His smile turned a trifle tentative. “Oh? I am not familiar with such a plant.”
“No?” said Arianna. Another little flirtatious flutter. “And yet you seemed so very anxious to get your hands on the volume of cacao engravings I was buying for my husband.”
His jaw went slack.
Recalling the embarrassing incident set off a fresh spark of indignation inside her. “Steal any more books lately?” she asked tartly.
The blood drained from Davilenko’s face.
“Oh, yes. I saw the other one tucked inside your coat,” she said in a low whisper. “I don’t imagine your embassy would be happy to hear that you engage in petty thievery.”
Pivoting on his heel, he hurried away without uttering a word.
“Barbarian.” The comment came from just behind her.
Arianna gave an inward wince, realizing that the exchange must have been overheard.
“Ja, the Russians have a well-deserved reputation for boorish behavior,” chimed in another voice. “Do come join us, Lady Saybrook. We promise to be more congenial company.”
She turned slowly, forcing a smile as she found herself face to face with three diplomats whom she had met earlier in the evening.
“Stealing books?” Le Notre, a member of the French émigré community in London, raised a questioning brow. “Why, whatever did you mean, Lady Saybrook?”
“It was more of a misunderstanding.” Arianna had no intention of explaining what had really happened at the book emporium, and quickly deflected the conversation to a more mundane topic. “I understand that the marquess’s estate offers some of the best shooting in Gloucestershire. Do you gentlemen enjoy hunting?”
“Indeed,” said Enqvist, the Swedish military attaché. “I am particularly fond of grouse . . .”
Henkel, an aide to the embattled King of Saxony, followed the paean to birds with a lengthy tale of a Black Forest boar hunt. Then, to her relief, Saybrook reappeared and saved her from further stories by asking for her company on a stroll out to the terrace.
“If you will excuse us, there are some plants that I know my wife will find very interesting,” he explained.
“But of course.” Le Notre gave an apologetic bow. “Forgive us, Lady Saybrook. I hope we haven’t upset your delicate sensibilities with all our talk of bloodshed.”
Covering his amusement with a small cough, the earl offered Arianna his arm. “Thank you for your concern, gentlemen. However, I am happy to report that my wife is not nearly as fragile as she looks.”
Arianna waited until they passed the refreshment table before responding to her husband’s quip.
“And yet, we all know that looks can be deceiving.”
4
5 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Pinch salt
2 egg yolks
1½ cups whole milk
½ cup heavy cream, plus 1 cup whipped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large bananas, thinly sliced
14 whole chocolate wafer cookies, plus 4 crushed, for garnish (see note)
1. Place chocolate in a bowl. In a separate large bowl, sift together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt; whisk in egg yolks and ½ cup milk until smooth.
2. In a large saucepan over high heat, bring remaining 1 cup milk and ½ cup cream to a simmer. Pour over chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot chocolate mixture into egg mixture until completely incorporated and cocoa is dissolved.
3. Return custard to saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Do not let mixture reach a simmer. If custard begins to steam heavily, stir it, off the heat, a moment before returning it to stove top. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Stir in vanilla.
4. Spread several tablespoons pudding evenly into an 8-inch square pan (or a glass bowl). Top with an even layer of bananas; arrange whole cookies on top of bananas. Cover with remaining pudding. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crushed cookies. Chill at least 3 hours or overnight before serving.
(Note: Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers work very nicely.)
Saybrook laughed. But then, on seeing Arianna draw in a lungful of garden-scented air as they passed through the French doors, he eyed her askance.
“Are you feeling a trifle faint?” he asked. “You look as though you have seen a ghost.”
“A specter,” she replied, avoiding his gaze.
“Would you care to elaborate?”
“Not at the moment.” Arianna essayed a smile. “I—I shall explain it all shortly.”
“That has a rather ominous ring.”
“No, no,” she assured him. “It’s quite the opposite, actually.”
His dark brows angled up. “Now you have me intrigued.”
As a gust of wind ruffled through the ivy vines, a sudden chill teased down her spine. Shaking off the sensation, she turned abruptly and braced her palms on the stone railing. “Don’t be silly.”
The earl came to stand beside her. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, after taking a sip of his champagne. “I should have guessed that Grentham would be here.” The set of his jaw betrayed his inner tension. “If you wish, we can find a reason to leave. A sudden illness is a perfectly plausible excuse.”
“You need not worry, Sandro. Grentham doesn’t frighten me.”
“He should,” replied Saybrook tersely.
Yet again, she wondered what private clashes had provoked such a tone of loathing. She had a sense that he was holding something back.
But so am I.
“We may have piqued his insufferable pride, but he has no real reason to do us harm.” Arianna shrugged. “Besides, I am not certain what weapon he could wield, even if he wished to. You said yourself that he has agreed not to talk about my sordid past in return for you keeping silent about his own shortcomings. He is pragmatic . . .” She paused for a fraction. “As well as a being a prick. So I doubt he will be any trouble.”
He allowed a grudging grin. “I suppose you are right.”
“I confess, it may be petty, but I rather enjoy tweaking his nose.” She smiled. “It turns a ghastly shade of puce when he is angry.”
“All jesting aside, don’t push him too hard. I, for one, don’t underestimate him. He is a diabolically cunning man, and if he wishes to exact revenge, he will figure out a way to do so.”
She lifted the wine to her lips. “I shall be careful.”
Whatever he was about to say was swallowed in a harried sigh. “It seems any moment of privacy will be all too fleeting,” he said under his breath as footfalls on the stone announced that someone was approaching.
“Sandro, might I take you away again?” Mellon lifted his shoulders in apology. “Labrador has a question . . .”
“Of course,” replied Saybrook.
“You need not worry that your lovely wife will be left alone in the dark, Lord Saybrook.” Rochemont stepped forward with a gallant flourish. “I told Mr. Mellon that I should be delighted to keep the countess company.”
“How kind of you,” drawled Arianna.
“Indeed,” muttered the earl. Setting down his drink, he let his fingers graze her glove before turning and following his uncle across the shadowed terrace.
Rochemont watched them for a moment, then assumed Saybrook’s place at the railing.