Page 76 of A Game of Scandal

“I have no desire to place my friends in danger,” I said. “Mr Laing has already made his threats to their safety clear. I can promise you, I won’t do anything to upset him. You can read the letter, and you’ll find nothing amiss. You’re welcome to tell him all about it.”

I set pen to paper and chewed on my lip.

Dear Marigold,

Thank you for your charming letter. I was sorry to hear you are having trouble with the begonias, but I’m sure the rhododendrons will perk up beautifully. Cambridge has been lovely – though there are not so many flowers here as in your glorious gardens. Tell me, is the peach blossom in bloom? I expect the place is full of butterflies – I saw a particularly fine Aricia agestis here yesterday, but I’m sure it’s nothing to your summer visitors.

Thinking about your home makes it harder for me to tell you that I will have to postpone my visit – Mother has called me back to London so that I can attend Queen Charlotte’s Ball. You know how much I hate these social events, but she is determined.

I will write to you with more later, but I remain your friend,

Felicity

“There,” I said, handing the letter to Milton. “I think you’ll agree there’s nothing at all incriminating in that.”

“What’s all this stuff about flowers?” Milton’s brow creased.

“Mari used to be a florist,” I said. “Her gardens in Yorkshire are a wonder. We talk about flowers all the time. I’m trying to sound as I normally would, rather than like someone being threatened and held hostage. I’d have thought you’d approve.”

“What’s this?” He tapped the paper. “Aree… Arick…”

“Aricia agestis,” I said promptly. “The Latin name for a type of butterfly. We can look it up in one of Laetitia’s books, if you like.”

Milton read the letter once more, taking his time, and I felt as though I were holding my breath. Then he nodded.

“All right,” he said. “You can send your letter, but don’t think I won’t be reporting back to Mr Laing.”

I could only continue to hope that Laing had no inkling of Mari’s links to the Aviary. There was no reason he should – Mari lived in a gothic castle out in the Yorkshire moors with her husband, a noted recluse.

“That is your business.” I wrote out the address on the envelope, and Milton checked that too, sealing the letter himself with a look of satisfaction.

I got to my feet, dusting off my skirts. “Now, will you help me downstairs with my trunk? I don’t like to ask Smythe; it might be the end of him.”

Milton glowered at me, but hefted the trunk up on one shoulder and strode for the stairs. I followed behind, calling for Smythe when we reached the bottom.

“Thank you again for your hospitality,” I said, pressing the letter into his hands. “I wonder if you would mind sending this out in the post as soon as possible.”

“Certainly.” Smythe gave a stiff bow. “Madam has several letters that need delivering today, so I will put it with those.”

“Thank you, Smythe,” I said, and we walked away from the house where I had experienced a brief and surprisingly wonderful respite.

I could only cling to the desperate hope that Mari would get my message – and that she would know what to do with it.

PART FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Two days later I lay in bed, having a stern word with myself. There was no need to panic. I was not going to fall to pieces. I was simply going to have to think my way out of this.

It was past midnight, and I was about to spend my second night in a row tossing and turning. I had not heard a peep out of the Aviary since returning to town. That’s probably for the best, I thought.

I had received a gratifyingly romantic letter from Ash, to which I was too scared to reply, certain that Laing would be having our post monitored. He had stayed in Cambridge to attend Perry’s funeral after all, and I wasn’t surprised that he had chosen to support his parents in this, however little they deserved it. I was sorry that I hadn’t been there to support him. It felt like one more crime to lay at Laing’s door. I wasn’t sure how long it would take for Ash to begin to worry at my silence. I thought there might already have been a faint note of hurt that I had rushed off without saying a proper goodbye.

Mother, of course, had been delighted by my reappearance.

“I know you were being a good friend, Felicity,” she had said, almost wilting into the sofa with relief, “but it would really have been too much to miss Queen Charlotte’s Ball, after all the preparation we have done. Madame Solange sent over the most beautiful gown, but there was some problem with the lace edging and it had to go back to be altered again, and I’ve had Monsieur Fantine in near hysterics; he’s spent hours on your headpiece.” Her tone had turned scolding, and she rubbed her fingers against her temples. “And with your brother gone, and then Isobel haring off on some business with the estate in his stead, I’ve been left rattling around here like a lonely ghost.”

“I’m sorry,” I said soothingly. “It was unfortunate timing that we were all called away at once. One of those horrible flukes, but I’m here now. I hope you haven’t been too lonely.”