The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(12)

Julian pulled himself from his thoughts. “Precisely.”

“I see. Have you gone to visit Cassandra yet?” Hunt asked.

“No. I intend to go there next.” Julian shifted in his chair. “Which brings me to the other reason for my visit.”

Hunt nodded. “Which is?”

“Have you heard anything more about Donald?” Julian asked.

Hunt rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. “Damn it. We were trying to keep you from knowing about that.”

“I know. When your brother came to see me in hospital, he would barely mention it. I had to pry the smallest bit of information out of him.”

“Collin and I didn’t want you to worry. We wanted you to concentrate on recovering.”

“I understand,” Julian replied. “But now I need to know. Do you know anything more?”

“Unfortunately, no. According to the War Office, Donald and Rafe are still missing in France. I’m leaving for Bristol soon for a debriefing on the latest and hope to learn more. Wellington finally agreed. Collin and I are returning to the Continent to search for them.”

Julian shook his head. “I tried my damnedest to get Wellington to allow me to stay on the Continent and help search.”

“You nearly died, Swift. You deserve to be back home. Rest.”

Julian clenched his jaw and glanced out the window again. “I’ve been resting for months.”

“It was that or permanently rest six feet under.”

Julian bowed his head. “He’s my brother, Hunt.”

“I know.”

And Hunt did know. His own youngest brother, Adam, had been with Donald and their friend Rafferty Cavendish on the Continent. But they hadn’t been in battle. They had been doing something far more dangerous … spying on the French. Why his steadfast brother would agree or even attempt to be a spy, Julian had no idea. At this point he had more questions than answers.

Hunt’s second brother, Collin, had already led one trip to the Continent where he’d managed to locate Adam and bring him back to London, but Rafe and Donald were still missing. Apparently, Wellington had finally consented to allow Derek and Collin to return for another look.

“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.”