“I believe he pretended to be American, the way some others did. God knows the Austrians and Germans can’t tell an American accent from a British one.”
“Did he mentionhistheories for who might have betrayed us?”
“He mentioned Lieutenant Jason Davis, which is certainly feasible.” A shuttered expression inexplicably crossed Scovell’s face as he fell silent.
“What are you not telling me?” Heathbrook asked, eyes narrowing on his friend.
“Nothing,” he said and forced a smile. “If you like, I’ll try to find out where the lieutenant has been posted.”
“That might be useful. Percy also suggested that Madame Dubois could have betrayed us—”
“Which I discounted even before he went on to say she was Miss Bernard’s cousin, so that let her out of the running.”
“You didn’t happen to tell him about Beasley, did you?” Heathbrook asked.
“No. The less people who know about Beasley, the better.”
“That’s what I think. Besides which, Giselle is nervous about having it generally known that her papers are suspect.”
“I can look into that for you,” Scovell said. “Discreetly, of course. But not just now.”
“I understand. You need to be with your family. Besides, Sir Lucius has promised to look into it for me, too, so I’ll let him do so. I may ask for your help later, however, depending on how long all of this goes on.”
Scovell searched his face. “Speaking of that, Percy did say you were behaving like a jealous fool over Miss Bernard at the party where he last saw you. Doesn’t sound to me like a man just fulfilling the terms of a bargain.”
“Leave it be, will you, Scovell?” He ate his last piece of toast.“Giselle will be here any minute with her mother, who is unaware of the nature of our … bargain.”
As if he’d summoned her by his very words, someone tapped on the door. “My lord?” Renham called through the door. “Mademoiselle Bernard and her mother have arrived.”
He walked over to open the door. “Go ahead and show them back.”
Scovell barely had time to rise from his chair before Renham was ushering Giselle and her mother into the breakfast room.
“Captain Scovell!” Giselle walked up to him wearing a concerned expression. “How is your brother?”
“He’s hanging on,” Scovell said. “Thank you for asking.”
Quickly, she introduced her mother to Scovell, who’d never met the woman. Scovell was fluent in French, too, so the four of them exchanged pleasantries a moment before Heathbrook took out his watch and glanced at it.
“Forgive me, old chap,” he told Scovell, “but we must leave now if we’re to make it to court on time. Feel free to stay a while longer if you’d like.”
Scovell shook his head. “I should get back. The doctor is coming later this morning, and I promised my sister-in-law that I’d be there for that.”
To Heathbrook’s surprise, Giselle slid her hand into the crook of his elbow. “You are always welcome here, I daresay, Captain. Or at the lodgings Maman and I share. You must come for dinner with us sometime.”
An ironic smile tipped up Scovell’s lips. “I would like that, thank you.”
“We could even invite Lady Chloe,” she said.
“Why would you want to do that?” Scovell asked warily.
She gripped Heathbrook’s arm. “To even up the numbers of gentlemen and ladies at dinner, of course.”
“Ah.”
As they all walked out, Heathbrook asked Scovell, “Can we drop you somewhere?”
“No need. I came in my curricle.” Tipping his hat, he added in French, “Madame Bernard, so nice to meet you. And Miss Bernard,it’s always a pleasure to see you.” He nodded to Heathbrook. “But if this rascal ever fails you, just say the word, and I’ll be there.”