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Ian nodded. He had some Highland blood himself.
    â€œHow soon can the major have his men ready?”
    â€œBy daybreak, sir. With Lord Hastings already mobilizing the army, he thought you’d probably want to go as soon as possible.”
    â€œExcellent.” Ian nodded, folding his arms across his chest.
    â€œIs there anything else that you require, sir?”
    â€œActually, Lieutenant, I do have a request.”
    â€œSir?”
    â€œThere is a young lady here in town—you probably are acquainted with her. The sister of Gabriel and Derek Knight, Georgiana.”
    The lad’s eyes widened, and an awestruck, slightly dreamy expression passed over his countenance. “Oh,
yes,
sir.”
    â€œI am concerned that her brothers’ involvement in my mission could make her a target—”
    DeWitt gasped aloud. “Er, sorry.”
    Ian raised a brow. “I would like a few of your most trustworthy men posted around her house to ensure her safety. They are to watch over her at all times, make sure she does not leave Calcutta, and accompany her when she goes out.”
    â€œ
Yes, sir,
I will see to it personally!” The boy saluted as though Ian had just knighted him. “And now, my lord, I shall leave you to settle in. I’m sure you must have had a tiresome journey.”
    â€œThank you, Lieutenant. You’ve been most helpful,” he said dryly.
    Somehow Ian gathered there would be no shortage of volunteers.
    Well, that should keep her busy.
    He would love to have seen the look on her face when the chosen soldiers showed up at her house to guard her, but with the spy lingering outside, he could not risk drawing further attention to Georgiana by visiting her again.
    Meanwhile, DeWitt bowed and marched out.
    Left alone for the time being, Ian spent a few minutes reading the first part of Lord Hastings’ notes on Janpur and reviewing the maps of the rocky, rugged territory.
    Loosening his cravat in the midday heat, he put the report aside for the moment and opened one of his orderly traveling trunks.
    As always, the first thing he did upon arriving at any new destination was to take out the thin, round silver case no bigger than a fob watch that he carried with him everywhere. He opened it and started to place it on the table next to the bed, but instead of setting it aside, he paused and gazed for a long moment at the round-faced little boy who stared out from the miniature portrait with such big, serious eyes.
    Matthew.
    When the familiar pang of fatherly guilt besieged him, he told himself for the hundred-thousandth time that there was never any need to worry for Matthew. He had the best care money could buy. Besides his nanny, tutor, governess, and a small army of maids, the boy was being watched over by the London Knights themselves.
    His son and Robert’s were best friends, just as
they
had been at the same age, and their fathers before them. Robert and Bel treated Matthew as if he was their own.
    And he might as well have been, at that. Matthew adored his Aunt Bel and Uncle Hawk, but as for his own papa, hell, Ian thought, the kid didn’t even like him.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
    Stripped down to the black
pyjama
leggings and snug
choli
undershirt that she had worn beneath her sari, Georgie was in the garden, gliding through the motions of a few sun salutations to help erase the effects of her earlier bout with asthma. Stretching her arms high over her head until her fingertips touched, she then folded forward from the waist until her nose gently bumped her shin. From there, she jumped back lightly into plank pose, flexed her body into upward-facing dog pose, and cycled through her
vinyasa
in smooth, unhurried motion.
    With each repetition, she felt the clenched muscles deep in her chest further relax. Thankfully, it no longer hurt to breathe.
    Lakshmi was upstairs looking through Georgie’s wardrobe for things that she could wear. Adley had