The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(71)

“We have an appointment at the War Office,” Collin said.

Derek splashed liberal amounts of brandy into two glasses. “No. You’ll wait until tomorrow. They’ll understand.”

Adam was silent. Derek turned, a glass in each hand, and ran a watchful eye over his youngest brother. The remnants of a black eye and bruising elsewhere upon his face bespoke the torment he’d no doubt endured. Their mother would be coming as soon as she heard her boys were safe. Derek could only hope Adam healed a bit more quickly so she wouldn’t have to know what he’d suffered.

Adam must have known what he was thinking because his split lip cracked into a smile and he said, “Believe me, the broken ribs are much more painful than the blow to my ego resulting from the damage to my face.”

Derek strode over to stand in front of the sofa. He handed each man a drink. Crossing his booted feet at the ankles, Derek leaned back against a solid oak table and braced his hands behind him. “Adam—”

Adam took a long swig from his glass, scrubbed a hand through his hair, dropped his head back against the sofa, and closed his eyes. “Don’t say it, Derek.”

Derek arched a brow. “I find it interesting that you know what I was about to say when I don’t.”

Collin smiled at that and took a long drink.

Adam glanced up at Derek. “You’re going to say I shouldn’t have been there. Put myself in danger. Put the mission in danger. But I—”

“You’re damn right you shouldn’t have been there,” Derek replied.

“Blast it. They needed me.” Adam groaned when his movement jostled his midsection. The broken ribs were still healing, apparently.

Derek uncrossed his ankles, stood up straight, and folded his arms tightly across his chest. “Why don’t we begin with exactly what happened?”

Collin shifted in his own seat and watched his younger brother, too.

Adam took a deep breath. “We made camp outside Charleroi. We each took turns serving as lookout.”

“Whose turn was it?” Derek asked.

Adam’s eyes narrowed. “You think it was mine, don’t you?”

“I didn’t say that,” Derek answered.

“It was Swifdon’s actually. He must have fallen asleep. I don’t know. All I do know is that I woke up with a pistol to my head.” Adam absently rubbed his jaw.

“And Swifdon and Rafe?” Derek asked.

“They tied our hands behind our backs and made us march.”

“Let me guess. They soon found out that you knew nothing and Swifdon and Rafe were the two they wanted to interrogate, didn’t they?”

Adam took another long drink. “Damn it, Derek. Don’t be smug.”

“Is that what happened?” Derek demanded.

“Let him finish,” Collin interjected.

Derek nodded tersely.

“They took Swifdon and Rafe. They interrogated them for hours, days. Once when they’d thrown Rafe back in the tent with me, he told me to run if I had the opportunity.”

Derek swallowed.

“I told him they’d kill me for sure if they saw me run.” Adam had a faraway look in his eyes.

“What did Rafe say?” Derek asked.

This time, Adam swallowed. “‘We’re already dead.’”

Derek sucked in air sharply through his nostrils. “And you were able to run?”

Adam nodded, the haunted look still in his eye. “Yes, the next day. I waited till dark. When they untied my hands so I could relieve myself, I told them I was sick. They left me alone a bit longer than usual. I ran as fast as I could for the forest.”

Derek expelled his breath slowly. “And you made it?”

“Yes. I still don’t know how. I don’t think they cared that I’d left.”

Derek paced across the rug in front of the sofa. “They probably wanted you to be their messenger. How else would we know for sure that Swifdon and Rafe were taken?”

“I’d already told him that,” Collin interjected.

Adam nodded grimly. “Yes. I think that’s why.”

“And you never discovered Swifdon and Rafe’s fate?” Derek asked.

Adam’s jaw was tightly clenched. “No. I spent the next day hiking north and then ran into a battalion from Brighton. They took me to headquarters at Ostend.”

“Which is where I eventually found him,” Collin said.

“Derek, General Markham approved of my—”

“Markham is a fool,” Derek ground out. “As soon as Wellington is debriefed on this—”

“You know you don’t have to tell the general,” Adam said quietly, staring at the floor, shifting his glass in his hands.

“Of course I must,” Derek shot back.

“Must you?” Collin asked.

Derek stopped pacing. He eyed Collin carefully. “Look, you’re both exhausted and no doubt in need of a good meal and a hot bath. I’ll have both of those things sent to your rooms immediately. We’ll talk about this again in the morning.”

Adam, looking somewhat relieved, set his glass on the table in front of him and stood and made his way to the door of the study.

“Hughes will see you to your rooms.”

Adam nodded.