Page 86 of The Captain Claims His Temptress

As if on cue, the door opened, and a footman ushered Lord Fudgie into the room. His tired eyes and grim expression tugged at Stephen’s heart. Foreign diplomacy following a war was no easy task, and no one should have to work so hard and be so despised. Stephen would cease with the disparaging references. He greeted his superior with the cordiality befitting a man of his status.

The two men gave William and Stephen their full attention while they told them about the events of the last few days.

“Truly, Captain Eaton had no choice but to shoot Dupont, and it was his own man who cast him into the flames,” William declared.

“He would have died, even had he not been pushed into the flames,” Stephen said. “But had I not shot him, he would have killed Mrs. Spencer.”

Curse it. Stephen hated calling her that, and something needed to be done about it.

His Lordship tapped his fingers on the edge of his chair as the prince stared into a high corner. The room was silent for far too long for Stephen’s comfort. Anxiety set in, and his heart pounded in triple time.

At long last, the prince sat forward. “William, you say this Claudet, who is still in prison, purloined Pierre Dupont’s journal, then two men snitched it from him? And now these two men are guards at your family seat?”

When put that way, the story sounded beyond preposterous.

“Yes, sir,” William said.

“And Captain Eaton, you have been after Dupont since he provided information about Napoleon to your unit?”

“Yes, sir,” Stephen said. “The instant I met him, I knew he was not to be trusted. I am certain he also gave information to Napoleon about our unit, collecting a large sum of money from both sides.”

“And Captain Eaton made you aware of his concerns?” the prince asked His Lordship.

“Yes, sir,” the secretary of state said. “’Tis why he was permitted to attend Sir Saxton’s event with Major Reginald Blythe and Second Lieutenant Benjamin Calhoun. Accusing Dupont without proof could be detrimental to foreign policy, so he was to find proof or drop the accusations.”

The prince rubbed his hands together and his eyes gleamed with good humor. “This is as exciting as one ofTattle’s Tales. Shakespeare himself could not come up with more exciting plot twists.”

Tales? Plot twists?What the blazes? Stephen’s freedom was on the line.

“My Lord, Dupont said he wrote you letters stating I was harassing him and that I was responsible for organizing the pirating of the ships.”

It was the prince who responded. “Hmm.” He tapped a finger to his chin. “Who’d believe such a story about one of our country’s bravest men?”

From beside him, Madalene shifted, then smiled at Stephen as if to say,I told you so.

’Twas time to come clean.

“The reason Dupont was able to manipulate me was because I made a grave error. He claims I was not at my post around the times of the pirating. ’Tis true. I abandoned my post twice.”

His Lordship’s brow furrowed. “’Tis not considered abandoning your post if your leave is approved.”

That was a diplomatic way of phrasing it. However, the man was a diplomat.

“But my leave was not approved,” Stephen said.

“Major Blythe already alerted us to those times. He said you were dealing with family issues,” His Lordship said. “According to my research, it was approved.”

Calhoun’s words came back to him. “I am of the opinion that you were dealing with dire family situations, which is why I covered for you with Blythe.” Had his mate gone to Blythe? Then, had Blythe approved a leave Stephen had never officially asked for? By Jove, they were fine men. How could he ever repay them?

The secretary of state cleared his throat and addressed the prince. “Captain Eaton was to bring me proof of Dupont’s duplicity. However, the man can hardly be held accountable since he is dead. But I am afraid I opened an inquiry when I received Dupont’s complaints. I did not believe them, but I could not gloss over the claims since both sides made accusations.”

The prince swirled his wrist overhead. “Close it.”

“Sir, ’tis not that easy. It is now with the prime minister. I am sorry, Captain Eaton. I had no other choice. I must report all concerns to him.”

William leaped from his seat while stabbing his finger at the secretary of state. “Bloody, Fudgie. Why do you let the enemy off easy and investigate your own men?”

“Cousin, calm yourself and sit. He does not let anyone off easy.” The prince pointed at William’s chair, then turned on the secretary of state. “You do know everyone thinks that, though? That is why they call you Lord Fudgie.”