#georgette heyer
“I do not think it can be about - anything particular,” Venetia said. Aubrey had not told her that he was running messages across the countryside for Lord Wellington, but she hardly needed him to tell her to know. “Unless perhaps they have come to tell us - about Conway.”
“They would not need a Grand Chevalier for that,” Aubrey pointed out.
“Oh,” Venetia said. She feared she was staring at him, but she did not know where else to look. “Is that what it is?”
“Yes,” Aubrey said baldly. “The largest I have ever heard of. The heavyweights of the Armée de l'Air.”
“Oh,” Venetia repeated. Flurry was now scrabbling to get down, but Venetia felt rooted to the spot, her arms frozen around the spaniel.
Ribble cleared his throat, and both siblings turned to stare at him.
“Miss Venetia,” Ribble said. “A Mademoiselle la Capitaine de Saint-Vire has called, and - begs to know if you are receiving callers.” The butler proffered a calling card in a shaking hand.
Venetia took it automatically, and stared at the card for several moments before the information on it penetrated her brain. Madame la Capitaine de Courfeyrac was printed on the heavy, elegant cream cardstock, but it had been crossed out decisively and underneath it was written Mademoiselle la Capitaine de Saint-Vire in a very elegant hand.
Had Madame de Courfeyrac died, or some such thing? Perhaps Mademoiselle de Saint-Vire was her daughter, and had inherited her calling cards as well as her dragon.
Venetia swallowed. “I shall certainly receive her,” she said, and handed the card back to Ribble. “It is - rather early for morning callers, is it not? I shall change my dress and take tea with Mademoiselle de Saint-Vire in the drawing room, Ribble.”
“I’ll come with you,” Aubrey said.
“You will not,” Venetia said positively, surprising herself with the force of her own objection and wincing internally, for there was nothing more calculated to set Aubrey’s back up. “If I can manage it, Aubrey, she shall not even set eyes on you.”
There was a short silence.
“At least give me the wretched dog,” Aubrey said. “I have never heard that Grand Chevaliers eat spaniels, but there is no point in making the experiment.”
