Page 28 of Project Duke

He should have helped her without asking her to marry him in exchange. Clearly this family was hurting for the beloved brother who was missing.

“What is the situation with the wars?” asked Penelope, her eyes on Nathaniel. “What have you heard, Your Grace? Do you have any inkling where Spencer could be?”

Nathaniel nodded. “If he was sent to the war with Bonaparte, he might be in the Baltics now or in the Mediterranean. Last we heard, the British Royal Navy conducted operations to disrupt French trade and supply lines in the Baltics. In the Mediterranean, we are maintaining control of the sea routes, to support the armies fighting in Spain, and preventing French supply ships from reaching their destinations.”

“So that is good, then,” breathed Calliope. “If he’s there, it looks like we’re winning, so he might be returning home soon!”

“And what if he’s in America?” asked Preston.

Nathaniel let out a long sigh. The American war had started last year, prompted by the dominance of the Royal Navy, the apparent conscription of American sailors to man British ships, and trade restrictions. The first thing the young country had done was try to invade Canada, but those attempts hadn’t brought them success. With so many men currently fighting Napoleon, Britain was in dire need of men for the war in America. And so they had started a series of press-ganging operations.

“If he’s in America,” Nathaniel said, “I’m afraid things are more dire. Fort George on the Niagara Peninsula, which had provided crucial naval support, was lost to the Americans recently. If he was in that battle, I do not envy him.”

“Can you help?” asked Preston, his voice cracking. “You are a member of the family now, and a navy man on the inside. Spencer is now your brother, too. Can you do anything to find him?”

Nathaniel’s eyes prickled, and he nodded. He should have done it in the first place just because he was a decent human, not for his selfish reasons.

Besides, Calliope had been right. Knowing he was just doing his duty as an officer, he hadn’t given a thought to what he was signing: orders to tear men away from their loved ones and send them to fight without their consent. Seeing this family—so affected, so worried, so disturbed by their brother’s disappearance—made his own stomach churn in sorrow and disgust. The Seatons were a powerful, rich family. What about the poor who had been press-ganged without a second thought? What about their families?

“Of course I will,” he promised. And this wasn’t just a promise for Spencer. If he ever regained his fortune and was in a position of power, he should do something about regular press-gangs, too.

“Thank you,” said Richard.

“And I thank you,” said Preston.

He felt her warm hand on his under the table. As conversation swung to other topics, he met Calliope’s eyes.

“And I thank you, too,” she said, and he felt like his heart was soaring in his chest as he looked into her big beautiful eyes. “Did you learn anything from Officer Bartholomew?”

“I’m afraid not, Calliope. He wasn’t there when I went to call on him.”

She frowned, and her warm hand left his. “He wasn’t there? In three days?”

“I could only call once,” he said, annoyance prickly on his neck. “I had a wedding to prepare for in three days.”

“That is more important than the wedding,” Calliope whisper-shouted at him through her gritted teeth. “And what did you really have to do for the wedding besides show up?”

“You are going to move into my house,” he retorted. “And it has to be to your liking, has it not?”

“Oh yes,” ventured Violet excitedly. “We did do a good clean, although there was not much to clean… But the dogs will be happy to have a new mommy!”

Calliope’s face paled. “The dogs?”

“Aren’t you taking Miss Furrington with you?” asked the dowager, leaning towards them.

“Who’s Miss Furrington?” asked Poppy.

But even though Calliope hadn’t told him what the white beast’s name was, he knew it must be the cat.

“My cat,” said the dowager. “You should have someone familiar in the new house, dearest, especially since you’ve always been Miss Furrington’s favorite.” Her pale eyes fixed on Nathaniel. “At least, until now.”

11

“Welcome to Roxburgh,” said Nathaniel, supporting Calliope’s hand as she climbed down from the carriage later that day.

A gasp escaped her throat. It was a grand property indeed. Calliope could imagine how fine carriages must have once lined up, bringing elegant ladies and gentlemen to a ball.

Yet now, the mansion, as well as the grounds, were in a pitiful state.