Roding ignored this. ‘Are you going to come quietly, mademoiselle?’ he demanded with grim determination. ‘Or do I arrest you and have these soldiers march you off to gaol?’
A sweep of his arm indicated the array of military strength on the benches, every eye of which was trained on the little scene being enacted before them.
The lady looked them over in silence, and then pouting lips trembled, dark eyelashes fluttered, and in a broken voice, she pleaded, ‘Honoured messieurs, you will not allow this—this pig, to be thus cruel? He cannot arrest me. I have done n-nothing.’
The pathetic sob which accompanied the last word had a signal effect on two of the company at least. Glancing at each other, they rose from their seats and ventured to address the captain.
‘Um—begging your pardon, sir, but—um—what was you meaning to arrest the young lady for?’
‘Trespassing, theft, and suspicion of spying,’ announced Roding fluently.
‘Woof!’ uttered Trodger, gazing at the lady in some awe.
‘Caught in the act by myself and Major Gerald Alderley only last week.’
The mention of Alderley’s name, as Roding had confidently expected, caused the soldiers’ eyes to veer across to the young lady again, this time with a good deal less sympathy, and much more uncertainty. There was a murmur or two among the watchers on the bench, but no one ventured to intervene again.
Grimly Hilary smiled to himself at the effect of Gerald’s name. In military circles, highly exaggerated tales of Major Alderley’s derring-do were bruited from lip to lip and passed on to raw recruits to strengthen morale.
The young lady saw the change, and almost snorted. ‘Very well, arrest me. But if you mean to take me to this Gérard, I shall know what to say to him.’
‘Sir!’ called Trodger, as the captain began to lead the young lady off. ‘Shall we abandon the guard, then, sir?’
‘Certainly not.’
‘But if she’s going to gaol—’
‘Just keep watch, like you’ve been told,’ Roding said severely, turning to glare at his sergeant. ‘The major will tell you when to stop.’
‘Your major will tell you nothing at all,’ put in the young lady acidly, ‘because certainly I am going to kill him.’
‘You ain’t never!’
‘Back to your post, Trodger,’ ordered the harassed captain. ‘As for you—’
‘Do not address me. You are without sense and not sympathique in the least. And when I have finished killing your major, I shall also kill you.’
The listening soldiers began to snigger behind their hands. His face warm, Captain Roding glared them into silence, and firmly marched his captive off down Piccadilly, heading for Stratton Street where the town house of the Alderley family was situated.
‘You’re the most troublesome wretch I’ve ever encountered,’ he told her bitterly. ‘What Gerald wants with you has me beat.’
He received a glare from his captive. ‘You are rude, and stupide, and altogether a person with whom I do not wish to speak. So now I will say nothing more to you, and you will please to say nothing more to me, for I do not reply.’
It was thus in stony silence that the pair traversed the short distance to Stratton Street, where Roding knocked on the major’s door and entered a pleasant wood-panelled hall, with his prisoner firmly in tow.
‘Your master in?’ he demanded of the astonished footman, removing his cockaded hat and handing it over.
‘In the bookroom, sir,’ answered the man, his eyes round as they took in the furious beauty at the visitor’s side.
‘Good. I’ll announce myself.’
The footman did not object, but it was plain he felt he was neglecting his duty, for he emitted an admonitory cough, causing the captain to pause in his way to the library across the hall.
‘What is it?’
‘Er—shouldn’t I tell—I mean, the young lady, sir—’
‘You can leave the young lady to me.’
‘What young lady?’ demanded a voice from the back of the hall. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve found her!’
‘Ah, Gérard,’ uttered the girl in a gratified tone as Major Alderley walked through into the light. ‘You will please to tell this—this idiot to release me.’
‘Of course he will release you,’ Gerald said at once, concealing his delighted satisfaction at this unexpected piece of good fortune. ‘I’m only surprised you have not released yourself. No pistols, no daggers today?’
‘Would you have me show a pistol with so many soldiers? I am not a fool. And you have stolen my dagger.’
‘Had the advantage of her this time,’ Roding put in before Gerald could respond. He let go of the girl’s arm. ‘Caught her sneaking after that Valade fellow. Happened to be at the Chariot, you know, with Trodger, and it’s review day.’
‘Ah, the matter begins to come clear,’ Gerald said. ‘The place was full of barbers and military men.’
‘Exactly so. And she—’
‘She!’ interrupted the young lady crossly.
‘Yes, very rude,’ agreed the major. ‘Hilary, you must stop referring to mademoiselle as “she”. But we cannot discuss this here.’ He bowed and indicated the open door at the back of the hall. ‘Mademoiselle.’
Gerald was relieved to find the girl did not attempt to run away, but meekly allowed him to usher her into the spacious and comfortable library which was his habitual haunt when at home. This lapse was possibly due to her apparent determination to make full protest of Hilary’s conduct.
