BooksBarbecue
Back The Spice King
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Books by Elizabeth Camden
  3. Title Page
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Sixteen
  20. Seventeen
  21. Eighteen
  22. Nineteen
  23. Twenty
  24. Twenty-One
  25. Twenty-Two
  26. Twenty-Three
  27. Twenty-Four
  28. Twenty-Five
  29. Twenty-Six
  30. Twenty-Seven
  31. Twenty-Eight
  32. Twenty-Nine
  33. Thirty
  34. Thirty-One
  35. Thirty-Two
  36. Thirty-Three
  37. Thirty-Four
  38. Thirty-Five
  39. Thirty-Six
  40. Thirty-Seven
  41. Thirty-Eight
  42. Thirty-Nine
  43. Forty
  44. Forty-One
  45. Forty-Two
  46. Historical Note
  47. Questions for Discussion
  48. In 2020, look forCaroline Delacroix’sstory in
  49. About the Author
  50. Back Ads
  51. Back Cover

Few people could understand their bond. Gray’s mother had died when he was an infant, so Nicholas was the only parent he’d ever known. Most of Gray’s adult life had been spent abroad, but even so, he and his father jointly built a global spice empire and resurrected the family fortune that had been demolished during the Civil War.

Gray was only a child at the end of the war, but he remembered what it was to be hungry, frightened, and burned out of his home. His father hadn’t been too proud to roll up his sleeves and tackle manual labor, and Gray had worked right alongside him. It took years of backbreaking exertion and clever business investments, but by the time his father remarried, their family’s coffers were healthy once again. Luke and Caroline never wanted for anything, and his father had been glad of that, but Gray wasn’t so sure. There was honor in a hard day of labor. While Nicholas thought the sun, the moon, and the stars revolved around his adored daughter, Gray couldn’t respect Caroline’s undiluted frivolity. But he and his father were in full agreement about Luke, in whom they were both deeply disappointed.

Gray dragged his thoughts back to the present, trying to ignore the gnawing ache in his chest. He was lonely. He missed his father and never felt at home in Alexandria. He was an outsider here, and mingling with these people was awkward, but he’d get through it, since his sister had asked it of him.

Caroline flirted effortlessly with an admiral home on leave. With her golden blond hair and bright personality, she sparkled brighter than a diamond. She glided with ease through fashionable society, which was especially impressive since his stepmother had died when Caroline was still young. It was as though Caroline had been imbued at birth with an innate ability to shine in the very best of settings.

“Shall we go watch the first of the races?” the admiral asked. “I gather your brother is competing.”

“Must we?” Caroline asked. “I’d rather discuss the navy’s white dress uniforms. I wish you’d let your officers wear them more often. It would delight every lady in the city.”