Page 96 of Dick Stone, Regency Stud
“I don’t know what he’s claimed, but even my da, a dumb ol’ blunderbuss who drowned in shite, wasn’t so awful as yours.”
Edward took his seat on the bench again.
“You’re ducking in every alley you come across to dodge this problem,” said Tabby, shaking the notes. “I’ve seen people with the bailiff on ’em for debts look less spooked.”
Edward felt his shoulders curl in. There was something in his throat, stuck, and he didn’t think he could allow it to escape.
“Let me help you,” she said softly. Just four words uttered like the tenderest caress, and he was butter on hot bread.
“Very well,” he said, taking those dratted papers in hand and trying to make out the writing.
“Theouvidor,” said Edward. “Portuguese magistrate.”
“Portugal. I thought you were fighting them,” said Tabby, still attempting to read the notes.
“The Portuguese?” hooted Edward. “Hardly. We were allies in sending Bonaparte back to France. Or at least trying.”
“So this man was your friend?” asked Tabby, poking at the place she’d made out the titleouvidor.
“He didn’t like me much at all,” said Edward with a fond smile on his face. “But his wife, Dona Leonor Teresa, had very different feelings.”
Tabby gasped in mock horror. “You romanced the wives of foreign nobs, too?”
“I needed to uphold the honor of the Shiny Tenth,” he said with a sniff and then explained. “The 10th Hussars, sponsored by Prinny himself.”
“Oh, you were strong fighters,” said Tabby, going back to studying the page.
“We were mostly known for being lordlings who drank, dueled, and chased women,” said Edward, a little ashamed to admit as much now. “Good horsemen, though.”
“That sounds more likely, yes,” said Tabby, consulting the second sheet.
Edward stood from the bench again in a snit. “What’s that mean?”
“You were a toff, doing toff things.” She leveled him a quelling glance. “Sit down and block the wind. I’m getting cold.”
He settled beside her again and leaned over to regard the page.
“Three officers,” he said, pointing each name out. “The Honourable Colonel Henry Giffard, Major Thomas Camville, and Lord Blount, a captain at the time.”
She moaned. “Why do their names have to be so long?”
Edward waved his hand. “Army ranks plus nobility, but just call them the colonel, the major, and the captain for now.”
“Why would they…?”
“Why would they fabricate proof of treason? Best to ask Mrs. Giffard, Mrs. Camville, and Lady Blount.”
“You didn’t.”
“I most certainly did,” he said with a snort. “At least I think I did. Hard to recall this many years later.”
“Did you even fight in Portugal between all of that drinking and rogering?”
“Now, see here, miss,” said Edward, pinching Tabby’s thigh. “Your gentlemen will like you more if you pretend to only know filthy words and acts becausetheytaught them to you. You can’t say things like ‘rogering’ to a baronet.”
“Even as he’s asking about rogering me?” she asked blankly.
“Absolutely not. That’s the rule: if you do filthy things, you must appear a perfect lady. At least if you want to command the most coin.”
