“I’m coming with you,” Julian said. “As soon as Wellington approves my latest request.”
Hunt cracked a smile. “Not a chance. You just returned. You’ll stay here. Enjoy yourself a bit. I’ll write and keep you informed. You have my word.”
“Thank you for that,” Julian said softly. “I still wish I knew why the hell Donald would have volunteered to be a spy. Why would he have risked his life to go over there like that?”
“You mean because your father’s dead and Donald’s an earl and he has no heirs?”
“Especially because my father’s dead and Donald’s an earl and he has no heirs. That and the fact that I wasn’t expected to return, either. There’s only Donald, and Daphne, and me. I don’t understand why he would take that risk.”
“I don’t know, either, but I did learn that he volunteered.”
Julian’s gaze snapped to Derek’s face. “Volunteered? Why would he do that?”
“The War Office was looking for someone like him, a member of Parliament, the House of Lords. They wanted someone no one would suspect, someone who merely appeared to be traveling through. Uninvolved.”
“But Donald’s not cut out to be a bloody spy. We both know that.”
“He had Rafe with him.” Hunt cleared his throat. “He still does. Rafe’s one of the best. If there’s any chance of survival, Rafe will have found it. Trust me, Swift.”
Julian stood and paced over to the window, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Damn it, Hunt. I should be the one still in France, not Donald. Only you wouldn’t be looking for me, you’d be looking for my grave.”
Hunt’s voice was sharp. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Julian shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve already asked Wellington to reconsider and then—”
“I can’t allow you to come with us,” Derek said, his voice taking on the tone of the war general Julian had known in battle. “You know that. Your orders are to stay here for now.”
Julian clenched his jaw. “Yes, for now. But if you don’t find anything—”
“We’ll talk about that if and when the time comes.”
Julian nodded reluctantly. He intended to change that, of course. Get new orders. Hell, ignore his orders if he had to. Donald, his brother, the boy who was raised to be earl, couldn’t be lost in France. He just couldn’t be. His father would be spinning in his grave.
Julian prayed to God that Derek and Collin would find them. If anyone could, it was the capable Hunt brothers. Julian would stay here for now, just as Hunt had said. And if he must stay in England and pretend to be enjoying himself, he would settle things with Penelope Monroe first.
“Will you be staying at Donald’s town house?” Hunt asked. “If not, you’re welcome to stay here.”
Julian leaned back in his chair. “No, actually. I’m going to the countryside. To Surrey.”
“Surrey? What’s in Surrey?”
“When I went to visit Penelope this afternoon, I was told she was on her way to a friend’s country house party there.”
Hunt arched a brow. “Seems odd. She’s left town knowing you were coming?”
“Apparently she left before she received my letter informing her that I’d be here this afternoon.”
“Damn the luck.”
Julian smiled slightly. “Yes, well. I’m going to follow her there. We cannot become engaged. She needs to hear it from me in person. It’s only right. The sooner I speak with her the better, and if I can’t go with you and help you find Donald, at least I can do right by Miss Monroe.”
Hunt nodded. “I wish you well, Swift. How long will you be gone?”
“The house party is for a sennight and as luck would have it, I’ve been invited. I’m not certain how long I’ll stay, however.” Not that he’d mind being in Patience Bunbury’s presence for a bit.
“What do you plan to do after that?”
Julian met his friend’s stare. “I intend to travel to France and help you find Donald and Rafe.”
