Ethan’s brief acquaintance with Lady Allegra had already shown him how wrong he had been about Miss Brodure. The authoress had never dominated his thoughts, his heart, his very breath, as Lady Allegra did.
And Uncle Leith hadn’t disinherited him . . .yet.
“The reporters are becoming bolder. They’ve doubled over the past hour,” Uncle Leith said without preamble, expression taut. “One of them knocked and informed the butler you were involved in an incident outside Gilbert House earlier today. Worse, the incident apparently involved Lady Allegra herself. Word has it Kendall was incensed.”
Only years of practice kept Ethan from flinching at his uncle’s words.
For not the first time, he wished he had been graced with doddering relatives. The sort who gave a blank face to most news and were too lazy to poke at his secrets.
What to say?
After all, his uncle’s information was absolutely correct.
Forcing bravado that he did not feel, Ethan broadened his grin and sank into the chair before Uncle Leith’s desk.
“Aye,” he nodded. “I was on my way to tell ye.”
“About the incident?” Uncle Leith pinched the bridge of his nose. “Or Lady Allegra, the woman whom I distinctly remember ordering you to avoid at all costs?”
“Both?” Ethan gave a deliberately casual shrug, all the while, mentally scrambling to decide how to weave the threads of truth into a cloth that would soothe, rather than chafe, his uncle.
He settled for the barest sketch of the events—encountering Lady Allegra outside her house, the mob forming, escaping into Gilbert House, Kendall’s arrival. He did not, however, mention the kiss.
Uncle Leith’s brows drew down, down, down as Ethan spoke.
“So to clarify,” his uncle said when Ethan had finished. “You entered Gilbert House . . . in the company of Lady Allegra . . . in front of an entire mob as witnesses. Many of whom, the reporter was kind enough to point out, noted the similarities between Lady Allegra and your beloved thief from ‘One Kiss Alone.’ And then Kendall discovered your presence in his home and was, understandably, overset.”
Yes, well, when put that baldly, things did appear dire.
Ethan forced himself not to squirm under his uncle’s green gaze, eyes so like his own. Even so, his knee bounced in agitation.
“You literally had only two tasks to accomplish, Ethan.” Uncle Leith massaged his temples. “One, do not inspire even a wisp of rumor regarding Lady Allegra. And two, do not anger Kendall. And yet, somehow, you accomplished both in record time this afternoon. How are we to secure a shipping agreement with Kendall now, I ask you? We need this contract, Ethan. Our coffers cannot continue to support our current lifestyle—” Here, his uncle waved a hand, indicating the townhouse and city at large. “—without an infusion of cash.”
“There is still a chance, Uncle,” Ethan rushed to say. “I cannot call at Gilbert House and risk Lady Allegra’s reputation.”Not tae mention that Kendall has banished me,he did not add. “But I will see if I can speak with Kendall at White’s, as we occasionally cross paths there.”
Uncle Leith had been beside himself with joy when Ethan had been elected a member of the exclusive gentlemen’s club. It was unusual for someone of Ethan’s lower social standing to be admitted, but his popularity and close association with members such as Lord Hadley had ensured it.
His uncle stared sightlessly ahead for a long moment, thoughts far away.
Ethan frowned. Something was not quite right.
Uncle Leith should be raging, voice loud and opinions cutting.
Alarm skittered down Ethan’s spine.
“What is it, Uncle?” he asked.
Uncle Leith’s shoulders sagged. “I fear, Nephew, that I have made several bad investments over the past few years, particularly after your aunt died. As I’ve intimated, the political upheavals in Europe at the moment have proved perilous for banks and financial ventures. Many have gone bankrupt, taking our money with them. We are not paupered. Not quite yet. Our ships are still sound and seaworthy, and we do have cargo to transport. But our financial situation is . . . precarious. Without a lucrative shipping contract, I fear I will need to sell off the fleet. And you and I both know that will spell the beginning of the end.”
Ethan’s heart stuttered. No wonder Uncle Leith had been so insistent. Ethan should have realized there was more at stake here than just his uncle’s typical fussing over profits and market shares.
“I will speak with Kendall,” Ethan vowed. “I will repair the damage I have caused.”
“See if you can, lad.” Uncle Leith scrubbed a shaking hand over his face. “You are my heir, but if matters continue as they are, there may be precious little for you to inherit. Heaven knows, relief cannot come quickly enough.”
9
We cannot continue like this,” Kendall said, crossing to the empty hearth of his private study.
