Page 46

“Quite so, my dear Bryce. My own great-grandfather believed the Argents to be a bunch of upstarts with only the most tenuous link to royalty.”

Bryce tried to hide his shock but failed.

“Come now, Bryce,” said Oswald. “We must be realists. We have no proof that the ambassador is plotting against our monarchy, but even so, we must be vigilant.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I want you to read through the correspondence Jeffries brings, as soon as it arrives and I want you to make notes around any birds, weather or hunting references. See if you can spot a pattern.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“This afternoon I shall be meeting in the main chamber with the privy council. After that I will put devote a few hours to the new trade agreements with the south.”

Bryce's nodded solemnly, “Very well, my lord.”

“Have you anything for me?” asked Oswald.

Bryce shuffled his papers. “Signor Pezzini wished you to know he is an artiste and cannot be hurried, however said he will send over two gowns this afternoon. That is the best he can do. The rest will arrive as it is completed.”

Oswald nodded.

“Packages have arrived from the shoe-maker and the glover, I have had them sent along to your rooms.”

“Good.”

“You have received an invitation from the Dowager Duchess of Lessing to attend a feast tonight in the lower chamber. She invites you and your new bride,” said Bryce.

Oswald looked pained. “Ah, the good Dowager does so dearly love to know all the gossip,” he sighed.

“Shall I decline?”

“On the contrary, we will be pleased to accept. Especially now Fenella will have a choice of gowns,” said Oswald wryly. “A married man cannot shirk social engagements like a bachelor. At least, not until his marriage is established fact.”

If Bryce thought this a strange thing to say, he did not let it show. Instead he inclined his head. “It shall be done, my lord.”

The strange thing was, Oswald found it difficult to keep his mind on the tasks at hand that afternoon. Even in the council meeting with his peers, his thoughts kept wandering back to his wife. It irritated him that under the cloak, she would be wearing that shabby gown bought for her by another man. He wondered for the first time, if the month-long induction to court life he had previously envisioned, would be long enough, before he shipped her off to Vawdrey Keep? And if it was to be longer, then Lady Sumner had a point. She would need a mentor. He tapped his pen against the desk top and debated the point. The ideal person for the task would be his sister-in-law, Linnet. He did need to write to her and Mason informing them of his marriage. Should he ask them to make a protracted stay at court on his behalf? It could lead to awkward questions from Mason about his hasty marriage which he did not look forward to answering. One of his fellow privy members nudged him, and Oswald frowned at him abstractedly.

“It is your turn to debate this article, my lord,” the other prompted him.

“I abstain,” said Oswald swiftly.

“But it was you who proposed this amendment last month,” pointed out Lord Sutton looking shocked.

Oswald glanced down at the document. “Did I? Many things have changed since last month.”

There was a murmur at this, which Oswald barely noticed. He had not had an attractive wife to drive him to distraction last month.

“There may be some new trouble brewing we should be aware of,” he started reluctantly before the meeting came to its conclusion. “There were discrepancies with some diplomatic correspondence this last week.” He paused heavily. “It may be there was some reference to a certain lady in the north.”

A few indrawn breaths greeted this.

“Have you told the King?” asked Lord Caterby leaning forward in his seat.

“Not yet,” admitted Oswald. “But it will have to be done.”

Lord Schaeffer tsked. “That most unfortunate female will be drawn into dark intrigue all over again.”

“That most unfortunate female will be lucky to keep a head on her shoulders if there’s another plot to supplant the King,” put in Lord Sutton dryly.