Lord Rakehell Read Free Page B

bowed low to the prince. “Your Highness, if you would be good enough to order what you would like for dinner, I shall relay your preferences to the kitchen staff.”
    â€œMy dear fellow, whatever they are serving to the castle garrison will be perfectly fine for us. Would it be too much trouble to bring us some Irish whiskey?”
    â€œI shall plenish your chambers with the finest wines and whiskey to be found in the castle’s cellars, Your Highness. I’ll dispatch a servant immediately to unpack for you.”
    â€œNo need for that,” James Hamilton declared. “Carrington and I are the prince’s official gentlemen of the bedchamber. Actually, he desires this visit be kept as quiet as possible. While the prince is here, he would prefer that you refer to him as
Baron Renfrew
.
I’m sure we can rely upon your discretion?”
    â€œAbsolutely, Lord Hamilton.” The chamberlain hurried out to spread the word that
Baron Renfrew
and his friends were up to no good, and were in Dublin this weekend strictly for fun and games.
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    â€œI believe you enjoyed the garrison’s food more than the stuff they dish out at Buckingham Palace,” James observed as he drained his tankard of ale.
    â€œI did! My tastes are decidedly unroyal, and the company is far superior to that of my usual dining companion. In fact, Governor Bruce would have an apoplectic fit if he saw me imbibing this whiskey.” Prince Teddy lit a cigar and exhaled a cloud of blue smoke.
    James smiled. “Would you like to visit the Theatre Royal in Smock Alley, or would you prefer to visit a music hall? There’s one handy in Fishamble Street, I believe.”
    â€œSince I’ve never been to a music hall, ladies singing popular songs is my choice.”
    â€œI seriously doubt if any of them will be ladies,” James pointed out.
    â€œAll the more reason to attend.” The prince stubbed out his cigar and laughed at his ribald remark. “Do you suppose we could walk? Just the three of us on the streets of Dublin would be a rare occurrence for me.”
    â€œI’m already a bit unsteady on my feet,” Charles Carrington confessed.
    â€œThen the fresh air will sober you up,” James decided.
    By the time the trio left the castle, dark had descended and Dublin’s cobbled streets were filled with men and women wending their way to the myriad places that offered an evening’s entertainment. Voices and laughter filled the air, proving that on Saturday night the first order of business for Dubliners was enjoyment.
    When they arrived at the Fishamble Music Hall, James paid for front row seats, and as they stepped inside, the lights went down and the curtains opened. The three well-dressed gentlemen didn’t garner too much attention, as all eyes were focused on the stage.
    The orchestra began to play and a beautiful female with long red hair came soaring across the stage on a swing, which continued to glide out over the front row of the audience. The rush of air caused her skirt to fly up and expose a pair of shapely legs clad in flesh-colored tights. Her voice was full-throated and filled with innuendo as she sang the slightly altered lyrics to the popular song:
    She floats through the air with the greatest of ease,
    The daring young girl on the flying trapeze,
    Her movements are graceful, all the men she does please,
    And my love she has stolen away.
    Oh, the man that I loved he was handsome,
    And I tried everything him to please,
    But I could not please him one half as much,
    As the girl on the flying trapeze. . . .
    Ooooooh, she flies through the air. . . .
    By this time, most of the audience was singing the chorus and swaying from side to side in time with the music and the undulations of the pretty girl on the swing.
    James didn’t need to watch Teddy to know he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
The poor devil has