They had arranged to meet tomorrow at Violet’s. He was to stop by there after work. Even though he’d just left Dahlia, he was already impatient to see her again.
“Ronan, I’m glad you are home early. Do you have a moment to ride over to Lady Wellbrook’s? She is quite excited about the prospect of your purchasing her house and most eager to see you. She has invited us to call on her at three o’clock today.”
He smiled. “Perfect. But I cannot stay long. I’m required to attend Lord Liverpool’s banquet this evening. I dare not arrive late.”
“Of course. It’s almost three now. I’ll have my carriage brought around immediately.”
Lady Wellbrook lived close by. Were it not for the snow on the ground, he would have suggested they walk. But he could not ask his mother to do so, especially not when she had dressed elegantly for the occasion. Her shoes were utterly impractical for walking in snow. He climbed in her carriage and settled across from her to make the trip that would take them less than five minutes, even if the roads were jammed with carts and carriages.
When they arrived, they were shown in by Lady Wellbrook’s butler, a doddering and slightly deaf, old fellow who would likely be pensioned off by her as soon as she sold her home.
After the required greetings, they attended to the matter of touring the house. “I know how impatient young men are, so I thought I’d show you about first, and then we can sit down to tea. You may ask me any questions after the tour. How does that sound to you, Captain Brayden?”
“A very good plan, Lady Wellbrook.”
As they walked through the rooms, Ronan took note of their size. He counted the number of bedchambers, considered the size of the garden, the condition of roof, and construction of the house. He did not know what else he ought to be looking for.
To him, the house appeared to be exactly what he needed.
In truth, he’d known this was the house for him before he’d ever stepped foot in it. The location was prime, on one of the loveliest squares in London. The other homes were well maintained, the street itself was quiet and yet convenient to everything.
Upon completion of the tour, he sat down to tea with Lady Wellbrook and his mother. He asked general questions about her memories and enjoyed learning of her time spent living here. He did not ask about roofs or foundations or load-bearing crossbeams, for he doubted the kindly dowager would know anything about those items.
He would engage an architect for that purpose and intended to ask Finn to help him out on the purchase. He and Lady Wellbrook’s man of affairs would handle matters to see the sale accomplished.
Pleased with the results, he left the two ladies soon afterward and walked home to wash and dress for this evening’s banquet. His thoughts were still on Dahlia, looking forward to the day he could bring her around to see the house that would soon be his.
Gad! It felt so strange to be thinking of such matters.
A week ago, he’d been quite comfortable with his bachelorhood and not intending to settle down. Marriage had not been on his mind.
However, he’d always felt something for Dahlia. The kiss they’d shared had merely stirred the desire quietly simmering in his heart from the moment he’d set eyes on her. He had tamped down the feeling, warning himself to forget her because she was meant for Wainscott.
If he had realized how badly the bounder was about to hurt her, he would have come forward.
But he hadn’t, and now he ached for seeing her so badly hurt.
Joshua and Robbie were already in the Parliament banquet hall, each of them involved in conversations with the various lords who still needed to be swayed in their favor when their particular appropriations came up for a vote.
Ronan merely nodded to them, not wanting to interrupt their important discussions.
Instead, he joined the Lord Admiral, who was engaged in conversation with several prominent lords regarding the needs of the Royal Navy. Among them was Lady Melinda’s father, the Duke of Stoke.
Ronan briefly wondered whether Lady Melinda had managed to lure her marquess into making her an offer of marriage. However, he was not going to ask her father. The gossip rags would report it soon enough. Nor did he want Stoke believing he had any interest in his daughter. The man had already made it clear he wanted his daughter to marry a marquess or better, that a mere captain in the Royal Navy would never do.
Ronan was worried.
These rumors recently being reported about him escorting Lady Melinda around town were going to destroy a full year’s hard work if the duke actually believed them. The navy needed his support on their appropriations.
The Lord Admiral turned to him. “Captain Brayden, you’ve done most of the work on these matters. Why don’t you give us your opinion?”
“Yes, of course.” He momentarily set aside all thoughts of Dahlia, the book, the house search, and the gossip connecting him to the duke’s impulsive daughter. “My lords, as our reach expands throughout the world, it is imperative that we have enough ships to protect our holdings and our trade routes wherever they may extend. You are aware that our merchant vessels are often at the mercy of pirates, some of whom command fleets as powerful as those of small countries.”
One of the lords nodded. “I have holdings in Jamaica. I can attest to this scourge.”
Ronan agreed. “They operate almost everywhere without restraint, their power spanning from the South China Sea to the Tasman Sea. Throughout the Indian Ocean from the eastern coast of Africa to Ceylon. Across the Caribbean. But let us not forget we must deal with our usual enemies, the other European powers who seek to dominate those trade routes and lay claim to vast territories in order to establish their governmental rule. The Dutch have maintained a formidable presence in the South China Sea for centuries. The Spanish along the Americas.”
“The European nations will next be vying for the mineral riches in Africa, India, and China,” the Lord Admiral interjected.
“For this reason,” Ronan said, “we must maintain the most powerful naval force in the world. Our enemies need to know we will obliterate their fleets if they step out of line. History has taught us this. One of our strongest and best strategies is to blockade enemy ports and destroy their fleets. They cannot attack us if they can’t get out.”
His remarks and those of the Lord Admiral were met with enthusiastic approval.
“You see, gentlemen. This is why I have complete faith in Captain Brayden. Do go on with the rest of it,” the Lord Admiral urged.
“We need funds for research. Do not leave us with old vessels and outdated cannons. We need fast ships, longer-range cannons, and reinforced hulls. Sleeker ships to allow us entry into the shallow harbors. We also need to invest in these new, steam-powered vessels. We are also conducting some experiments on other ship designs that could change how we fight the next wars. Give us the funds, and we’ll have those ships built.”
He imagined Joshua and Robbie were explaining much the same thing with respect to their land forces. As everyone sat down to supper, the three of them found themselves together at the far end of the table. Since none of them were lords, they were as low as one could be in the order of preference, merely one step removed from the clerks who were shuttling in and out, delivering messages to Lord Liverpool and those in his high circle.
They were perhaps two steps removed from the servants who were bringing in their sumptuous meal on gleaming silver trays.