boy who knows how to get his way—just like his father, I suspect. How did things go in Brighton?”
Her second hand joined the first, and Gabriel closed his eyes, letting his head fall back.
“I don’t really know. Captain Delacroix of the Batavia’s Ghost told me there was no word of Samir’s family—of his grandparents. He spoke with Sami’s uncle—Fatima’s eldest brother, but—” Gabriel did not wish to share everything Delacroix had told him during their brief visit. Especially when he did not know what he thought about all of it himself.
He opened his eyes and looked at Giselle. “How has Sami been?”
“He still misses his mother, of course, and I’ve heard him cry in the night. But I think he might miss you more, Gabriel—especially when you were gone over a week.”
“I understand why he would miss Fatima, but how can he have become so attached in only a few months?”
She gave a sinuous, Gallic shrug. “Blood calls to blood.”
Gabriel didn’t bother correcting her. Instead he pondered his soon-to-be wife’s reaction to having a five-year-old child living with them.
“Will you send him away now that you are getting married?” Giselle asked, as if she were reading his mind. “Maria and I adore having Samir here—we would love to have him stay.”
“That is kind of you, Giselle. But I know his mother would have wanted him to be with family. Until I can find the rest of Fatima’s family—if I can find them—I will keep Samir with me. I’d hoped Captain Delacroix would have better news, but he is waiting for one of his men to return from Oran. The city is in a state of chaos right now.” A lot of that was Gabriel’s fault, but he had no desire to discuss what had happened in Oran with anyone—not even Giselle, his lover. “If we’re able to find any of Fatima’s sisters or brothers, then Samir should be with them—it was Fatima’s wish. Her family is well respected, and there will be plenty of other cousins for him to grow up with—it is what he is used to.”
“And if your captain does not find them? Or if he learns that all your sister-in-law’s family have died?”
“Then I will bring him to live with me on the country estate my grandfather gave me.”
“When will you hear from this captain again?”
“I don’t know. My guess is that all of Fatima’s family will be hiding in the mountains if they managed to escape the city.” The English navy’s attack on Oran had left thousands fewer casualties than their assault on Algiers. Unfortunately, Gabriel’s brother Assad and his wife Fatima had been among those who were killed, leaving their only son an orphan.
Giselle nodded, gently stroking his nape. “Will you leave him with us until you find out—now that you are getting married?”
Gabriel chewed his lip. Giselle and Marie were taking care of the boy as his bachelor chambers were not the sort of place for a child. He’d been planning to take Samir to the country right after the Season ended and stay there with him until he received word about Fatima’s family. But, of course, that had been before last night. He could only imagine the stern Miss Clare’s reaction when he confronted her with Samir. He would not wish to take the boy if his new wife was cold or cruel to him. At the same time, he would not shun Sami to appease Miss Clare.
Gabriel knew he could tell his mother—indeed, he should have already told her—and bring Samir to her. He’d kept the information from her because he’d wished to make the decision without her meddling. But now . . . ? Well, she would take the boy in an instant.
But he was not yet ready to make that decision.
He kissed Giselle’s hand. “I don’t know what I’ll do, my friend. But he’ll stay with you until the end of the Season as we’ve already decided. He’s already suffered enough upheaval, and I don’t wish to change our plans at this point.”
“I will miss him, Gabriel.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“I know you will.” Gabriel pulled her to him, holding her familiar body in a tight embrace. “You need a child, Giselle. You and Marie both—you were made to have children.”
She sighed heavily against him, and he heard a delicate sniff. “I would have liked to have yours, Gabriel. But I know . . .” She trailed off.
Gabriel was grateful she’d not completed the thought. He knew the