Page 56
“Poorly, I fear. I had reached Charles attempting to govern without Parliament.”
“Ah. There is your mistake. Constitutional disputes before luncheon are notoriously fatiguing.”
“I thought you soldiers approved of Charles.”
“Why should we?”
“He had a magnificent talent for believing obedience sufficient justification for demanding more of it.”
Baines laughed and stretched his legs towards the hearth. “You have been waiting to say that to a soldier, have you not?”
“For days.”
“I am honoured.”
Pembroke tossed the book upon the table. “Besides, you do not strike me as one particularly devoted to authority.”
“That is because you have never seen Colonel Renforth look at me across a briefing table.”
“Is he so formidable?”
“Terrifying. I once arrived four minutes late and contemplated desertion.”
Pembroke grinned. “Yet here you are.”
“Patriotism prevailed.”
“Ha. Fear, more likely.”
“The motives of heroes ought not be too closely examined.”
Pembroke laughed, and Baines settled more comfortably into the chair. Men who suspected interrogation guarded themselves, but those who thought they had discovered a willing companion generally became talkative. Pembroke was plainly fond of conversation, and Baines had no objection to supplying enough of it to see where the fellow wandered when permitted to choose his own direction.
He nodded towards the book. “Do you often read politics for pleasure?”
“Nay. History.”
“History is merely politics after everyone involved is safely dead.”
“That may be the first sensible thing I have heard you say.” Pembroke regarded him with greater interest. “What do you read, then?”
“Newspapers, dispatches, histories when forced, poetry when there is a lady worth impressing, and novels when there is not.”
“Do you read the political journals?”
Baines smiled. “You see how easily it happens.”
Pembroke frowned. “What?”
“You are interviewing me.”
That produced another laugh and, more importantly, removed the last trace of caution from his face.
Pembroke rose and crossed to the sideboard, where a decanter stood amongst several glasses. “Brandy?”
“Before noon?”
“You are a soldier.”
