The Decadent Duke by Virginia Henley

Author:Virginia Henley
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

Back at Woburn, John and his sons spent the entire afternoon helping Mr. Burke and his staff put up the Christmas tree in the great hall and decorate it. They helped the maids carry in armloads of pine branches, holy, ivy, and mistletoe. Mr. Burke went up to the attics and brought down Yule ornaments, garlands, Christmas bells, and reams of red ribbon.

After dinner that evening, John’s sons wrapped presents and put them under the tree. That night they went to bed tired, but happy and excited about the upcoming festivities. John was extremely relieved that his boys were no longer overcome by grief and seemed to be settling down.

Tonight, however, John felt exceedingly unsettled. He went to Woburn’s library for a book, but nothing sparked his interest. He wandered down to the ancient weapons room and marveled at the lances, maces, pikes, and shields that had been utilized in wars through the centuries. He looked at his brother’s sword and gun collections and admired a few of the pieces. Against one wall a narrow table displayed antique knives and daggers on a plush blue velvet cloth with an embroidered silver border.

Normally, he could spend hours in this chamber, examining the artifacts, but tonight his mind was on Francis and the masquerade ball at Kimbolton Castle. You cannot stand not knowing, can you? he mocked himself. He knew the answer. Knew he could not rest until he had seen for himself. Go! What the hell’s stopping you?

John removed the daggers from the table and shook out the cloth. He lifted down a sword and buckler and took them up to his bedroom, where he donned black knee breeches and tall black riding boots. He cut a hole in the blue velvet cloth large enough to fit over his head. It will make a passable tabard. Let’s hope I make a passable French Musketeer. He searched through a large wardrobe that stored Russell garments from bygone years until he found a black cavalier’s hat with an ostrich feather.

John bathed and shaved, but did not use the razor on his top lip. He rubbed his finger inside the lamp chimney and darkened the shadow of his mustache with soot. When he put on the tabard, hat, and black eye mask, he knew no one would recognize him.

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