glory.”
Scratching the stubble on his chin, Walpole said, “I’ll not argue with you. England just needs a good, long peace and she’ll be the greatest nation this world has ever known. I tell you the truth, Adam, I’m planning to direct her.” His shrewd gaze met Adam’s. “Nothing will stop me.”
Such a clear declaration didn’t shock Adam, but he wondered, “To how many other men have you confided your ambitions?”
“No one.”
“Not even when you’d spliced the main brace and were so drunk you couldn’t see straight?”
“Perhaps once,” Walpole admitted.
“In your usual shy, retiring manner, you told an entire dinner party you planned to run the government, is that correct?”
“I detect sarcasm in your voice.”
Adam placed his fingers on his chest and pulled a long face. “I? Sarcastic? Good God, Robert, you’re lucky no one has shot you.”
“I told you, I’m nobody.”
“Who’s clever enough to be somebody.” Adam shookhis head. “Robert, Robert, Robert. What will I do with you?”
Fingering the design of the marble, Walpole demanded, “Spy for me.”
“What?”
“You heard me. There’s some plot afoot, and I want to know what it is.” Earnest and inquisitive, he peered at Adam. “There’s a buzzing that fades whenever one of my informants gets close.”
Adam covered his sense of savage frustration. “And you thought perhaps I would be well suited for the nasty business of spying?”
Swept away by enthusiasm, Walpole paid no attention to the warning signs. “Particularly well suited. You know the coffeehouses on Change Alley as well as any man on earth. If there’s a way to discover this intent—or even the source of the intent—you can do it.”
“What makes you think I can do you any good? Everyone knows you’re my friend.”
“Perhaps you can’t, but it’s worth an effort. Spying pays well,” Walpole hinted. “Court appointments, favors, even cash.”
Adam’s fury abruptly sprang out of control. He leaned forward, his breath rushing between his teeth as he fought to keep his hands from around Walpole’s neck. “If that’s what you think of me, get out of this house and never come back. My father stooped to every dishonest endeavor that came his way and was damned proficient, but to you, at least, I thought I’d proved—”
“Damn it to hell!” A string of ever-stronger expletives, notable for their variety and description, clouded the air around Walpole. “Do you still fret that old scandal? No one remembers it—there’s nothing older than last year’s news, and that was years ago.”
“My father dishonored this family so thoroughly, the stain will never be wiped away. Do you honestly believe noone remembers?” Adam asked with a sneer. “The ladies titter behind their fans, while the men step back from me as if they will be contaminated by my presence.”
“Maybe, just maybe, that’s because you stalk around like the devil seeking new souls.” Walpole strode toward Adam, poking his finger into the air like a schoolmaster about to cane a boy. “Social gatherings are frivolous conversation, flirtations, deep drinking, revelry. Then you come in and glower at the assemblage—just as you’re glowering now—”
Adam tried to lighten his expression, and Walpole shook his head. “Better to cover your eyes, Adam. You go to a party and the hostess sighs. She knows if you join a casual game of cards with the gentlemen, they’ll all find excuses to leave. Not because you’ll contaminate them, but because they know they’ll be solving the world’s problems before the first hand is done. Can’t discuss their fancy women, can’t talk horses, can’t talk about their newest shipment of smuggled brandy, just have to be somber. Talk finance, or farming methods, or some other deadly dull subject.”
“Come, I’m not that bad,” Adam objected.
“Put a damper wherever you go,” Walpole insisted. “And with the ladies, it’s
Scratching the stubble on his chin, Walpole said, “I’ll not argue with you. England just needs a good, long peace and she’ll be the greatest nation this world has ever known. I tell you the truth, Adam, I’m planning to direct her.” His shrewd gaze met Adam’s. “Nothing will stop me.”
Such a clear declaration didn’t shock Adam, but he wondered, “To how many other men have you confided your ambitions?”
“No one.”
“Not even when you’d spliced the main brace and were so drunk you couldn’t see straight?”
“Perhaps once,” Walpole admitted.
“In your usual shy, retiring manner, you told an entire dinner party you planned to run the government, is that correct?”
“I detect sarcasm in your voice.”
Adam placed his fingers on his chest and pulled a long face. “I? Sarcastic? Good God, Robert, you’re lucky no one has shot you.”
“I told you, I’m nobody.”
“Who’s clever enough to be somebody.” Adam shookhis head. “Robert, Robert, Robert. What will I do with you?”
Fingering the design of the marble, Walpole demanded, “Spy for me.”
“What?”
“You heard me. There’s some plot afoot, and I want to know what it is.” Earnest and inquisitive, he peered at Adam. “There’s a buzzing that fades whenever one of my informants gets close.”
Adam covered his sense of savage frustration. “And you thought perhaps I would be well suited for the nasty business of spying?”
Swept away by enthusiasm, Walpole paid no attention to the warning signs. “Particularly well suited. You know the coffeehouses on Change Alley as well as any man on earth. If there’s a way to discover this intent—or even the source of the intent—you can do it.”
“What makes you think I can do you any good? Everyone knows you’re my friend.”
“Perhaps you can’t, but it’s worth an effort. Spying pays well,” Walpole hinted. “Court appointments, favors, even cash.”
Adam’s fury abruptly sprang out of control. He leaned forward, his breath rushing between his teeth as he fought to keep his hands from around Walpole’s neck. “If that’s what you think of me, get out of this house and never come back. My father stooped to every dishonest endeavor that came his way and was damned proficient, but to you, at least, I thought I’d proved—”
“Damn it to hell!” A string of ever-stronger expletives, notable for their variety and description, clouded the air around Walpole. “Do you still fret that old scandal? No one remembers it—there’s nothing older than last year’s news, and that was years ago.”
“My father dishonored this family so thoroughly, the stain will never be wiped away. Do you honestly believe noone remembers?” Adam asked with a sneer. “The ladies titter behind their fans, while the men step back from me as if they will be contaminated by my presence.”
“Maybe, just maybe, that’s because you stalk around like the devil seeking new souls.” Walpole strode toward Adam, poking his finger into the air like a schoolmaster about to cane a boy. “Social gatherings are frivolous conversation, flirtations, deep drinking, revelry. Then you come in and glower at the assemblage—just as you’re glowering now—”
Adam tried to lighten his expression, and Walpole shook his head. “Better to cover your eyes, Adam. You go to a party and the hostess sighs. She knows if you join a casual game of cards with the gentlemen, they’ll all find excuses to leave. Not because you’ll contaminate them, but because they know they’ll be solving the world’s problems before the first hand is done. Can’t discuss their fancy women, can’t talk horses, can’t talk about their newest shipment of smuggled brandy, just have to be somber. Talk finance, or farming methods, or some other deadly dull subject.”
“Come, I’m not that bad,” Adam objected.
“Put a damper wherever you go,” Walpole insisted. “And with the ladies, it’s
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