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arrange for workmen to make repairs to her house. He enumerated the flaws Katie had told him the
night before.
I knew it needed work, Adam answered when Ethan had finished dictating the required repairs. But
once those are done, it will be a perfect house for a man to keep his mistress. Not too down at heel but
not too lavish, either.
Good. Get started immediately. Also, I want to have a small supper party at my house to introduce her
to my acquaintances. Thursday evening should do. Get the invitations out immediately. The usual crowd.
See if you can arrange for Viscount Lowden to attend. Perhaps I should call on him.
You can t. He left yesterday for New York. He will be gone for a fortnight.
He arrived in Boston scarcely a month ago. Why is he going to New York already?
I don t know.
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Find out. If the gossip is true that he has come to Boston for some official reason, his trip to New York
could be part of that reason, and very important.
Is Katie Armstrong going to help you find out about Lowden s purpose here?
I hope so.
Adam looked at him curiously. Is making her your mistress really only a ruse, or do you intend to make
it a reality?
A vision of Katie lying naked across his bed, giv-ing him that extraordinary smile of hers as she opened
her arms to him, flashed through his mind and sent waves of pure lust through his body.
Ethan pushed that delectable vision out of his mind. When he spoke, his voice was cool and be-trayed
nothing of his thoughts. Even if I do choose to make her my mistress in fact, it is not your con-cern, he
answered. Now, don t you think it s time you stopped fretting about my new mistress and started
carrying out my orders?
His secretary held up both hands, palms out in a gesture of surrender. Of course. Is there anything else
you need me to do?
Yes, as a matter of fact. Last night, I learned from Dorothy that orders will be coming from London to
arrest all rebel leaders as soon as North can gain enough support in the House of Lords for such a
move.
Adam gave a low whistle. The way things are progressing, that will not take long.
Exactly. I estimate that by the end of March, there will be arrest warrants issued, and Gage s
in-sistence on proof will go to the dogs. Have Adams and Hancock left the city yet?
Not yet. They want to wait until after the pub-lic meeting today at Old South Meeting House.
Damn Samuel, Ethan muttered. I don t like the idea of having a public meeting in open defi-ance of
Gage.
They want to mark the five-year anniversary of the Boston Massacre to keep people s memories and
anger fresh.
I know what they want to do, but I still have grave misgivings. It will only lead to more riots.
Adam shrugged. I daresay you re right, but you try telling him that.
I know, I know. He is a stubborn man. I just hope after this meeting, he and Hancock leave Boston for
the countryside. It s safer for them there, especially given what Dorothy told me last night.
Did she have any other news?
He told Adam of the French emissary, Chevain. Find out all you can about the fellow. And if you can
figure out a way for me to get him alone at the ball, let me know.
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Adam nodded. Is that all?
Ethan did not answer at once. He drummed his fingers on the desk for a few seconds, lost in thought,
then said, I want all the Whig newspa-pers to report the impending Whig arrests as if they are imminent
and wholly unwarranted. He met the other man s eyes. You understand my meaning?
Of course. Hint that Gage is prepared to arrest Whigs without cause, play up the unfairness of it all,
with emphasis on the arrogance of the king and the foolishness of his ministers. Yes, I understand
perfectly. Samuel will revel in it.
He knows this is a fight that will be won with propaganda. Ethan pulled out his watch, glanced at it,
then said, You d best get started if we want this news in the evening editions.
Does this take precedence over the project of renovating Katie Armstrong s house? Adam asked in a
teasing voice. Or is making your mis-tress comfortable a more important task?
Don t be impudent. The newspapers come first, of course. The mention of Katie reminded him of
something else, and as his secretary rose to leave the study, Ethan spoke again. Adam, I want those
re-pairs made today. Hire as many workmen as needed, and get them over there now. Also, the house
has mice. Be sure the workmen get them out. Every last one of them.
Adam grinned. You just told me the newspa-pers were more important.
Ethan frowned. I also told you not to be im-pudent.
Chapter Ten
Ethan was a man of his word. When Katie re-turned from the marketplace, it was half past nine o clock,
and she found a slew of workmen had al-ready descended on her new home. From the kitchen of the
Mermaid, she watched them across the alley as they swarmed over the roof and walls of her house like a
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