The Westminster Intrigue, page 1
The Westminster Intrigue
Tracy Grant
This ebook is licensed to you for your personal enjoyment only.
This ebook may not be sold, shared, or given away.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the writer’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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The Westminster Intrigue
Copyright © 2021 by Tracy Grant
Ebook ISBN: 9781641972147
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this work may be used, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
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NYLA Publishing
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http://www.nyliterary.com
Contents
Acknowledgments
Dramatis Personae
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Historical Notes
A Reading Group Guide
Also by Tracy Grant
About the Author
For Terri and Bob Ryan, with thanks for many wonderful times sharing opera and theatre and books – looking forward to more of them!
Acknowledgments
The Westminster Intrigue is the first full length novel I wrote entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am so grateful to have had the Rannochs and their friends for company in this unprecedented time, and so grateful to all the people who support my writing and the Rannochs' world in so many ways. As always, huge thanks to my wonderful agent, Nancy Yost, for her support and insights. Thanks to Natanya Wheeler for once again working her magic to create a truly amazing cover that captures Mélanie Rannoch and my image of the ball sequence that is central to the story, and for shepherding the book expertly through the publication process, to Sarah Younger for superlative social media support and for helping the book along through production and publication, and to the entire team at Nancy Yost Literary Agency for their fabulous work. Through the trials of the pandemic, we all stayed connected and everything stayed wonderfully on track. Malcolm, Mélanie, and I are all very fortunate to have their support.
Thank you to Eve Lynch for the meticulous and thoughtful copyediting. I love sharing the Rannochs with you and so appreciate your care for getting their story right.
Thank you to Kristen Loken for a magical author photo taken in one of my favorite places, San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House, on one of my favorite occasions of the year, the Merola Grand Finale. Your brilliance never fails to amaze me, Kristen! Missing the Opera House and live theatre, I particularly love to look at this picture as a reminder of times that were and will be again.
The solitary work of writing is even more solitary these days. I miss my writer friends and am grateful for the chance to keep up with them virtually whether on FaceTime or Zoom or just with an Instagram post that brightens the day. Thanks to Veronica Wolff and Lauren Willig, who both understand the challenges of being a writer and a mom. To Penelope Williamson, for sharing adventures, analyzing plots from Shakespeare to Scandal, and being a wonderful honorary aunt to my daughter. I'm so glad we got to actually see you while I was writing this book. To Jami Alden, Tasha Alexander, Bella Andre, Allison Brennan, Josie Brown, Isobel Carr, Catherine Coulter, Deborah Coonts, Deborah Crombie, Carol Culver/Grace, Catherine Duthie, Alexandra Elliott, J.T. Ellison, Barbara Freethy, Andrew Grant, C.S. Harris, Candice Hern, Anne Mallory, Monica McCarty, Brenda Novak, Poppy Reifiin, Deanna Raybourn, and Jacqueline Yau.
Thank you, Deirdre, Chris, Sierra, and Piper for being wonderful neighbors and supporting my writing. Special thanks to Deirdre for the extra three hours the weekend I was finishing the book.
Thank you to the readers who support Malcolm and Mélanie and their friends and provide wonderful insights on my Web site and social media. Talking with you about the series has meant more than ever this past year.
Thanks to Gregory Paris and jim saliba for creating and updating a fabulous Web site that chronicles Malcolm and Mélanie Suzanne's adventures. To Suzi Shoemake and Betty Strohecker for managing a wonderful Goodreads Discussion Group for readers of the series. Thanks to my colleagues at the Merola Opera Program who help me keep my life in balance—I could not imagine a better group to spend virtual work days with.
As I wrote this book, I thought a lot about my mom, Joan Grant, with whom I first wrote about Queen Caroline's trial in Frivolous Pretence. I finished up the book listening to The Chocolate Soldier, which we both loved. I still remember her taking me to see it one evening after work when I was a teenager. We got stuck in traffic, missed dinner, but made it to the show, and then had a late dinner afterwards. A special night. I miss you, Mummy.
And finally, thanks to my own daughter, Mélanie herself, for inspiring my writing, being patient with Mummy's "work time", adapting to the past year, sharing her precious Yorks the night I was finishing the book, and offering her own insights at the keyboard while working on her own stories. This is her contribution to this story –"I am so proud of my mommy for finishing her book! I know it must have been hard but in the end she got it done and I am so proud of her so so so so so so so so so so so so so proud!"
Dramatis Personae
*indicates real historical figures
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The Rannoch Family & Household
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Malcolm Rannoch, MP and former British intelligence agent
Mélanie Suzanne Rannoch, his wife, playwright and former French intelligence agent
Colin Rannoch, their son
Jessica Rannoch, their daughter
Berowne, their cat
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Laura O'Roarke, Colin and Jessica's former governess
Raoul O'Roarke, her husband, Mélanie's former spymaster, and Malcolm's father
Lady Emily Fitzwalter, Laura's daughter from her first marriage
Clara O'Roarke, Laura and Raoul's daughter
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Gisèle (Gelly) Rannoch Thirle, Malcolm's sister
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Miles Addison, Malcolm's valet
Blanca Mendoza Addison, his wife, Mélanie's companion
Pedro Addison, their son
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Valentin, footman
Mrs. Erskine, cook
Giles, groom
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The Davenport Family
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Lady Cordelia Davenport, classicist
Colonel Harry Davenport, her husband, classicist, and former British intelligence agent
Livia Davenport, their daughter
Drusilla Davenport, their daughter
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Archibald (Archie) Davenport, Harry's uncle, MP, and former French intelligence agent
Lady Frances Davenport, his wife, Malcolm's aunt
Chloe Dacre-Hammond, Frances's daughter from her first marriage
Francesca Davenport, Frances and Archie's daughter
Philip Davenport, Frances and Archie's son
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The Mallinson Family
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Arthur (Julien St. Juste) Mallinson, Earl Carfax, former agent for hire
Katelina (Kitty) Velasquez Mallinson, Countess Carfax, his wife, former British and Spanish intelligence agent
Leo Ashford, her son
Timothy Ashford, her son
Guenevere (Genny) Ashford, Kitty and Julien's daughter
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Hubert Mallinson, spymaster, Julien's uncle
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David Mallinson, MP, Hubert's son
Simon Tanner, playwright, his lover
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The Langdon/Pendarves Family
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Viscount Pendarves (Pen)
Sophia Langdon Prescott, his sister
Philippa (Pippa) Langdon Haworth, their siste
Phoebe Langdon Molyneux, their sister
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Lord Prescott, Sophia's husband
Lord Molyneux, Phoebe's husband
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Cynthia Haworth, Pippa's daughter
Katie Haworth, Pippa's daughter
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The Blayney Family
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Edmund Blayney, journalist
Captain James (Jamie) Blayney, his brother
Margaret (Daisy) Blayney, Jamie's wife
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Captain Edward (Ned) Royston, Jamie's friend
Mrs. Jasper Fullingham, Jamie's landlady
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Others in London
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Edith Simmons, classicist and former governess,
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Bertrand Laclos, French émigré and former British intelligence agent
Rupert, Viscount Caruthers, his lover, MP and former British intelligence agent
Gabrielle, Viscountess Caruthers, Rupert's wife and Bertrand's cousin
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Kit Montagu, Leveller
Sofia Vincenzo Montagu, his wife
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Humphrey Smythe, Lord Beverston, Elsinore League member
Barbara Smythe, Viscountess Beverston, his wife
Benedict Smythe, their younger son
Nerezza Russo, Benedict's beloved
Roger Smythe, the Beverstons' elder son, MP and Leveller
Dorinda Smythe, Roger's wife
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Juliette Dubretton, novelist
Paul St. Gilles, painter, her husband
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Manon Caret Harleton, actress
Crispin, Lord Harleton, her husband
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Jennifer Mansfield Smytheton, actress
Sir Horace Smytheton, her husband, former Elsinore League member
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James Fitzwalter, Duke of Trenchard, Laura's first husband's son
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*Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Wellington's secretary
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Letty Blanchard, actress
Jack Tarrington, actor
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Henriette Varon, former seamstress to the Empress Josephine
Lisette Varon, former agent, her daughter
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Jeremy Roth, Bow Street runner
*Sir Nathaniel Conant, chief magistrate of Bow Street
*Lord Sidmouth, British home secretary
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Danielle Darnault, opera singer
Ilia Darnault, her daughter
Grace Arbuthnot, Danielle's lady's maid
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Pierre Ducroix, journalist
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*Emily, Countess Cowper, patroness of Almack's
*Harry, Lord Palmerston, Secretary at War, her lover
*George Lamb, her brother
*Caroline (Caro George) Lamb, his wife
*William Lamb, Emily's brother
*Lady Caroline Lamb, his wife
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*Granville Leveson-Gower, Viscount Granville, politician and diplomat
*Harriet Leveson-Gower, Viscountess Granville, his wife
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*George IV, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
*Caroline, his wife
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*Henry Brougham, MP, Queen Caroline's lawyer
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*Lord Fitzroy Somerset, secretary to the Duke of Wellington
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Hon. Thomas (Tommy) Belmont, Elsinore League agent
Frederick Talbot, Marquis of Glenister, Elsinore League member
If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction
—Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act III, scene iv
Chapter 1
London
September 1820
New arrivals were always a source of interest at the Chat Gris. Men were a source of potential revenue. Certainly to the women who worked the rooms above the common room, but also to men and women who played games of dice and cards at the cracked tables or lifted a purse, a watch, a snuffbox, or an embroidered handkerchief in the course of a game or while serving ale or gin or moving between the tables. Or upstairs in the rooms over the common room before or after—or even during—bed sport. New male guests were also potential rivals for the pickings on offer. Or for the women who worked the tavern. New female guests were less likely to come to the Chat Gris plump in the pocket, but they too might be rivals for the night's pickings, whether those were purses or watches or other trifles to be lifted or wealthy gentlemen to be enticed upstairs. So the women who worked the Chat Gris eyed female new arrivals with suspicion. And the men who frequented the tavern surveyed them with the interest posed by novelty.
When a tall man in an olive drab greatcoat that could keep most of the denizens of the Chat Gris in funds for weeks came through the door, shaking raindrops from his beaver hat and the four capes on his coat, he drew gazes from all round the common room. He made his way to a table in the center of the room, set down the hat, and shrugged out of the coat to reveal the high shirt points, padded shoulders, and nipped-in waist affected by a dandy. They all knew the type. Sort who fancied himself daring for drinking a pint of ale in St. Giles. The newcomer with the high shirt points ordered an ale and joined a game of cards, then laughed when he lost heavily. Several women sidled up to him but he showed no interest, though one helped herself to his purse. He also showed no interest in three women, also new to the Chat Gris, who arrived not long after. Despite the fact that they were a striking trio—one dark, one with guinea gold ringlets, one a redhead. Their sarcenet and lustring gowns had once been fine, but any of the discerning women in the tavern could recognize hems that had been turned and lace and ribbon that had been added to cover stains and wear. That and the low-cut necks and spangled scarves said they came from a different world from the gentleman in the caped greatcoat, even if they were all new to the Chat Gris tonight.
