The table was soon empty as everyone waited to greet Roman. He was tall and muscular, more so than either Joshua or Adam. His presence was intimidating and mysterious.
Char stood beside Joshua, holding his hand. “I don’t mind if you wish to spend time with your brother.”
“Actually, I was thinking it was a perfect time to escape. Don’t worry, they won’t miss us.”
All eyes were on Roman. Char and Joshua took a few steps backward, and just like that, they were in the hallway. He gripped her hand and they hurried toward the stairs. Char laughed a little, one hand clutching at her skirts, trying to keep up with Joshua.
Inside their room, Joshua leaned against the door and pulled her into his arms. “Well, Mrs. Forrester, how should we begin?”
“As we mean to go on,” she said.
They kissed, one that started with sweet affection but ended with them breathless and wide-eyed.
“Oh, Joshua, you don’t know how happy I am.”
“I think I do. Now, how about we make our way to that bed over there?”
“And then?”
“First, I’d like to see you pose in the nude for me. Then I’ll let you take advantage of me.”
*
Joshua had seen the secretive glance Roman had shared with Adam. Joshua hated to leave his bride alone in bed, but Roman’s appearance, out of the blue, was significant. He tossed back the covers, slipped into his trousers and found a robe.
The library door was closed, but he could see a light beneath it.
He heard the murmur of Roman’s deep voice and Adam’s in return. Joshua opened the door and stepped inside. They glanced toward him but said nothing as Joshua approached.
“What’s happened?” he asked.
“Some troubling news,” Roman said.
“You’d better sit down,” Adam advised.
“Tell me.”
“The Home Office received word the H.M.S. Victorious is missing and presumed down, with all hands.”
“Oh, shit.” Joshua took a seat beside Roman. Adam had a bottle next to him and poured liquid into the glass he’d been using and pushed it toward Joshua.
Their youngest brother Oliver was on the Victorious.
“The report came in from a French vessel, claiming they’d last seen the Victorious floundering off Cape Horn. That’s all we know.”
“How long ago?
“Early December.”
“Three months and no other news? Have you told Mother?”
“No. Adam doesn’t want me to.” And their other brother Nicolas was in Canada hunting. By the time he returned to London, they would know the truth. As for the rest of the family, they needed more information before everyone grieved unnecessarily.
“We don’t know for certain,” Adam said. “There is no reason to alarm everyone.”
“What are we going to do?”
Roman said, “My thought was that I should travel to Brest and contact the captain of this French vessel. Home Office said the ship will be in port until mid-March. Maybe there are details we don’t know yet.”
“What about the Home Office?” Joshua asked.
“They’ll do the same thing I am doing, only slower.”
“Jessum Hightower commanded that ship,” Adam said.
“I know,” Roman said, swallowing back the last of his drink. “I plan to see Shelene when I get back to London. She’ll need to know and I don’t intend for her to hear it from the Home Office.”
“Maybe that would be better,” Joshua said.
Roman chest expanded as he took a deep breath. “Maybe so but if she finds out I knew and didn’t tell her…”
“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” Joshua added, fully understanding Roman’s emotion.
Roman stared at his empty glass. “The carriage is waiting and I need to get back to London tonight.”
“I’ll explain to Mother,” Adam said. “Let us know. Good or bad—whatever you find out.”
*
Joshua made his way back to bed and slid in beside his naked wife. For tonight he had to put his worry behind him. Tonight he was married—a strange and exhilarating state, he found. But strangely right. He could not think of a time when he’d been more content.
If only he knew Oliver was save.
Oliver had always lived dangerously, and Joshua supposed there were worse ways to die than doing what it was you wanted to do. Roman would find out the truth and until then Joshua would pray.
Adam would tell Eloisa just as Joshua would share the news with Char. They would form a close-knit bulwark, shoring up each other’s hopes against the possibility Oliver really was dead.
“Joshua?” Char said as she glanced toward him, a questioning look in her gaze.
He leaned in and kissed her. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
“What time is it?”
“After midnight.”
“Then you haven’t told me.”
“I love you.”
“You can tell me more than once a day.”
“And so I shall.”
He smiled, doubly thankful he’d found Char just when he would need her most.
He shifted, positioning himself over her and settled between her thighs. He’d traveled the world looking for home and he’d found his with Char—a warm, welcoming place in the arms of the woman of his dreams.
The End
About Eliza Lloyd