Mr. Dalrymple Revealed Read Online Free Page B

this land. I can do that, Lady Katherine, and I will.” His voice
softened slightly. “Unless you cooperate.”
    Appalled and frightened for the first time, Lady Katherine
stepped backwards, holding the parasol in an unconscious gesture of protection.
“But why?” she whispered hoarsely.
    Edmund took a deep breath. “Because whether or not you are
one of them, the counterfeiting game is known to be operating in the area. As
a criminal yourself, you are bound to know something of what is going on, who
is doing it, where the coins are being manufactured. The fate of England may
depend on this information, madam, and I will have it no matter what the cost
to yourself.”
    "The war is over. What can a few coins possibly matter?”
    "Napoleon escaped once. He could do so again. The
economy of England and the fate of England itself could be in jeopardy.”
    "This is blackmail.”
    He shrugged. “Call it what you will. You have the entree to
the underworld which I mean to use. And I will use it, make no mistake.”
    They stared at each other in a mute contest of wills.
Finally, Kate nodded, but they were interrupted by two grubby urchins racing
toward them.
    Simon reached her first.
    “Katie, Katie,” he shouted. "There’s going to be a
pageant and we get to be in it!”
    “About the Cabalier! About the Cabalier!” Meg squealed,
jumping up and down.
    “I -- what?” Kate had to smile, partly in relief, partly
because their enthusiasm was so infectious.
    Heedless of sticky fingers and dirty faces, the two hurled
themselves at her, tugging at her skirt in excitement. Carolyn and Bertie,
equally thrilled, ran up. Lady Alice and Lucy followed at a more decorous
pace.
    “Katie, Mrs. Dogget wants me to be in a coach that gets
robbed,” Carolyn said over the squeals of the others.
    Not to be outdone, Bertie chimed in, “I get to be on the jury,
Katie, just think!”
    “I am,” she answered. “What do you think about this, Aunt?”
    “I think there can be no harm in it, Katherine. The village
council is sponsoring it and the money is to benefit the poorhouse. After all,
it’s simply a bit of fancy dress. It’s not as though they will truly run about
robbing people.” Lady Alice smiled at the gentleman beside her niece,
including him in her gentle joke. He responded by tipping his hat and laughing
warmly.
    “Ha, ha,” Kate joined in weakly. To cover her confusion, she
took a handkerchief out of her reticule, licked it, and scrubbed a squirming
Simon’s face. “Well,” she began, beginning on Meg’s dirty features, “If Auntie
Alice feels this is appropriate, then you may all be in the pageant.”
    “Huzzah!” shouted Bertie. The four youngsters ran back in the
direction of the green to join an excited group by the stocks. Lucy frowned
and bit her lip.
    Kate couldn’t resist the chance to tease her sister. “What
part did they ask you to play, Lu?” she enquired wickedly. "The lecherous
Marchioness?”
    Lucy turned red. “Kate!” she gasped, darting a warning look
at the stranger. To his credit, Mr. Dalrymple had moved away, courteously
appearing to be engrossed in the headstone of one Aloyisous Wallingford, who
was At Rest With The Angels since 1701.
    Looking uncertainly from her sister to her aunt, Lucy replied
in a low voice, “Adam says the pageant will glorify evil and wickedness and no
pure thinking person should take part.” She bit her lip with a serious
expression. “He says that it would violate several of the Seven Deadly Sins,
not to mention--”
    Kate, fed-up to the back teeth with “what Adam says” opened
her mouth to favor Lu with her opinion. Lady Alice stopped her with a warning
hand on her arm.
    “Goodness, what a fuss,” she said calmly. “After all, to many
people, Captain Harrison was a hero, fighting the Roundheads long after the war
was over.”
    “He was? He was.” Kate turned her aunt. “And think how much
money the pageant will raise. I think it’s every pure thinking