Dennis Wheatley - The Rising Storm

In consequence, in the broiling midday sunshine Roger once more arrived at the little Moorish building and, to his delight, he found Isabella already there, alone in the tiled lounge.

They embraced with all their old fervour, and it was several minutes before they were in any state to talk coherently. When, at length, they had regained their breath a little and settled themselves on the divan that Georgina had graced the previous night, Isabella said:

"Let me at once confess myself wrong about Lady Etheredge. I feel convinced now that she has all along been completely innocent of any evil design; and this morning she could not have been sweeter to me. She frankly confesses a great fondness for Diego, and says that in view of my love for you she does not see why she should give him up until she has a mind to return to England. But she will aid us all she can, and assures me that for the whole of this afternoon she will guarantee our remaining undisturbed here."

"I knew we could count upon her," Roger smiled, "and I am more glad than I can say that you now recognize her for the dear, sweet creature that she is."

Isabella nodded. "I have had little chance to do so before, as this morning was the first time we have ever been alone together for more than a few moments. Yet though she be innocent, and despite all she urges to the contrary, I am still convinced that my husband plans to do away with me on her account."

"Have you, sweet, any fresh evidence of that?"

"None, other than the looks of deadly hatred that he casts at me when he thinks himself unobserved. But Quetzal was so very definite. He is outside now, keeping a watch lest Diego should take it into his head to pay a call upon Lady Etheredge, although that is most unlikely at this hour. I will have the boy in, and you can question him yourself if you wish."

"If you are yourself convinced upon the matter, that is enough. I will take you away immediately I have completed my arrangements. What, though, of the interim? I had been counting, if pushed to it by dire necessity, on hiding you in Madrid till we could start; but Aranjuez is too small a place to offer any concealment, and the moment you leave your husband a hue and cry will break out. Can you yet guard yourself for a few days?"

"I trust so. I have put myself on a most careful diet, and I doubt if Diego's sombre thoughts will actually key him up to an attempt until he is driven desperate by Lady Etheredge announcing her intention to return home."

"Even so, I shall be anxious for you every moment until we can get away. But once we are in England I swear I will do my utmost to make you happy."

"Life will be far from easy for us," she murmured. "Diego is a good Catholic and has much influence with the Church; so I am in hopes that he will succeed in putting me from him after a time. But now that I have borne him a child the easiest means of securing an annulment are barred to him."

"Let us not think of that. The essential thing is to place you beyond reach of danger as swiftly as possible. Tell me; do you regard it as essential to take Quetzal and Maria with us ?"

"Naturally I would wish to do so. But in that I am in your hands, my love. 'Tis for you to decide if I may."

"I should be most loath to deprive you of them. 'Tis bad enough that you should be forced to abandon your infant."

She shook her head. "I have not had it long enough to acquire a mother's fondness for the poor little thing; and the fact that it is Diego's instead of yours has put a check upon the warmth of the feeling which I would normally have for it. My mother and father were at the castle for its birth. She, I know, will give it the tenderest care, unless Diego decides that one of his sisters shall bring it up, and both of them are kindly women."

"That, at least, is a comfort," Roger agreed. "The difficulty about our taking Maria and the boy lies in the long journey we must make over bad roads before we can reach a port; and I am much perturbed by it. Your disappearance and mine cannot possibly be concealed for more than a few hours, and in such a small place as Aranjuez everyone will swiftly learn of our going. Whether Don Diego has any genuine desire to reclaim you or nay, 'tis certain that, regarding his honour as touched, he will feel compelled to set off in pursuit; so unless we leave on fast horses and without encumbrances of any kind I greatly fear we shall be overtaken."

"My clever love, you are right in that; and, knowing in my heart that you would not fail to come for me, 'tis a matter that I have been pondering over ever since I wrote my letter to you."

"Have you then devised some plan?" Roger asked with quick interest.

"Yes. 'Tis to get my husband sent away on a mission, so that once he has left Aranjuez we will have a clear field."

"The idea is an excellent one, but are you in any position to carry it out ? I gather you have been here only four days, so can know hardly anyone at Court"

"I was here for a fortnight before going to the castle to have my child, and during that time made at least one powerful friend. I took special pains to cultivate the Queen's favourite, Manuel Godoy."

"I was informed that he played no part in State affairs, and that all such matters still lay in the hands of Count Florida Blanca."

"That is true in the main, but may not continue to be so for long." Isabella leaned towards him intently. "This is the present situation. Florida Blanca ousted my father from office sixteen years ago and remained supreme in the Councils of Carlos III until die late King's death; but since the opening of the new reign his position has been by no means so secure. My father, both during his long Ambassadorship in Paris and since his retirement, has always remained the leader of a powerful Opposition. He and Godoy have now formed a secret alliance to oust Florida Blanca."

Her mouth twitched in a subtle smile, as she went on: "The mission I have in mind is one to France. Their Majesties have for some time been contemplating sending a special envoy there to consult with Louis XVI. As members of his family they are naturally much con­cerned by the weakening of his power, and are anxious to do anything they can to infuse new strength into the French monarchy. Florida Blanca maintains that all that can be done is already being done by our Ambassador, Count Fernanunez. The Queen, on the other hand, favours sending one of our great nobles to reinforce him. My father was suggested, but he is set upon remaining here, so that should

Florida Blanca make a false step he will be at hand to take advantage of it. But my father and Godoy are anxious that whoever is sent to Paris should be pledged to their interests; and Diego possesses all the neces­sary qualifications. I suggested him to my father, and having obtained his consent put the idea to Manuel Godoy three evenings ago. He thought it admirable, and is at present working on the Queen with that in view."

Roger looked at her a shade apprehensively. "But if they settle upon Don Diego for this task, would not you, as his wife, have to go with him?"

"Normally I should be expected to do so; but not in my present circumstances. My recent delivery, and the care so young a child still requires, will serve as an admirable excuse for me to remain behind, for a few weeks at least. And I should give out that I intended to follow him later."

"What view does Don Diego take of this proposal?"

"As yet he is unaware of it. I asked Godoy to make no mention of it to him. I said that should the matter be settled favourably I would like to tell him of it myself, as it is a considerable honour and would prove a pleasant surprise. The truth is I feared that, did he become aware of what was afoot before the Queen's choice was fixed, he would seek to oppose the plan on account of its separating him from Lady Etheredge."