“Another of Khar El-Din’s sons, Kamal, a young man whom I have yet to meet. Of course, after I verified that the ships were lost, I wrote to him. I received a reply not long ago in which he denies he is involved, and assures me he will look into the matter.”
“The court of Naples,” Adam said quietly. “The key lies there.”
“Yes, Adam, I believe it does. It was my intent to travel to Naples myself, but upon reflection, I did not think it wise. I am too well known there, and my presence would likely send the men responsible into hiding. That is why I asked you here. I believe that you, acting not as the English Viscount St. Ives, but rather as a wealthy Italian nobleman, would have both the entrée to the court and the anonymity you need to discover who has this unaccountable desire for our goods.”
“Could Adam be in any danger, my lord?” the countess asked.
Adam smiled grimly. “Not unless I were to wear a placard stating my purpose, Mother.”
“I believe it unlikely in the extreme, cara. Even if Adam were to shout that he is my son, the thieves would likely take to their heels. Still, Daniele and three of his men will be at hand, should the need arise. Adam, are you familiar with the situation in Naples?”
“I know,” Arabella said, leaning forward with her chin cupped in her hands, “that the queen, Maria Carolina, holds power, and that King Ferdinando is a buffoon without much of a brain.”
“Not uncommon,” the countess said.
“Perhaps it is the way of the future,” Arabella said, grinning toward her brother.
“You are interrupting us, Bella,” Adam said. He leaned forward like his sister to rest his chin atop his folded hands. “The queen was Marie Antoinette’s sister, was she not?”
“Indeed yes,” the earl said. “Thus, in large part, the reason for her hatred of the Jacobins, and Napoleon. The murder of her sister and Louis profoundly affected her, and she vowed that the French would never take the Two Sicilies. But she stands alone. The Spanish Bourbons are helpless and the Austrians dither first one way and then the other. Only the Treaty of Amiens keeps Naples from French hands, and it will not be enough. Even now, Maria Carolina and Ferdinando must dance to Napoleon’s tune to survive.”
“This is all well and good, Father,” Arabella said, “but there are so many people at court. Where is Adam to begin?”
“Your sister,” the earl said with a smile to Adam, “terrifies me. She never loses sight of the mule’s destination. Well, Bella, Daniele has discovered that one of the many French émigrés to the queen’s court is the Comte de la Valle, a young man of rather questionable morals and loyalties to the crown, who perhaps knows more than he should about our Caribbean rum. He plays the role of the displaced French émigré and is accepted at court, very much in the queen’s good graces. There is something else about him you should know, Adam. Do you remember the Hellfire Club in England some twenty-five years ago?”
Adam snorted. “A group of satanic revelers, weren’t they?”
“An affectation Naples does not seem to have yet discovered. But it appears the Comte de la Valle may be involved in a similar group, Les Diables Blancs, the white devils, they call themselves. He has managed to draw some young Italian nobles in with him.”
“It appears,” Adam said, “that I shall find myself equally drawn to this charming Comte de la Valle.”
“Adam, a white devil,” Arabella said. “You will fit marvelously well, brother.”
“I doubt I will be bored.”
“There is a problem, Father,” Arabella said suddenly, one dark brow arching upward, “but also a solution, I think.” She felt her heart begin to pound with excitement, for she knew what she wanted. Go slowly, my girl, she told herself.
“What is, cara?”
“The Lyndhursts will soon be journeying to Naples. Rayna told me the queen’s minister finally succeeded in convincing Addington to send her father to the court of Naples as a military adviser and aide to England’s ambassador, Sir Hugh Elliot.”
“Rayna is accompanying her parents?” the earl asked. At his daughter’s nod, he murmured, “I can’t imagine why Delford, of all people, would want to take his daughter to a foreign court.”
“Why did you not tell me this, Bella?” Adam asked.
Arabella shrugged. “Mother knew, but you, Adam, did not seem interested. Now they are a problem to you.”
“That is an understatement, Bella. Good God, sir, the Lyndhursts have known me since I was born, and would recognize me in an instant.”
“Can you not simply write to Edward, my lord,” the countess said, “and request his presence here before he travels to Naples? You can explain the situation to him and ask that he keep silent about Adam.”
“Aye, I can, though I doubt that Viscount Delford will be greatly pleased.”
“But you’ve forgotten Rayna,” Arabella said, quite pleased with her timing. “She too might recognize Adam, though she hasn’t seen him for years. For her, I have the perfect solution.”
“Oh?” the earl said carefully.
“Yes, indeed, Father.” She drew a deep breath and plunged onward. “I will journey to Naples with the Lyndhursts, as their houseguest. I so long to see Naples, Father, and if Rayna even suspects Adam looks familiar, why, I could well convince her otherwise. And who knows? Perhaps I can help Adam discover who is behind all this.”