“He does.He is…not himself at times.”
His half-brother had always shown a wild streak.Impulsive, aggressive and stunningly self-centered, Richard nonetheless managed to charm as many with his generosity and hissavoir-faire.“Perhaps he is in love.That changes a man.”
His mother fixed him with the stark look of reproof that alerted all in the family to her earnest intent.“He is changed.But not, I fear, by love.”
Alarm shot through him.Richard had dealt with bouts of mania when he’d been at Cambridge.One May, Victor had had to calm him by forcibly bundling him off to the Lake Country.Whatever Richard’s symptoms now, he didn’t wish to be burdened with the knowledge of them so soon after his arrival home.A holiday was in order.Rides in the forest, visits with old friends.Soft breezes on his face as he read a few new books which he could never get in Shanghai.Still, his mother needed him and he would rally to the cause.He always did.Victor set his teeth and brushed the crease in his trousers.“You’ve set me a great task.”
“You always were the one to soothe us all.The one to solve our riddles.Our desperate situations.”
He sipped his tea.Would that I had been as successful solving my own challenges.“You’re much too confident.”
She lifted a shoulder.“And you know that I have reason to be.Did you not dissuade your brother years ago from eloping with that draper’s daughter?”
“He can be head-strong.But he’s not foolhardy.He wouldn’t have married her.”
“She had a girlish beauty to commend her.”His mother arched two pale, finely plucked brows.
He laughed.“My dear, she was endowed with many attributes, none of which was a dowry.”
“Precisely.”
“Add to that, I’ve no idea what’s happening with the price of land or your production here, but I would wager, when Richard marries, he’d welcome a suitable marriage settlement made of sterling.Deliverable to his bank each year on January first.”
His mother nodded in agreement.“He tells me we’re doing well here.In the black.Which is more than I can say for many whom we know and love.He does not tell me of his own finances at Ridgemont.So I worry.But whatever his balance sheet—” she said with an index finger in the air, “he merits an heiress with suitableaccoutrement.”
“Indeed he does.”As the heir to their father, the seventh duke of the venerable centuries’ old title of Brentwood, Richard was the marquess of Ridgemont with lands of his own and income in his own right.In addition, Richard had always done a fine job of handling his shares of an export-import company dealing out of Bombay.“His foreign company brings him good profit.”
“Still?He will not tell me.”His mother’s lips thinned.
“I know Richard’s agent, Chiang Hsing-li in Shanghai.He’s shrewd and careful.I have checked Chiang’s books for Richard’s share in the Woochow Tea Company at least once a year for the past three, and he seems more honest than many.”Other British investors in Woochow might not be so fortunate, but Victor knew Richard was getting a fair deal from his agent in Shanghai.Westerners in the China trade knew that every respected Chinese agent took ‘squeeze’ to supplement his income.From what Victor had estimated, Chiang’s take averaged two percent, significantly lower than the ten to fifteen that many stole.
The duchess stared at him.“That comforts me.But he’s in quite a stew with this latest scandal.He has hinted to me that he needs a significant amount of cash.I am appalled at the rumors.And I am so glad you’re here to help.”
Victor stifled his sigh.No rest for the weary.Not yet.“Is Richard here?I didn’t have a chance to ask Fawkes when I came in.”Too taken with absorbing the sights and fragrances of home.
“He went down to Bath four days ago to speak with his estate manager there.Urgent business of some sort.He promised he’d be home for dinner tonight or early in the morning.Our other guests arrive beginning tomorrow afternoon.”
“Fine.And how long is this house party?”
“Five days.Richard insists.”His mother leaned close and lowered her voice.“I fear he’ll make an offer to this girl and use the party as the occasion to announce it.”
“What of the girl’s parents?Has he gotten her father’s approval?”
She cast a wary eye toward the door.“That’s the other thing.Neither one has arrived.Her father remains in London to negotiate some business venture and her mother declined, saying she was indisposed.”
“Odd.”
“Darling, they’re Americans.You’ve been away too long and cannot imagine what they do and don’t.”
He snorted.“Sweetheart, I know Americans.I’ve dealt with quite a few in Shanghai and they are not cave men.”
The sound of laughter drifted inside.
His mother tipped her head toward the door.“She’s come and brought along her friend, who added her family’s official chaperone.”
“Oh?A good solution.”
“No, no, no.A French woman.A countess of some forgotten place.”
