The Sometime Bride Read Free

truth. “I thought to make the grand tour, Sir,” the erstwhile carter drawled, obviously striving for the ultimate in nonchalance. “Seemed a pity not to do as my father did.”
    Young pup! Thomas had to look down to hide his twitching lips. “Came over with the free traders, I suppose?” he drawled with matching nonchalance.
    “ Yes, Sir. Then worked my way through France. Had to pretend to be a bit simple, to explain why I wasn’t part of the Grande Armée . Also helped to explain my halting French. Not that I can’t speak it, you understand,” he added hastily, betraying his youth. “It’s just that my French is too good for the role I was playing.”
    As the young man warmed to his subject, he came down off his high horse, revealing further glimpses of the eager boy beneath. Intrigued, Thomas waved him to a seat. An hour later Thomas leaned back and regarded the young man with something akin to awe. The boy had not only traveled across two hostile countries but had gone out of his way to observe army encampments and file every scrap of fact and rumor into an amazingly retentive memory. Detailed questioning on certain points brought out a remarkable ability to sketch what he had seen. Also vague references to a French mother and a Spanish grandmother, which would account for his dark coloring and his fluency in both languages.
    “ Are you planning to continue your grand tour?” Thomas asked with feigned disinterest.
    A question of great importance. In the closet Catarina pressed her ear even tighter to the wall.
    “ I had thought to go on to Greece, Sir, but it appears that things may be more lively around here.”
    “ Indeed.” Thomas, fingers drumming restlessly on his desk, decided to throw caution to the winds. This boy was almost too good to be true. And far too talented to be allowed to slip away. “Since you already seem to know what I do here, I see no point in denying I could use you. Portugal is trying to remain neutral, but Boney is demanding the ports be closed to British trade. He may very well send an army to force the issue . . . possibly the one you say Junot is putting together. We may all have to run for it before the year is out.”
    Thomas paused, shrewd eyes veiled by half-lowered lids. “Perhaps you should continue your tour after all.”
    The young man’s reply came without a moment’s pause. “I’ll take my chances here, Sir.”
    He was so young . . . so sure of himself, Thomas thought. No doubt the quintessential sprig of a noble British house, too full of nous to be satisfied by the life of a London rakehell. Not even wine, women, gaming, and duels were enough to keep this one occupied. “I suppose you have some knowledge of gaming?” Thomas inquired with only the barest hint of irony.
    For the first time the young Englishman smiled. “I’ve been on the town for three years, Sir. I’m considered rather good at cards.”
    “ I thought you might be. ”Thomas maintained a commendable calm in the face of rising excitement. It was possible he had found someone capable of learning all he could teach him. “Are we agreed then? I’ll find you a position here at the Casa. Anything else I ask you to do will be decided as we go along.” Agreement was instantaneous, the young man’s eyes lighting with enthusiasm. “You’d best give me a name so I’ll know what to call you,” Thomas added.
    An arrested expression crossed the young Englishman’s face. “I call myself Blas, Sir. Just Blas. I’m afraid my real name’s a bit of a problem. It’s my only condition, sir—that no one ever ask me my name or where I come from. You see”—he paused, momentarily betraying a strong discomfort—”my father doesn’t know I’m here. And if he should find out . . . well, he’s not above having me brought back by force.”
    “ Shall I be taken up for kidnapping?” Thomas asked, arching an inquiring brow.
    “ I’ve reached my majority, Sir. The only one in danger is