Page 21 of Romancing the Rifleman
“Hear, hear,” Henry said as they clinked their glasses.
Peter sipped his drink and set it aside.“So, what did you want to ask me?”
“I need a favor.You’ve no doubt heard that I was elected to Parliament.”Harrington paused, waiting for one of his friends to crack the inevitable joke about what a fucking surprise that had been.
Neither of them did.Peter and Henry were both looking at him expectantly.
Clearing his throat, he spread the list of recalcitrant MPs out on the table.“William Windham has asked me to drum up some votes for a couple of acts.Pensions for disabled veterans, better pay for soldiers, that sort of thing.This is a list of holdouts.I need to know where to find them so I can attempt to bring them around.”
Peter pulled a pair of spectacles out of his pocket, placed them on his nose, and began poring over the list.As Harrington had expected, he was familiar with most of the names.
“Charles Sutton is a member at Boodle’s.He plays brag, but not very well.He’s rumored to be in debt to Lord Fletcher to the tune of seven hundred pounds.Stephen Chichester fences.At Angelo’s, I believe.As for Francis Barrett…”
Harrington flagged down a waiter and asked to borrow a pencil so he could scrawl some notes in the margins.
Peter showed no signs of slowing.“Quentin Carstairs is a member at White’s, as is Colin Rhys-Jones.You’ll find Julian Deverill hanging around the Drury Lane Theatre.Rumor has it that he is desperate to make Cressida Beauregard, who is presently doing a turn on stage as Ophelia, his mistress, but Mrs.Beauregard is skeptical of his ability to support her in her preferred style.Which she absolutely should be—the man hasn’t paid his tailor in almost a year.Let’s see… you’ll find Anthony Leveson-Gower at?—”
“Tattersall’s!”Henry burst out.He grinned.“I actually knew one.”
Peter kept going for another five minutes.It really was remarkable that he could keep all of that in his head.
Finally, he came to the end of the list.“I don’t know much about David Crawley, but Bertram Newcombe is the particular friend of Lord Pearson and will no doubt be attending the ball he’s hosting on Friday.”
“Brilliant,” Harrington said, writing quickly.He paused.“You didn’t say anything about Walter Davenport or Edmund Elliot.”
Peter had paused to take a sip of his ale.As he set down his glass, a wicked grin stole across his face.“That’s because they both owe me money.Leave those two to me.By the time I get through with them, they’re going to bedelightedto support this Pensions to Soldiers Act.”
“Bless you.”Harrington slumped back in his seat as the waiter deposited a joint of beef in front of him.He took up his knife and fork.“Truly, Peter, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“It’s no trouble,” Peter said, tucking in to his rack of lamb.“How are you finding life as an MP so far?”
“Not so good.”He told them about his near-miss with Lord Kinwood.“I’d have made a complete and utter hash of it if not for Lady Diana’s advice.And now, I’m expected to sway all these men.”He paused, part of him not wanting to admit to any weaknesses, but then decided, what was the point?Everyone already knew he was pretty much good for nothing.“If you want to know the truth, I’m in over my head.”
Henry had laid down his knife and fork and was listening intently, which Harrington did not entirely appreciate.“Give yourself a chance.You just need a little time to get your sea legs.You mustn’t expect yourself to know everything on day one, especially as you’ve been out of the bloody country.”
“I agree,” Peter said.“You’re going to do better than you think.”
“I doubt it,” Harrington muttered, slicing a parsnip.
“Take it from someone whose livelihood hinges on persuading people to buy very expensive things,” Peter said.“The first step is being likable.And you areextremelylikable.There are dozens of MPs who are honorable, diligent, and erudite who couldn’t sell an umbrella in a rainstorm.What they wouldn’t give to have a tenth of your easy nature.”
“You make me sound like the beloved family spaniel,” Harrington muttered.
“Don’t discount it,” Peter insisted.“It takes a range of skills to succeed in politics.You already have some of them in spades.The others you will develop with time.”
“I hope you’re right.”Harrington was having a hard time believing it, but he had to admit, Peter was bloody clever.The man spoke nine languages.Nine!
But he was obviously trying to placate him.
Although… so long as he had Peter’s ear, he might as well get his advice.“Diana said something similar.She thought the fact that I’m an officer in the Riflemen might also work as a point in my favor.Apparently, we’re fashionable.”
“She’s absolutely right,” Peter noted.“What else did she say?”
He summarized her advice, about using the carrot where he could and the stick—his biting wit—where he must.
Peter speared a potato.“I have always considered Lady Diana to be one of the most intelligent women of my acquaintance.She has proved it once again.Sound advice, all of it.”
Henry pushed his plate aside.“Speaking of Lady Diana.”
