Page 56 of Mail-Order Lady

He pulled the telegram from his pocket and unfolded it. The paper crackled in the silence. “Father’s reply came through this morning.” He kept his voice level.

The room went still. Even little Catherine, whose head rested against her mother’s shoulder as Mandie swayed. That little fist so often stayed tucked in her mouth.

He dropped his gaze to the telegram so he could read. “Nathan Richard Balfour confirmed. Born 1834. Mother Elspeth Graydon, daughter of Viscount Wellesley. Ship Meridian boarded by pirates 1839 off Brittany coast. Death certificates issued for both mother and son. Have learned son survived. Make him welcome. He brings letter with full account. Will come after Parliament rises. Father.”

The silence pressed against his ears like the quiet after a gunshot.

Thomas was the first to speak. “So he’s telling the truth.”

“Father says so.”

“And he’s the eldest.” Enoch’s voice came flat. Not quite empty—Enoch’s voice was never empty—but it was carefully controlled when he was working through something that cut deep.

“Yes.”

More silence.

James let out a breath. “That changes things.”

It did. The line of inheritance. The title. The reality they’d always believed to be true.

Robert turned to the window. Nathan sat where he had before, one arm propped on a raised knee, gazing toward the house.

Something in his manner… It was hard to pin exactly what, but he had this way of studying that raised Robert’s hackles, like he saw far more than he ever should be allowed to see. Yet at the same time, a hopelessness clouded around the man, like no matter what Nathan did or didn’t do, he would always be found lacking.

What kind of life had he lived all these years? Did he expect, even now, that they’d turn him away?

Robert inhaled a breath for courage, then turned to his brothers. “We should get to know him.”

James shifted, and the floor creaked beneath him. “Get to know him, how? Invite him in for supper and hope he doesn’t poison us?”

“He’s had days to do that if he wanted.” Robert kept his voice even, though James’s tone grated. “I think he’s the one who followed us from Fort Benton. Shot the mountain lion. He could have ambushed us on the trail or burned the barn in the night. He’s done none of that.”

“Because he wants something else.” Enoch’s jaw worked once before he continued. “The title. The estate. Everything Father has.”

Robert folded the telegram and slipped it back into his pocket. “Maybe. Or maybe he just wants to know his family.”

“You can’t believe that.” Enoch turned to face him fully now, his shoulders squared. “A man appears out of nowhere with a story about pirates and slavery, and you think he’s here for a family reunion?”

“I think Father knows he’s his son.” Robert met his brother’s gaze. “And I think we need to find out what kind of man he is before we decide he’s our enemy.”

The muscle in Enoch’s jaw tightened. He looked like he wanted to say more, but Thomas spoke first.

“We should bring him in for a meal, at least.”

Robert nodded. “That’s a good start.”

“I don’t want him sleeping here.” Enoch’s voice cut through again. “Not yet.”

Enoch turned to James, then Robert’s gaze, then Thomas’s. “I understand what the wire says. The letter too. But wires and letters don’t require a man to look you in the eye and answer questions. Anyone can carry a letter. Anyone can know Father’s seal.” His voice dropped a little more. “Reginald has tried trickery before. He has men and resources. And if Reginald somehow learned about this Nathan—about the fact that he’s alive and that Father has found him—what would stop him from sending someone in that man’s place?”

This was the detail that had been niggling in the back of Robert’s mind.

Enoch may not be right—something about Nathan seemed like he was the man he claimed to be.

But they couldn’t be careless. Not with so many lives at stake.

His gaze slipped to Clara. She watched him with intensity, those beautiful eyes seeking out what he wasn’t saying. What he really thought of this situation. Of this brother. He had to make wise decisions through all of this. For her.