Money, in short.
James was Lord Lovell, certainly, but his estate was mortgaged to the hilt, and his debts kept accumulating. Perhaps he would have managed better if his habits were not so expensive.
At that moment, he was wearing a pea-green suit of the best velvet, with a glinting emerald cravat pin gleaming at his throat. His Hessians were new, and he played with a gold watch chain while he looked around for another whiskey. The suit was certainly new, as was the cravat pin. The gold watch-chain was a gift from his father, which he periodically pawned, and which Tristan periodically bought back.
Narrowing his eyes and putting thoughts of Madeline’s clear green eyes out of his mind, Tristan leaned forward. “James, do you have something to tell me? I received a note that you called on me yesterday, but I missed you.”
James flushed. “I should not have called the day before your wedding, nor should we discuss it today.”
Tristan sighed. “Is it a money matter?”
James fidgeted for a moment, looking around. “Just a few debts of honor. You know the sort of thing.”
“Yes, I do. Gambling tables and whatnot. Can you give me the names of the debt-holders?”
James shifted. “What for? You had better not be thinking of talking to them and convincing them to cancel the debt. That is not honorable, Tristan.”
“Honor is subjective.”
“It isnot.”
Tristan sighed, leaning forward. “You are my cousin, and just about the only family I have left. I don’t want to see you drown yourself in debt.”
“Especially since I won’t have you to help me from now on, will I?” James remarked, staring into the depths of his glass.
This gave Tristan something of a start. “What? Why would you say that?”
James shrugged. “You’re a married man now. That changes a fellow’s focus. And there’ll be babies soon enough.”
“No, I think not,” Tristan answered, more determined than he’d intended. “You need not fear, James. I have supported you in the past, and I shall continue to do so.”
James flashed him a wry smile. “You’re ever so good to me, cousin.”
They sat in silence for a few moments. Tristan could not have said what was on his cousin’s mind, but he found himself suddenly weighed down by concerns. He had supported James for many years. Anthony had always complained about James’ spendthrift ways, and perhaps he was right. Perhaps Tristan was entirely too soft on him.
But he was family, wasn’t he? It wasn’t his fault that his branch of the family were paupers, whereas Tristan was a duke with an estate to match. Money wasn’t everything, as evidenced by the fact that Anthony had thrown it all aside for a seamstress.
Did his seamstress make him feel the way Madeline makes me feel?
Now, where hadthatthought come from? It gave Tristan something of a start, and he sat upright, frowning as if somebody else’s thoughts had drifted into his mind.
He did not feel anything for Madeline, except perhaps a faint fondness. She was very pretty, and if she had allowed him to share her bed, he would have obliged with alacrity. But this marriage was, above all else, one of convenience. It would be a foolish thing to start thinking of it as anything else.
This thought had left an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of Tristan’s stomach, as if a stone was sitting there. He shifted and shifted, but the sensation simply would not budge. He growled under his breath.
Come now, man. Can’t you exercise a little self-control? A pretty girl rejects you once, and you spiral into madness. It is not as thoughshewantsyou, after all.
Although why she doesn’t want me is a mystery. I’m a delight.
“Do you think your new duchess will be returning at all?” James asked, cutting into his thoughts.
Tristan grunted, shrugging. “How should I know? She does as she pleases.”
James snorted, shaking his head. “Heavens, man, it’s quite something to see a womanfleeingfrom you for once. It’ll do you good. Take you down a peg or two.”
“Not every woman flees from me, James,” Tristan retorted. He wasn’t sure that he was in the mood for jokes and banter at the moment. “Just this one.”
“Unfortunately for you,this oneis your wife.”
