Meanwhile, Frances had returned to the Pelican and was telling John that the Comte Duverne was in London.

He looked simultaneously worried and relieved, "Well that'll put an end to your gallivanting about town at least! You'll have to stay here while he is in London."

She sighed rebelliously. "I could still go out as Diana Murray!" she said with sudden inspiration.

Her servant rolled his eyes heavenwards. He shook his head as he took her boots out with him to clean, that was not even worth a reply!

Frances kept to her room for as long as she could bear it the next day, which was in fact only until she remembered her arrangement to meet Harry Belmont for shooting practice that afternoon. Feeling only slightly guilty for worrying John and keeping a careful eye out for the Comte she sallied forth to the pistol gallery and spent an enjoyable hour or so with her newest friend.

On her return to the Pelican some hours later, she was met by the innkeeper's wife, wringing her hands and alternately excusing herself and foretelling disaster. The gentleman had seemed so respectable, foreign of course, but she had had no idea he was going to turn out to be a murderer so she had let him sit in her best parlour to wait and then Sally had come screaming down the passage and Will had raced straight up and found Mr Hopgood crumpled on the floor as white and still as-

At this point the bewildered Frances realised something had happened to John. She grasped the woman's arm, giving her a little shake, and begged her to tell her quickly where he was and what had happened. She looked up at her somewhat affronted.

"That's what I've been telling you, sir! He was struck down by this foreigner, white as a sheet he was. We've put 'im to bed and sent Joe for the doctor. Doctor's here now, you can go up and see 'im if you'd like to."

"Yes indeed." Frances followed Mrs Cobb up the stairs, she was still talking though rather breathlessly as she climbed. "Hit on the head, my Will says. And such a fancy coat he had on too, I'd never have thought it. What d'ye think he was after, sir? I couldn't see anything missing from your room, not at a quick glance that is. I'll expect you'll want to see for yourself." They reached the door of John's room which was next to Frances' and entered after a soft knock.

The doctor, a middle-aged, harassed looking man with spectacles was just about to take his leave. He turned to face them questioningly, clutching his black case.

"How is he, doctor?'' asked Frances anxiously.

"Concussed - not too badly I don't think, but he'll need to stay quietly in bed for about a week and then take things easily for a while. He'll need nursing for the first two or three days. I can recommend someone if you like. It will cost you a few shillings but Mrs Brown is better than most."

"Thank you, doctor, I'd be very grateful," Frances paid his fee and took down the name and address of the nurse. John was lying pale and still under the blankets but the doctor assured her there was nothing she could do but let him rest. Frances arranged with Mrs Cobb to have the nurse fetched, then suggested they go downstairs for a glass of sherry while she told her what had happened.

It appeared that a man had come to the inn just as dusk was falling, and asked to be directed to the room of Peter Francis. Although he was foreign, he was so well dressed and ever so politely spoken, that she had felt no hesitation in giving him the information. She had put him in her best parlour to wait for his return, and Will had taken him a bottle of burgundy which he'd ordered and left him to it.

The villain had then apparently crept upstairs and somehow attacked Mr Hopgood. The door to Frances' room had been ajar and the unconscious servant lying inside, so that one could only assume that the villain had broken in and been lying in wait for either Mr Francis or Mr Hopgood. After the brutal attack, the stranger had returned to the parlour, then come out as bold as brass to announce that he could not wait any longer.

Mrs Cobb marvelled here at the cold callousness of a man who could act so calmly after such villainy. As for describing him, he was dark, large of stature and had evil looking eyes. The landlady was so carried away with the excitement and horror of the event, that Frances did not think her identification could be relied on. She herself had no doubts that it had been the Comte Duverne, waiting to revenge himself on Louis Caron. Somehow John must have taken the blow meant for her.

Eventually she persuaded Mrs Cobb to return to the kitchen and went back to her room to try and think what to do. Her first thought, to call on the Bow Street Runners, was dismissed immediately. She was in no position to invite investigation, nor was there any proof that the attacker had indeed been the Comte Duverne.

One thing was certain, John would have to stay put at least for the next week. She was sure that she had been the intended victim, and had no real fear that he would attack her servant again. Her next thought was to ask Carleton's advice. She wondered a little at this for she was certainly well accustomed to dealing with her own problems, especially since her father had died, but the idea persisted. Perhaps he would know someone who could check on the Comte's movements, without directly involving her.

~~~

Lord Carleton meanwhile, had been having his own problems.

He had finally managed to invite Rosamond Lyle out for a drive in his phaeton, and had been looking forward to it. However, once she was actually seated beside him, he found she had little to say apart from commonplaces about the weather. She had no opinions about anything serious and when he did manage to engage her in conversation, it was about the ball she had last attended. Eventually they drew up outside her house and his groom hopped down to hold the horses' heads, while he helped Rosamond to alight. At the same time, Jack Lambert strolled around the corner on his way to call on Amanda and her cousin.

"Hullo there, Richard, and Rosamond, how charming you look this afternoon, your eyes put the sky to shame!" Carleton started to laugh at his friend's exuberance but then he caught sight of Rosamond's blushing face. She was smiling down at Jack, a different person entirely than the one he had been driving around for the past hour. He felt as if he had been punched in the stomach.

So, sits the wind in that quarter he thought wryly, he'd had no inkling. Thank heavens he had not gone so far as to make her an offer, what if she had felt compelled to accept it? He plastered a polite smile on his face, declined an offer to come into the house to pay his respects to Aunt Louisa and said instead that he must see his horses settled.

When Carleton heard his butler answer the door that evening, his first thought was to deny his presence, he felt disinclined for company. But when he heard it was Peter Francis, curiosity changed his mind and he asked the butler to show him into the study.

"Good evening, Peter, what can I do for you? I assume this is not a social call?"

Frances smiled briefly and admitted she had come for his advice. "You said yesterday that I could call on you, I hope you don't mind. When I returned to the inn this evening, I found my servant had been attacked, I think by the Comte Duverne, though I have no proof."

"Your servant?" he queried sharply.

"Yes, in mistake for myself I fancy. The attacker appears to have been waiting in my room and struck John on the head when he came in."

Carleton drew in his breath, disliking the thought that his friend had been in danger. "The Runners? No, perhaps not, as you say there is no evidence," he paused, frowning.

"I wondered if you might be in a position to make enquiries about the Comte for me? But only if it's no trouble," Frances added hastily.

"Yes, I could do that," Carleton answered. He paused for a moment, "I am going out of town tomorrow for a short visit to my estate in Surrey, but I could arrange someone to undertake a discreet investigation into the Comte for us while I am away."

Frances felt her heart drop at the news Carleton was going away.

Before she could say anything, he continued, "As a matter of fact, I've had an idea. Would you like to come with me? The Comte would not be able to bother you there. I have some business to attend to, but I could offer you riding and some shooting while we are there. I intend to be at Chatswood but a week or two - 't would give my agent time to find out what the Comte is about. What do you say? Can you arrange your affairs?" He looked at her.

Frances found herself seriously considering the idea; to be sure there would be risks in staying with Carleton, but they would involve her reputation not her life. She certainly did not want to remain a sitting target at the Pelican for the Comte to waylay at his pleasure.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded, "Thank you, my lord, I accept with pleasure, if you are certain it would not be an inconvenience."

Carleton smiled wryly, "It's not all one sided I assure you, I shall be glad of your company. I leave tomorrow at ten - will that suit you?"

"I'll be here," she promised, a little breathlessly. She left shortly after to make the necessary arrangements, and found that her stomach was churning all the way home with a mixture of fear and excitement.

She made arrangements for John to stay on in his room at the Pelican but cancelled her own as she needed to save the money. Instead she left a small sum in the care of Mrs Cobb to pay the nurse and for any medicines John might require. She took only two bags, and packed both of them to take with her. She wrote a careful note of explanation to John and told the innkeepers she was going into the country for a while to stay with a friend.

Mrs Cobb looked rather taken aback by this show of heartlessness, but could hardly complain considering the arrangements that had been made for John's care. "I suppose 'tis more than some gentlemen would do," she admitted later to her spouse. "A real nurse to look after him an' all." Mr Cobb grunted.

(Author's Note - If you are enjoying this story, please remember to vote and comment!  I like comments :)  Also if you find any errors - please let me know.)