Page 5 of My Lord, My Rogue
“I know that,” Benjamin returned with a light chuckle. “You know I enjoy shaving. I may never do it as well as you, but I find it gives a measure of satisfaction to slice away yesterday’s growth.”
“Yes, my lord. I should say, you did an admirable job,” the valet said, taking measure of Benjamin’s efforts. “I thought these comfortable travel-wear,” he added, as he tied the cravat and helped him into his waistcoat.
“My lord, you asked that I remind you of the note to your mother, alerting her of your arrival tomorrow. Your bags are packed and on the carriage. I have planned as you asked for meals and lodging.”
“Here is the note for my mother. Make sure the rider looks for her at her townhouse, and not the manor. We shall meet at the Fox and Hound for the evening. I have a few matters to attend to before I leave.” Benjamin instructed, handing the man a sealed missive.
“Very good, my lord,” the man replied, giving a stiff nod before leaving the room. Stephens was efficient. He had met him during the war where he had served as batman for a friend. Stephens had been injured and barely survived Waterloo; his friend did not.
As Benjamin’s own batman had perished of illness, he offered Stephens the opportunity to come home with him. Their relationship felt much easier than the very tenuous one that he and his former batman had shared. The man had occasionally corrected him, making him feel still in leading strings. Not that he could not accept being wrong, but the man had had an annoying habit of doing it in public, under his breath. Had he not served his family for years, Benjamin would have sacked him many times over. Stephens seemed pleased to become his valet after the war, which pleased Benjamin to no end. He had hated the idea of hiring a new one, which was probably the reason his former valet and batman had lasted so long.
Cook had outdone herself this morning. Benjamin could smell the ham the minute he walked into the hallway. Hurrying to the dining room, he found his friend comfortably eating kippers and eggs and reading the morning paper.
“There you are!” Adam Hunter, the Duke of Lancaster, pushed the paper to the side and stood up when Benjamin entered. “I have tasted the kippers and they are delicious. I highly recommend,” he said in a serious tone.
“Lancaster! I was going to ride to see you before I left today. You saved me the trouble,” he shook his friend’s hand before going to the buffet and loading up a plate. “I could smell the ham in the hall.” He looked at the spread in front of him. “You are right! She has done a marvelous job.” He heaped eggs and toast onto his plate.
“Is that coffee I smell? I missed that. Everyone serves tea. While I love it, I find coffee gives me a better start for the day.”
“Yes, I think we are in the minority in England. However, in the morning, I prefer it to tea,” Benjamin said. Waving off the footman, he poured his friend a cup and handed it to him before pouring his own. “How is the Duchess faring?”
“Evie is doing well. We expect the babe within a month. I must leave after our visit for business in Swindon, and afterwards, plan to join her. We will stay close to home in Lancashire.”
“I do not blame you.”
The duke took a sip of his coffee. “This is just as I like it. My duchess prefers tea, and that is the prevailing drink in the morning. This is hearty.”
The two men sat eating quietly for a few minutes until Benjamin broke the silence. “I accepted Mother’s invitation to spend Christmastide in Bath. Willow Manor is a few miles out. Mother prefers the townhouse. It gives her more access to her friends. She prefers company to the isolation she says comes from living at the manor house. Personally, the solitude appeals to me.”
“I had hoped you would, and that is part of why I am here. The Prince Regent has expressed concern about his mother’s safety—specifically, he worries about the diamond drop earrings she reportedly plans to take with her for the holiday season. They are custom made and were a gift. The queen should be in Bath at the same time that you are visiting.”
“I understand he has been jittery after the threat to his own safety this past year. Has he heard of any specific threats to her?”
“Not directly. However, a servant he considers trustworthy overheard someone comment on the queen’s visit to Bath in a pub and said the man mentioned she would have her diamond drop earrings with her—a very odd thing to comment on, to be sure. The Prince Regent does not want his mother harmed or the diamonds stolen. Of course, he is more concerned about his mother.”
“That seems unusual, considering the contentious relationship they are reported to have,” Benjamin commented. He took a slow, deep breath. “I apologize. I should not have commented so. But we well know their prickly relationship. She is his father’s guardian and a fierce protector of the man.”
“The regent has acknowledged as much in the past. He wishes for her to have a safe trip. She is going there to take the waters. He has also employed runners to secure the premises and watch over her. We are an added security layer, for when she is at society events, such as a ball. He did not feel the Runners could effectively mingle into the Bath society.”
“Probably a valid concern,” Benjamin agreed, imagining his own mother could easily spot the Runners and what she would say. “I was afraid they might catch me relaxing too much during the holiday.”
Adam laughed. “You should have invitations for the events she plans to attend. There are only a few. The queen plans to take the waters. That will be where most of her activity centers, and the Runners should be able to cover that sufficiently, along with her own security detail.”
“I have mainly been in London for Parliament and must begin my travel home, diverting briefly to Swindon for business I can no longer delay. From there I head for Lancashire. I plan to return once the baby is born. I dare not leave Evie much longer in her state. It has been hard to be here for Parliament, as her welfare occupies my mind. She estimates a month left in her pregnancy. Lord Whitby, her father, left London a few days ago to travel to Lancashire for the birth of his first grandchild.”
“Please let Her Grace know my mother and I pray for a safe delivery for both mother and child. Let me know when the babe arrives!” Benjamin responded, holding up his coffee cup in a toast.
Clearly appreciating the gesture, the duke responded in kind with his own cup. “Thank you.”
“That bespeaks much travel ahead for you. What say you leave with me for Bath today and rest a day there. It will divide your travel nearly in half, giving you a chance to rejuvenate. You can leave from there to Swindon, and then, on to Lancashire. You will be more rested and will have my good company for a good part of the trip,” Benjamin added with a smile.
“Ah! ’Tis quite a journey ahead. That would be most welcome. I should well take you up on that.” He put down his cup and moved back in his chair, his face becoming serious. “There is one person who I would have you watch for while the queen is here. Our sources tell us that Mr. Stanley Warren, an avowed enemy of the Prince Regent, has an interest in the diamonds the queen will be wearing. Although he grew up in England, we suspect him of being a spy for the French Bourbon family. And as a supporter of King George, he sees the regent as unfairly usurping his father’s power. He reportedly feels the queen is in cahoots with the regent to seize King George’s authority. Equally, he is an opportunist and could see her presence in Bath as an easy opportunity for a disruption,” Lancaster continued.
“I have heard of him. He has created several small demonstrations in London, creating quite a stir. How has he not been captured?” Benjamin asked.
“That has been a bit of a conundrum. The man is quite the master of disguises . . . even dressing as a woman, easily evading arrest.”
Benjamin arched a brow. “I had not heard that.,” he laughed. “I should be curious as to the station, he assumed! Does he have roots as a Thespian?”
