18 She watched Hugh as he assembled all the men and women her grandfather had as security—and some she thought were common employees, such as gardeners and maids—in his sitting room, probably much as she had seen him doing with his grandfather in war councils years before. He was as intense when concentrating as he was in his dealings with her. Talking quickly, he punctuated his words with gestures, holding the attention of all twenty men and women. Once or twice he interrupted what he was saying to ask for information, chewed it for a second or two, and resumed quickly. He used every amazing skill she’d ever seen him demonstrate as a leader, and she realized she was as awed by him now as she had been at thirteen. And now he was her husband. She straightened from her deflated positio

