“No, he’s twenty and his name is Andre Jameson,” she replied. “His father was a Scottish engineer who worked for an Indian rajah. After his father died, his mother brought him back to France. Madame LeBlanc says he’s more British than French and he’s in danger of being arrested as a Briton. Claude Bastien wants that to happen because his cousin is another of the people he hates.”
Cade’s brows arched. “No wonder Madame was willing to help you thwart Claude! So we escort young Andre to Britain and take him into the Tribe of Tremayne? I’m glad we can help her that way. Does she know Rhys and Gwyn?”
“Yes.” Tam gave a swift smile. “I suspect that Rhys and Gwyn know every gifted person in Britain and France!”
He decided to voice something he’d long wondered about. “Why do we all call Lord and Lady Tremayne by their first names? Even you and your birth brother and sister, who are legitimate children, call them Gwyn and Rhys rather than Mother or Father. It’s shockingly informal.”
Tam looked thoughtful. “I asked Gwyn about that once. She said it was a way to remove the differences between members of the Tribe. Birth children or foster, legitimate or not, we all call the parents of our Tribe by their first names. As the oldest birth child and the heiress to the earldom of Tremayne, I’m entitled to the courtesy title of Lady Tamsyn, but I almost never use it because that would draw a line between me and my siblings. I want to be one of the Tribe—an equal, in no way superior. Does that make sense to you?”
He blinked. It was so very Tamsyn. “Perfect sense, and I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of that myself. As the bastard child of a smuggler, I’m at the bottom of the usual social hierarchy, but I don’t feel that way when I’m among Tremaynes.” He sighed. “At least, not usually. But I’m very aware that someday you’ll be the Countess Tremayne in your own right, and I’ll still be the bastard son of a Cornish smuggler.”
She scowled at him. “You are the oldest son, a vital part of the Tribe. We all look up to you not just because of what you do for the Home Office, but because of who you are. We are equals and don’t you forget it!”
“I never forget who we are, Lady Tamsyn,” he said quietly. “That’s why I never intended to let you know how I feel about you.”
She swallowed hard, then sipped her cooling tea. “Well, that cat is well and truly out of the bag and racing about the cottage, ricocheting around the furniture, and knocking things over,”
He laughed. “Like every kitten a Tremayne ever rescued from the street and brought home!”
Her face lit up. “Remember Smokey the Destroyer? He was the champion at knocking things over.”
He gave an answering smile. “Who could forget Smokey?”
“Or Basil the Bear, always formally dressed in black and white, who marched in the front door and laid claim to Rhys.”
Cade laughed. “As the lead tomcat in Mayfair, he immediately recognized that Rhys was the lead male in the Tribe of Tremayne.”
“And he’s been leaving black and white cat hairs all over Rhys ever since,” Tamsyn said fondly.
Remembering their shared history was good, Cade thought. He could see her becoming more relaxed.
Her smile faded. “I’ll be so glad to be home again. We haven’t actually been in France all that long, but it feels like months.”
“So much has happened.” He began moving restlessly around the room again. “I wonder how long we’ll have to wait before we can leave.”
“Not long, I think.”
There was a crisp knock on the door. “You might want to conceal yourself,” Tam said quietly as she rose to respond.
He nodded and stepped into the bedroom area, out of sight of the front door. He heard Tamsyn’s footsteps as she crossed the room, a faint squeal as the door opened. “Madame LeBlanc! I’m so glad to see you. Come in. Your cottage has been most welcoming.”
“I heard that your assault on Château Bastien was successful,” a warm French voice said. “Is your brother concealed somewhere about here?”
Taking that as his cue, Cade stepped out of the bedroom and saw the elegant older woman who had entered the cottage. She wore a riding habit and had an air of command. He gave her a low bow. “Tamsyn has told me how much you did to help free me. I am eternally in your debt.”
“I’m glad I was in a position to help. I assume Lady Tamsyn has told you how you will be repaying that debt.” The Frenchwoman studied his face. “There is a definite resemblance between you and Claude.”
“I find that alarming, and I gather he does also,” Cade said dryly.
“You are both very forceful young men,” she said thoughtfully. “But you work in more positive ways than Claude. Perhaps that comes from growing up Tremayne.”
“I think you’re right. I’ve been very fortunate,” he agreed.
Madame LeBlanc’s gaze shifted to Tamsyn. “You are said to be an expert in emotional healing. Did you do something to Claude before you left the château?”
“I tried to make him less angry,” Tam said. “I don’t know how successful I was.”
“Even though we are at a distance, I sense a change in him,” the older woman said softly. “I hope that lasts.” Her gaze returned to Cade. “I’m glad you didn’t kill Claude. You must have wanted to after the way he treated you.”
