Carola Dunn Read Online Free PDF Page A

forces, seated at his desk, favoured him with a hard stare of his light-blue eyes and demanded, “Well?”
    “A consignment of gold has arrived from England, sir. The courier is delivering it to Mr Herries.”
    “Excellent. If I can rely upon anyone in this business it is Mr Rothschild. Make a note, Fitzroy, to let De Lancey know. Take a seat, Roworth. What’s the news from London?”
    “Here’s a letter for you, sir. I can tell you the gist of it. Mr Rothschild is prepared to advance the entire sum for the Hanover subsidy immediately, but the Government wishes you to make another effort to persuade King William to pay his agreed share.”
    “It is impossible to persuade the King to anything,” snapped the Duke impatiently. He rose and began to pace the room. Though he wore plain morning dress, every vigorous movement of that trim figure exuded authority. The piercing gaze and famous hook nose swung back towards Felix. “And every delay brings new demands from those avaricious Hanoverians! How am I to carry the day against Napoleon without cooperation from my allies and my Government?”
    “Mr Rothschild cannot proceed without authorization from the Government, sir,” Felix ventured to point out.
    “No.” The Duke dropped into his chair, tore open the letter, and scanned it rapidly. “Fitzroy, a letter to King William. You’ll put in all that ceremonious fustian for me. Thank you, Roworth, I’ll let you know when I have an answer,” he added absently, and began to dictate.
    Felix slipped out, returning to the less stressful atmosphere of the staff room. “One of you glorified errand-boys will shortly be on his way to Antwerp,” he announced.
    A united groan answered him. They all enjoyed escaping from Headquarters for a wild cross-country ride, but the stuffy Dutch court was not a popular destination.
    De Lancey, the harrassed-looking Quartermaster-General, and Captain Lord Arthur Hill, who was even stouter than Gordon, had joined the others. Felix chatted with them until Moses Solomon arrived with the receipt signed by Herries, and then walked back with him to Madame Vilvoorde’s.
    He told Solomon that the Duke was writing to King William. “This afternoon I’ll add a word about that business to my report for Mr Rothschild,” he said, “and then you can be on your way home.”
    Moses looked less than pleased. “Hadn’t I b-best wait until the Duke receives a reply?”
    “That may take days.” Noting his disappointment, Felix wondered again about the young man’s infatuation with Fanny. Somehow he had never envisaged her as “splendid.” A pleasant companion, certainly, and pretty, too, but compared to Lady Sophia all other females paled.
     

Chapter 3
     
    Fanny had set the parlour table with fresh-baked bread and butter, Dutch cheeses from Gouda, Edam, and Limbourg, cold mutton, and a small dish of early strawberries. When Felix and Moses Solomon arrived, Anita was eyeing the ripe red berries hopefully.
    “Tía Fanny says I liked strawbies last year when I was two,” she explained.
    “Frank brought them as a treat,” said Fanny.
    “M-miss Ingram, I’m sure the captain meant the b-berries for you and the child.”
    “There are plenty for everyone, Mr Solomon,” she assured him untruthfully. “Frank’s upstairs. I’ll call him down to eat.”
    As she went out to the hall, Solomon’s gaze of fervent devotion followed her. He glanced at Felix, his dark eyes demanding, “Is she not wonderful?”
    Amused, Felix sat down at the table and took Anita on his knee. Such a small matter to excite such admiration! No fashionable picnic or supper was complete without mountains of strawberries and lakes of cream. He’d not deprive the others now by eating any.
    Fanny returned, with her brother. At twenty-five, Frank Ingram appeared older, a sturdy figure in a well-worn uniform jacket, dark blue with scarlet facings. He had his sister’s brown eyes and curly brown hair but his face was more