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him. Edmund was no sentimental fool, but he usually would not walk over people the way Henry did. Everyone was expendable in Henry’s eyes, something that Edmund disagreed with.
    Henry saw everything in black and white; they were out to find who the enemies of King and country were; therefore, any method in achieving that aim was acceptable. Joshua Shambles could turn out to be merely a smuggler and would no longer be of interest to them. Edmund was right; they had to choose the people they focused on. Excise men would be interested in Joshua if he was smuggling goods into the country, but Henry had wanted to find out more about him for a while; Joshua was very good at covering his tracks, which made both men suspicious, although Edmund would always torment Henry that he was too focused on Shambles.
    Edmund pushed his thoughts aside as Charles walked into the room. “Glazebrook?” Edmund asked, putting his empty glass on the ornate side table that was conveniently by his chair.
    Charles paused and turned to Edmund. “Yes.”
    Edmund stood with a smile on his face. “We met last night, but you weren’t in any fit state to remember. I know we haven’t been formally introduced! I’m Chertsey. Would you care to join me in a brandy?”
    The men made their bows to each other. “You have the advantage over me, My Lord,” Charles admitted with a smile. “I remember a little of last night….”
    Edmund chuckled good-naturedly, sitting once more in the large, rich brown leather winged-back chair. He filled the seat, Charles looking slight when seated in the matching furniture opposite Edmund. “You appeared to be a little the worse for wear.”
    “Did you take me home last night?” Charles asked. Puzzled as to why Lord Chertsey would do such a thing.
    “I did,” Edmund acknowledged. “I realise it was presumptuous of me, but we collided when you came out of a room, and you seemed a little unsteady on your feet. It wouldn’t have been good for your reputation to be drawing attention to yourself on your first visit to Mrs Langtree. She can be very particular about her guests.”
    “Oh, I say, that’s awfully good of you,” Charles said, with a slight flush. “It was my first visit but, by Jove, it won’t be my last!”
    “Yes, the ladies attending there are very welcoming,” Edmund acknowledged.
    “They certainly are! I’d no interest in cards when there were other entertainments on offer!” Charles said with feeling.
    Edmund schooled his features into a smile. It was no wonder the boy was being targeted by Joshua Shambles; he was an innocent, even more so than his sister. It seemed every thought that entered his head was blurted out with complete disregard of how his words might sound and whom he was speaking to. “Yes, I bought your friend a drink. He seemed to be on a losing streak.”
    “He was,” Charles admitted, not thinking to question why Lord Chertsey seemed to know an awful lot about himself and his friend even though they had never been introduced. “I don’t understand Shambles sometimes; he rarely wins. I couldn’t be bothered with constantly trying to win back what I’d lost. Although he doesn’t like me saying that to him.”
    “I expect not,” Edmund said, indicating to the footman that they needed their glasses refilled. “Sometimes the chase of a win is where the thrill comes from I suppose.”
    “It must be because he certainly loses more than he wins,” Charles admitted. Charles had no head for spirits and could not hold his drink; however, he had already had quite an amount before reaching White’s, so his open nature was even more exaggerated than normal.
    “He is lucky in your friendship then,” Edmund said. “Are you enjoying the season? You are down with your sister, aren’t you?” Edmund was no fool; constantly asking questions about Joshua could potentially raise alarm, especially if Charles mentioned the conversation to his friend. Charles might be naïve, but