The seven dials affair, p.1
The Seven Dials Affair, page 1
THE SEVEN DIALS AFFAIR
TRACY GRANT
This book is licensed to you for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be sold, shared, or given away.
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.
The Seven Dials Affair
Copyright © 2023 by Tracy Grant
Ebook ISBN: 9781641972543
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.
NYLA Publishing
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http://www.nyliterary.com
For we have heard the chimes at midnight.
—Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2, Act III, scene ii
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Dramatis Personae
Prologue
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
Historical Notes
A Reading Group Guide
Also by Tracy Grant
About the Author
For Mélanie. You're a part of everything I write, but this one truly would not have been possible without you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It takes the help and support of an amazing number of people to bring a book into the world. My amazing agent, Nancy Yost, has been a wonderful support to this series from the start. As always, huge thanks for her insights and brilliant eye for editing cover copy. Thanks to Natanya Wheeler, a brilliant Director of Digital Rights, for shepherding the book expertly through each stage of the publication process and once again working her magic to create a fabulous cover. It was particularly fun working on this one, finding the perfect image for Mélanie Rannoch, layering details that capture Seven Dials and the mood of the novel. To Sarah Younger for helping the book along through production and publication, and to Sarah and Christina Miller for superlative social media support. To Zoe Bryant for a great set of character and quote cards. And to the entire team at Nancy Yost Literary Agency for their fabulous work. Their creativity and dedication make all of them a dream to work with. 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 when it comes to everything from historical usage to series continuity.
Thank you to Kristen Loken for a magical author photo. This one is particularly special because we were back at the Merola Grand Finale after three years. Your brilliance never fails to amaze me, Kristen!
I am very fortunate to have a wonderful group of writer friends near and far who make being a writer less solitary. Thanks in particular to Lauren Willig for sharing the joys of historical research and the challenges of juggling life as a writer and a mom. To Penelope Williamson, for sharing adventures (including wonderful writer escapes to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival), analyzing plots from Shakespeare to Scandal, and being a wonderful honorary aunt to my daughter. Thank you to the #momswritersclub for bimonthly chats that are energizing and inspiring, and especially to Jessica Payne for starting it and to Jessica and Sara Read for their wonderful #MomsWritersClub YouTube channel on which Mélanie and I had the fun of doing a guest interview. So excited I've had the joy of reading Jessica's and Sara's debut novels in the last year.
Thank you to the readers who support Malcolm and Mélanie and their friends and provide wonderful insights on my Web site and social media, and especially on the Goodreads Discussion Group for the series.
Thanks to Gregory Paris and jim saliba for creating and updating a fabulous Web site that chronicles Malcolm and Mélanie's adventures.
And thank you to my daughter Mélanie, for brainstorming The Seven Dials Affair, proofreading (including catching "Raoul says 1811 but everyone else says '06 or '07), and supporting me all the way through the process. I am so proud that my website now includes "Mélanie's Corner" for her stories, starting with her wonderful series Talea's Mysteries. From the time she could touch the keys, Mélanie has contributed something to each of my books. This is Mélanie's contribution to this story – "my mummy's stories are amazing, I am so so happy I got to help her with this one! Mummy is amazing at being my mom, writing, her job at Merola, and being the best person EVER! I am so lucky to be her daughter!!!!!!!"
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
*INDICATES REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES
The Rannoch Family & Household
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
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
Miles Addison, agent, Malcolm's valet
Blanca Mendoza Addison, agent, his wife, Mélanie's companion
Pedro Addison, their son
Valentin, footman
Mrs. Erskine, cook
Alexander (Sandy) Trenor, Malcolm's secretary
Elizabeth (Bet) Simcox Trenor, his wife
Robby Simcox, Bet's brother, groom at Carfax House
The Mallinson Family
Julien (Arthur) 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
Hubert Mallinson, spymaster, Julien's uncle
Amelia Mallinson, his wife
David Mallinson, MP, their son
Simon Tanner, playwright, his lover (see also At the Tavistock)
The Davenport Family & Household
Lady Cordelia Davenport, classicist
Colonel Harry Davenport, her husband, classicist, and former British intelligence agent
Livia Davenport, their daughter
Drusilla Davenport, their daughter
Cleo, their dog
Justine Lambton, classicist, their guest
Gerald (Gerry) Schofield, classicist, her friend
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
Judith Derwent, Viscountess Pelham, Frances's daughter from her first marriage
Bobby Derwent, Viscount Pelham, Judith's late husband (see also Others)
Serena Derwent, their daughter
Aline (Allie) Blackwell, Frances's daughter from her first marriage
Geoffrey (Geoff) Blackwell, doctor, Aline's husband
The Roth Family
Jeremy Roth, Bow Street Runner
Allegra Wainwright Roth, his estranged wife
Samuel Roth, their son
Dorian Roth, their son
Harriet Roth, Jeremy's sister
Cressida Caldwell, courtesan, Allegra's stepsister
Vincent Caldwell, Cressida's son
At the Tavistock
Simon Tanner, playwright and part owner of the theatre (see also Mallinson Family)
Manon Caret, actress
Brandon Ford, actor
Letty Blanchard, actress
Will Carmarthen, actor, her husband
Eliza Bentley, actress
Tim Scott, assistant stage manager
At the Thr
Ralph Allam, barkeep
Mandy, his mistress
The Blayney Household
Edmund Blayney, journalist
Philippa (Pippa) Blayney, his wife
Cynthia, their daughter
Katie, their daughter
Danielle Darnault, opera singer and agent
Pierre Ducroix, journalist, her husband
Ilia, their daughter
Others
Marco Esquivel, Argentine revolutionary leader
Felicia Esquivel, his wife
Martin Rowely, Esquivel's friend, MP, steam engine developer
William Beardsley, Esquivel's friend, MP
Bobby Derwent, Viscount Pelham, Esquivel's friend (see also Davenport Family)
*Sir Nathaniel Conant, chief magistrate of Bow Street
*Lord Sidmouth, home secretary
Higgins, Bow Street runner
Hopkins, Bow Street patrol
Tristram, Lord Gresham, composer
Lord Warkworth, diplomat
*Lord Palmerston, secretary at war
*Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, master general of the ordnance
*Lord Fitzroy Somerset, his secretary
Philip Ledgwood, diplomat
Isabel Fuentes Ledgwood, his wife
PROLOGUE
Buenos Aires
February, 1818
Kitty Ashford tightened her fingers on her shawl. The north wind, so sharp in an Argentine summer, tugged at the folds she'd wrapped over her head, and the moon was bright enough that her hair might catch the light. Red blonde was not the most convenient color for a spy.
The wind brought the scent of the water from Wapping, the English nickname for the beach. She could hear the strains of a reel played on an Irish fiddle from one of the grog shops and smell garlic and sour ale. And hints of fish oil, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves.
She scanned the dark line of buildings. He was there, leaning against the side of a shed, blurring into the shadows. Somehow even his distinctive fair hair faded to gray and the lines of his body echoed the lines of the wood. She'd never fail to marvel at his skill. And at other things.
He turned as she approached and took a step forwards, as though unfolding from the shadows. She saw the quick gleam of his smile and an echoing flash in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said, when she was close enough for speech to be safe. "I'm sure it wasn't convenient to get away."
"I'm used to it." She'd had to make an excuse to her husband, but lying to Edward was second nature. "I assume it's important?"
"I'm afraid so." The light shifted, as the wind set the clouds ruffling over the moon. Something leapt in his eyes. "I'm going to have to leave. Tonight."
Her muscles jerked. Like she'd been dealt a blow to the gut. Stupid. She'd known this was coming at some point. "We were right about the leak?"
"Yes. I need to get back with the news. I can't trust it to someone else. And I'm afraid there's no doubt now the League are on to me."
"Of course." Her voice was level. Surprisingly so. She hoped he couldn't detect her erratic breathing. "The only reason you were here was to find a safe place to hide. And now it isn't safe anymore."
"That isn't the only reason I was here. Or at least not the only reason I stayed here."
"Don't, Julien." She took a step back. A board creaked beneath her foot. She should have noted it on her arrival. If she was making such slips on basic spycraft it was probably just as well Julien was leaving. "Your saving grace has always been that you didn't pretend we were anything we weren't or give way to platitudes."
"That wasn't either of those." He took her hand, his fingers steady on her own. "Lie low for a bit, Kitkat. We don't know how much got out and how far it's gone. The League have a long reach, and they may try to use you to get to me. Not to sound overly arrogant, but—"
"They want your services. With good reason." And they might want him for who he was, but she wasn't going to put that into words. Not even here, with seemingly only the wind and spicy air and creaking boards for company. Julien had confessed things to her he hadn't to anyone else. She'd never forget that. Even if she never saw him again.
"They've shown themselves tiresomely stubborn. Like a suitor who won't acknowledge when a lady isn't interested. Whether the lady in question is a cyprian or in her first season, it's a fatal mistake."
She nodded. "I'll be all right. I've been through this in Spain. It comes with the territory."
His fingers tightened over her own. "Tell the boys goodbye. I'd have liked to see them."
Her sons were fond of Julien, despite not knowing his true name. In fact, both Leo and Timothy were rather alarmingly good at seeing through his disguises. "They'll understand. They're both used to changes."
The word hung in the air. Because this was a sea change that would impact their lives for years. Perhaps forever. She'd had her own life disrupted too many times not to know that the polite words about "staying in touch" were just that. Polite.
The realization settled in his eyes. "I'll find a way to write. And we both don't know where we may end up."
"Julien." She drew back without disengaging her hand. "Don't pretend this is something it isn't."
"I'm not pretending anything, Kitkat." He released her hand, but only to pull her into his arms and put his mouth to hers.
For a moment, the world rushed away. As much as it ever could for them. She slid her arms round him, holding him tight. Perhaps too tight. "For once I don't think you had half a mind to who might sneak up behind us," she said when he released her, voice shaking with laughter and other things.
"With you I'm always inclined to lose my head."
"Liar."
She kept her hands at her sides. She was not going to give way to the cliché impulse to touch her hand to her abdomen. She wasn't even sure. And even if she had been, it didn't, couldn't concern him. Especially not now. As well he was leaving before she was sure. Before she could be tempted to tell him.
He bent his head to kiss her again. How provoking of Julien, who was so expert at lying about everything, to be so damnably honest when he kissed.
He held her face between his hands for a moment. "Stay safe, Kitkat."
"My dear. Don't ask the impossible."
Their gazes caught for a moment. "You may have tiresome questions about the gold."
"Answering tiresome questions is rather my stock in trade. I may even be able to track down the gold."
"I have no doubt you can. Send me word when you do. I can share a toast with you across the ocean."
She was not in a mood to think about the ocean that would be between them. "Do you know where the leak came from?" she asked.
