“Oh, allow me to introduce you,” said Lucien. “Nicholas Delaney, RobinBabson. What on earth are you doing here, Robin?”
“Looking after you,” said Robin cockily. “Seemed too good of a night tobe tucked up asleep, what with the battle and all, so I sneaked out to seesome fun. When I saw you doing the same, I reckoned there was somethingup. You could have knocked me down wiv a feather when I saw you all toggedup like that.” He looked at Beth and rolled his eyes. She giggled.
“I were behind you all the way here, and you never knew a thing. I knewyou’d end up needing help. I heard a bit of your plan, and while you werestriking the dub I sneaked around this place,”
“Well done indeed,” said Nicholas. “Wellington couldn’t have donebetter. We shall see you rewarded. If, that is, you can be relied on tostand mum.” There was an undeniable note of steel in his voice.
“You can depend on me, milord!”
“Plain Mr. Delaney. What do you want?”
“What?”
“What reward do you want?”
Robin looked blank. Beth quickly said, “I think he should be allowed tochoose what profession he wants to train for.”
“He’s learning stable work,” said Lucien with the clear meaning thatthere was no other job on earth worth having.
Beth could see that Robin was torn between a desire to be away fromhorses and a fear of being away from his idol. “Perhaps you’d prefer aninside job, Robin,” she prompted gently.
“Perhaps,” he muttered.
“I have a fancy to have a page. Of course, you’d have to spend a lot oftime with me and wear a fancy livery . . .”
He glanced up, wary but bright-eyed. “Might not mind.”
“And I’m afraid I would have to insist that you learn to read and writeand all kinds of other things if you are truly to be of use to me.”
“Do you think I could?” he asked uncertainly.
“I’m sure you could. After all, you can’t stay a page forever. You maywant to become a footman, or even a butler one day.”
“Like old Morrisby?” he asked, as wide-eyed as if he’d been offered thecrown of England.
“Exactly. So if you cared for such a change ...”
“Yes, please,” he said with careful good manners.
Lucien ruffled his hair. “Ambitious little imp, aren’t you? Now, if youwant this glorious future, you’d better get us all safe away from here orwe’ll be too busy picking hemp to assist you.”
“Garn!” scoffed the boy, grinning at them.
“Not but what you’d have been in a bumble-broth without me. Waithere.”
He slithered over to the hatch and raised it a crack. Then he pushed itup carefully and swung himself down. Beth gasped at the drop, but theyheard him scamper away.
In a few moments he was back. “All’s bowman. Here’s the Jacob.”
Within minutes they were all safely down and the hatch closed. Lucienreplaced the ladder against the wall. “There’s a back way out the mews,”said the boy. “Follow me.”
All went sweetly and soon they were on Park Street and working theirway, a group out for a lark, to Grosvener Square to tell Hal and Francisall was done. They turned onto the square and froze.
Hal and Francis were there, talking to the First Minister of Englandand the Duke of Belcraven. Francis looked over and gave a wild look.
The duke caught it. He turned, curious. His eyes passed blankly overthe ill-favored group, paused thoughtfully on Robin, then traveledback.
Beth felt herself color up and hoped her garish face paint hid it. Shecould sense Lucien fighting laughter. He got enough voice to say, “Evenin‘guv. And a grand night for England!”
