“You don’t mind?”
“Of course I don’t. I need to send our apologies to the countess about this evening.”
“Thank you,” he replied, standing, then planting a kiss on her cheek. “I shouldn’t be long.”
“Take all the time you need.”
He quit the room, despite Sam’s repeating his name, an indication the parrot wanted him to stay. The house was quiet as he walked to his study. A fire greeted him, the room warm as he entered. Walking across the room, he poured himself a whiskey before sitting down at his desk. Usually, he had no problem writing to his sister, but the subject matter of this letter would prove most difficult. Since she was older, he was curious to know if she might have any small memory of Charles. If she didn’t, this letter might jolt any lingering memory she might have but didn’t know she had.
Taking a sip of whiskey, he placed the glass to the side and pulled open the center drawer for a fresh sheet of paper. He picked up his pen and stared down, trying to wish the words onto the page. They didn’t come, so Arthur began to let the words flow.
My Dearest Sister,
What I’m about to tell you will come as a shock. It certainly did to me.
Did you know we have a brother? Charles. He’s my twin brother, born minutes after me. For reasons I’m still not completely clear about, he was sent to live elsewhere. I’m going to review everything the solicitor has on file going all the way back to the beginning.
What I do know is that one of Papa’s friends had been looking after him on Wight. The friend has since died, which is how I learned of our brother’s existence. From what I do know, Charles has some extraordinary skills, but at the same time has a sometimes-brutal temper.
I plan to go to Wight to meet Charles and try and get to know him before bringing him to London to stay with Daphne and me. Everything is very much up in the air and will be until I meet him. I do know he is aware of our existence.
I wanted you to know about this so it wouldn’t be too big a shock when you and Graham return. I hope this finds you both well and enjoying your trip to the fullest.
Arthur
He was surprised at how easy writing to her had been. Picking up his glass, Arthur took another swallow of the golden liquid before re-reading what he’d just written. Satisfied, he prepared the missive to be sent to Italy. Then he rang for a footman to make sure the letter went out in the post this afternoon.
Daphne followed the footman in holding a plate of cake and tea sandwiches left over from her tea. “How did it go?”
“Surprisingly easier than I thought it would. I hope it reaches her before they leave.”
“I’m sure it will. Now you’re going to come sit in front of the fire and eat something. I’m quite sure you didn’t take time out for lunch after your meeting with your solicitor.”
She knew him so well. One of the many things he loved about her. She liked being bossy without it sounding like that. Marriage had not changed her, or her views, and he hoped it never would. He liked her being opinionated.
*
With his solicitoras efficient as ever, Arthur found himself faced with ledgers and files holding copies of correspondence regarding his newly found brother, Charles, the following day. He had the morning to start reading them and decided he would make good use of his time, since his afternoon would be occupied at Parliament.
Everything in the ledger was neatly noted with what the payment was for. His father gave his friend money every year for Charles’s everyday expenses. If there was something involving more, Denton contacted the solicitors. It was all as it should be. He shut the book and turned his attention to the files and found those in perfect order. The most recent correspondence sat on top. The papers were arranged chronologically. It wasn’t that he was looking for something wrong, he merely wished to see where the money went and for what it was used.
It was obvious to him that Denton had done an excellent job in the care of his brother, overseeing Charles’s education in every way a child of an aristocrat would be taught. Arthur noted his brother was quite proficient with swords, spoke four languages fluently, and had an eidetic memory. That piqued Arthur’s curiosity, since most all of what he’d learned about Charles indicated his sibling to be far superior intellectually.
He wrote in a notebook he’d placed to one side. He would be interested in knowing if Charles was aware what he had was unique. What bothered Arthur was if his brother had emotions like loving someone. Being raised the way he had been wherepeople thought he was unique, did people have the perception he was incapable of such emotions, or had he been raised as though he did?
Some of this he wouldn’t be able to get answers to until he met his long-lost brother. Did his parents ever visit him, or had he been swept to the back of their minds? Better not seen nor heard. He couldn’t fathom to have been given that choice.
A knock on the door caused him to look away from the notebook and papers. “Enter.”
The door opened and in walked Daphne along with a footman wheeling a brass cart. “I assumed you were caught up in your work, so I took the liberty of bringing breakfast to you.”
“You’re right. I had forgotten, and thank you.”
She smiled. “Finish what you’re doing, and I’ll fix you a cup of tea. You can choose from several things to eat.”
He grunted and shut his notebook before closing the file. Standing, he made his way to a chair in front of the hearth where Daphne had placed a cup of tea. He sat and picked up the cup and took a taste while Daphne placed a plate on the table for him consisting of toast with marmalade, some apple slices, and a piece of sausage. He hadn’t thought he was hungry until he saw the plate of food.
“Did you finish going over your brother’s files and ledger?”
