The Mask Revealed (The Jacobite Chronicles Book 2) by Julia Brannan

Author:Julia Brannan [Brannan, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-07T18:00:00+00:00

“Why didn’t you tell me you were close friends?” Beth said angrily, when they had reached the security of their lodgings on the Piazza di Spagna, a popular area for English tourists and not far from the Jacobite Court. Angus, told to keep a low profile in Rome, and not to be seen in company with Sir Anthony in case someone known to Alex noted the family resemblance and became suspicious, had gone out. “I thought that you had met once or twice, maybe, as prince and loyal subject. I had no idea you were bosom friends!”

“As I said to Charles,” Alex said, scrubbing at the paint on his face with a wet cloth, “I wanted you to form your own impression. If ye’d known we were friends, ye’d have already had a favourable view of the man.”

“I already did have a favourable view of him,” she said. “He’s my prince, for God’s sake!”

“Aye, that’s true. But you’re also sensible. Ye ken that being born tae a role doesna always make you fit for it. History’s littered wi’ inadequate kings. But you love me, Beth, or so ye told me yesterday.”

She smiled, in spite of her irritation.

“Yes, I do,” she said. “What’s that got to do with it?”

“And I love you,” he continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “And as a consequence, although I’ve never met them, I’m inclined towards liking Graeme, and Thomas and Jane, and even your wee stable boy John who’s away tae the militia, and who I’d normally have nae time for, because you like them, and I trust your judgement.”

Beth’s anger fizzled out, and she went over to him, placing one hand on his violet silk shoulder, and with the other smoothing his hair, which was dishevelled from removing his wig.

“So, what do you think of him, then?” Alex asked. “Ye had plenty of time to observe him while we were talking.”

She certainly had, and had taken full advantage of it, sitting quietly while Alex explained the dual purpose of his visit. Charles shared Alex’s delight that the Hanoverian king was paying for his friend to visit him, and it was agreed that Sir Anthony Peters would indeed immediately form a friendly and very public relationship with the prince, which would certainly be reported back to the duke of Newcastle by the various spies who always hung around the Court but were unable to worm their way into the prince’s inner circle. In the meantime, in private, they would come up with some usefully misleading information to pass on to Sir Horace Mann.

Charles had then sent for refreshments, and they had talked for a long time about the other reason for Alex’s visit.

“Of course I must be at the head of any force Louis sends into England,” Charles had cried, after hearing of Angus’s experience in the hothouse. He leapt up from his seat and began to pace the room. “This is what we have been praying for, working towards, for years. Why is Louis keeping us in the dark?” He stopped pacing and turned back to Alex.

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