A Pair of Rogues Read Online Free PDF Page A

Marquess of Drayton’s screams were growing louder. And louder.
    Little Ned doesn’t like to be held that way, you dolt!
    Ned barely managed to contain his temper. Louisa and Robert were turning pale. Even Miss Perfect had begun to look wan.
    Bet they don’t have noises like that at her select ladies’ seminary, Ned thought with a painful wince. Let’s hurry up and get this over.
    “Name this Child.”
    At last, they had come to the good part.
    “Robert Edward Charles.” As he said the boy’s given names, Ned’s chest filled with pride, which was spoiled only slightly by the knowledge that he had to share the honor with Little Miss Perfect.
    Oh, well. The chit was certain to marry in short order, and then he would have Little Ned to himself.
    “Robert Edward Charles, I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
    Relieved at what appeared to be the end, Ned heaved a sigh, but his relief was cut short when the archbishop started up again, “We receive this Child . . . . “
    The service went on and on, but now it was accompanied by the baby’s shrill cries. Ned felt his nerves begin to shatter. Heat and chill coursed through his veins. He had to stand pinned to the Abbey floor while Little Ned grew so red he bordered on the purple. Ned wondered how Louisa could bear to allow this terrible torture to go on.
    Four more prayers. Then five.
    One had to hand it to Little Ned, Ned recognized. He certainly was a trooper. Wellington, himself, could not have battled for so long.
    “Grant that you be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man . . . .”
    The boy had strength enough already. No diminishment of tears no matter how many prayers he had to endure.
    Ned felt exhausted though, as if he had drunk for days on end and wrung out his insides. Then the archbishop said, “Amen” again, and Louisa rushed to take her baby. Robert Edward’s shrieks turned quickly to gasping sobs. A blessed sigh issued from both godparents.
    Ned glanced Christina’s way and saw how stricken she appeared. Gone was the English bloom from the rose; she looked almost green.
    What right did she have to turn green over Robert Edward? Poor boy. It wasn’t his fault!
    “Shall I take him for you?” Ned asked Louisa. “You must be exhausted.” His hands fairly itched to hold the baby.
    “No, thank you, Ned.” Louisa appeared to be slowly recovering. The baby’s sobs had turned into hiccups. They could all go home.
    Ned felt the need for strong drink. He would head straight for his club douse his shaken feelings, and hope his nerves would recover one day.
    “You could do one thing for us, however,” Louisa said. “Robert and I must go directly to call on my uncle and aunt. They will want to hear right away how the baptism went.” Louisa’s former guardians had been too invalid to come. “We would be very grateful if you could entertain Christina. Perhaps a drive around the park?”
    Louisa flashed him an innocent smile.
    But Ned could not be fooled. He grinned back, doing nothing to hide the irony in his response. “Of course, my dear. I would be delighted to show young Lady Christina around. Robert, I presume you have no objections?”
    But Robert was absently frowning. It was easy to see he had been unnerved by his baby’s cries. He looked as if he needed a bracer, but poor old fellow had to brave the in-laws instead.
    Ned decided to take pity on him. No sense in teasing the fellow after all; this was Louisa’s scheme.
    “Uncle Ned will take good care of her, never fear.” He offered Christina his arm and patted her hand in an avuncular manner. “Come along, then, Lady Chris.”
    * * * *
    Uncle Ned?
    Christina could barely contain her indignation as she accepted Ned’s escort from the Abbey. She did not like to take orders. She chafed under pretense. But more than anything, she abhorred condescension.
    In her gaol-like school, however, she had learned to hide a full