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“Lady Eleanor.”
Eleanor glanced over her shoulder. Her father, Edward Heavenly, wouldn’t be able to hear them, but she still lowered her voice. “He’s going out tonight, isn’t it?”
Parsons didn’t look shocked at her response.
“You saw the deck of cards as well.”
“I did. He’s preparing himself.” Eleanor shook her head. “I don’t want him going out, but I can’t exactly stop him.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Find Strauss. Lock all the doors and windows and make sure Strauss keeps the keys with him. Do not give them to Father under any circumstances.”
Parsons snorted. “Do you really think that’s going to keep him in?”
“I don’t know but I’m going to make sure that he has a hard time getting out. I don’t trust him when he’s got his cards out.”
Keeping him sober and away from the cards was going to be tough, but Eleanor knew that there would be a point of no return if Edward Heavenly kept going out as he was, and they were rapidly approaching it. It had to be stopped somehow.
“I’ll make sure he stays home, my lady,” Parsons promised.
“Thank you.” Eleanor gave him a nod and headed towards the front door. “Fetch my coat, please? I’ll be back about ten.”
“I’ll make sure I’m up to let you in.” Parsons hurried to the closet and retrieved Eleanor’s coat. He helped her into it, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Stay safe.”
Eleanor turned and looked up at him with a smile. Henry Parsons had been in their service since she was ten years old. He was like an older brother and looked out for both her and her father. It was sweet to have someone worry about her. She patted his hand.
“I’ll have Jonathan with me, won’t I? Of course I’m going to be safe.”
* * *
Nathan stepped into the tent, ducking his head before straightening up inside. This was the tent of his top commander, the man in charge of the whole barracks. It was a kind of honour to step into the place that felt like sacred ground. Even after ten years in the army, Nathan never lost the feeling.
A tall, lean man wearing his regimental trousers and undershirt was sitting at his desk, reading a small book. He looked like he had shaven and had a haircut in the last hour, his jaw smooth and his white hair cut close to the nape of his neck. He liked to be kept clean and trim for everyone else.
Nathan stood to attention and saluted.
“General Sharpe, Sir.”
Steven Sharpe looked up, his expression registering surprise.
“Captain Reynolds. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important, Sir.”
Sharpe had known him for a long time. He would know when Nathan was rattled, and Nathan did feel rattled. Something was wrong back in London, and Nathan needed to know what was going on as soon as he could.
Sharpe stared at him, then closed his book and rose. Even at five-and-fifty years of age, the man was intimidating. He had been using his height of six-six to command a regiment for years. Nathan was tall at six-four but even he had to look up at Sharpe.
“What is it, Nathan?”
“I was asking if I could be granted leave.”
Sharpe arched an eyebrow. “Leave? You’ve never requested leave before other than when we’ve ordered it. We’ve practically had to kick you out of the barracks to take leave, even when we heard your father had died. I was beginning to think you hated England.”
“When you’ve got a mother like mine, can you blame me?”
Sharpe paused. Then he shrugged.
