The bastard.
They had been here mourning Father, grief-stricken over their loss, while Bentley and his horrible aunt were evicting them from River Crest.
“While we were at the gravesite, I took the liberty of having your trunks from upstairs loaded on the coach outside.”
Aurora started crying. “My dolls,” she wept into Mother’s side. “What about Daisy?”
Daisy was Aurora’s cat and head mouser at River Crest.
“She’ll be fine, darling.” Mother hugged Aurora.
“We couldn’t take the risk of you absconding with the valuables,” Lady Longwood added unnecessarily. “Either here or at River Crest. You’ve already taken so much from Lord Emerson. You are no longer welcome here. The staff has been instructed to throw you out should you attempt to return.” Her triumphant gaze landed on Mother. “London will not be kind should you deign to stay.”
“I’m sure you’ve seen to that, haven’t you, my lady?” Tamsin’s fingers tightened on her lap.
“I have. With great pleasure.” Satisfaction lit Lady Longwood’s angular features. “Lord Emerson deserves to take his rightful place in society without thedirt,” she said, giving Tamsin a pointed look, “clinging to the edges of his coat.”
“I thought we were asin,” Jordan countered, sounding far more composed than he felt, sick to the very depths of his soul. The reality of the situation was that Bentley, and his unending list of ridiculous grievances, was in complete control of their future. They would be forced to subsist on his charity.
“I am not without some sympathy.” Bentley took on that imperious, self-important tone once more. “Jordan could learn a trade, perhaps. Truthfully, I doubt anyone considers him a gentleman. And I feel that they,” he inclined his chin in the direction of the twins, Malcolm and Andrew, “would be better suited to say… a life in the military. I will purchase a commission for each of them when the time comes,” he finished with a magnanimous smile.
“Howkind.” Jordan’s fingers tightened against his thighs. “And what of my sisters?”
“What of them?” Lady Longwood answered for Bentley. “I’m sure they’ll both wed, eventually. Possibly a ship’s captain. Or a merchant. A country squire. The lack of a dowry will be an impediment, but—”
“Father would have made ample provisions for Tamsin and Aurora’s dowries. You cannot tell me he did not, Bent.” Jordan watched his brother closely.
Bentley flushed once more and cleared his throat.
“You have no leave to speak to Lord Emerson—” Lady Longwood corrected Jordan.
“I’m not speaking to you,” he interrupted her. “Answer the question, Bent.”
“Well.” Bentley coughed. “That is an item I must discuss with my solicitor. You realize that I cannot afford dowries, commissions,andyour upkeep at Dunnings.” A nervous chuckle escaped him as he looked at Lady Longwood, who gave him an encouraging nod. “My father failed to make appropriate provisions for his second family, perhaps out of lack of affection. Or pure carelessness.”
No, Father would have expected Bentley to take care of his siblings. As much of a wastrel as Bentley had been, the late, lamented Lord Emerson would never have imagined his heir would toss them out of River Crest and send them to Dunnings. It would have been unthinkable to Father that Bentley would leave his sisters without a dowry.
Mother clutched the handkerchief to her nose, rocking slowly back and forth. Tamsin put an arm around her shaking shoulders, staring at Bentley in disgust.
“That’s a complete and utter lie.” Jordan moved a step closer, his fists curling tighter.
“I assure you.” Bentley’s gaze lowered. “I’ve always thought that Father would come to his senses one day and realize what an error he had made—”
“One more word, Bent,” Jordan said in a conversational tone. “And I’ll strangle you with your cravat.”
Lady Longwood placed a hand at her throat. “How dare you threaten him? I’ll have you escorted out.”
“What a shriveled harpy you are, Lady Longwood.” Tamsin’s eyes blazed pure fire at Bentley’s aunt. “As unappealing as a gnawed and discarded apple core.”
Lady Longwood narrowed her eyes. “You impertinent little cretin.”
Sweet Jesus.Why did she have to call Tamsin a cretin? Or impertinent?
Tamsin rose to her feet. Without another word, she lifted her hand, palm open.
A tiny cake flew across the room, tossed by Malcolm.
His sister caught the cake, frosting covering her gloved fingers. “You’ve no idea.” Then with an evil glint in her eye, Lady Tamsin Sinclair proved how barely civilized she truly was.
