The Raider (Montgomery/Taggert 9)

AND did you see Mrs. Farnsworth?” Jess laughed. “Ninety if she’s a day. She had all four of her cats wearing masks.”

It was the next day and Jessica and Alex and Eleanor were sitting alone in the common room. The town had declared it a holiday and Eleanor had banked the cooking fire. She said everyone would be drinking the wagonloads of beer Sayer had ordered and no one would need food.

After the ending of the trial, the admiral had been ordered back to England, his record forever blemished. The admiral, never one to suffer alone, had blamed everything on John Pitman. As a result, Pitman had been relieved of his post as customs officer and sent back to England. Marianna had refused to accompany him.

“So it’s ended,” Jess said, holding Alex’s hand. She couldn’t stop looking at him. No more wigs, no more peacock coats—no more putting his life in danger. And he was all hers.

“Did Jess tell you?” Eleanor asked.

“Eleanor, I’m sorry, I forgot.”

“Nicholas has asked me to marry him and I’ve accepted,” Eleanor said. “I know he’s only a bondsman, but we’ll manage. Maybe your father would help us. Alexander! I see no reason for your laughter.”

Alex couldn’t contain himself. He was laughing hard and pointing out the window behind Eleanor.

“Now what?” Jess asked.

They heard the sound of trumpets and then the door was thrown open. As the three watched in silence, a thick red carpet was rolled down on the floor by handsome young men in beautifully tailored military uniforms. A man, resplendent in a dark uniform with braid on his shoulders and sleeves, stepped forward.

In a deafening voice he said, “Presenting His Imperial Highness, the Grand Duke Nicholas Ivanovitch, twelfth in line of succession to Tzarina Catherine of all the Russias.”

“Not another customs officer already,” Jess groaned.

In walked Nicholas wearing a red uniform encrusted with so much gold it put Alex’s coats to shame. His sword hilt glistened with jewels.

“Good heavens, it’s—” Jessica began, but she stopped because Eleanor had just fainted and fallen off her chair.