Page 52 of Rogue’s Holiday
“My family has vineyards in France, Your Majesty,” he added with a smile. “There we make fine cognac. But my home is on Guernsey. I frequently travel between the isle and England as my uncle is the Earl of Torrington and his estate is in West Sussex.”
At his statement, Rose’s eyes widened and she cast a glance at Chastity, who nodded briefly, pleased. Her friend’s father could hardly object to a suitor who was the nephew of an English earl.
“I know Richard well,” replied the king. “He and I have weathered together many battles in Parliament.” The king stared at his wine glass as he rotated it in his hand. “The earl was a great friend of Prime Minister Pitt before he died. Pitt was a devoted Tory who gave to England the years God gave him.”
“Hear, hear,” said Lord Alvanley. “Well said.”
Chastity remembered her father saying that Pitt and his friend, the king, as well as Alvanley, were all Tories.
Cold sliced lamb followed the fish course. Chastity, already feeling full, took very small bites and sipped her wine sparingly. She observed her great-aunt, across the table, did the same.
The king lifted his wine to his lips and inquired of Aunt Agatha if her great-niece and her friend were enjoying themselves.
“Oh, Lord yes. You were kind enough to invite them to the Pavilion, which they thoroughly enjoyed and, since then, they have indulged in riding, shopping and sea bathing.”
Across the table, Sir Robert’s dark brows rose in question. Did he wonder if she bathed without clothes? She indulged in a small smile. Let him wonder.
“Did you enjoy the seawaters?” the king asked Chastity.
“I did, Your Majesty. Very…ah, stimulating.” Though Chastity could tell Rose was less enthusiastic, she managed a nod in the king’s direction.
“Sea bathing in only one’s skin can be diverting,” remarked Letty, from where she sat on the captain’s right. This caused Lord Alvanley to sputter into his wine and Sir John to chuckle.
“I would expect nothing less of you, dear Letty,” said the king.
“I prefer to wait until warmer weather to sea bathe,” said Marchioness Conyngham. Chastity gave the king’s mistress a sideways glance, admiring her necklace of emeralds and diamonds, sparkling in the lantern’s light. The necklace was dazzling. But at what price? What means honor when a king can take another man’s wife to his bed with impunity. Prinny had done so more than once, but what husband would defy the king?
Under her lashes, Chastity sneaked a glance at The Rogue. She had never learned the outcome of his flirting that night at the Pavilion with the married Countess Lieven but he expressed no disapproval of the open invitation in the countess’ seductive eyes conveyed over her fan at the concert. The king and his subject, she reminded herself, were much alike.
Lady Graham on the other side of the vicomte, availed herself of a pause in the conversation to ask the captain if he and the king’s yacht would be in Brighton for some time.
“I serve at the king’s pleasure,” said Captain Berry, nodding in the king’s direction. “But were I to guess, I would say unless the king is called back to London, we’ll be here for the summer.”
That seemed to please the guests near enough to hear the comment.
Sweetmeats followed dinner. The king and the men indulged in several glasses of port, the king reminding all it had been the favored drink of William Pitt.
Lord Alvanley made a toast in his honor. “To a man who served his country well!”
As they rose from the table, Sir Robert came to her side. “Do you have a hankering to sail?”
“Indeed, I do. Being on a yacht, especially a large one such as this, while in the harbor is grand, but to feel the wind on my face and the billowing sails above me would be grander still.” Chastity had no fear of seasickness, and doubted Rose had any as they had ridden together in a closed carriage from Northampton to London over rocks and through mud with no ill effect.
His hazel eyes sparkled. “I shall keep that in mind should my ship’s course divert to Brighton.”
