By the time he had his robe on, she’d lit a lamp. She laughed as she regarded their dinner table. “How do you feel about sharing food?”
Odin had swiftly transferred his substantial self to the table and was enjoying a piece of fish. He returned her gaze without a shred of guilt, then swatted a piece of fish over the edge of the table to where Fiona was waiting to snatch it from the air.
“I’m glad to see that they’ve become such good friends,” Ramsay observed as he slid his arm around Signy’s waist.
“Since they were our witnesses, I think they’re entitled to share the wedding feast,” Signy said. “But since I’m hungry, how do you feel about our going downstairs to forage in the kitchen? It’s late enough that I doubt anyone will notice us.”
“A perfect way to end the night.” He pulled her in closer for a kiss. Such kissable lips . . . “Because tonight, my dear love, everything is perfect.”
Chapter 28
Several days had passed without word from the Vances, and Broc had decided that it was time to call at their London house again, and if necessary, travel to their country home. But the following morning, the Vances invaded the drawing room of Thorsay House without warning.
Broc had dined out the night before with an old army friend and enjoyed the luxury of sleeping late. He’d just finished his breakfast when Mrs. Brown entered the small dining room and announced, “Captain Gabriel and Lady Aurora Vance have called, and they’re waiting for you in the drawing room.”
“That’s unexpected!” Broc rose. “Would you be able to supply tea and coffee for our visitors?”
“Of course.” Mrs. Brown’s voice dropped to a whisper. “That Lady Aurora is a real stunner!”
“I look forward to meeting her,” Broc said mildly as he straightened his coat and headed for the drawing room.
“Major Mackenzie.” Captain Vance was tall and brown haired and looked quietly, dangerously competent. He stood and offered his hand as he introduced himself and then his wife, who was indeed a stunner, though Broc guessed that was as much a matter of her bright manner as her golden good looks.
Vance said, “I’m sorry we’re calling on you so early, but when we found Ramsay’s message on our return to London, we became concerned.”
Broc waved them to seats. “I’m not sure what he said in his letter. I gather that you’re friends of many years?”
Vance smiled. “Not exactly. I’ve seen him only a couple of times, but in both cases, the circumstances were extraordinary.”
“The sort of extraordinary that when he asks for our help, we reply ‘Anything you want,’” Lady Aurora added.
“That sounds interesting,” Broc said as he took a seat.
Vance chuckled. “I think that means you’d like to know the circumstance but are too polite to ask.”
“Just barely too polite,” Broc admitted. “Kai and I grew up together but went in different directions for many years, so I don’t know what kind of trouble he’s been getting into.”
“Tell the major your story, Gabriel,” Lady Aurora suggested.
Vance smiled at his wife. “Because there is nothing you love more than a good story, Rory.”
She batted her lashes at him. “Almostnothing!”
They shared an intimate smile before Vance returned his gaze to Broc. “Very well. We met when we were imprisoned with three other men in a Portuguese cellar, accused of being British spies, all of us condemned to be shot at dawn. He was calling himself Chantry then for reasons unknown.”
“It’s a family name on his mother’s side,” Broc explained. “Though I don’t know why he’d be using it. This isn’t a chapter of his life I’ve heard about. Both of us are only recently returned to Thorsay, so we have a lot of history to share.”
“The name isn’t important. What matters is that the five of us worked together to escape from that prison. That creates a bond between men,” Vance continued. “The next morning we went our separate ways after pledging that we would try to maintain a connection among us, and perhaps reunite after the war. If any of us survived.”
“That would create a bond,” Broc agreed, making a mental note to ask Kai about his adventure later.
“But there’s more.” Vance glanced at his wife. “Rory and her cousin Constance were captured by Barbary pirates and sent to live in the harem of a vile, powerful official in Constantinople. I went to the British embassy there to ask for help. They couldn’t do anything for me officially, but I was handed over to Ramsay, who was in charge of special projects.”
“I think that meant he was a spy of sorts,” Lady Aurora said helpfully. “He certainly had some very interesting local connections!”
Vance nodded. “Because of those connections, we were able to rescue Rory and her cousin as well as a Frenchwoman who had been a captive in the harem for several years. If not for Ramsay . . .” Vance took a deep breath. “It doesn’t bear thinking of.”
“That is quite a story!” Broc said, forcing himself not to stare at Lady Aurora or wonder about harem life. “I can see why you are willing to offer whatever help you can. Just what did Kai ask you for?”
