the corridor, resisting the temptation to seek Diana out, to make sure that she was safe. He knew no harm could have come to her, but in view of the gathering host of suitors, he felt an absurd romantic urge to race to her rescue, like a knight errant saving his lady from a dragon.
It could not be. That interlude in the coach had been unwise, and had led to that challenge. And anyway, he had other responsibilities. Ella Miller should hear of her husband's death from him, so he must ride to the Abbey today before the news reached her.
Where the corridor and stairs met, he made himself take the stairs that would lead him out of the house, away from her.
Still, their parting had been abrupt, and she was under his care and protection. On unconquerable impulse, he entered a reception room and wrote a short note.
My dear Lady Arradale,
I trust you are now comfortable in the queen's care, and that all your possessions have arrived safely. If I can be of any further assistance to you, I will do all that is possible. Consider me always,
Your most humble servant,
Rothgar.
A suitable note in correct phrases, but with underlying meanings. She would note, he hoped, the reference to what was possible. He folded it and sealed it with his ruby signet, then left it in the hands of the footman. As he climbed into his coach and commanded all speed home, he made himself turn his mind from the impossible to think about matters that could be more neatly managed.
The choice of an automaton as the French king's gift was not extraordinary, especially as some of the masters of the craft were French and King George's pleasure in such things was known. It was equally well known, however, that automata were an interest of his own. He had given the king his first one - the Chinese pagoda which had unfortunately been used in an attempted assassination.
Rothgar was pleased that the villain who'd caused its destruction had been killed, for it had been an exquisite work of art. Last Christmas he had replaced it with a simpler piece - a shepherd and shepherdess which the king and queen enjoyed.
Now a similar gift had arrived from the King of France.
Considering the duel with Curry and the strange machinations of Monsieur de Couriac, it did seem as though D'Eon was subtly attacking him on many sides.
Why?
And, he suddenly wondered, was D'Eon responsible for the king's determination about Diana's marriage? Someone must have been stoking the fire beneath that pot to bring it to such a boil, and D'Eon had the ear of the king and queen.
Yet, what concern could Diana's marriage be to the French?
None.
To D'Eon personally?
He would certainly love to marry a fortune, but he must know that the king would never permit her marriage to a Frenchman. Besides, as he'd hinted to Diana, D'Eon's sexuality was a matter for conjecture. He flirted, but he'd never been known to take a mistress.
What's more, in his adventures, he'd spent time at the Court of Russia impersonating a woman and living as one of the late tsarina's ladies. Many doubted the story, but Rothgar knew it to be true. D'Eon had been spying for his king, but had been extremely convincing from all accounts.
Male, female, or hermaphrodite, D'Eon was ambitious. But not, surely, for marriage to a great English heiress. However...
As Rothgar left the coach and entered his house, he thought he'd found the pattern. He'd have seen it days ago if his brain hadn't been tangled by an alarmingly attractive woman.
As he'd told Diana, D'Eon needed a coup to be made ambassador. The obvious coup would be persuading King George to rescind the order to destroy Dunkirk, and D'Eon had openly been working hard at that.
Why hadn't he seen that D'Eon would think himself his greatest barrier? The king sought his advice, and he had been firmly in favor of weakening France and preventing another war. Above all, he had argued for the destruction of the military installations at Dunkirk.
So, he thought, as he entered his office, perhaps D'Eon had become desperate and decided to remove the obstacle in his way.
First the duel with Curry. When that failed, another attempt, doubtless with a more skillful swordsman - de Couriac.
The attack on the road, though? It seemed too crude, too hastily planned, for D'Eon. Possibly de Couriac had lost his head and acted without instructions. Perhaps the reward offered had been too