The Making of a Gentleman (25 page)

“Do you hear that?” Now she was up and racing to one of the windows. “Those are the horses’ bells. Yes! They’re here! Come on.”

He would have preferred to sit where he was, but she grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. Before their butler could do his duty, she had it open and was out in the snow, welcoming Julien, Sarah, and his mother. There were words and hugs and kisses, which Armand tolerated because he could see how happy it made Felicity to have family around her. She told him she wanted a large family, and when he realized what that entailed, he was happy to oblige her.

Sarah was noticeably with child now, and he wondered how Felicity would look, her belly round with his son or daughter.

A few moments later, they were all inside, and Felicity had the housekeeper pass out warm cider and chocolate. Julien insisted Sarah lie down in her room, and his mother went to settle her in. When it was just the three of them and the dog, Felicity sat at the pianoforte again, playing quietly, and Julien stood at the large hearth.

“I looked into the information you gave me about Captain Cutlass.”

“Who’s Captain Cutlass?” Felicity asked, her hands never pausing.

“A pirate who’s been harassing the English Navy for the past several years. He attacks foreign ships in and around the English coast, steals their cargo, and probably makes a tidy profit selling the luxury items. The Navy has been trying to capture him for some time, but they haven’t been successful. My information is that he actually enjoys engaging them, thinks of it as a game.”

Armand nodded. “That sounds like Bastien.”

Now her hands stilled. “Bastien? Your brother? I thought you were talking about a pirate.”

Armand looked at Julien, and his brother nodded. “I think they might be one and the same.”

“But how is that possible?”

“We’ll have to ask him,” Julien said. “I’ve been making inquiries, trying to find the best way to contact him. If we’re successful, we can reunite the whole family.”

Armand went to Felicity, put his hand on her shoulder.

Felicity covered it with her own. “I hope you find him—even if he is a pirate. I can’t think of anything better than having your whole family together again.”

“Neither can I—”

“Julien, I am not going to lie down all afternoon. I’m not tired.” Sarah’s voice floated in the hallway, and Julien scowled.

“That woman refuses to rest. I didn’t even want her coming all this way in the carriage. It jostles her. I’ll be right back.” A moment later, Armand could hear the couple arguing, Julien firm and Sarah just as stubborn.

Felicity stood. “Perhaps next Christmas your brother Bastien will be here, as well.”

He put his arm around her, drew her close. She sighed contentedly, and together they stared into the crackling fire in the hearth. At one time fire had represented destruction, his life in ashes. Now, with Felicity beside him, he welcomed the warmth. He looked at his wife bathed in the soft glow of the firelight. With a smile, she kissed him. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you.” And he finally knew all that the word meant.

As always, thank you to my husband Mathew for all of your support and patience as I struggled through this novel. Thank you to Christina Hergenrader and Linda Andrus for reading this book over and over
and over
and always offering a fresh take and new suggestions. Thank you to Deb Werksman for your suggestions and encouragement. To my agents Joanna MacKenzie and Danielle Egan-Miller—thank you for believing in me and all your hard work on my behalf.

Shana Galen is the author of six Regency historicals, including the Rita-nominated
Blackthorne’s Bride
. Her books have been sold in Brazil, Russia, Turkey, Spain, and the Netherlands and featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time. She is a happily married wife and mother with one daughter and one spoiled cat. She loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com.