The Riddle of the Reluctant Rake by Patricia Veryan

Author:Patricia Veryan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466884304
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

11

“I cannot force the old fellow to show me his confounded Lists,” muttered Adair, trying unsuccessfully to find a more comfortable position in a morning-room armchair. “And be damned if I can think of him as doing anything really havey-cavey. He may have got himself into some sort of devil’s brew, but he’s not a bad man.”

Manderville sprawled on the sofa, settled his boots on the fender of the hearth, and pursed his lips but said nothing.

Half-sitting against the end of the sofa, Toby Broderick remarked that Hasty’s reaction could be ascribed to familial instincts. “Agrippina likely thought the same,” he said. “And paid with her life. Not that I mean to imply your uncle has any murderous tendencies, but—”

“Who?” interrupted Manderville rudely.

“Agrippina. Nero’s mother. Of course, he wasn’t directly involved with her murder. That was the result of Poppaea Sabina’s conniving, and it is said that—”

“How in the name of all that’s wonderful did ancient Rome slither into this discussion?” demanded Manderville, irked. “That silly apothecary who mauled us about this morning must not have looked closely at your brain-box or he’d have taken you away under restraint! Do, for once, try to stick to the subject.”

“The improvement of your mind is my most taxing subject,” said Broderick grandly, and grinning at Manderville’s lewd response, added, “It rather sounds as though you are persona non grata, Hasty.”

“I expect we all are,” agreed Manderville, still scowling at him. “But at least we won our little war and—”

“We won a battle,” said Broderick. “But I rather fancy the war is not yet won.”

“Don’t listen to this gloom-monger,” urged Manderville. “Whatever he says, last night we were the victors!”

“Thanks to you two intrepid warriors charging to the rescue in the nick of time,” said Adair.

“And to Miss Minerva’s hounds,” said Broderick laughingly.

Manderville said, “Right-oh! We’ll be known henceforth as the Canine Corps. Yours to command, Hasty!”

It was all very light-hearted, but scanning them Adair saw that Paige had a puffy and discoloured lip and had arranged his thick locks to conceal the ugly graze on his forehead. Toby had dislocated his wrist, and although the injury had been put to rights, it was swollen, and he also limped slightly, the result of a kick administered by one of the ruffians. “My ‘command’ looks sadly mangled,” he commented.

“Look to yourself,” protested Manderville. “You can scarce walk straight. That fool of an apothecary didn’t get the chance to practice his alleged skills on you, I collect?”

“I wasn’t supposed to be here. No more were you, actually. Which reminds me: Why did you come?”

Manderville sat upright. “Dashed if I didn’t forget all about it. You’ll have to go back to Town, Hasty.”

“It’s that silly fellow, Webber,” said Broderick. “Spreading it about the clubs that you’re hiding from him.”

“Oh, egad! I’m supposed to meet him. Of all times!” Adair flexed his swollen right hand experimentally. “I’ll be able to hold a pistol in a day or two, I don’t doubt.”

His friends exchanged a quick glance.

“Well?” he enquired.

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