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Nathan had several times. It wasn’t easy, but he did it. The last few times, they had argued. Vanity wanted things to be perfect. A perfect life, perfect title and a perfect family. She had only one son, and she had mothered Nathan so much that he broke. He had signed up for the army with his father’s blessing at twenty after a second season and he hadn’t looked back. Vanity had been furious; she had wanted Nathan to marry and settle down, have children and be a perfect family. Nathan had no intention of doing that. All the young ladies his age were pretentious, fickle and pathetic. Any other noble lady would have been delighted that he was serving their country, defending them - but not Lady Vanity Reynolds. She didn’t want her only son in the firing line.
Her problem was that Nathan was very good at it and his senior commanders knew it. Nathan had even been praised and given a medal for his bravery by the Duke of Wellington himself. He had written back just that one time, to let his mother know of it. She didn’t even bother to reply. Didn’t even acknowledge it.
That hurt more than Nathan was prepared to admit.
“Did she say what she was suffering from?” Anthony asked.
“Doesn’t say.” Nathan read the rest of the letter. “She keeps it very vague. I know our family doctor is good, but even he can’t say that Mother is dying.”
“Do you think she’s sending a message or something? Like a code?”
“I have no idea. But something is certainly wrong.” Nathan lowered the letter, trying to figure it out. “I just wish I knew what she was up to.”
“Is she in trouble? Are you in danger and she’s trying to warn you?”
Nathan chuckled. “I’m on the front line and the French aren’t too far away from our position. How much more dangerous can you get?”
“Fair point.” Anthony frowned. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure right now.” He put the letter back in the envelope and tucked it into the back of his trousers. “I’ll talk to General Sharpe about it later. How about we shoot some more targets? I’ll be able to think more clearly after that.”
Shooting at their targets always made him feel better.
Chapter Two
Eleanor entered her father’s study and looked around. For a moment, she couldn’t see him. Then she looked up and saw him on his ladder, high up above her. His bookcase spanned from the floor right to the high ceiling, just as high as it was in the library. Edward Heavenly loved books, and he and Eleanor’s mother had collected as many books as they could, even from second-hand bookstores. Eleanor’s favourite memories were of following her mother, Baroness Heavenly, into the bookstores and going over all the books. She still loved the smell of an old book.
Even when there were bittersweet memories attached to it now.
Her father, Edward Heavenly, was reaching for something just out of his reach. He was going to fall, and the ladder would slide surely out from under him if he kept reaching. Eleanor hurried over, grabbing the ladder and easing it over.
“What the…?” Edward Heavenly flailed, grabbing at the ladder. Then he looked down, annoyance clearing to surprise. “Eleanor. I didn’t realize you were there.”
“Obviously.” Eleanor held the ladder stable as Edward Heavenly snagged the book he wanted. “You should have let me know you were going all the way up. I would have come here to help you.”
“You were busy. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You wouldn’t have been disturbing me.” Eleanor stepped back as her father came down, moving just out of the way. “You know I always come when you need me.”
“I know.” Edward Heavenly smiled at her as he put his feet on flat ground. He cupped her jaw affectionately. “And I knew you would say that.”
That was what Eleanor had been doing ever since her mother had died. It had been eight long years since she dropped everything to look after her father once she saw him sliding into the bottle. Edward Heavenly had relapses and he would end up drunk, but Eleanor made sure to keep a close eye on him. When he was drunk, he was easy prey. Especially if cards were involved.
At least those weren’t out anywhere. Eleanor was sure her father hadn’t been able to find all the packs of cards she had hidden. If they were out, he was planning on going out to play poker or another game that involved money. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Are you all right, Father?”
“Perfectly all right.” Edward Heavenly sighed and moved away, placing the book on his desk. “And if you’re wondering if I’ve had a drink today, I haven’t. Not for nearly a month now since that fool Parsons took away all my liquor and the servants won’t do as they’re told and bring me one.”
“Because I told them not to.” Eleanor watched as her father’s hands shook a little. He hadn’t been sober for this long before, but she was going to make sure he kept to it. “You know what you’re like when you’ve had a drink, Father. It’s not going to help you.”
“Worried about me, are you?”
“Father!”
Edward Heavenly briefly closed his eyes, his throat moving as he swallowed. “Forgive me, Eleanor. I don’t mean to sound so harsh.”
“I know that.” Eleanor approached him, touching his arm. “But we both know that you are not a good man when you’ve had even one glass. It doesn’t do you any favours.”
