Not that he thought she would be uncaring, especially after her upset about his injuries, but it seemed her emotions were far more in line with his own than he might have guessed. Did he dare hope he had already fully supplanted his brother in her affections? Or at least carved out his own place at least equal to Joseph’s in her heart?
“Tell me about Anthony and Nathan.” Though she was allowing him to lead her into the house, she was clearly not ready to let go of their conversation just yet, and Elijah had no qualms about that. Talking about his friends was something he could do without worrying about who was listening. Still, in case the conversation turned, he directed her down the hall to his study. The servants were moving about the household, cleaning and tending to their duties, preparing for supper and the end of the day.
“I met both of them through my father.” He knew she would understand they were already working for his father when he met them. Their friendships had grown from there. “They were both captains in the Army and served together in France. Anthony is half-French, so he was particularly well-suited to the assignment.”
As operatives of White Hall, neither of them had actually served with a battalion but had performed their duties in a far more dangerous manner, often alone. They had both saved many lives by risking their own for the information they obtained and even foiled more than one plot to put England and France at odds with each other yet again. Elijah was convinced they had prevented outright war, though they would never know for certain.
“Is he a second son?” The question was natural, as many of theton’ssecond sons entered the service. Joseph had not, but that was because he was serving England in a different manner, the same as Elijah and Adam.
“No, his parents are merchants.” Solidly middle class, Anthony had slowly amassed a small fortune over the years with investments, something Elijah did not mention. He glanced down at Josie, but she did not seem perturbed by Anthony’s lower social status. Reaching his study, Elijah opened the door for her.
“And Nathan?” she asked as she walked past him, meandering to the chairs in front of his desk and settling down in one as Elijah answered.
“Ah, now he is a second son. His brother is the Earl of Talbot.” He followed behind her, seating himself in the chair across from hers. The masculine leather wingback nearly swallowed her, but she seemed perfectly comfortable, leaning on the arm thoughtfully.
“The previous Earl passed away recently, did he not?” A shadow flickered across her expression, and Elijah frowned. He had not realized the families were acquainted. The late earl had had little to do with polite society. A wastrel and a stain on the family name was how Nathan had described him. There had been no love lost between father and sons.
“He did.” Elijah knew his tone was short, and Josie looked at him questioningly, prompting him to provide an explanation. “This must not go past your ears—not even to your friends. The new earl is currently dealing with the debts his father left him. Part of the reason Nathan is in London is to manage things here while his brother tends to the mess the earl left the estates in.”
“Oh.” Josie’s eyes widened. “Oh.” Elijah nodded a bit grimly. He was showing a good deal of trust in her, telling her of the family’s troubles. Thetondid not look kindly upon those in dire financial straits. An odd expression flitted across her face, and she appeared tentative, not a word he would have ever used for Josie. “You trust Captain Jones, even though he has financial difficulties?”
“With my life, as I have in the past. We have saved each other more than once.” He understood what she was hinting at, considering they knew the traitor was someone who knew the family, and those in financial predicaments could sometimes be bought, but Nathan was a man of impeccable honor. “You will understand once you get to know him better. Nathan would rather die than behave dishonorably.”
“What about his brother?”
“We have never met, but Nathan trusts him implicitly, and I trust his judgment. The two of them are determined to be the opposite of everything their father was.” Elijah hesitated then decided there was no harm in asking for reciprocity. “Now that I have shared, what about you… when was the last time you saw Evie?”
The smile that crossed Josie’s face was almost wicked. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Well, I have not seen her since our wedding day.”
Elijah blinked, his jaw dropping open. Evie had been there on theirwedding day?
Chapter 27
Elijah
The new accord between himself and Josie made attending Joseph and Miss Bliss’ engagement ball much easier on Elijah’s nerves than he might have felt otherwise. There was now more than passion between them. There was a partnership, and they were no longer working at odds. She had told him what Evie knew, which had not been much more than Elijah had already known.
The only point they had hit a difficulty with was Lily’s correspondence pointing to the Talbot estates. Though Elijah could believe it of the old earl, he was certain Nathan and his brother would have nothing to do with smuggling spies or other personages. Smuggling was basically an honored pastime along the coast and had been particular lucrative during wartime, supplementing incomes, and often the sons of the local nobility would be hip deep in the proceedings. Nathan had told more than one story about his time with the smuggling gang that operated out of the village next to his father’s manor.
Smugglers had their own sense of honor—usually—which did not involve betraying their country. However, there were always exceptions. Worse than the smugglers were the wreckers—those who used lighthouses and other means to draw merchant ships in too close to the rocks, marooning them, slaughtering the crews, taking the wares, then sinking the ships. There would be wreckers and some smugglers who could be bought for the right price.
Josie still seemed skeptical, but she did not know Nathan the way he did. The one thing he kept from her was Nathan’s suspicions about Lily. He could not see what it would help and had a feeling it would only make Josie take up even more against Nathan. If Elijah’s reaction to Nathan’s questions had been immediate denial, Josie’s would be even more so. She was not entirely soothed about Nathan.
“They do make a lovely couple,” Lily said approvingly, from the other side of Josie, as they watched Joseph lead Miss Bliss onto the dance floor. Miss Bliss, always beautifully turned out, was resplendent tonight in a rose-and-gold gown and her blonde hair pinned in a torrent of curls, with a beaming smile as she stared up at his brother. Joseph was grinning like a fool at her as they began their celebratory waltz while everyone looked on.
As beautiful as Miss Bliss looked, Elijah thought his wife far outdid her. Josie was dressed in a turquoise blue that made her eyes shine like jewels, her hair lifted off her delicate neck, making him want to stroke his fingers along the nape, and a low neckline that hinted more than displayed and was driving him wild.
“They do.” Josie smiled serenely, her arm brushing against Elijah’s as she unconsciously swayed toward him in time to the music. If they were alone, he would wrap his arms around her, but to do so here would cause a stir among the guests, and he did not want to take attention away from his brother. Joseph deserved this moment, especially since, for a while, they were not sure it would happen. She leaned forward, peering around Elijah sat Adam. “What do you think, Adam, shall you end this Season with a bride as well?”
“Do not wish such things upon me, sister.” Adam shuddered, shaking his head. “I am far too young for your plots.”
Giggling, Josie settled back into position, Lily and Mary laughing beside her. A little pang struck Elijah. Evie was the only one missing from their little coterie, and he felt her absence as much as they must. He scanned the assemblage, looking for her. Knowing she had appeared at both Mary’s and Josie’s weddings, he thought she must be nearby tonight. Unless she was waiting for the actual wedding rather than the engagement ball, but his gut told him she was here, only in hiding.
He and Father had left her out of the family business, and now she was not part of the family for all the important events happening this Season because she did not feel she could show herself to them. Elijah vowed when she made her presence known to him again, he would welcome her back without recriminations or scolding and maybe even talk to Father about including her more. Not the way she wanted to be, but they could find a compromise, the way he had with Josie. She did not need to go on missions to be useful. She could help in the home office.
In the meantime… His eyes dropped down to his wife’s decolletage, stirring his arousal again. Seeing the proof in her eyes that she was no longer pining for Joseph, realizing she was perfectly happy at Elijah’s side was having an effect on him, emotionally and physically. He always wanted her, but now, the drive was stronger than ever. Waiting for the ball to be over would be an eternity. Not that everyone would wait. Across the room, he was amused to see the Marquess of Dunbury and his wife slipping into the shadows to the hall, seeking a place to find private delights.