found Clara—or at least after he'd lost her and found her again.
But there was no brilliant and spirited society lady waiting in the future for Collis. None that he'd care to expose his weakness to, at any rate. Half a man made half a husband, if his mathematics were correct.
Simon cocked a brow. "Your assignment is to make your way into a house of my choosing in any way you can, and to obtain evidence that would prove them to be traitors to the Crown. All previously arranged, of course."
"I was in the wrong, there's no doubt about that," Collis protested. "However, I don't see the point in making me—us—prove ourselves through some arranged test. Give us a real mission if you want to see what we can do."
Simon crossed his arms. "I have seen what you two can do—in the cellar of the school. One ruined mat and ten rotted dummies later, I was not impressed. It was
not
a worthy effort."
"So we're off on a scavenger hunt for Papa?" Collis matched Simon's expression, right down to the narrowed eyes. "Will there be milk and biscuits after?"
A small choking sound came from the general direction of Rose. She either was appalled or was trying very hard not to laugh. Wouldn't it be intriguing if it was the latter?
Obviously exasperated, Simon threw up his hands in an
I give up
gesture and gave an assenting wave toward the spymaster before he turned away.
Dalton
nodded, then bent to murmur something to Rose, who turned to bustle down the hall and into
Dalton
's study. Simon followed her to the door to shut it on Denny, who was lingering in the hall.
Collis watched this with unease. If he was not mistaken, they were ridding the room of witnesses. "This looks ominous. Are you bringing out the big guns?"
Simon came back to take a turn holding up the mantel, giving
Dalton
the floor.
Dalton
folded his arms. "Why yes, as a matter of fact we are. You're a special case, Collis. As the heir to a major seat in the House of Lords, you stand to someday hold some power in the government. There has been some… discussion as to whether or not you are an appropriate candidate for the Liars. That perhaps we should not be endangering a man we could better use elsewhere."
"God forbid. Bloody boring, the House." Collis tried for an easy grin. "At any rate, I may be your heir,
Dalton
, but you have Clara now. The way you two carry on, chances are I won't be heir for long."
Simon snorted at this.
Dalton
tightened his jaw and shot his quasi-partner a glare. "You should talk," he muttered to Simon. Then he turned back to Collis. "I am not the one you have to convince, Collis. Nor is Simon," he added when Collis turned to protest to the head of the
Liar
Academy
.
Collis blew out a breath. "Then who?
Liverpool
?" The Prime Minister would be a tough nut to crack, but perhaps he could have his good friend
Prince George
work on old
Liverpool
a bit—
But
Dalton
was shaking his head. Oh, hell. That could only mean one thing. Collis swallowed. "Not the Royal Four?" he asked, appalled. At
Dalton
's all-too-serious nod, Collis felt his mouth go dry.
The Royal Four was a secret cadre of the four most influential men in the land, traditionally selected for their intelligence, their ethics, and their unwavering loyalty to
England
, beyond even loyalty to any one ruler. The Cobra, the Fox, the Lion, and the Falcon. Each was carefully groomed and selected by his predecessor, as
Dalton
had been by Lord Liverpool.
Until he'd begun training with the Liars, Collis had not even known his uncle had belonged to that intimidating crew and that he had stepped down to take over the Liar's Club upon the retirement of Simon Raines. Collis still didn't know who the new Cobra was, nor who the other three were.
The idea that those mysterious watchdogs of the kingdom might have their eyes on him made him uneasy. After all, even the monarch was not able to ignore the power of the Four. Look at what had happened to King George! Certifiably mad, locked away for the rest
But there was no brilliant and spirited society lady waiting in the future for Collis. None that he'd care to expose his weakness to, at any rate. Half a man made half a husband, if his mathematics were correct.
Simon cocked a brow. "Your assignment is to make your way into a house of my choosing in any way you can, and to obtain evidence that would prove them to be traitors to the Crown. All previously arranged, of course."
"I was in the wrong, there's no doubt about that," Collis protested. "However, I don't see the point in making me—us—prove ourselves through some arranged test. Give us a real mission if you want to see what we can do."
Simon crossed his arms. "I have seen what you two can do—in the cellar of the school. One ruined mat and ten rotted dummies later, I was not impressed. It was
not
a worthy effort."
"So we're off on a scavenger hunt for Papa?" Collis matched Simon's expression, right down to the narrowed eyes. "Will there be milk and biscuits after?"
A small choking sound came from the general direction of Rose. She either was appalled or was trying very hard not to laugh. Wouldn't it be intriguing if it was the latter?
Obviously exasperated, Simon threw up his hands in an
I give up
gesture and gave an assenting wave toward the spymaster before he turned away.
Dalton
nodded, then bent to murmur something to Rose, who turned to bustle down the hall and into
Dalton
's study. Simon followed her to the door to shut it on Denny, who was lingering in the hall.
Collis watched this with unease. If he was not mistaken, they were ridding the room of witnesses. "This looks ominous. Are you bringing out the big guns?"
Simon came back to take a turn holding up the mantel, giving
Dalton
the floor.
Dalton
folded his arms. "Why yes, as a matter of fact we are. You're a special case, Collis. As the heir to a major seat in the House of Lords, you stand to someday hold some power in the government. There has been some… discussion as to whether or not you are an appropriate candidate for the Liars. That perhaps we should not be endangering a man we could better use elsewhere."
"God forbid. Bloody boring, the House." Collis tried for an easy grin. "At any rate, I may be your heir,
Dalton
, but you have Clara now. The way you two carry on, chances are I won't be heir for long."
Simon snorted at this.
Dalton
tightened his jaw and shot his quasi-partner a glare. "You should talk," he muttered to Simon. Then he turned back to Collis. "I am not the one you have to convince, Collis. Nor is Simon," he added when Collis turned to protest to the head of the
Liar
Academy
.
Collis blew out a breath. "Then who?
Liverpool
?" The Prime Minister would be a tough nut to crack, but perhaps he could have his good friend
Prince George
work on old
Liverpool
a bit—
But
Dalton
was shaking his head. Oh, hell. That could only mean one thing. Collis swallowed. "Not the Royal Four?" he asked, appalled. At
Dalton
's all-too-serious nod, Collis felt his mouth go dry.
The Royal Four was a secret cadre of the four most influential men in the land, traditionally selected for their intelligence, their ethics, and their unwavering loyalty to
England
, beyond even loyalty to any one ruler. The Cobra, the Fox, the Lion, and the Falcon. Each was carefully groomed and selected by his predecessor, as
Dalton
had been by Lord Liverpool.
Until he'd begun training with the Liars, Collis had not even known his uncle had belonged to that intimidating crew and that he had stepped down to take over the Liar's Club upon the retirement of Simon Raines. Collis still didn't know who the new Cobra was, nor who the other three were.
The idea that those mysterious watchdogs of the kingdom might have their eyes on him made him uneasy. After all, even the monarch was not able to ignore the power of the Four. Look at what had happened to King George! Certifiably mad, locked away for the rest
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