For an instant Cade saw something quick and unexpected as Bran’s gaze flicked from Cade to Tamsyn, but when he spoke, it was to Andre. “All Tremaynes are interesting. It’s a requirement. Along with being gifted.”
“Andre definitely qualifies,” Tam said. “Since he grew up in India, I want to hear about elephants!”
“Then your timing is excellent,” Bran said. “Mrs. Williams, who owns the King’s Arms with her husband, is preparing dinner now and there are rooms available as well. We can discuss our adventures, including elephants, over dinner.”
Tam took his arm. “Lead on, Bran! A clean room and good dinner will be most welcome. I can even put on a dress again! But where’s Merryn? Aren’t you still on your honeymoon?”
“We should be, but needs must,” he said regretfully. “Rhys really wanted me to make this visit to Portsmouth. Merryn and I reached London three days ago. We’re staying at Tremayne House so she can become better acquainted with the younger Tremaynes. I considered bringing her along to Portsmouth, but Gwyn persuaded us that she and the younger sisters needed to introduce Merryn to the delights of the metropolis.”
Tamsyn chuckled. “You’re wise to stay away.”
“Very likely you’re right, but I miss her!”
As they reached the entrance to the inn, Cade said, “You’ve become the Home Office’s official expert on possible dangers in the Royal Dockyards?”
“Apparently. Portsmouth is even larger than the Devonport Royal Dockyard,” Bran said. “I’ll tell you more about that later.”
As he opened the door to the inn, he said more seriously, “I’ve been rather worried. For a while earlier you both seemed to . . . to disappear from my mind. Usually, I have a sense of both of you, so losing that sense was . . . disturbing.”
Cade thought a moment. “Perhaps that was when the three of us and three gifted sailors on the smuggler’s cutter worked to wrap the ship in stealth, for lack of a better description. We were being pursued by a French naval vessel that we couldn’t outrun. The stealth worked on the French, but it didn’t occur to me that the effect would be so broad.”
Bran’s eyes widened. “I definitely want to hear more about that!” He glanced around the entry hall. “I’ll go find the Williamses. I believe there are two vacant rooms, one each for Tam and Andre. There are two beds in my room so Cade can stay with me and we can talk all night.”
“Just like old times,” Cade said with a smile, though he hated the idea that he and Tam wouldn’t be together. How quickly he’d become used to sharing a bed, or a bunk, with her. To being able to touch her and feel her warm spirit.
After Bran left in search of the proprietors, Andre asked, “Does he always have that much energy?”
Tam laughed. “Bran likes organizing things.” She sank into one of the wood chairs in the hall. “I’m more than happy to leave matters in his hands.”
Her faith wasn’t misplaced. It was only a few minutes before Bran returned with the proprietors. “Mr. and Mrs. Williams,” Bran said, “Let me introduce you to my brother and sister, Tamsyn and Cade Tremayne, and our cousin Andre Jameson.”
“Welcome to the King’s Arms!” the landlady said warmly. “You’ve just enough time to take your belongings to your rooms and wash up before dinner is served. Come along with me, lass.”
As she escorted Tamsyn upstairs, Mr. Williams took charge of the men. Andre was given a small but spanking clean room of his own, and Bran took Cade to their larger shared room.
When they entered, Cade pulled his battered carry bag from where it was slung across his chest. “I presume you took the bed by the window, as is your custom?”
“Of course,” his brother said.
Cade dropped his bag on the nearer bed and turned to the washstand. “It’s so good to be back in England, where all we have to worry about is spies and saboteurs instead of imprisonment and torture.”
“I can only imagine just how good that feels,” Bran said seriously as he sat on the edge of his bed. “I presume you never want to set foot in France again.”
“Too right!” Cade went to the washbasin to scrub, then dry his face. “But I definitely want to discuss the interesting results we’ve been getting by energy sharing.”
He combed his hair and made a half-hearted attempt to straighten his travel-worn clothing. Then the two of them headed down the stairs, closely followed by Tamsyn and Andre. Tam had donned a simple blue gown and looked modest and maidenly, though rather wrinkled. Completely and irresistibly adorable.
They were directed to a small dining room, which they had to themselves, and were soon indulging in a thoroughly British meal of cheddar cheese soup and a large and very tasty shepherd’s pie, accompanied by bread and cheese and pickled onions.
Cade had enjoyed the wine that was always available in France, but a fine English ale tasted very good tonight. Andre approached the meal a little warily. But being young, hungry, and adventurous, he ate his share with gusto after the first tastes.
When the first rush of eating slowed, Cade asked Bran, “Is there a particular danger threatening the Portsmouth Naval Yard?”
“Not that I know of,” Bran said as he buttered a piece of bread. “But now that war has resumed, all military installations are at risk of damage from French agents. The Commissioner of the Portsmouth Yard is interested in whether someone like me can train gifted members of his forces to better detect potential danger.”
“An interesting question,” Tam said thoughtfully. “Do you think you can provide effective training?”
“I have no idea,” he said. “But it will be interesting to find out. Now I want to hear how you used shared energy so effectively that the enemy lost sight of your smuggler’s ship.”
