Page 18 of Romancing the Rifleman
“Around half.”He took the list from her and pointed.“I was at school with Webster and Chapman.Doyle was a few years ahead of me, but I know him a little bit.As for Knatchbull and Williams, I’ve run into them at”—he coughed—“places I’d best not mention.”
Considering he had not hesitated to mention such an exalted establishment as The Fishwife’s Tit, it was safe to assume this must be a shocking place, indeed.She made her voice light.“All the better.If you have some information about these men that they would prefer not become common knowledge, you can use that.”
His mouth was twisted to the side.“Is that really the way things are done?It seems rather… unsporting.”
She jabbed him in the arm.“Not half so unsporting as refusing to grant pensions to disabled soldiers.Unsporting!”She scowled.“You sound likeMarcus.”
He grinned.“That’s probably the first time anyone has ever compared me with your brother.I must insist that you relieve my curiosity by telling me how so.”
She waved her arm.“He is always droning on about therules of engagementand thegentleman’s codewhen we fence.But I learned to fence from Aunt Griselda, and do you know what she taught me?”
He looked delighted.“What?”
“That thegentleman’s codeis a mere fabrication.There is only what works and what doesn’t.It would be a cold comfort to die at the hands of a highwayman, knowing that I followed therules of engagementwhen I should have gored him in the eye.And I don’t see how this is any different.”
He was back to cringing.“No?”
“No,” she said firmly.“You might not be one for delivering lofty speeches, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be effective as a politician.You have your own set of skills.”She gestured back toward the landau.“You routed that pack of fortune-hunters in one minute flat, and you did it with your wit.I think you should employ a similar approach when it comes to swaying the men on this list to your cause.”
He frowned.“So, I should be… obnoxious and annoying?”
She tossed her head.“So long as you’re obnoxious and annoying for a good cause.”
That earned her a smile.“I do have a certain talent for it.Why should I hide my light under a bushel?”
She gave him an approving nod.“That’s the spirit.Although…” She tapped her lip, considering.“There is a time to employ the stick and a time to employ the carrot.Many of the men on this list would like nothing better than to claim you as a friend.In addition to your personal charisma, you are the son of an earl and an officer in the Riflemen.I don’t know if you are aware, but your regiment has become all the rage since your impressive rearguard action in Hanover.”
“Have they?”Harrington looked genuinely surprised.“It was not a glamorous business, believe me.”
“I am sure that is true.Nevertheless, they have.It was a rare spot of good news on the war front.”She waved her arm.“On land, anyway.I suspect you will find that green jacket lends you more cachet than you anticipate.And if you’re going to be in politics for the next twenty years, it will behoove you not to go around burning bridges.So, use the carrot where you can, and the stick where you must.”
He pursed his lips, considering her words.“That sounds suspiciously like wisdom.”
She smiled brightly as she looped her arm through his.“How good of you to notice.Come, we’d best catch up with your sisters.Goodness knows what lurid theories Izzie is formulating about what we’re up to.”
“Oh, I don’t know.”He tilted his head toward hers.“I quite enjoy Izzie’s lurid theories.”
Their laughter was interrupted by a voice from the river.“Lady Diana!Oh, Lady Diana!”
She turned to look, her guard back up in an instant.The sight that greeted her was Rafe Westbrook, one of her more odious suitors, steering a rowboat toward the shore.Rafe was considered a Corinthian, always up for a boxing match or a race in his highflyer.He was handsome enough, with thick dark hair, green eyes, and broad shoulders.But he liked to play deep, and rumor had it that his gaming debts were in the neighborhood of twenty thousand pounds.And even worse, Diana once overheard him mocking Priscilla Jenkins, both for being a bit plump and for having a lisp.Diana scarcely knew Priscilla, who was widely regarded as a wallflower.
Still, the remark had done nothing to endear him to Diana.
Rafe was grinning at her.“If this isn’t fate smiling down on me.”He stood, holding out a hand.“Allow me to take you on a tour of the canal.”
“No, thank you,” Diana said coolly.
Ignoring her demurral, Rafe spread his arms wide.“Don’t be shy.It’s a glorious day!What better way to spend it than on the water?”
It was on the tip of Diana’s tongue to answer that she’d rather spend it in the company of a man she could stand.But she bit the sharp words back and said, “I find I am not in the mood for boating.Good day, Mr.Westbrook.”
She was turning away when she felt him seize her wrist from behind.Diana stiffened.Howdarehe!
Harrington’s voice was sharp.“She said no, Westbrook.Release her.Now!”
Although Diana appreciated his protestations on her behalf, they were unnecessary.She had been raised by Aunt Griselda, after all.Executing one of the first techniques her great-aunt had taught her, she twisted her wrist so its thin edge was aligned with Rafe’s joined fingertips, then thrust her hand down as hard as she could.
She slipped from his grasp easily.Her sudden move had the happy effect of causing his boat to pitch perilously forward.Rafe managed to right himself, but only by stepping to the left.This, in turn, caused the boat to list in the opposite direction, and he tumbled over the side.
