White Horses. Joan Wolf

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      For the first time Herries realized that he had been holding his breath. He let it out slowly.

      Rothschild said, “Thank you, my lord. I realize that this duty may be distasteful to you, but we do feel it is necessary.”

      “And the girl is willing to pretend that I am her husband?”

      Rothschild nodded decisively. “She agreed.”

      The earl asked, “What’s in it for her? Are you paying her to carry the gold?”

      Rothschild said with dignity, “Of course I will pay her, but she is also doing it because she knows her father would want her to. François Robichon was a royalist through and through.”

      The earl unlaced his fingers. “Where am I to meet this circus?”

      Herries said, “I think it would be a good idea for you and Gabrielle to meet in Brussels. That is where you will tell people that you were married. Then you can return to the circus together.”

      “Very well.” The earl stood up. “I imagine you would like me to get started as soon as possible.”

      “Yes, my lord. Gabrielle will be waiting for you at the Hôtel Royale.”

      “Is there any particular name I am to go by?”

      Herries said, “You could use your given name, my lord. I don’t think anyone would recognize it.”

      The earl smoothed one of his sleeves. “Very well. I will meet this Gabrielle and go with her to the circus, where I will pretend to be her husband. What about the gold?”

      “It will be loaded into the circus wagons before you get there, my lord. You should be able to start your journey immediately.”

      “How long will it take us to get to Portugal?”

      “If you get the gold to Biarritz, the army will take it over the Pyrenees to Wellington,” Rothschild said. “The journey from Lille to Biarritz should take about a month, my lord. The circus will have to make stops to perform. It would look suspicious if it didn’t.”

      The earl’s finely chiseled lips settled into a grim line. “The things I do for my country,” he said. “Very well. I will leave for Brussels tomorrow.”

      “Thank you, my lord,” both men chorused. After the earl had gone and the door was closed behind him, both Herries and Rothschild looked at each other. “Couldn’t Castlereagh have gotten someone who was not quite so noticeable?” Rothschild said.

      Herries shook his head. “He wanted Lord Branford. Said if anyone could get the money through, it was he.”

      Rothschild said, “I hope he was right, Herries. I hope he was right.”

      Outside, the earl got into his chaise, tipped the boy who had been holding his grays and started the horses, driving through the city streets toward Grosvenor Square, where his town house was located. He pulled into the mews behind the house, relinquished his horse and carriage to one of his grooms, and went into the house from the back.

      He was surprised by his eighteen-year-old sister in the hallway in front of the library.

      “Oh, there you are, Leo,” Dolly cried. “Mama and I have come to call on you.”

      “Have you?” he asked. “And whose idea was that?”

      “Mine. Come into the drawing room and join us.”

      “I can’t stay long, I have things to do. I am leaving for the Peninsula tomorrow.”

      “Tomorrow?” Dolly was clearly upset. “So soon?” Her gaze dropped to his injured leg.

      “I am perfectly healthy. There’s no reason for me to linger in England when my regiment needs me.”

      “But there is a reason,” Dolly lamented. “I wanted you to help me with my come-out. I thought you could be my escort to Almacks when I make my first appearance there.”

      “Good God,” the earl said. “Whatever put that into your head?”

      “Well, there is one other thing you can do for me. Come along and talk to Mama,” Dolly said, and, taking her brother’s arm, steered him past the magnificent circular staircase into the marble-floored front hall and thence into the drawing room, which looked out onto Grosvenor Square. Sitting on a gold velvet sofa in front of an alabaster fireplace was a lovely middle-aged woman whose hair was so fair that it scarcely showed the white that had begun to streak it.

      “Hello, Leo,” she said quietly.

      “Hello, Mama,” he replied. He made no attempt to go to her. “This is a surprise.”

      “Dolly dragged me. We are planning her come-out and she has a question she wants to ask you.”

      His eyes, the same shade as his mother’s, moved to his sister’s animated face. “What question?” he asked.

      His sister looked at him pleadingly. “Please, can we use the ballroom here at Standish House for my come-out ball? It would be so wonderful to have it here. If we have it at Jasper’s house we will have to use the drawing room, and it isn’t very big.”

      Jasper Marley, Lord Rivers, was Dolly and Leo’s stepfather. Dolly, along with Leo’s two young brothers and his half brother, lived with her mother and stepfather.

      Leo looked at his mother. “Was this Dolly’s idea or yours?”

      “Believe it or not, the idea was Dolly’s,” she replied composedly.

      “Yes, it was,” Dolly said. “I think Papa would want me to have the best come-out, Leo. I think he would want me to use the ballroom.”

      He looked into his sister’s anxious face. “I’m sure he would. Of course you may use the ballroom. But I won’t be here for the great occasion.” He turned his eyes back to his mother. “I am leaving tomorrow for the Peninsula.”

      Her fair eyebrows drew together with concern. “Must you go back, Leo? Surely you have done more than your share in this war. You’re twenty-eight. It’s time for you to be thinking of marrying and setting up your nursery. You have the succession to think of.”

      His mouth set. “I have two younger brothers, Mama. If something happens to me, the earldom will stay in the family. And I believe in finishing what I start. The war is not over yet.”

      She met and held his eyes. “You took a bullet in your leg. You may not be so lucky the next time.”

      He lifted an eyebrow. “Would you care?”

      Her eyes watered. “Of course I would care! You’re my son.”

      “Lucky me,” he replied.

      Dolly said anxiously, “I wish you wouldn’t fight with Mama, Leo. I know you don’t like Jasper, but he’s not that bad. I think you and Mama should make up your quarrel before you go back to the СКАЧАТЬ