Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee

Author:Laurel McKee
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction, Historical, General
ISBN: 9780446544788
Publisher: Hachette Digital, Inc.
Published: 2010-03-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Will paced the length of the Castle corridor and back again, his boots echoing hollowly on the cold stone floor. There was little to distract him in that barren space—a few chairs and some unsmiling portraits of past government officials. Their painted images still looked most disgruntled at being asked to control this wild, barbaric land.

Or perhaps they had just encountered a stubborn ancestor of Eliza Blacknall's.

He glanced toward the door leading to the conference room. The wood panels were stout, so nothing could be heard beyond them. He was just there to get his orders and be about his business.

He remembered life in the islands and how simple it had seemed despite the heat and fevers, with the sporadic, violent bursts of warfare interspersed with the lassitude of long, empty days. It was too humid and languid for passionate firebrands like Eliza and her friends to concoct rebellions. But here in Ireland, that restless spirit of independence ran deep into the earth itself, a longing nothing could extinguish. Perhaps there was even a kernel of it hidden inside himself. But that didn't take away his duty.

The door to the council room opened at last, a footman ushering Will inside. General Hardwick waited there alone, his face gray and tired beneath his neatly powdered wig.

"Major Denton," he said, gesturing to a chair. "Please, sit I am sorry you were kept waiting. Our work is never done these days. Will you take some wine?"

"No, thank you, General Hardwick."

"Ah, yes. You are eager to hear your orders, I imagine, to get to work, as we all are."

"Waiting takes a toll on the men, it is true."

"But you have been most admirable in keeping your troops busy, Major. Drilling them and putting them through their paces."

"We are ready to march when the time comes," Will said.

General Hardwick tapped at a pile of papers before him, official-looking documents bearing Castle seals. "General Lake is on his way south to take command," he said tightly, as if he did not entirely care for Lake's new command or the man's brutal reputation. As Will did not Brutality only drove the people closer to the United Irish, away from British rule.

"The Thirteenth is to go to Wexford," the general said. 'Tomorrow."

"Wexford?" Will said, his jaw tight

"Our informers tell us the Catholic Defenders have allied with the United Irishmen and are especially strong there, so trouble is expected any day. A strong military showing will cut them off. I myself will lead a contingent to Carlow."

"I am ready to depart, General Hardwick," Will said. A day was not much time at all, but surely it was enough to persuade Eliza to take her family and leave the country. One way or another.

"Well, that is the thing, Major Denton. I have a different request for you."

"A different request? Am I not to go to Wexford with my regiment?" Will asked, puzzled.

"Of course, eventually. They could hardly do without you. But for now, Lord Camden asks you to go home.

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