His back and shoulders, too, were striped by countless lashings. Yet he had survived it all just as had Jared, as well as the men who had escaped with them from that West Indies prison, to serve as the crew aboard theVengeance. One fierce burning purpose had driven them—to consign as many English ships to a watery grave as they could hunt down and set ablaze in retribution for the horrors they had suffered.
Yet for all the mayhem and destruction they had caused, not one soul from those hapless ships had lost his life. That fortuitous fact ultimately had allowed Lord Donovan to win every man who had sailed aboard theVengeancea royal pardon. It had taken him almost three years, but the victory over Napoleon and the end of the war between England and France had found George, the Prince Regent, in a forgiving and generous mood.
Jared and Lindsay had returned to Dovercourt Manor in West Sussex a month ago with their young son, Justin, while Walker had arrived in Devonshire only days ago. He’d had a thriving textile mill outside Boston to attend to, which had made him rich in his own right during the concurrent war between England and the United States.
Yet when he’d received a letter from Donovan that the Duke of Summerlin’s health was growing more fragile, Walker had decided to tarry no longer. He’d sold his shares in the mill to his partners and made the journey to a new life he would never have imagined even in the most extraordinary dream.
Walker tossed back the rest of the brandy and poured himself another drink, then made his way back to his father with two glasses.
With shaking fingers the duke accepted the drink. Charles’s eyes never left Walker’s face as if he couldn’t believe a son that he had thought might be dead, stood alive and whole and strapping in front of him. He nodded to the opposite chair.
“Sit with me, Alexander. We’ve much to discuss…and I fear our time is growing shorter.”
Walker felt his throat grow tight as he obliged him. To have never known his father until now only to face the specter of his death grieved him, he couldn’t deny it. So he did what had always got him through when life seemed too brutal, too cruel, too unfair, and made light of his father’s somber tone by smiling wryly at him.
“Ah, now, that’s dramatic, Your Grace. What have we left to discuss that we haven’t touched upon already? We’re agreed I’m a fish out of water here. Your son, yes, but raised as a brash American. You know as well as I that it’s going to be difficult for me to fit in—”
“Not if you’ve a suitable wife beside you.”
The glass to his lips, Walker nearly choked on the brandy coursing down his throat. Yet he had no chance to utter a word as his father continued on.
“It’s your first and foremost duty as the future Duke of Summerlin, Alexander. You’re twenty-six years old! You must marry well andsoon. A young woman of the nobility who’s been born to this life and can guide you—and you must have children, a son to one day inherit the title and all of this…”
His father gestured to their sumptuous mahogany paneled surroundings and then to the manicured grounds outside the tall arched windows, acres upon acres of land making up the Summerlin estate. Meanwhile Walker found himself leaning forward in the chair and shaking his head incredulously.
“I’ve only just arrived and now you would have me wed with children playing at my feet? It’s been jarring enough to discover I’m not American at all, but English—as well as the only living son of a duke! A year or two to grow accustomed to all this change would be preferable—and I’m not the marrying sort, Father, never have been. Jared would vouch for me there—”
“Ah, yes, your friend, the traitor.”
Bristling at his father’s biting tone, Walker regretted bringing up what had been a sore topic since he’d arrived at Summerlin Hall. The duke had nothing good to say about the man once known as the Phoenix who had sunk five of his merchant ships during the three years theVengeancehad terrorized the seas—though he knew Walker had been a part of exacting such revenge upon England as well.
“A traitor no longer, Father, butpardonedby Prince George, like myself. I owe my life to Jared several times over! If not for him, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you today—and if others like yourself still see him as a traitor, then I’m one as well. What noble family would wish for such a blight upon their daughter?”
“No! We’ll not speak of it again! No one will dare to speak of it and insult His Royal Highness’s judgment. You are one of the most eligible bachelors in the realm and any well-bred young woman of thetonwould be honored to become your bride!”
His father visibly shaking, so much so that the brandy sloshed from his glass onto the thick carpet, Walker took the drink from him and set it upon a side table. Then he met the duke’s eyes.
“I could not have known those ships were yours, Father, but I again ask your forgiveness all the same. It’s best we forget the past and look to the future.”
“Yes, yes, the future. The Season has begun in London and you must take your place there as my son, my heir. Will you do this for me, Alexander?”
Walker noted that his father’s pallor had grown a sicklier white. How could he in good conscience continue to argue with a dying man? Marriage was the last damnable thing on his mind, but he nonetheless nodded.
“Excellent. Now I must ask for your forgiveness as well, but I forbid you to marry anyone outside theton—”
“Forbid?” Walker bristled again, his jaw growing tight.
“Yes, harsh as it may sound. You must trust that I know what’s best for you, for Summerlin. Only such a wife will ease your path and your acceptance among us. It would torment me to my grave if I knew you would be forever treated as an outsider. Do I have your word that you will abide by my wishes?”
Desperate tears had filled his father’s eyes, which made Walker swallow the heated words threatening to fly.
After years of hell toiling aboard a British man-of-war and then sitting in a stinking prison when he’d had no say over his life, his own destiny, it was all he could do once again to nod his head. Yet if his acquiescence brought peace to his father’s last days, he would agree to it.
Already the duke appeared to have relaxed, and he indicated for Walker to hand him his glass of brandy.
“Your late mother, Anne, was the daughter of a marquess, our marriage arranged for us by our parents. It wasn’t love at first, but we learned to care for each other deeply. I will not go so far as to arrange your marriage, but you know my wishes. Your mother would have wished the same for you—I told you that she never gave up hope that she might see you again. Andrew’s death simply proved too much for her.” Charles sighed heavily, but then seemed to draw himself up in his chair and raised his glass to Walker with trembling fingers. “To your noble bride, the future Duchess of Summerlin!”
Walker answered his father by raising his own glass, though it was a hard thing to bring it to his lips. Charles seemed to have no such trouble, and to Walker’s surprise he even uttered a dry laugh after downing a good swallow.
