“Indeed it is,” said the duke and looked at Robin. “Don’t I know you,boy?”
“Who, me, guv? Nah.” True to his part he walked boldly forward. “Got asixpence, mister, to help toast the duke?”
Blanche, the other professional, swayed forward. “Give me a shillingand I’ll sing a ditty.”
At the sight of her, the Earl of Liverpool grew red in the face.“Begone with you, you shameless hussy!”
But the duke laid a hand on his arm. “They are only out rejoicing onthis great day, Liverpool.” He produced a dollar coin. “Let me see. ... Iwonder who is your leader.”
Without hesitation, Lucien dragged Nicholas forward. “Here he is,milord.”
“I might have known,” murmured the duke and passed over thefive-shilling piece. “Be sure everyone gets a bumper, my good man.”
Nicholas groveled and touched his forelock. “Surely, Yer Honor. Godbless your lordship. Long life to Your Grace . ..”
“Enough!” declared the duke, but he was clearly struggling to keep astraight face. “Be on your way.” His gaze wandered over them again,pausing appreciatively on Blanche and even more so on Beth. Quite clearly,he winked. “After all,” he said to the disapproving Lord Liverpool, “onsuch a night as this, are not all the people of England one big happyfamily?”
“This rabble is not family of mine,” said the earl haughtily. “I doubtthey are even voters.”
“Don’t be so harsh. Who knows how even a small change in fortune couldtransform them.” He addressed the group once more. “Can I not depend uponit that you will improve yourselves rapidly, my good people?”
They all chorused their agreement.
“I do not think it beyond possibility, Liverpool, that one day soonthese promising fellows could aspire even to a house in GrosvenorSquare.”
“You’re mad!” said Liverpool. “Come along, Belcraven. The horses arestanding.”
With a smile, the duke followed.
Beth called after him. “No reason a lady can’t aspire to live inGrosvenor Square too. Yer Honor!”
He turned back, laughing. “No reason at all. But you’re a saucy piece,aren’t you?”
Beth cocked her hip and ogled him. “I’m the apple of me father’seye.”
“I don’t doubt it,” the duke said, and his glance encompassed both Bethand Lucien. “I don’t doubt it at all.”
Liverpool’s carriage rolled away, and they all, including Hal andFrancis made haste to Upper Brook Street, where an agitated Tom Hollowaywas waiting with a carriage. There were two. Eleanor waved out of thesecond.
Nicholas, Lucien, Beth, and Robin scrambled into Eleanor’s hackneywhile Hal, Miles, Francis, and Blanche piled into the one driven by TomHolloway. A glance back at Deveril’s house showed it quiet and dark. Theguards had doubtless decided, no harm having been done except to Tom’shead, not to cause a commotion.
“What are you doing here?” Nicholas asked Eleanor as he drew her intohis arms.
“I didn’t want to miss all the fun. Did you carry it off?”
“Only just. We had to be rescued by this gallant fellow,” he said,ruffling Robin’s hair. He passed over the dollar. “I think you earnedthis.”
“Thanks, sir!”
“But,” said Lucien, “you are not going on the Town to spend it tonight.Promising young men need their sleep.”
Robin glowered slightly but muttered, “All right.”
“Think, Robin,” said Lucien gently. “A change is a change. You’re notthe same boy. If you came up with any of your old friends now, they’d rollyou naked and sell every scrap you owned.”
“Reckon you’re right, milord,” said the boy, much struck. He gave alittle sniff. “It’s hard, givin‘ up what a person’s used to.”
Beth leaned over and put her hand over his. “It is hard, Robin. Butlife is change, if you want to make anything of it.” She smiled at Lucien.“And it is definitely worth it in the end.”
