A Gentleman's Position (Society of Gentlemen) by Charles K.J

Author:Charles, K.J. [Charles, K.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2016-04-05T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Mason and Julius left at dawn the next morning. It was ninety miles to Cricklade, a full day’s hard journey even with a curricle built for speed and unlimited changes of horses. David could not be expected back in London before the following night at the very earliest. If he came at all.

If David did not come…

If he did not come, it would mean that he was truly no longer Richard’s man, and the thought was so intolerable that his mind flinched from it. If he had made such an accursed tangle of things that David no longer cared to come to his aid, the cascade of impending disasters would be his fault.

“You place a lot of reliance on Cyprian,” Dominic remarked as they sat in the book room the following day. “He’s a clever man but not a magician.”

“He has other ways of seeing things,” Richard said. “That’s what we need. None of us had even considered stealing the letter back before Mason suggested it.”

“And what if he doesn’t come?”

“I don’t know.” Richard put his hands through his hair. “I can’t think of any way around this damned business. We can’t pay Maltravers off, can’t threaten him or appeal to his better nature. I have no idea what we can do, except pray Cyprian is more ingenious than I and that he is willing to help.” He smiled without mirth. “Ironic, isn’t it? I spent so long telling myself that I might not touch him because I have all the power and he has none. It does not feel like that now.”

“Indeed not. Richard, if we are faced with a decision, I need to know what you will do.”

“I promised you that I would protect Mason while you need me to. I will do it if I have to rush him and Ash out of the country together.”

“You understand the consequences to your name and Harry’s.” Dominic looked rather pale.

“I understand them very well. I made you a promise. And in any case, I should not insult Harry by protecting him at Mason’s expense. He would not take that.”

“No, he wouldn’t. Richard, I’m frightened.”

“I imagine you are.”

“Silas doesn’t deserve this.” Dominic was staring at the wall. “He’s the worst sort of democrat and guilty as hell of seditious libel, but he had nothing to do with that accursed conspiracy of fools, and to see him hounded like this…I can’t. We still have so much to talk about.” His smile was a grimace. “I know you don’t understand—”

“Of course I damned well understand,” Richard said. “If I had bothered to look and listen, I should have understood from the start. I’m sorry I failed you in that.” And if he had not, perhaps he might have understood what he felt for David instead of denying what was in front of his own face for so long.

Dominic was silent for a few moments. Finally and carefully he said, “You know, Richard, you are a very imposing man, and of course a rich one, and used to having your way, and it is easy to feel that you are invulnerable.

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