Murder While I Smile by Joan Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

deCoventry.
    “Prance, are you sunk to handing out copies of your Rondeaux on street corners?” Marchant asked with a smirk.
    “You’ll have to buy a copy if you want one, Marchant,” Luten replied, even as Prance’s hand moved forward. “These copies are spoken for. If you hurry, you might get one before they’re all taken.”
    “Both copies?” Marchant replied waggishly.
    “Where could I get one?” Inwood asked, with apparent sincerity. “I’ve always been interested in King Arthur.”
    The solecism of mistaking the dux bellorum for King Arthur was noted, but forgiven. “You can have this one,” Prance said, handing it over. “I have a spare copy in the carriage.”
    “I daresay you can spare me a copy as well,” Marchant said, glancing at the copies each of them carried, and biting back a grin.
    “Afraid not,” Luten said.
    Inwood opened the book and began leafing through it. It was enough encouragement for Prance, who immediately began to speak of dux bellorum.
    Marchant turned aside in disdain and said to Luten, “Where are you folks off to on this fine day?”
    “To call on the Countess de Lieven, who is eager to receive this copy of Prance’s book,” he lied. “And you?”
    “Inwood and I have a very important meeting this afternoon. We have been assigned to a special project of the Ordnance Committee, under the secretary for war.”
    “Meeting before the House sits to prevent us Whigs keeping an eye on you, eh?” Luten said, only half joking.
    “The world doesn’t stop wagging because some of the members want a long summer vacation, milord,” Marchant replied
    “Any news from the Peninsula? I’ve been out of town for a spell.”
    “Not what Grey and Grenville and you Whigs would like to hear. We’re not pulling out of Spain and Portugal to let Bonaparte bestride the world like a colossus. We thank Lady Hertford for Prinney’s support,” he added with a lecherous laugh. “She is a staunch Tory, of course. The prince’s carriage is at her door in Manchester Square every afternoon. He will hear what he ought to hear there, no fear.”
    “I asked if there were any new developments,” Luten said dampingly. It was hardly news to him that Prinney was courting Lady Hertford.
    “After our stunning triumphs, we feel confident of total victory. We’ve sent Wellington the reinforcements he needs to take care of it. He’ll soon have the Frenchies rooted out.”
    “Thank God for Wellington. A fine tactician.”
    “The opinion at the Horse Guards is that he depends too much on his thin red line, actually.”
    “Have the Horse Guards yet discovered that it works?”
    “He overlooks more modern methods, was my meaning.” Marchant so enjoyed being seen in public chatting to such an out and outer as Lord Luten that he soon slipped into indiscretion. “The rocket devised by Congreve, for instance.” He lowered his voice and drew Luten a little aside. “This is not for the common ear, but we have sent rockets to Canada to fight the Yankees.”
    “They were not very accurate when Haidalr Ali used them against us in India in the last century,” Luten said doubtfully.
    “True, we suffered heavy losses at Mysore, but the development of the rocket has come along nicely since then. They’re lighter now, cheaper. They’ve increased the range to over a mile and a half, nearly two miles. They’ll revolutionize war, only Wellington is too blind to see it. He’ll use the rockets if the Duke of York tells him to use them, however. York is the commander of the army. War is too important to leave to — ”
    “To soldiers?” Luten asked with a derisive smile.
    “To an Irish upstart. If it weren’t for Wellington’s friendship with Castlereagh—but enough of that.”
    “Quite. Am I to understand we are sending rockets to the Peninsula?”
    Marchant looked about for listening spies. “That is the idea,” he allowed.
    “I see. We shan’t detain you. Lord Bathurst will not want to be