These Old Shades (Alastair-Audley Tetralogy 1)

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?Simple, was it, egad! Then for the love of God, Justin, tell us what we’ve been doing, for I’ll be hanged if I know!’

Avon twisted his rings.

‘Oh, I think you do!’ he said. ‘Léonie was abducted by a very pretty rogue, and you rescued her.’

‘She rescued herself,’ chuckled Rupert.

‘Yes. I did,’ Léonie nodded. ‘When the wheel came off I slipped out of the coach, and ran down the road. Then Rupert came.’

‘Yes, but there’s more to it than that,’ interrupted Rupert. ‘What did Saint-Vire want with Léonie? Do you know that?’

‘I do, my dear boy.’

‘Well, I think it was a great piece of impudence,’ said Léonie. ‘Why did he want me?’

‘My children, you cannot expect me to tell you all my secrets.’

‘But, Monseigneur, I do not see that that is fair! We have been on a big adventure, and we have done it all by ourselves, and we do not know what it is about in the very least, and now you will not tell us!’

‘I think you might tell us, Justin,’ said Rupert. ‘We can be discreet, you know.’

‘No, my children. My opinion of your discretion is not so great as my opinion of your courage and resource. By the way, what did you do with Mr Manvers’ roan?’

Rupert stared.

‘Lord, is there anything you don’t know? Who told you that?’

‘Mr Manvers himself,’ replied the Duke. ‘I arrived at Avon on the evening of the day you – er – left. Mr Manvers came to retrieve his property.’

‘Curse his impudence!’ said Rupert. ‘I left him a message! Does the fellow think I’m not to be trusted with a horse?’

‘That was rather the impression he gave me,’ said his Grace. ‘What did you do with it?’

‘Well, to tell the truth, I sold it,’ replied Rupert, grinning.

The Duke lay back in his chair.

‘Then I very much fear that Mr Manvers will be satisfied with nothing less than our lives,’ he sighed. ‘Pray do not imagine that I disapprove of your action, but I should like to know why you disposed of his roan thus speedily?’

‘Well, you see, I’d no money,’ explained Rupert. ‘I forgot I’d my pin to sell. Besides, what else could I do with the animal? I didn’t want to bring it to France.’

The Duke looked at him in some amusement.

‘Did you set out on this venture penniless?’ he inquired.

‘No, I’d a couple of crowns in my pocket,’ Rupert answered.

‘You make me feel incredibly old,’ complained his Grace. He smiled down at Léonie. ‘What happened to you, my infant?’

‘Oh, I was just teasing Rupert!’ Léonie replied buoyantly. ‘That is why I am in these clothes. I put them on to make him angry. And I ran away from him into the wood, and that pig-person was there –’

‘One moment, my infant. You will pardon my ignorance, but I do not know who the – er – pig-person is meant to be.’

‘Why, the wicked Comte!’ said Léonie. ‘He is a pig-person, Monseigneur.’

‘I see. I do not think I admire your choice of adjective, though.’