“I was not yet twenty. And I assure you I left no woman with an untoward—”
His mother waved hand. “That is the past. But the rumors continued. Especially as you explored the world under Gordon’s auspices.”
Timothy stared at her, not completely believing her words. “You heard rumors about me. From America.”
“And India. Europe. A good mother stays apprised of her children’s wellbeing.”
Luke snorted into his whisky. “Never doubt that.”
Phyllida shot Luke an annoyed glance, then returned to Timothy. “At first, I believed you remained impoverished, supported by our cousin’s generosity.”
As Timothy had intended. “Mother—”
“Then I discovered that you had invested wisely with Gordon and some of his American companies but not so wisely with others. Especially those here.”
The twist in Timothy’s gut turned into a double fisherman’s knot. How could she possibly—“Mother—”
“Some of your wealth is legitimate and in-depth. Gordon has done well by you. But I also have learned that some of your income has built other kinds of businesses, which you should be ashamed to claim. I know about the brothel in Boston and the one in Munich. The gambling den in Bombay disguised as cricket club. And that despicableestablishment here in London that Mark once owned.”
Timothy felt as if his entire world had frozen, his arms and legs encased in inescapable ice. “How could you—”
“You seem to have forgotten you are a gentleman from a high-placed family.”
“Mother—”
Luke coughed. “You left before you realized that Mother knows everyone and everything that goes on among the aristocracy around the globe. She is a dragon and her hoard is information.”
The room fell silent for several icy moments. Then Timothy took a deep breath. “So your summons was not solely about finding a bride.”
Phyllida studied him. “One by one, each and every one of my offspring has pushed this family close to the edge of scandal, if not ruin. And each time, I have guided them back from that brink. I respect even as I do not quite understand your desire to explore the world, and I admire much of what you have accomplished. But you have been too far over the cliff for too long. It is time you returned to civility before you blunder into something from which you cannot recover. And finding a respectable wife is the beginning.”
Timothy glared at his mother, his face heating, his every sensibility appalled at the dictates she had launched into the atmosphere. She could not rule over him as she once did, no matter what her status in the Beau Monde. She might be a dragon, but he was a man. Six and twenty. He had traveled, made his way on his own. How dare she start directing him again after all these years—
Luke coughed. “Do not say it.”
Timothy jerked, turning to his brother. “You do not—”
“I do because I once said it. Take a deep draw on your whisky, and I will tell you exactly what Matthew told me. Remember that every good thing that has come your way, every open door, starting with Gordon taking you in hand, has come about specifically because youare a member of this family, the son and the brother of a duke, and the son of a dowager duchess who wields more power than you can possibly imagine. You are a member of a highly respected family. Your oldest brother has the ear of the king, as does your mother. You may have made some decisions on your own that led to great things. Choices that expanded your world. But if you were not a Rydell, under the Embleton crest, those options would not have come your way. And if you are disowned, those doors will shut. Opportunities will fall away, even in America, even from Gordon.”
Luke paused, taking a sip from his own glass as Timothy downed the rest of his whisky. “Do not look at it as extortion as much as it will be taking advantage of your greatest asset. Do not fight the dictates of the family. Learn to use them.”
Phyllida shifted on the settee. “Listen to your brother if you will not listen to me. Matthew will tell you the same thing. So will Mark. Because they have learned. Your family is, as he said, your greatest asset, your most valuable currency. You have done much on your own, and you have become an astute businessman. So evaluate what is before you. Why would you risk your most worthy advantage for the sake of pride?”
A knock on the drawing room door left them all staring at each other, silent. Then Phyllida called, “Yes?”
Stephens entered. “Luncheon is ready, Lady Embleton. Should I have Cook hold it?”
Phyllida looked at Timothy, one eyebrow raised. Resignation tugged down his shoulders as he shook his head.
Phyllida stood, forcing her sons to rise as well. “We will come now, Stephens. Thank you.” She patted Timothy’s arm, then slipped her hand inside his elbow. “I will present my goals for you over luncheon. You should take time to consider them. There is no need to say or do anything rash. After all, the coronation is not until August.”
Saturday, 15 April 1820
The Lyon’s Den, Whitehall, London
Four in the afternoon
“I do believewe have entered the fourth circle of hell.” Elspeth’s muttered words barely reached her own ears above the cacophony of voices around them, but Sinclair snorted a laugh.
