Texas Viscount by Henke Shirl

Author:Henke, Shirl [Henke, Shirl]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Shirl Henke
Published: 2012-01-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

As Hodgins frantically took notes, Hambleton and Lansdowne discussed the impending arrival of the minister from Japan. They were seated in the earl's office with the hall door locked. This meeting was of the highest secrecy, and no one could be allowed to interrupt or even to see that the Foreign Secretary was present.

“This is confounded nonsense,” the earl said impatiently, aggravated that his good mood from the weekend had been so rudely broken by these new developments.

“The Japanese are a stubborn lot, there's no denying,” Lansdowne said, drawing upon his cigar. He studied the ash as he continued, “We tried as delicately as possible to explain that there would be risks if Count Hayashi made a public progress to St. James' Palace, but the Marquess Katsura said they'd lose face if his minister was slipped into London in secret.”

“Pardon, Your Lordship, but Katsura is their Prime Minister?” Hodgins asked. At Lansdowne's nod, he continued note keeping.

“Better to lose face than lose his demned arse,” Lansdowne said irritably.

“The chances for the Russians to take another pop at Hayashi are damnably high.” Hambleton sighed. “But I suppose there's no help for it.”

“Have you anything on your nephew's Russian friends since he saw Whistledown slip the stolen treaty information to Zarenko?” At the earl's negative shake of his head, Lansdowne added, “Jamison's come up with nothing either, but I've assigned him to keep a close watch on both of them.”

“My nephew is observing Whistledown as well as continuing to hobnob with Kurznikov and his circle,” the earl said.

A sharp rap sounded on the door. At once Lansdowne stood up, prepared to slip away via the secret entrance. “Will you see to whomever it is, Hodgins? No one must know the Foreign Secretary is here.”

“Very good, my lord,” the servant said, quickly excusing himself.

Hambleton opened the panel, and the two men vanished behind it before Hodgins opened the door of the study. A small gaslight flickered on the steps leading down to the cellar. As the earl saw his guest out, they continued their conversation.

“At least we have an opportunity to send those damnable Russians on a false trail before the real arrival of the minister.”

“I take it you've planted the scheduled arrival of the supposed ship?” Lansdowne asked.

“Tomorrow. If they receive that information from Whistledown—and we've given him ample opportunity to peruse it over the past few days—then they should make another attempt on the agent posing as Hayashi.”

“If only we can capture one of the bastards and interrogate him. I have an agent whose father died at Balaclava who'd love to perform that service for king and country,” Lansdowne said dryly.

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