Even the servants were not to be outshone. The liveried, bewigged footmen, who at first glance appeared to outnumber the guests by at least five to one, were adorned with so much gold braid they could well have been mistaken for generals. And generals there were aplenty; along with admirals and luminaries from every tier of nobility.
From his discreet observations, Hawkwood could see that the ball was a great success. It was hard to believe that, less than a mile away, in the pitch-black, rat-infested city slums, entire families were dying of disease and starvation. As to the war with France, despite the presence of so many military personnel, it might just as well have been raging on the moon for all the relevance it appeared to have to the immediate festivities.
While Lord Mandrake’s guests disported themselves beneath the bright lights and dined at tables groaning under the weight of enough sumptuous food to feed a small army, British soldiers were dying in Spain. It wasn’t the wealth of the rich that Hawkwood detested. It was their indifference.
By the late evening, with most of the guests wined and dined to repletion, the atmosphere had relaxed considerably. In the library, declared a masculine domain for the duration, several games of hazard were in progress. Cigar fumes roiled like cannon smoke, while in the drawing rooms the women had gathered in discreet groups to discuss the eligibility of the younger and more handsome male guests. The strains of a minuet drifted from the ballroom, where the more energetic guests continued to take their turn across the dance floor.
Hawkwood, fortified by a plate of cold roast beef and a glass of claret, courtesy of Lord Mandrake’s well-stocked cellar and an over-friendly and well-endowed kitchen maid, made his way along one of the many long corridors in search of trespassers.
He was turning into one hallway when a young couple suddenly appeared around a corner, hand in hand, giggling in unison, faces flushed with excitement. The man paid Hawkwood no heed but the girl caught the Runner’s gaze as she skipped by. She was very pretty, the white feather in her hair bobbing as she ran. It was possible they had taken a wrong turn, but more than likely they were looking for a discreet alcove where they could enjoy each other’s company, away from the prying eyes of the girl’s chaperone. There had been a precocious glint in the girl’s eye that made Hawkwood suspect this was probably not the first time the young lady had managed to slip the leash. Hawkwood grinned inwardly at the thought and left them to their clandestine rendezvous, envying their youth and audacity.
Several women had attracted Hawkwood’s attention during his patrols. Some of them, although only glimpsing him in passing, had been astonishingly forward in their appraisal, raising their fans on the occasions he caught their admiring glances, often just slowly enough for him to read the invitation in their eyes and on their lips before anonymity was re-established. Given the quality of the barely concealed charms on display, it was difficult to remain immune. But the job, Hawkwood reminded himself, always came first. Well, nearly always.
Twice during the evening he had spotted the Comte de Rochefort. The first time, the Comte had been on the other side of the room, Hawkwood having espied him through a gap in the crowd, talking to a portly individual dressed in a general’s uniform. The second time, he had found himself staring into de Rochefort’s calm blue eyes, an experience which he had found faintly disturbing. He didn’t know why. The Comte had not openly acknowledged Hawkwood’s glance but had held the look for a few seconds before turning his attention to another point in the room. It had been as unsettling as it had been curious.
It was warm inside the house, oppressively so, and the narrow servants’ corridors added to the feeling of claustrophobia. In search of a clear head, Hawkwood made his way down a passage towards the rear of the house and let himself on to the first-floor terrace.
The terrace overlooked Green Park. An ivy-covered wall separated the house and gardens from the wide green expanse, but so cleverly was it concealed by trees and shrubbery, it looked as if the grounds extended far beyond their true borders, thus giving the property the feel and appearance of a vast country estate.
The Mandrake family had always been able to afford the best, be it architecture or landscaping, and a great deal of thought had been employed in the layout of the gardens. Thus there was much to please the eye. There were lawns, flower beds, rose-covered terraces, all linked and bisected by gravel pathways bordered by high hedges. Hidden behind the hedges were secluded groves and leafy arbours. There were several fountains and in one corner of the garden there was even a small, intricately patterned maze.
Anticipating that many of his guests would at some point feel the desire to take the evening air, Lord Mandrake had arranged for the grounds to be illuminated by braziers lining the main pathways. In addition, gaily coloured Chinese lanterns hung from the branches of the trees.
Making his way down the steps from the terrace and along the side of the house, Hawkwood checked the time. It was just past midnight. So far, the assignment had proved singularly undemanding, and for that Hawkwood was exceedingly grateful. The past few days had not been without incident and he was looking forward to the comfort of his own bed. He recalled the laughing eyes of the girl in the corridor and smiled to himself.
It was the sound of hurrying footsteps that broke the spell. By the light of a brazier, Hawkwood saw that it was one of the footmen, not quite running, but clearly agitated nonetheless. Seeing Hawkwood, the footman checked suddenly. “Officer Hawkwood?” The footman’s hands fluttered as he spoke. “I fear there’s trouble brewing. Some of Lord Mandrake’s young gentlemen friends …” An expression of anguish moved across the footman’s face. “They’ve been drinking. There’s a young lady … Please, come quickly …”
Hawkwood groaned inwardly. This was all he needed. “All right. Where are they?”
The footman looked behind him and pointed a wavering finger. “By the pavilion. I’m fearful for the lady’s honour … I …”
Hawkwood sighed. “Show me.”
They had not gone fifty paces when a movement among the trees to his right caught his eye; a dark, indistinct shadow which hovered briefly at the edge of his field of vision and then was gone. He paused, uncertain. Had he imagined it? Perhaps it had been nothing more than his eyes playing tricks. The night suddenly seemed unnaturally quiet. He took a step forward when a sixth sense made him turn. The footman had gone. Hawkwood looked around. He was alone.
The snap of a twig breaking underfoot made Hawkwood spin. There! Someone moving away behind a bank of tangled foliage. Man or woman, there wasn’t enough light beneath the trees to tell the difference. Perhaps it was the footman. He was on the point of calling out when he heard a snort of laughter and what sounded like a cry of distress. He moved forward quickly.
A slatted trellis rose before him, some ten feet high and woven with honeysuckle. The scent of blossom hung heavy in the night air. Through gaps in the trellis he could make out what appeared to be a grassy clearing and the outline of a small wooden structure, painted white.
Rounding the trellis, the summer house came into view; octagonal in design with a gently sloping roof, ringed by a veranda. Several lanterns hung from hooks under the eaves. Hawkwood’s appreciation of the architecture was fleeting. Hardly had he taken in the scene when he became aware of a slim figure flying out of the shadows towards him. He had a brief impression of a pair of dark eyes set in an oval face below a crown of raven hair, but by then it was too late. Even as he put out his arms to protect himself, the woman was upon him.
It occurred to Hawkwood that the last woman to have clasped him to her bosom had been the Widow Gant, a far from pleasant experience. The old harpy’s foul breath still lingered in his memory. In contrast, the shapely form now struggling in his grip was as far removed from the Widow Gant as was humanly possible, a fact made obvious in the seconds before he relinquished his hold and regained his balance. As he did so he saw the reason for her fear.
He knew their type. He could tell simply