Free As You Wish by Jennifer Malin

share?”
    “Phoebe, there is no reason to believe Bonaparte is headed our way,” David said, reaching across the table to place his hand over hers.  “In your condition, you mustn’t work yourself up.  Wellington is a capable leader and will do all he can to keep England safe.”
    Her ladyship looked so upset that Leah winced.  If only she could tell her the “inside intelligence” she had--that Napoleon would never invade England.  He’d be recaptured for good within the next few months.
    “Really, my lady,” she said, “I’m sure David’s right.  Consider how slowly Napoleon’s been moving since he escaped, meandering up through the south of France and dallying in Paris for weeks.  At that kind of pace, he won’t get anywhere.  I bet he’ll never even make it into Holland.”
    She hadn’t been able to resist throwing in a clue to the location of Napoleon’s ultimate defeat, and she grinned at her secret joke.
    The marchioness smiled back, touching a finger to the corner of each of her eyes.  “How kind you are, Miss Cantrell.  You nearly have me convinced--you speak with such conviction.”
    “Yes, you do,” Lieutenant Harlowe said, his gray eyes fixed on her.  “May I ask why you mentioned Holland, Miss Cantrell?”
    “It just came to mind.”  She picked up her fork, pleased that she had helped calm Lady Solebury.
    “I am surprised to find you so well informed of Napoleon’s activities,” the lieutenant added.  “Young ladies generally take little interest in the details of war.”
    She paused, fork in midair, privately reminding herself to stick as close to the truth as possible.  “My father studies Napoleon as a hobby.  I’ve heard far more about the man than I care to even think about.”
    “But surely you haven’t seen your father in at least a month?  At that time, Bonaparte had not yet reached Paris.”
    Her mouth dropped open.  “Why, of course not.  I suppose now I’ll have to confess to an unladylike interest in war.  Some of my father’s fascination has worn off on me, and I read the papers to keep on top of the news.  Sometimes, that is.  I definitely can’t claim a thorough knowledge of current events.”
    The marquess laughed, relieving some of the tension Leah sensed building.  “I should think not.  Meeting a young lady who reads something other than novels, the social column and La Belle Assemblée is unusual enough.  One does not run across many
    bluestockings in Kent.”
    “No,” Lieutenant Harlowe said, though he didn’t laugh.  “Nor are we often up-to-date in reading the London Gazette .  Perhaps you know more about Bonaparte’s latest moves than we do, Miss Cantrell.  Why don’t you give us a report?”
    She swallowed a mouthful of lamb and purposely widened her eyes.  “I’m afraid I don’t know any more than what we’ve already said.  He’s holed up in the Paris area.”
    “I think we might move onto another subject,” David noted, for once choosing a course Leah liked.  “Her ladyship cannot be entertained with this line of conversation.”
    They all looked at the marchioness, who poked at her food, clearly without any appetite.
    “War talk does discomfit me,” she said.  “I cannot stop thinking about an invasion on Kent.”
    “I am sure Wellington will defeat Boney before he can even think of invading Kent, my dear,” the marquess said, serious again.  “But I can look into digging out a priest’s hole for us, if the act would lend you any comfort.”
    “I believe it might.”  She looked up, scanning all the faces around the table.  “Please forgive me.  How maudlin you must think I am!  Let us return to our dinner.  Miss Cantrell, will you pass the salt, please?”
    Leah reached for the crystal saltcellar at the same time David did.  She pulled back, and his gaze followed the movement of her hand into her lap.
    He passed the container to Lady Solebury and turned back to Leah.  “Pardon me, Miss