Royal Revels Read Online Free

non-monetary rewards,” he added vaguely. He was hinting at some court sinecure, Belami supposed, but didn’t press the matter.
    “As to the more important affair, Belami, I don’t know if you are an ambitious man, but the government would be extremely grateful if you could circumvent a new scandal. You could name your own price if you bring off this one. Lord chamberlain, an earldom, relatives on the Civil List— anything within reason.”
    “Deciding will be a pleasant diversion from business,” Belami said lightly.
    “Where will you be staying if I need to be in touch with you?”
    “At my own place on Marine Parade,” Belami said.
    “I expect to see you soon. I won’t be able to keep Prinney away from Brighton for long, when his soi-disant son is there. Godspeed.”
    McMahon accompanied Belami to the door and along the passage to the courtyard, discussing further aspects of the case. “We must at all costs keep Smythe from moving into the Royal Pavilion. That would be too close for comfort. He has carte blanche to do so if he wishes. It’s strange he didn’t jump at the chance, is it not, when his pockets are to let?” McMahon asked. He directed a long, curious look at Belami.
    “Very odd,” he answered with a considering frown.
    This was the detail that occupied his mind as he hastened to Belvedere Square and Deirdre. Why did Smythe refuse to stay at the Pavilion where he could mix with the well-to-do, who might land him a good position? McMahon had intimated he was not well off. But then Smythe probably found the prince’s company suffocating, and the old cronies roosting there would hardly be to a young man’s taste. That must account for it.
    Or perhaps he’d found himself some female company that was not fit to introduce to polite society. His mind veered to Lady Gilham for a moment. He little thought what pranks that female had in store for him. He allotted half an hour to handling her case.
     

Chapter Two
     
    “So we are off to Brighton! An odd season for it, I must say,” the duchess exclaimed when Belami informed them that he had to go there.
    His black eyes opened wide in horror at the mental vision of this dragon’s company. His work would involve him with rakes, rattles, and roués—every one of whom the duchess would hate on sight.
    “What fun!” Deirdre exclaimed, her large gray eyes shining with delight. Belami gazed at her and found his heart softening to the idea. It wouldn’t take him twenty-four hours a day to handle Lady Gilham and Smythe, and it would be good to have Deirdre near him.
    “It might be best if I go alone,” he said, but in no very firm way. Within a minute Deirdre had pouted her way to success.
    “You realize what I have told you is in the strictest confidence,” he told them.
    “We are not gossips!” her grace informed him with a gimlet shot from her sharp eyes. “Naturally I would never breathe a word to bring discredit on the dear prince. But just between ourselves, Belami, what do you make of this Smythe fellow? Is it possible he is indeed of royal blood? Fitzherbert was always fat as a flawn. It would be hard to know till the last few months whether she was enceinte. She hid herself away every time she and the prince had a tiff, so it might easily enough be true. I almost wish the prince could carry it off. The tales coming home from Italy about his wife are enough to turn us all into Republicans. I hear she runs about in outlandish states of undress, naked from the waist up with a pumpkin on her head, and dances with her servants. It would be a blessing if we could get rid of her once for all.”
    “But what of Princess Charlotte?” Deirdre asked. “She is the only member of the royal family who is in the least degree tolerable. The Whigs will work to dump the prince and put his daughter to rule the country.”
    “Even she is more than half hoyden,” the duchess said severely. “We must avoid it at all costs. When do we leave for Brighton,