Eamon had received messages that the ship, departing early this morning, had already reached Amsterdam. He’d sent messages of his own the previous night to those who would ensure Rudyard stayed far away from Caro and Leo and caused them no more trouble.
“Thank you,” Caro said again.
“You achieved it yourself, you know. You and your friends are more resourceful at gathering information than Wellington’s scouts ever were. A pity ladies aren’t allowed into the army. Wars would be much shorter and more decisive.”
“I had to do something to expose him.” Caro quieted. “It was either that or send you away.”
The simple words told Eamon she had seriously considered dismissing him, and that though it would have hurt her, she’d have done it to keep Leo safe.
His heart ached.
“I am glad,” Eamon said softly. “I don’t want to be sent away.”
Caro studied him as though on the verge of telling him what he meant to her, but she only nodded. “Good.”
Eamon rested his fists on the desk, carefully not touching the manuscript. “I also have something to ask you,” he said.
“Yes?” Caro’s trepidation returned.
“May I speak to Leo a moment?”
She regarded him in bewilderment. “I suppose you can. He is with his grandmother.”
“All the better.” Eamon drew Caro around to his side of the desk and kissed her fingers before twining her arm through his. “Then let us ascend.”
Leo leapt up eagerly from the writing table when Caro led Eamon into the fourth-floor sitting room. Leo had been restless all morning, as though he knew his fortunes had changed, though none of them had realized how.
Eamon released Caro and made his formal bow to Leo, addressing him as My Liege. Leo grinned, enjoying the game, while the dowager languidly looked up from her embroidery.
“May we sort through more of the books now?” Leo asked Eamon in excitement. “I’ve studied enough, haven’t I, Mama? My head is stuffed.”
“If you like,” Caro answered. She’d not deny her boy anything today.
Eamon held up a hand. “First, I must ask you a question, Leo. It is a very important one, the most important I will ever put to you.”
Leo’s zealousness faded at the seriousness of Eamon’s tone. “What is it?”
“Shall we sit?” Eamon directed Leo to the writing table and pulled another chair alongside the lad’s.
Leo hopped onto his seat and waited in consternation for Eamon to settle himself.
“Please ask,” Leo said. “Or I’ll burst.”
Caro sympathized. Her heart was hammering, and she clasped her hands to keep them from shaking. The dowager fixed her eagle-like stare on the three of them and waited as impatiently.
“It is nothing terrible,” Eamon said, quickly reassuring. “What I want to ask you, My Liege, is—would you mind if I married your mother?”
The dowager gasped. Caro froze in place, her breath dying on her parted lips.
Leo leapt to his feet in delight. “You mean you’d live with us for always?”
“I would.” Eamon put a hand over his heart. “If you’ll have me.”
“Of course,” Leo all but shouted. “That would be splendid.” He swung to Caro. “You’ll marry him, won’t you, Mama? Then you can kiss him all you want, and we can move to the country together and go riding and have all sorts of larks.”
Caro couldn’t move. Leo’s exuberance, the dowager’s interest, and Eamon’s wicked smile seemed remote, as though she viewed them through a fog.
Eamon rose, his smile softening as he moved to her. He took Caro’s hands, his so warm, and gently squeezed them.
