A Spy's Honor
Page 32
A maid stopped his progress. “His Grace requests your presence in the study.”
What was Allerton doing locked in his study on a day like today? “If he thinks to try to talk me over to the Tory side again…”
Allerton had done his best to remain a brother instead of a domineering father, but he still liked to raise John’s hackles by trying to dissuade him from the Whig cause, even though John wasn’t a voting Member of Parliament yet. Perhaps he should let Claire talk his brother over. Sometimes she spoke about reform more enthusiastically than John.
The study door was open. Claire was inside, chatting with his brother. Maybe she’d had the same idea.
He greeted Allerton and then settled his hand at the small of Claire’s back, telling her, “I was just looking for you.”
She smiled. “I was looking for you too.”
“You’re welcome,” Allerton grunted. He came around the desk with his hands clasped behind his back. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to stand for Parliament after all, John.”
No. He was not going to waste his energy arguing today. He turned to Claire. “Would you care to accompany me to the pond?”
“Ahem.”
With reluctance he looked back at Allerton, who smiled devilishly.
His brother held up a roll of paper tied with ribbon. “This was delivered. Letters patent granting you the title Viscount Reyburn, for your services to His Majesty’s government.” Allerton held out the papers. “If you still wish to represent the Whigs, you’ll have to do so in the House of Lords.”
John took the papers, uncertain what to say.
Claire squeezed his arm. “It’s meant as an honor, John, not as another blow to Kensworth.”
He’d never dreamed how comforting it would be to have someone know your thoughts without speaking them. The title was an honor, but a bittersweet one. Now it seemed as if he had everything and Kensworth had nothing.
He and Claire had postponed their wedding all these months in order to spare Kensworth more scandal. David had been tried for high treason and, despite his status as Kensworth’s brother and John’s testimony, had been found guilty. He had been hanged less than a week later. Harry Watson had been sentenced to transportation to Van Diemen’s Land.
Kensworth hadn’t spoken to John since that fateful day at the hunting box, though he had responded to a few of Claire’s letters, his despondency more than obvious. He was entirely alone now, as Robert and Mrs. Cahill had removed themselves to France to avoid the scandal.
“You’ll be able to do so much more for reform working in the House of Lords,” Claire remarked.
“Yes, but now I’ll have to face him across the benches,” he replied with a nod toward his brother. However, he’d have an opportunity to speak with Kensworth, perhaps to even repair their friendship.
“I will go easy with you for the first few months,” Allerton said. He stuck out his hand. “Thank you for all you’ve done for England. I know you made many sacrifices.”
John shook his hand and finally smiled. “My work has just begun.” He turned to Claire. “The pond?”
Her brown eyes shimmered wickedly. “I would love to.”
They escaped out a side door and headed across the lawn. The pond had become their secret hideaway. They’d found a sheltered grove near the northern edge that allowed them a fair measure of privacy. Not wanting to welcome a scandalously early baby, they always managed to practice a modicum of restraint.
Within the grove, Claire leaned against the nearest oak tree and pulled John close, slipping her hands around his neck. “The wedding is only two weeks away.”
“Mm-hmm,” John murmured, hungrily kissing her jaw.
“Also,” she whispered, “that viscountcy will need an heir.”
He grinned down at her. “I love you.”
Then he sank to the ground, drawing her down atop him, and showed her how much. And indeed, the heir arrived nine months later.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
While the Tories and Whigs played a prominent role in early British politics, they weren’t political parties per se. I took the liberty of making them seem so for this story in order to connect with modern readers. Both names, Tory and Whig, were originally insults hurled by the opposition in the seventeenth century, but they stuck. Neither ever formed into an official party but were instead considered a sentiment, a way of thinking. While families and influential groups often clung to a tradition of one sentiment or the other, they sometimes changed their minds. In general, the Tories were considered more conservative and were associated with Anglicanism (religious conformity) and the squirearchy while the Whigs were considered more liberal and supported the causes of the wealthy merchants and bankers and religious nonconformists. The Whigs were prominent supporters of the anti-slavery movement, Catholic emancipation, and limited parliamentary reform. The Tories, however, had the support of first King George III and then his son, the Prince Regent.
The Hampton Club was started in 1812 by Major John Cartwright and agitated for parliamentary reform. Over the next decade several offshoots of the club sprang up, though the one used in this story is fictional.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charlotte Russell didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. At one point she had grand plans to be an architect, until she realized she couldn’t draw anything more complicated than a stick figure. So, she enrolled at the University of Notre Dame and studied her first love—history. Now she puts all that historical knowledge to good use by writing romances set in Regency England. When not pounding on the keyboard, she loves spending time with her husband, three kids, and two cats. (Of course there are cats; she’s a writer.)
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