Realm 06 - A Touch of Love Read Free Page A

honestly.
    Brantley Fowler set his wine glass to the side. “We are gladdened to serve as your hosts, Baroness. Sir Carter and his family hold a standing invitation at Thorn Hall. It is the least I could do to recognize my venerable allegiance with Sir Carter, as well as the service your eldest, Lord Hellsman, provided me in the pursuit of my duchess.” Carter had always admired the way Fowler could easily talk his way through any situation; perhaps, if he could do likewise, he could persuade the committee overseeing replacing Aristotle Pennington as the Realm’s leader to choose him. He and Fowler were the two youngest of their “merry band,” although they held little in common except their like shortcoming: the desire to please an impossible father.
    “Lawrence has spoken to us of the difficulty you encountered with Viscount Averette,” the baron confessed. “It was providential Hellsman was in Derbyshire to provide his assistance.”
    The duke quickly added, “It was also providential Sir Carter reacted to the urgency of recovering my daughter Sonali so I might concentrate on the duchess’s rescue. Knowing Sonali would be in your younger son’s most capable hands released me to save my wife.”
    Carter appreciated his friend’s efforts, but he knew his father’s nature: Much to the detriment of the other four, the baron thought only of Lawrence Lowery’s accomplishments. Niall Lowery was not an abusive father; the baron had never raised a hand to any of his children; yet, each of the siblings had instinctively known his or her role in the family unit.
    Ignoring the duke’s protests, the baron stated, “Carter is built for impossible quests; his accolades are commonplace. It is when a man, who does not know danger every day, takes on the heroic role that a person’s character is truly defined.”
    Carter’s ire rose quickly. It was true; Lawrence had thoroughly distracted Viscount Averette, but his brother’s actions could never be compared to what Carter, James Kerrington, and Thomas Whittington had faced in their rescue of Sonali Fowler. They had eliminated a dozen hired assailants to save the child. What irritated him more was the baron gave Carter no credit for the good he performed daily in England’s name. The whole situation was incogitant. He opened his mouth to express his discontent, but as she had always done, his mother intervened. She effectively squashed the argument before it began. “All my children possess amiable talents,” she declared.
    The duchess readily agreed, before adding, “You are fortunate, Baroness, to have your daughters so well placed and for both of your sons to hold a title.” Carter grumbled under his breath of how Prince George had termed Carter’s efforts worth the notice. His mother squeezed his hand in sympathy. Velvet Fowler continued to direct the conversation. “Tell me of your expected journey. I have often wished to travel, but the duke claims he has seen enough of the Continent for one lifetime.”
    And so the evening had taken on the mundane topics of politics, fashion, and, of course, every Englishman’s least favorite subject: the weather. All three played into the Lowerys’ travel itinerary. Carter swallowed his growing need to confront the baron. He had held hopes of finally knowing his father’s approval when Carter had orchestrated an elaborate plan to save Law’s future thoroughbred line, but any goodwill the baron had shared had quickly dissipated when Carter had moved Heaven and Earth to bring Lawrence to Arabella Tilney’s door. His brother and Lady Hellsman had retreated to the family’s Scottish estate to celebrate their joining. Their withdrawal had occurred nearly a month prior.
    As part of his mother’s “punishment” for the baron’s interference in Lawrence’s life, the baroness had declared she and Niall Lowery would make an extended tour of the European continent. Therefore, their current residence under Carter’s roof. He