Secret Night by Anita Mills

Author:Anita Mills [Mills, Anita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General, Historical, Regency
ISBN: 9781626810402
Google: 42_bTK3XWkQC
Amazon: B001MZFTKS
Publisher: Topaz Jul. 1994
Published: 1994-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

"Yes. And I would that you did not drink either."

“What?” Rand fairly howled. "Now, see here, sir!"

"The same jailers that provide your wine can testify to everything you tell them."

"Oh, but they ain't—"

Patrick sighed. "All right, I'll put it in language you can understand, sir—their lips are oft as loose "as the legs of the whores you have frequented."

"But I'm payin' em!"

"And the money stops when you are hanged," Patrick reminded him. "Good day, Mr. Rand."

He was halfway to the door when he heard the old man grumble, "Ain't going to be much good to it, if you was to have your way about it."

As Patrick emerged from Newgate into the dreary drizzle, he looked down to where Fortitude and Truth still supported the Recording Angel. Squaring his shoulders, he reflected wearily that he was going to need a great deal of the former to obscure enough truth to exonerate Bat Rand, for in his heart he was certain the old man had lied to him.

Nonetheless, he crossed Newgate Street toward the Bailey resolutely. After he met in chambers with Justice Tate on another matter, he would seek out Peale and try to weasel the man's strategy out of him. And then he would have to beard Dunster about Jane.

"Hamilton! Good to see you!"

Clapping Patrick's shoulder familiarly, the Earl of Dunster guided him toward the formal saloon in the front of the elegant townhouse. As he stepped back to let the younger man pass, the earl motioned to a liveried footman. "Break out my best claret," he ordered. Turning to Patrick, he smiled. "Jane tells me we have something to celebrate, sir."

"Well, I had planned to broach the matter a bit more properly," Patrick admitted.

"No need to stand on ceremony—none at all, I assure you. I've been following your career for years, sir, and I've liked everything I've seen."

"Thank you."

"Handsome girl, my Jane," Dunster murmured.

"Yes, she is."

"Got everything a man could want—good looks, good breeding, good manners. The sort of female to help a man's advancement."

"I have admired her for some time, sir."

"Of course you have! And I have seen that she has waited for you. I could've taken Dillingham, you know, but she had her heart set on you, for you are the handsomer, she says." Dunster noticed that the footman had returned. "Ah, yes. That will be all, Thorpe." Moving to where the man had set the tray, the older man poured hefty amounts of the claret into two glasses. "Well, don't stand there, Hamilton—come get your share, eh?"

As Patrick took one, the earl lifted the other, smiling again. "To the future of the Tories!" As their glasses clinked together, the older man sobered. "You are the future of the party, Hamilton."

"I hope so, sir."

"No doubt about it." Dunster sipped from his glass, then indicated two chairs drawn up to the blazing fire. "Sit down, my boy, for we've a great deal to discuss."

Patrick took a seat, then drank of his claret. "Quite good stuff," he admitted.

"I've been

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