Page 46 of Project Duke

“Quite certain,” she said. “Someone doesn’t want the real lists to be found. And that someone may be your friend Bartholomew.”

Nathaniel jerked his head to the side once, the muscles on his forearms playing under his skin.

“But that means,” said Calliope, “we still don’t know which of the five ships Spencer was dragged onto. And I don’t know what else we can do in the Admiralty to find that out. I think we’ve come to a dead end there. So I believe the next step is to go to Portside and ask around.”

He untangled his arms and stood facing her, his eyes dark with warning. “Do not tell me you want to go there yourself.”

“That is exactly what I want to do,” she declared.

“You must stay at home. I told you to stay put.”

“You have no say in this. It’s my brother.”

“Calliope!” he said, his voice ringing with barely contained anger. “I will go and ask around. A man just tried to attack you today!”

“And if the person who sent him thinks that will scare me, they’re mistaken!”

“You’re quite impossible!” he roared. “I will lock you in the house if I must!”

She gasped. “You will not! What are you doing here, anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be out somewhere with courtesans drinking and such…or wherever you spent the other night?”

He was quite menacing now. Standing tall, gorgeous, and yet she was aware as never before how much taller and stronger than her he was.

“I told you, I haven’t seen any courtesans. Nor will I. I gave my vow.”

She nodded briefly, breathing hard. “Where were you, then?”

He sighed and bowed his head as though submitting to some decision. “I was in Portside. From time to time, I participate in boxing matches.”

Calliope couldn’t breathe. “So that was what the girls heard about?”

His face lost all expression. “They know?”

“Yes, from Joshua. Though Violet didn’t understand what she heard exactly.”

“Damnation,” he cursed. “Please don’t tell them. Of course, my wages in the Admiralty aren’t enough to cover the expenses. That’s what I’ve been doing for years.”

The sun dipped behind the rooftops, casting the London sky in hues of amber and rose, the edges of the clouds glowing in gold. The wind became chilly and swept around Calliope, covering her skin in goose bumps.

“You’re cold,” he said. “Come, let’s get you inside.”

Calliope nodded and patted the dogs on their heads again. “Good night, doggies.”

As they walked inside and climbed the stairs, his words from earlier came to mind… You don’t need a cat to warm your bed when you have a husband.

“Are you hurt?” she asked as they climbed the creaking stairs onto the first floor. “From the boxing match.”

“I’m fine,” he said.

“You didn’t look fine. Please, don’t do that again,” she said as they stood before the door to her bedchamber.

Nathaniel opened it and entered without any thought to answer her.

“Nathaniel!”

“I will do it again if I must, Calliope,” he said. “I have tried gambling, betting on horse races, but it only drew me deeper into financial ruin. Boxing is something I have control over. I am good at it. I win.”

Calliope’s throat clenched. Spencer had disappeared during one such boxing match. And the sport itself could lead to terrible injuries. What if something happened to Nathaniel?