much of the afternoon, as did his random thoughts about the situation with Miss Kazan.

  The time passed quickly and he was startled to hear the sound of wheels on gravel heralding Louis’s return, in company with a dour maid who looked very put out by the change in her surroundings. Shrouded in a black cloak that reflected the colour of her expression, Chance watched from the window as she was shown into the house by one of Sabine’s footmen and the ladies’ luggage was brought in by two others.

  The maid, he suspected, was loyal to the father, but she couldn’t do any harm tucked away here; nor would she have the means to contact Kazan. Chance put her from his mind and called to Louis as he entered the house.

  ‘Join me,’ he said from the open library door.

  ‘Gladly. It’s kind of Mrs Kendal to offer the ladies a roof over their heads. They will be much safer here and it’s a load off my mind,’ he said, walking into the room and accepting Chance’s offer of whisky.

  Chance poured for them both and they settled in front of the fire, Ace stretched full length at their feet.

  ‘Do you realise what you have taken on?’ Chance asked, after they had both paused for a moment to savour their drinks.

  ‘It’s a mess, I won’t deny it,’ Louis replied, spreading the hand not holding his drink. ‘It’s up to Miss Kazan to decide what she plans to do, and it is my duty to keep her safe for as long as she is here. Beyond that point, I don’t care to speculate.’

  ‘Just so long as you realise that she won’t be allowed to decide on her own future.’

  Louis kicked at the edge of the rug, causing Ace to grunt and settle down again in a different position. ‘That obvious, is it?’

  ‘You’d have to be blind and about a hundred not to be affected by such a compelling combination of talent, beauty and vulnerability, but don’t forget where your first loyalties lie.’

  ‘As if I could.’ Louis sighed and drained his glass. Chance stood and poured them both refills. ‘Don’t you ever tire of saving George from his own stupidity?’ he asked.

  ‘Frequently. Don’t you think I would prefer to settle with Sabine?’

  ‘I wondered about that. Didn’t like to probe.’

  ‘I proposed, she made a counter offer. She would be my mistress but not my wife.’ Chance gave a self-deprecating shrug. ‘She hates London and I’m committed to serving George. She’s also wary of marriage. Her first was not a happy one, so we’ve settled upon a compromise that doesn’t really suit either of us. I don’t want her to be looked upon as a mistress but I can’t bear to let her go either.’ Chance ran a hand through his hair. ‘It’s a stalemate.’

  ‘I would laugh and make some remark about how the mighty have fallen, given that you were pursued so relentlessly for so many years by dozens of attractive females, none of whom interested you and all of whom would have accepted your proposal before you finished making it.’ Louis took another long sip of his drink. ‘However, I find myself in an even more perilous situation.’

  ‘What precisely does Kazan do for a living? I know he is wealthy and influential in the Greek hierarchy, but I have absolutely no idea how that situation came about.’

  ‘No more have I,’ Louis conceded, frowning. ‘I have asked gently probing questions of both Miss Kazan and her aunt, but neither of them has given me any definitive answers. Imports and exports are all I have been told—and that, as we both know, covers a multitude of sins.’

  ‘Leave it to Sabine. She will get answers, if anyone can.’

  ‘Ladies like to confide in one another and I can see that they are already comfortable together.’

  The door opened and Sabine herself stepped through it. She motioned the men back to their chairs when they rose from them.

  ‘I do not like Miss Kazan’s maid. She is most disapproving, but I gather she is a long-serving member of the Kazan household. Not that it matters, Agnes will keep her in line and let me know if she talks out of turn below stairs. Not that she speaks very much English, so I don’t suppose we shall be any the wiser if she does complain. However, your Miss Kazan and her aunt are a delight, Mr Harland, and you can be sure that I shall take very good care of them.’

  ‘I am obliged to you,’ he said, watching her make a fuss of Ace, who had stirred himself when he heard her voice. ‘Thank you again for making the effort—and please call me Louis.’

  ‘Thank you, I shall. And I am Sabine. There, now that we have that out of the way, will you stay and dine with us?’ she asked.

  ‘Thank you. I should be delighted, if it won’t be a further imposition.’

  ‘I shouldn’t ask if I thought it would be.’

  Chance laughed at Louis’s look of mild surprise. ‘You will become accustomed to Sabine. One of the many things I love about her is her tendency to speak her mind.’

  ‘Well,’ Sabine responded with a mischievous smile. ‘At least you cannot complain that I leave you in any doubt about the nature of my thoughts. Anyway, I shall leave you gentlemen to your whisky and conversation, take myself off to change for dinner and see you again in an hour.’

  ‘I can see why you are having second thoughts about our duty to George,’ Louis said, as the door closed behind Sabine. ‘We didn’t realise when we made our pact quite what personal sacrifices we would be asking of ourselves, perhaps because settling down was the last thing on our minds at the time and the pact made for a convenient way to avoid it.’

  ‘Quite so,’ Chance agreed. ‘I suppose we were too young and idealistic to appreciate that George was already self-entitled and often misguided. He won’t change now, and all we can do is try to negate the damage that he does to his own reputation and that of the country with his often ill-thought-out escapades.’ Chance rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. ‘I have a feeling that Kazan will make a formidable foe, which is why I would like to know as much about him as possible before he arrives.’

  ‘You think he will come here soon?’

  ‘I think it naïve to suppose that he has not got wind of his daughter’s activities, despite the distance currently separating them. News has a way of getting through, Greece as a whole currentl
y has an axe to grind with England and Kazan, I fancy, will be more than willing to fan the flames of international discord for reasons of his own.’

  ‘In an effort to get those damned rocks back?’

  Chance gave a mirthless smile. ‘In all probability. It comes down to national pride, after all, and if he can make the world think that the heir to our throne has virtually kidnapped his innocent young daughter…well, given George’s terrible reputation with the ladies, it can only end badly.’

  ‘I agree, but what can we do about it?’

  Chance fixed his friend with a sympathetic look. ‘There is one thing, but you won’t want to hear it.’

  ‘I know.’ Louis expelled a long breath. ‘I think I have always known, but I haven’t wanted to face facts.’ He paused. ‘I will have to find a way to persuade Miss Kazan to leave Brighton and resume her sightseeing before any future damage can be done.’

  Chapter Seven

  Amara was delighted with the pretty chamber that Mrs Kendal conducted her to. The view over the gardens to the distant sea beyond and the relative peace and tranquillity of the location had a calming effect. Cora, on the other hand, continued to grate upon Amara’s nerves as she made her disapproval apparent in a dozen obvious ways.

  ‘Don’t know what we’re doing here,’ the woman complained as she unfolded one of Amara’s hastily packed gowns and shook out the creases. ‘We were perfectly comfortable where we were and it was more convenient too, if you will insist upon singing for that fat prince. All this gadding about plays havoc with my knees.’

  ‘Then perhaps you are too old to perform your duties,’ Amara replied curtly, ‘and it is time for you to retire.’

  Cora sent Amara a sharp look. ‘When did you become so hoity-toity?’

  ‘When did you forget your place, Cora—and more to the point, why did I permit it to happen?’

  Cora remained unmoved by the reprimand. ‘I have known you since you were a babe in arms, which gives me the right to speak my mind, and ought to guarantee me your respect, despite my being a servant. I am also related to your family, don’t forget. Young people nowadays are quick to overlook what others do for them.’

  ‘Enough!’

  ‘You can’t expect me to stand back and do nothing when I see you being led astray by these glamorous people who have all but kidnapped you.’

  ‘Mr Lykaios is the only person contemplating kidnap, which is why we were required to change lodgings.’

  ‘Mr Lykaios has your best interests at heart, young lady, as do I. Only imagine how your father will react when—’

  ‘It was you.’ Amara levelled an accusatory finger at Cora as realisation dawned. ‘You told him where our accommodation was, which is how he found us, yet you still have the temerity to lecture me on the subject of loyalty.’

  Cora sniffed. ‘So what if I did? Some of us aren’t swept away by the fancy manners of the English, who only want to exploit your talent. I told your father no good would come of your being permitted to perform in public, but would he listen? Oh no, he always thinks he knows best. Well I won’t be glad to be proven right and have to—’

  ‘How dare you!’ Amara cut through Cora’s tirade, trembling with rage.

  ‘I dare because I’ve earned the right to—’

  ‘Be quiet!’ The anger in Amara’s voice must have finally convinced Cora that she had reached the end of her tether. She was not the young green miss whom Cora had found so easy to manipulate. Cora closed her mouth, her expression mulish. ‘You forget your place. Clearly, I have given you too much latitude but I have learned from that mistake and you will not interfere in my affairs again. Are we clear?’ Amara, who never ordinarily lost her temper, had never known such anger. ‘You will remain here, perform your duties and keep out of my way as much as you possibly can. You will not speak to me unless I address you first and the moment we return to Greece, you will be dismissed from my service. Now, lay out the cream muslin and arrange for some hot water.’

  Cora grunted, opened her mouth to respond, caught sight of the rigid set to Amara’s jaw and wisely changed her mind. Instead, she went about her duties with a heavy tread, once or twice attempting to converse with Amara in a subdued tone, assuming that she would be able to mend bridges. But Amara refused to be mollified, the taste of betrayal still raw, and sent Cora to help Eva dress as soon as she had finished arranging Amara’s hair.

  Amara sat in the window seat, watching the wind bending the reeds on the nearby lake and Ace frolicking on the lawns with his master. Clouds scudded across the sky as the weather tried to decide what trick to play on the world next. Her anticipated pleasure at dining with her new friends and Mr Harland was tempered by this deception by a woman she had never much liked but whom she had come to depend upon and had learned to respect, since she was indeed a distant relative. She felt angry and unsettled and drummed her fingers restlessly against the windowsill as she tried to decide what she ought to do.

  Her ruminations were interrupted by Eva, who slipped into her room, dressed for the evening and looking impossibly elegant.

  ‘This house is delightful, and a great improvement on our previous lodgings. We shall be quite comfortable here,’ she said, joining Amara at the window and glancing at the view. ‘What have you said to Cora, by the way? She is even more sullen that usual.’

  Eva’s mouth fell open when Amara explained the nature of her betrayal.

  ‘She is loyal to your father, of course, and seems to think that she is responsible for your care, given that we sent your father’s guards back to London. Even so, she has exceeded her authority and you are quite right to be angry with her.’

  ‘I have always been too lenient with her, but not anymore. Regardless of the future that awaits me in Greece, I shall dismiss Cora from my service. Father may find other uses for her if he pleases, but I will not have her with me.’

  Eva squeezed Amara’s hand. ‘Perhaps it will not happen. The future you anticipate, I mean.’

  Amara sighed. ‘We both know that it will. A promise is a promise.’

  ‘Cora has upset you, which is a very great pity. Take comfort from the fact that you exerted yourself, which cannot have been easy for you.’

  Amara gave a wistful smile. ‘Because I am always so trusting, I suppose you mean. Well anyway, I refuse to allow Cora to spoil my mood. She is unimportant. Besides, she has no way of contacting Lykaios from here. It’s too isolated.’

  ‘Mention it to Mr Harland and he will ensure that none of the servants carry messages for her.’

  Amara dismissed the suggestion with a wave of one hand. ‘I cannot burden Mr Harland with my problems.’

  Eva smiled and pinched her cheek. ‘Oh, I don’t think he will find them in the least burdensome.’

  ‘It would be both unwise and futile to grow too dependent upon him,’ Amara replied, shaking her head. ‘It will only make the inevitable separation ten times harder to endure. Perhaps we should not have—’

  ‘We can make our excuses to the prince and resume our tour of the country, if you would prefer it. Your father’s yacht will be here in just over a month.’

  ‘That soon?’ Amara sighed, then straightened her spine. ‘Papa will discover what I have done, and will be furious no matter what I do, so we might as well stay and enjoy our rebellion for as long as possible.’

  ‘Good girl! And don’t worry about your father. I will take the blame. There is nothing more he can do to punish me. I have served my time.’

  Amara sent her aunt a curious look but didn’t seek clarification. ‘Very well then, let’s go down. It wouldn't do to keep Mrs Kendal waiting when she has gone out of her way to open her house to us. I like her very much, by the way.’

  ‘As do I, my dear,’ Eva replied, linking arms with Amara as they left her room.

  Mr Harland was the first person Amara saw as they entered the drawing room, even though Lord Jonas and Mrs Kendal were there also. His slow, somnolent smile as he stood to greet her and hi
s approving gaze took in her attire stirred her turbulent emotions and made her regret what could never be. He absently pushed the hair away from his brow as his smile widened and he reached for her hand.

  ‘Good evening,’ he said softly, imbuing the two words with a wealth of meaning that made her blush.

  Then he turned his attention to Eva, the moment passed and she was herself again, able to greet Mrs Kendal and Lord Jonas with a degree of composure that was at odds with her unsettled mood. Ace was in the room too, and trotted up to Amara wagging his tail and demanding attention that Amara was happy to bestow.

  ‘I apologise for the weather,’ Mrs Kendal said as Amara accepted a glass of champagne from the butler’s tray with a nod of thanks. ‘At this time of year, we can usually stroll outside before dinner, but I am afraid that if we attempted to do so this evening, our shoes would be ruined and the wind would destroy our coiffures.’

  ‘You are not responsible for the weather, Mrs Kendal,’ Eva replied, sipping at her own drink.

  ‘And we have lovely views from our rooms. Thank you for making us so comfortable,’ Amara added.

  ‘The views are much nicer when they aren’t obscured by mist and rain,’ their hostess assured them. ‘However, I am glad you are comfortable. Shall we go through,’ she added, when the butler announced that dinner was served.

  The meal was excellent, the company compelling, and Amara really wanted to enjoy the relaxed ambience. She was jealous of the playful manner in which Mrs Kendal and Lord Jonas addressed one another and the way in which she gently teased both the gentlemen present.

  It was evident to Amara that the suave Lord Jonas was very much in love with Mrs Kendal and that she returned his regard. It showed in a dozen little ways—an intimate smile, a gesture, the manner in which they seemed to be able to communicate without the need for words. There could be no mistaking his lordship’s expression of adoration when his gaze rested upon Mrs Kendal’s lovely face, which it frequently did.