Lord Rakehell Read Free

my brothers ever speak about. This is Anne’s sister’s wedding and we intend to celebrate.” She turned her back on John Claud and focused on Anne. “Will Maud and I be invited to your birthday party next month? You are invited to mine.”
    â€œOf course.” Anne licked her lips, and asked softly, “Will James be there?”
    â€œI very much doubt it. Since he’s been appointed a gentleman of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales, he’s seldom at home.”
    Lady Anne was amazed at the young noble’s accomplishments. “You must be very proud of him.” Her eyes shone with the overwhelming admiration she felt for Lord Hamilton. “He was exceptionally kind to me before the wedding, when I was in a state of distress. His words took away my unhappiness and filled me with joy.”
    There was pity in the look that John Claud gave her. “Believe me, Lady Anne, he’s no knight in shining armor. As a matter of fact he is gaining an unsavory reputation—one that is well earned, I warrant.”
    Lady Anne smiled her secret smile.
John Claud, I believe you are jealous of James.

Chapter One
    Dublin Harbor
    June 1861
    â€œF ree at last! I swear those dreary years at Oxford were worse than being buried alive.”
    The Prince of Wales was joining the Grenadier Guards at the Curragh army camp in Kildare for ten weeks of military training. He stood with his two attendants on the bow of the
Connaught
. As well as James Hamilton, his other gentleman of the bedchamber, Charles Carrington, had been allowed to accompany him.
    â€œLast night I had a bloody nightmare that I was at Windsor Castle being married!” He shuddered. “My parents still can’t wait to saddle me with a German princess.”
    â€œTo quote Herrick:
Gather ye
rosebuds while ye may
,” James Hamilton advised, as the port of Kingstown, Ireland, came into view. When the steamer rounded the pierhead, a deafening gun salute sounded from the man-of-war
Ajax
.
“You spoke of freedom too soon, Your Highness.” James pointed to the military officials gathered at the pier to welcome the royal prince. “Your escort awaits.”
    â€œAnd wait they shall! It’s Saturday, for God’s sake, and I intend to spend the weekend in Dublin enjoying myself before they inter me in Curragh’s garrison. Be firm with them, James, I’m depending on you.”
    â€œYou may safely leave it in my hands, Your Highness.”
    Once the prince and his gentlemen disembarked, the mayor of Kingstown and his welcoming committee greeted them. Lieutenant Colonel Bradshaw along with a dozen Grenadier Guards, who had been dispatched to escort the Prince of Wales to the Kildare army camp, saluted His Royal Highness and informed him that the commander in chief, General George Brown, awaited his arrival.
    The prince shook Colonel Bradshaw’s hand, thanked him, and moved forward to offer a greeting to each of the dozen mounted and uniformed guards and admire their horses.
    James Hamilton introduced himself to the lieutenant colonel. “His Royal Highness has been entrusted to carry a private message from Her Gracious Majesty the Queen to Ireland’s viceroy, George Howard, Earl of Carlisle. The prince plans to proceed to Dublin today and in all likelihood will be ready to journey to Curragh Camp to begin his military training on Tuesday.”
    After a moment’s consternation, Bradshaw acquiesced to the new plan. “I shall dispatch a guard to the commander in chief with the prince’s itinerary, Lord Hamilton. I and my men are at your service to escort you to Dublin.”
    On the short carriage ride from Kingstown to the capital, Prince Teddy thanked his friend profusely. “You are a silver-tongued devil, James. I don’t know how you do it.”
    â€œIt’s second nature. I learned diplomacy at my father’s knee.”
    â€œI’m amazed that bloody old