Guarded Heart by Jennifer Blake Page B

doesn’t actually resign. The Mexican fleet has apparently set out for Vera Cruz for refitting in the midst of this little contretemps. It would be nice if we had somebody there to say whether it’s in preparation for war. Yes, and to prod Sam Houston into reporting the latest border activity to Washington in hope Congress will get off its collective asses.”
    â€œA dangerous tactic if they decide to let him fight his own battles instead.”
    â€œTyler is disinclined to allow too great a British influence in Texas, I think—which may happen if London decides to come to Houston’s aid.” Gavin felt sure it was in the minds of his friends but would not be aired to avoid offending his English sensibilities.
    â€œIs that likely since Texas refuses to abandon slavery?”
    â€œI suspect the answer depends on governmental self-interest rather than moral verities,” Gavin answered. Slavery had been abolished in Britain and its territories some ten years back, with more than a million pounds paid out in compensation to owners. It was his considered opinion that the abolitionists who shouted so loudly for the same in this country would make more progress if they loosened their stranglehold on the national purse strings as well. To expect people with their life savings and the promise of wealth and ease for their children to give up their human chattel as a mere moral gesture seemed ingenuous, if not downright simpleminded. Still, he was a foreigner with little right to comment.
    â€œIn the meantime, the Louisiana Legion is losing members as time drags by with no fight and no solution either.” This came from Denys Vallier.
    â€œSome are quitting, but quite a few have jumped over to the new Washington Battalion of the Americans.”
    â€œI saw in L’Abeille that it’s the Grenadiers and the Grays that are transferring,” Gavin observed. “Not that it seems to matters. Being mostly from the Second Municipality, they didn’t understand commands in French anyway.”
    â€œToo true.” Caid chuckled. “Since they left, the main question seems to be which uniform will be commissioned in case of war, the one with the most shine to attract enemy fire or the one with the wildest color to hide bloody wounds. Heaven forbid the legion should be mistaken as part of any mere Federal army.”
    Caid could talk because he, Rio, and Nicholas were no longer associated with the Legion, Gavin knew. The obligations of their growing families, abandonment of their salle d’armes in the Passage due to these increased responsibilities and natural waning of their taste for armed combat accounted for it. Gavin had never joined, being too solitary in his habits and inclinations, but he thought Celina’s brother, Denys Vallier, still marched on the parade ground with his friends.
    â€œPlease, mon ami, ” Denys said now with mock offense. “The uniforms proposed most recently are of the noblest tradition, one borrowed from a perfectly acceptable army.”
    â€œWhich would be?” Rio’s dark gaze rested on his brother-in-law with some skepticism.
    â€œWhy, the exalted Janissaries of the Great Sultan of Turkey!”
    Caid groaned. “We might have known.”
    Denys gave him a grin and a bow. “You may be sure I am doing my best to encourage a more sedate example.”
    They spoke of other things, including the shake-up in the British parliament during the autumn that brought Sir Robert Peel to power, and the current engagement of British troops in India against an enormous force of Sikhs led by Lal Singh. Gavin tried to explain what was happening with his home country, but was just as happy when Rio turned to something closer to the Vieux Carré.
    â€œI saw the Russian friend of Madame Faucher in the Passage yesterday. He was asking for you.”
    Gavin met his friend’s gaze for an instant. The warning he saw there sent wariness