Prologue
Leeming Hall, Yorkshire, 1812
The library at Leeming Hall smelled pleasantly of wood, vanilla, musk, and ancient historic tomes. Libraries, especially the Oxford University library, Nicholas, Captain Ambrose, would always associate with Max.
Opposite him, Maxwell, Baron Leeming, sat back in his chair, a glass of brandy held loosely in his hand. Nicholas hadn’t seen him for over two years and was struck by the change in him. His friend’s intelligent brown eyes looked dull, his thin face strained.
“I am told I have a diseased heart,” Max said without preamble.
“Dear Lord, Max.” Nicholas leaned forward with a frown. He couldn’t conceive of his friend being ill. He had always been so full of life. “Is it bad?”
Max shrugged. “I won’t make old bones, it seems.”
Nicholas had joined the army after he left the university. He was about to travel to Spain to join Viscount Wellington in the fight against the French. When he received Max’s summons, he came straight away. “Doctors are not always right. Should you seek another opinion?”
Max’s smile was bleak. “I have consulted a London physician. But one always hears of someone making a liar out of their doctors and living to ripe old age. I hope for my children’s sake, I’m one of ’em.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Nicholas raised his glass and took a deep sip of the brandy. The fine taste soured in his mouth and tasted like ditch water.
“I must ask something of you, Nicholas. Should it come to pass, it is not a small favor, and of course, you can refuse,” Max continued. “But first, let me explain.”
Disturbed but more than a little intrigued, Nicholas crossed his legs and waited. Max was always a careful fellow. He had been Nicholas’s professor of history at Oxford. They’d become close friends after Max had helped Nicholas deal with his depression following the death of the woman he loved. Anything Nicholas could do for Max, he would do willingly. But it was beyond his capabilities to rescue him from a bad heart. He breathed deeply and waited.
“What I am about to tell you must remain in strictest confidence.” Not waiting for Nicholas to add his assurance, he went on. “This means my daughter, Caroline, and the two younger children must not learn of it.” He took a sip from his glass. “My younger brother, Simon, is a gambler. He got into desperate trouble when he was implicated in the murder of a London gaming hell proprietor. Simon apparently owed him a considerable sum of money. With Bow Street on his tail, Simon approached my wife, Annabelle, without my knowledge and asked for money.”
“She gave it to him?”
Max nodded. “She’d always had a soft spot for him, having known him for many years, and he used it to his advantage. She pawned some of her jewels in York. It was enough to set him up in France, where my spies tell me he continues to play the tables.”
“Would he risk returning to England?”
He shrugged. “Once the fuss dies down, and he thinks it’s worth his while, I believe he will. If something happens to me, I suspect he’ll attempt to gain control of the children and their inheritance.” He frowned. “I consider him to be a threat to Jeremy, my heir.”
“Hell’s teeth,” Nicholas murmured.
“I hope to have a few years left to me. My doctor thinks it’s possible. But after I’m gone, it’s unlikely my three children will have reached adulthood, so I should very much like you to become their guardian.”
“Well, of course, Max,” Nicholas said, fighting to hide how shattered he was at the news. “Should it come to that, and I hope please God it doesn’t, you can rely on me to take care of them.”
Max sagged in his chair. “I knew I could, Nicholas. I have but one relative I might call on, my great aunt, Lady PenelopeGrantly. But should I make her their guardian, Simon is bound to manipulate her into handing over control of their fortune to him.” He shrugged. “Who knows what he is capable of? You might think I’m overreacting.” He smiled, briefly, sadly. “But I don’t trust my brother. Gambled away his inherited fortune, lost the property he inherited from my father. He will do anything to get his hands on more money.”
“Don’t give it a moment’s concern, Max. You can count on me for this or anything else. Should you need me, send a letter to my father. He’ll advise me if I’m away from England.”
“Well, don’t get yourself killed in Spain, there’s a good fellow.”
Nicholas raised his glass. “I shall endeavor not to.”
“If I die before Caroline comes of age, I should like her to make her London debut. You’re what, twenty-five, Nicholas?”
“Twenty-six,” Nicholas amended.
“You could be in your thirties before this old heart of mine fails me. If it happens before Carrie is out, can you see she makes her Come-out? Ensure she marries a decent fellow? Not an old widower, someone who can share her dreams.” He smiled sadly. “I want the world for her. She is already an exceptional young woman, and I can only imagine how she will set thetonon its ear when the time comes.” He paused. “Have you changed your view on marriage?”
“No, Max. Marriage isn’t for everyone. It’s not for me.”
“It isn’t for everyone, I agree, but I think it would be right for you. If you’ll forgive my saying so. I believe my circumstances lend me a certain license. You were meant to give your heart to a woman, Nicholas.”
Nicholas shook his head slowly. “Never again.”
