The Repentant Rake by Edward Marston Page B

the two of
them, they should be able to give you much more information about him.'
        'And
this… other matter?' asked Jonathan discreetly.
        Christopher
was decisive. 'Make no mention of it, Mr Bale. Keep my brother's name out of it
at this stage. It will be enough for them to know that a friend of theirs has
been murdered. That will secure their interest.'
        'Arthur
Lunn and Sir Marcus Kemp.'
        'Both
amiable fellows but neither destined for sainthood.'
        'I
had already decided that,' said Jonathan seriously. 'Well, I'll speak to them
at their coffee house and see what I can learn. What of you, Mr Redmayne?'
        'The
person I intend to meet does not appear on this list.'
        'Why
not?'
        'Because
she is not one of my brother's inner circle,' explained Christopher. 'But she
may be able to tell me things about Gabriel Cheever that nobody else knows.'
        'Who
is the lady?'
        'Miss
Celia Hemmings.'
    ----
        

Chapter
Six
        
        Sir Julius
Cheever set out for London earlier than planned. Having made the decision to
go, he saw no reason for delay and he took his younger daughter with him for
company Susan could read his moods with great accuracy. She knew when to talk,
when to listen and most important of all, when to do neither. If he drifted off
into a reverie, Sir Julius did not like to be interrupted and she had thoughts
of her own in which to lose herself for long periods. Their coach rocked its
way noisily over a track hardened by the hot sunshine. Sleep was out of the
question but they learned to adjust their bodies to the jolting rhythm and that
brought some comfort. They made good speed. Susan judged the moment to break
the silence.
        'We
should have ridden there,' she said.
        'Why
sit on two horses when we can be pulled by four?'
        'Because
we would have travelled more quickly, Father.'
        'Only
if we had found enough companions to ensure safety on the journey. Besides,'
argued Sir Julius with rough-hewn gallantry, 'I could not ask a delicate young
lady like yourself to spend two whole days in the saddle.'
        Susan
was firm. 'I am not delicate and I love riding. Nothing would have pleased me
more than to make the entire journey on horseback.'
        'And
arrive at Serle Court covered in dirt and perspiration?'
        'Travel
always imposes penalties.'
        'Then
the sensible thing is to lessen their number, Susan. Take your ease,' he
advised. 'As much as this coach allows you to, that is. We've kept up a steady
pace so far. When we arrive in Richmond tomorrow, we'll be fresh and
unsullied.'
        'Apart
from the occasional bruise,' she added with a smile.
        'You
would insist on coming with me.'
        'I
wanted to see Brilliana.'
        Sir Julius
snorted. 'You'd hardly be subjecting yourself to this in order to see your
brother-in-law. Why, in God's name, did she have to wed that drooling
imbecile?'
        'Lancelot
is an intelligent man,' she said loyally.
        'Then
he has a wonderful gift for disguising that intelligence.'
        'Don't
mock him, Father.'
        'The
fellow is so irredeemably fatuous.'
        'Brilliana
chose him and for her sake, we must learn to love him.'
        'Love
him?' exploded Sir Julius. 'What is there to love?'
        Susan
was tactful. 'You'll have to ask my sister that.'
        'Brilliana
long ago abandoned the pretence that she actually loved that booby. She married
him for his house and his wealth. Not that I quibble with that,' he said,
lifting a palm. 'Those are perfectly sound reasons for a young lady to wed but
not if it means enslaving yourself to a fool like Lancelot Serle.'
        'I
don't think that anyone would enslave Brilliana,' observed Susan tartly.
        'No,
she takes after me.'
        'We
all do, Father.' He shot her a warning glance and she regretted having included
her brother in the reference. 'Well, perhaps