He should not be seated with family. He was a stranger.
Ash shook the hand offered. He’d already picked out some of the Sinclairs, all dark with green eyes, except for the duchess. Hers were gray.
“And as you know, I am Max, and this is my wife, another Sinclair, Essex.”
“And this is my wife, Kate,” Rory Huntington said. His eyes were still watching Ash, unsure if he was a threat to those he loved or not.
He nodded, shook hands, and nodded some more.
The food came, and Baron ate like he did most things, with enthusiasm. He also fell into conversation with Kate and Essex about healing. It would be long and involved and go on for some time, Ash thought. His friend had healed Gus and was exceptionally talented in what he could do. If he found someone like himself, he would talk from sunrise to sunset.
“How long do you plan to be here, Ash?” Max asked.
“I am unsure as yet.”
“What is it you do, Ash?” Rory asked.
“Do?”
“Work, life?” Rory added.
“I own a ship.”
“Which ship?” Max asked.
“I am berthed in London.” Ash did not want anyone to know the name. He’d recognized the man who shot him the day Dorset Sinclair saved him. He had been one of Radcliff’s crew. He wanted no one to visit theFreedom. It was not safe.
“Well now, Harry will be happy to hear that,” Max said, not pressing him for the name.
“Why?” Ash asked, about as comfortable in this setting as a chimney sweep meeting royalty.
“Our family owns many ships.”
That surprised him.
“We may have aristocracy among us, but we are different,” Rory said.
“We invest, run businesses,” Max added. “Cam and Emily run a newspaper calledThe Trumpeter.”
Nobility, to his mind, usually sat about doing a great deal of nothing. Apparently not these people.
“We are not all of noble birth,” Rory added. “But we are all united in our need to protect our family and keep them safe.” The look in Rory’s eyes was not dissimilar to something he would have sent to anyone threatening Gus years ago.
“I mean them no harm,” he said.
“Then there will be no problem,” Rory added.
“We were raised differently from some of the others,” Max said, shooting his brother a look. “Some of them see the good before the bad in people; we do not.”
“And I will state again I mean them no harm. I wish only to speak with my brother and leave.”
“Then we will not have a problem,” Rory said again.
Ash nodded. He knew the need to hold on to what was important and good in your life. He hadn’t succeeded with Gus. He’d nearly killed him and would live with that for the rest of his life.
His eyes went to his brother. He was laughing at something his new wife said.
“He’s happy, Ash.”
