Redemption - Leon Uris [322]
He closed his eyes to remember…. “Yes, it’s completely hidden.”
“Nothing within a radius of ten miles.”
Their hands were wet with anticipation as they held them clasped together.
“Try not to make it too long. It doesn’t have to be a weekend, either.”
“Caroline…”
“Let’s do it,” she said.
As the conference broke up, Brodhead’s armored car was taken out of the shed where it had been under guard. The Dublin mail train had been diverted into the yard to pick it up.
Rory Landers had been one of the hits of the conference. He roughed out ideas of extremely thin metal covering to fit over light civilian vehicles to make them semi-armored.
Llewelyn Brodhead saluted and said cheerio to the gathering and boarded.
“It’s on,” Caroline said, bussing Lieutenant Landers as he boarded.
The general took off his Sam Browne belt and unbuttoned his jacket and invited Rory to do likewise. Watching the scenery flit by outside the train window cooled his high state of emotion.
“I’d say the big meeting went extremely well, sir,” Rory said.
“We have to button up in our fortresses in the countryside, and when we do come out, we’re not going to be suckered into ambushes. A lot of good ideas passed back and forth today. I’d say a drink is in order. Help yourself…. Got a lot of compliments on you today, Landers.”
“Cheers.”
“Cheers, sir.”
As Brodhead seemed to have a permanent cat-that-swallowed-the-mouse grin, Rory lay back and waited for him to either open up or shut up. He feared it was too much for Llewelyn Brodhead to conceal a conquest like Caroline Hubble. That would end the hunting lodge and maybe her participation entirely. Brodhead must not reveal a planned tryst.
The grin remained on Brodhead’s face as they talked about this and that.
“Oh, Lady Caroline requested that I give you a little furlough. She’s anxious for a visit,” Brodhead said.
“I’d like to visit with her, soonest,” Rory said.
“Caroline confided in me,” Brodhead said. “You bring her a great deal of comfort, Landers. I think she feels that you are a surrogate son, in a manner of speaking.”
“In a manner of speaking, I love her dearly,” Rory said. “I’ve met one woman like her but also unlike her-my Georgia…if I ever find her. You know what Caroline does, sir? She fills me with a kind of confidence in myself that makes me feel like a king. After seeing her great loss, first hand, she has taught me how one should behave in the face of ultimate tragedy.”
“Too bad you didn’t know sir Frederick in his day.”
“I enjoy his company, too, as a matter of fact. You can feel his power and joy without his even moving. He must have been a wild fellow in his time.”
“You don’t know the half of Freddie Weed,” Brodhead said, laughing to himself. “Better not cross that one.”
“I haven’t met this Galloway chap, but I’ve seen photographs and heard quite a bit about him. I wonder why someone like Lady Caroline would be taken by him.”
Brodhead grumbled, shrugged, and belted his whiskey. “Caroline has an artsy side to her. She is right at home in the bohemian crowd. Odd bunch, that. Actually, that’s part of her allure. But, I must tell you she was also the most perfect aristocratic wife a man could have.”
“Sir, may I be so bold as to ask about…uh…”
“Caroline and myself?”
“You have asked me to put in the good word,” Rory said.
“Frankly, Landers, it’s a no-go situation. I’ve decided not to press the issue. It’s simply the wrong thing to do.”
“Sorry to hear about that, sir. What I mean is, well, Lady Caroline is rather…not to be believed…and I was secretly hoping for you…if I could be of service…maybe put in another good word next week.”
“No, it’s a dead issue. Duty before pleasure, you know.”
Rory felt fairly comfortable that Brodhead was going to remain silent on this matter. Too much at risk, otherwise. Now, Rory told himself, was time to spring the news.
“Sir,