Lord Fool to the Rescue Read Online Free Page A
hands that truly needed it.
In a week’s time, he’d be headed North to work once again among those hands that truly would appreciate every pence of such a sum. The residents of Stromburg would have a harsh winter if he did not get enough food and supplies shipped to them to replace the stores Redmond’s ruffians had stolen. Every day he lamented that it was Redmond’s lands that bordered his own near the Scottish border, that it was Redmond to whom the prince tied him hand and foot and bid them play nice. The prince would hear none of his accusations and until someone put the duke in his grave, Leland would have no rest and his tenants would have no justice.
That was the reason for Redmond’s earlier taunt, that Leland hadn’t the means to bid for Miss MacIntyre. All his available funds were consumed in refurbishing stores that may well end up in Redmond’s pockets if he didn’t plant himself in the north and stay there. With Redmond in Town, and he on the borders, he remained the highest authority there and could gain some justice if he moved quickly. Redmond was never far behind him, however, and undid all possible progress as soon as he arrived. None of which would ever reach the prince’s ears.
He felt like he’d been cursed with a mean spirited sibling and a parent who refused to listen to their quarrels. One day, he hoped the prince would be interested enough. One day he would hand the prince proof he could not ignore.
After all the energy he’d expended today, Leland felt suddenly deflated with the small victory he would win over Redmond. A wager at Whites. He was no better than the rest.
“Thirty seconds, gentlemen,” said Werner, the keeper of the books, as the man made his way closer to the ledger.
“She’s hardly worth such a sum,” Redmond sneered as he set the pen down. He’d wagered 800 pounds.
Lord Montgomery’s man took up the pen and wrote 810. Lord Stephenson’s man wrote 820. Redmond screeched and took the pen from him and scribbled 821 and added his initials.
“Ten seconds, gentlemen.”
Finally, and calmly, Lord Anonymous’ man stepped to the book and held out his hand for the pen. When the duke pulled it back, the gasp from the onlookers made him reconsider and he handed it over.
A hasty X was followed by a one and three zeros just before the book slammed shut on the still-wet ink. The man doing the slamming was a tall nervous rat of a man in spectacles. His pitiful moustache hairs grew horizontally, giving him a decidedly rodent quality. It was a quandary why such a man wouldn’t choose to shave twice daily.
The rat ceremoniously picked up the ledger as if his life savings might be contained therein.
“Wait a moment,” said Redmond. “I would like this delivered with the book.” He tucked a hastily written note inside the cover.
“A note that reads, ‘a hundred pounds more than the last bid, plus my best riding horse?’” Leland couldn’t help but guess. “That’s hardly fair I think.”
Redmond laughed in a manner that dropped Leland’s stomach to his feet. Would the man take issue with being called a cheat in public? If the prince got wind of it and sent them to The Tower, even for a week or two, Stromberg’s tenants would suffer.
“No, Wescott. Perhaps Lord Anonymous will have her first, but second is surely up for grabs.” He moved close to Leland and whispered, “Or perhaps I was warning her guardian that the little minx knows what he’s up to and should be closely guarded. You were warning her this morning, were you not? That is why you didn’t bid. You didn’t believe she’d be around to enjoy the festivities.”
The only reason Redmond was left standing was because even now Lady Aphrodite was busy putting her plan into action.
At least she’d better be. The way Redmond’s men surrounded him, he knew he’d not be allowed to leave White’s for quite some time, just in case.
Run, Aphrodite! Run!
CHAPTER THREE
Tempest took one
In a week’s time, he’d be headed North to work once again among those hands that truly would appreciate every pence of such a sum. The residents of Stromburg would have a harsh winter if he did not get enough food and supplies shipped to them to replace the stores Redmond’s ruffians had stolen. Every day he lamented that it was Redmond’s lands that bordered his own near the Scottish border, that it was Redmond to whom the prince tied him hand and foot and bid them play nice. The prince would hear none of his accusations and until someone put the duke in his grave, Leland would have no rest and his tenants would have no justice.
That was the reason for Redmond’s earlier taunt, that Leland hadn’t the means to bid for Miss MacIntyre. All his available funds were consumed in refurbishing stores that may well end up in Redmond’s pockets if he didn’t plant himself in the north and stay there. With Redmond in Town, and he on the borders, he remained the highest authority there and could gain some justice if he moved quickly. Redmond was never far behind him, however, and undid all possible progress as soon as he arrived. None of which would ever reach the prince’s ears.
He felt like he’d been cursed with a mean spirited sibling and a parent who refused to listen to their quarrels. One day, he hoped the prince would be interested enough. One day he would hand the prince proof he could not ignore.
After all the energy he’d expended today, Leland felt suddenly deflated with the small victory he would win over Redmond. A wager at Whites. He was no better than the rest.
“Thirty seconds, gentlemen,” said Werner, the keeper of the books, as the man made his way closer to the ledger.
“She’s hardly worth such a sum,” Redmond sneered as he set the pen down. He’d wagered 800 pounds.
Lord Montgomery’s man took up the pen and wrote 810. Lord Stephenson’s man wrote 820. Redmond screeched and took the pen from him and scribbled 821 and added his initials.
“Ten seconds, gentlemen.”
Finally, and calmly, Lord Anonymous’ man stepped to the book and held out his hand for the pen. When the duke pulled it back, the gasp from the onlookers made him reconsider and he handed it over.
A hasty X was followed by a one and three zeros just before the book slammed shut on the still-wet ink. The man doing the slamming was a tall nervous rat of a man in spectacles. His pitiful moustache hairs grew horizontally, giving him a decidedly rodent quality. It was a quandary why such a man wouldn’t choose to shave twice daily.
The rat ceremoniously picked up the ledger as if his life savings might be contained therein.
“Wait a moment,” said Redmond. “I would like this delivered with the book.” He tucked a hastily written note inside the cover.
“A note that reads, ‘a hundred pounds more than the last bid, plus my best riding horse?’” Leland couldn’t help but guess. “That’s hardly fair I think.”
Redmond laughed in a manner that dropped Leland’s stomach to his feet. Would the man take issue with being called a cheat in public? If the prince got wind of it and sent them to The Tower, even for a week or two, Stromberg’s tenants would suffer.
“No, Wescott. Perhaps Lord Anonymous will have her first, but second is surely up for grabs.” He moved close to Leland and whispered, “Or perhaps I was warning her guardian that the little minx knows what he’s up to and should be closely guarded. You were warning her this morning, were you not? That is why you didn’t bid. You didn’t believe she’d be around to enjoy the festivities.”
The only reason Redmond was left standing was because even now Lady Aphrodite was busy putting her plan into action.
At least she’d better be. The way Redmond’s men surrounded him, he knew he’d not be allowed to leave White’s for quite some time, just in case.
Run, Aphrodite! Run!
CHAPTER THREE
Tempest took one
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