His balancing act came crumbling down a month before graduation when he was sent home in disgrace. All they knew was that his final offense involved an admiral’s daughter, but Luke remained tight-lipped about the details. That night was burned into her mind. She’d huddled outside this very study while her father raged at Luke. Gray was overseas, managing their East Indian holdings, but she doubted he would have had any more luck in prying the story from Luke.

But he told Caroline everything.

It was after midnight when he tapped on her bedroom door. The two of them headed toward the harbor only a few blocks away so they could speak privately. They leaned against the railing and gazed at the moonlight glinting on the water. Luke had dropped his typical lackadaisical air and stared moodily out over the sea.

“Sally is a nice girl,” he said. “Her father ignores her, and she was desperate for a little attention. I was happy to give it.”

“Luke,” she said in an aching voice, dreading where this conversation seemed headed.

“He forgot her birthday,” Luke said dismissively. “It isn’t the first time that’s happened, and he swore he wouldn’t forget this year. I found her bawling behind the library and just wanted to cheer her up. I rounded up a few midshipmen, and that night we all stood beneath her bedroom window to give her a rousing serenade. She leaned out the window, and I’ve never seen anyone so elated. Her father woke up and started tearing into her. I could hear everything from outside. All the other guys ran, but like an idiot, I stayed to make sure she’d be okay. Anyway, I got left holding the bag for it.”

“That’s all? You hadn’t taken any other liberties with her?”

He shrugged. “A peck on the cheek, but I guess when her father questioned her, she confessed to carrying a torch for me. I didn’t know, I just wanted to cheer her up. My hand to God, I never touched her aside from that one kiss on the cheek. Her father went to the academy’s superintendent, and that was the end for me.”

“Do you think she might intercede for you? If her father blew this out of proportion, maybe there’s still hope.”

Luke shook his head. “If I was squeaky clean, I might have been able to survive it, but I guess I’ve been walking along the edge for too long.”

To her horror, tears welled up in his eyes. He swiped them away with an impatient hand, but he couldn’t block them from his tone.

“It’s probably just as well,” he said in a shattered voice. “I never wanted to be a naval officer. I just wanted to make Dad proud, you know?”