“What did Simon do to win such honors?” Suzanne asked.
“The details are lengthy. Best ask him to explain,” Athena replied. “But I assure you that he acted with intelligence, compassion, and honor throughout.”
Suzanne would have guessed as much, but it was good to hear Simon’s better qualities confirmed. Her gaze moved around the other four women. “I suspect that none of you had what is considered a normal courtship. I know your story, Rory, having seen some of it firsthand, but what about the rest of you? I’d love to hear how you met and mated with your rogues.”
Callie grinned. “You may be sorry you asked, but I’m happy to tell you in as much or as little detail as you like.”
“This may take more claret,” Lady Kirkland said with a mischievous smile. “A good thing Kirkland’s wine cellar is extensive!”
Chapter 5
As the ladies moved off en masse, Kirkland’s formality fell away and he said with amusement, “Do any of you actually prefer sherry? If not, we can collect decanters of brandy and whiskey and move to a separate corner.”
“A fine idea,” Hawkins said, his interested gaze moving to Simon’s face. “You and Suzanne? During the voyage from Constantinople to London, I enjoyed getting to know her. A lovely woman with nerves of steel.”
“She’ll need them if she accepts me,” Simon said dryly. The other men laughed as they settled into leather upholstered sofas at the opposite end of the room from the ladies. The alert butler followed them with a tray of decanters and tumblers.
As Simon accepted a brandy, he studied the group, surprised how much at ease he felt even though they’d known each other only for a matter of hours, and Kirkland he’d known only by reputation.
But though at first glance they could be any group of well-off English gentlemen at their club, a deeper study revealed more. All of these men had lived beyond the borders of fashionable society. All had navigated danger and survived, and all of them seemed to have reached places of stability and happiness. Exactly what Simon would like to find for himself.
The feeling of ease was similar to his reaction when he’d met Suzanne. Apparently he was no longer as relaxed with people who had lived normal, uncomplicated lives. Aloud he said, “We look so respectable now that I’m not sure I’d have recognized anyone.”
“It would be difficult to look worse than when we met after floundering about in the Douro River,” Hawkins said dryly. “That night we didn’t speak of our pasts, but I’d like to know more about everyone. Where do you come from, what have you been doing, what brought you to that cellar?”
“My background isn’t particularly interesting,” Simon said. “Though I presented myself as French in Portugal, I’m Anglo-French. My mother was English and I’ve spent more time here than in France. When the Peace of Amiens collapsed, I decided to join the British army and eventually became a colonel of military intelligence.” He smiled a little. “Usually I did reconnaissance in uniform. I ended up in the cellar with you because of a foray out of uniform.”
“Dangerous, that,” Masterson said with understanding. “I did the same, which is why I ended up in the cellar next to you. But in general my life has been straightforward. I was born in Oxfordshire and went to school with Kirkland.” He hesitated an instant as if wondering how much to say. “I’d always wanted to join the army, so I bought a commission and marched off to fight for king and country. I spent most of the next years on the Peninsula and I sold out of the army at the first reasonable moment.”
“And you found yourself a magnificent Amazon on your way home,” Simon pointed out.
Masterson laughed. “That was the best part.”
“I’m disappointed. Remember how just before we went our separate ways in Portugal, it was acknowledged that we might be using names that weren’t entirely accurate? Yet here you two are, Duval and Masterson, as originally labeled.” The blond man grinned. “Technically I’m Kingston now, but I prefer to be called Gordon as I was in the cellar. It’s one of my names, so more or less legitimate.”
“What was your path before and after that night?” Hawkins asked.
“I left school when an attack of nobility got me transported to New South Wales,” Gordon said succinctly. “After I escaped from the penal colony, I wandered widely and rather randomly, doing different things in different places. After Portugal, I decided I should start working toward the redemption we discussed, so I returned to London and became something of a problem solver.”
“And a very good one,” Kirkland said. “From a professional point of view, I regret that you’ve retired to respectability.”
“Your fault for sending me on that last mission.” Gordon gestured toward Hawkins. “I needed transport across the Atlantic and Hawkins was willing to take the risks of sailing into a war zone. We deepened our acquaintance over brandy on the journey over.”
“Speaking of changing names, I’m another who was using a variation of my own name,” Hawkins said. “Though my family name is Vance, I started using my middle name, Hawkins, when I was cashiered from the Royal Navy. After that I became a merchant seaman and eventually acquired a ship of my own through rather dubious means.” He grinned. “A very fast ship, very good for blockade running.”
His words jolted through Simon. He leaned forward, his body tense. “Are you the Lieutenant Vance who was forced out of the navy because you carried a wounded midshipman belowdecks during an engagement? Because all your superior officers were killed or wounded, you were charged with abandoning your post during battle.”
Hawkins stiffened. “That’s what happened. How did you know?”
“Because the young man you rescued was my cousin, Lucas Mandeville.” Simon swallowed hard. “More like a brother, really.”
Hawkins also leaned forward, his gaze intent. “Did he recover from his wounds? Lucas was so gravely injured that the surgeon didn’t hold out much hope and I never learned his fate.”
“He recovered, though it took some time,” Simon replied. “He returned to active duty when he was well enough. He said that was his obligation since the navy lost a future admiral when you were cashiered for saving him.”
Hawkins shrugged. “Perhaps, but I like the way my life has turned out. In the same circumstances, I’d do exactly the same thing again. I’m glad to hear that Lucas recovered. What has happened to him since? I’d like to see him again if that’s possible.”
“His ship was sunk by the French and he was listed as missing in action. There’s a slim chance that he was captured and interned in France, but he sent no letters and his bank says he never wrote asking for money to make captivity more comfortable.” Simon’s mouth tightened. “It’s been almost a year since the emperor abdicated and there’s been no word, so I must accept that he’s gone.”
