“What happened between you and my father? Why did you have a falling out?”
Sir Thomas shifted in his seat. “That, perhaps, is a question best asked of Withington.”
“He wouldn’t answer a question like that.” Her lips twisted. She’d prided herself on having an adult relationship with her father, one where he treated her as he did his son, as an equal. But there was no depth to it. Her father, her brother, and her were like three acquaintances who happened to live together. No confidences were shared. No advice sought. Her father had cultivated his children’s minds with his unorthodox educations, but there was much work to be done with their hearts.
She swallowed. “Please. I hope you won’t divulge this confidence, but I believe my father in some danger. If I can understand what brought about a breach between the two of you, perhaps I can understand why someone else would want to hurt him. All I know is the kindness of my father. Is there something about him that has garnered him enemies?”
Sir Thomas started. “Enemies? Good heavens no, child. I hope you don’t think I am his enemy. We had a falling out, yes, but your father isn’t the kind of man to truly anger anyone.”
“And your falling out was about…?” Brogan tapped his fingers on his knee.
Sir Thomas sighed. “Money, like so many fights. Your father had started an investment circle, and I was one of the members.”
“And your investment was wiped out,” Brogan said.
Sir Thomas nodded. “I, and the other two investors, lost a lot of money. We’d told your father that we thought his contact in the Bahamas wasn’t trustworthy, but he refused to listen. We were all robbed.” He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. “I should have made more of an allowance for his grief. What man could have been expected to concern himself with finance when he’d just lost his wife? But I was scared I’d lost it all, that I’d never recover. I haven’t spoken to Withington since.”
Brogan waved his hand at his office. “Obviously you did recover.”
“Yes.” Sir Thomas smiled, but it held a hint of sadness. “I learned to be more actively involved in all my investments. I’ve done well over the years.”
“And the other investors?” Sir Thomas might have done well, but if one of the other men had remained impoverished, his resentment festering for seventeen years…
“Sanders died two years ago.” Sir Thomas pursed his lips. “And Hatherford moved to the Continent. Venice, I believe.”
Brogan looked to her, but she had no more questions. She shrugged.
“Thank you for your time.” Brogan rose and held his hand out for Juliana.
She took it and stood, as well. “Yes, it was lovely seeing you again.”
Sir Thomas circled the desk. “And you, too, my dear. You don’t suppose, if I reached out to your father, that he…”
Juliana rose onto her toes and kissed his wrinkled cheek. “I think that is a splendid idea.”
The carriage ride back to the agency’s office was quiet. Juliana was lost in her own thoughts, about former friendships and relationships that were never allowed to begin. She didn’t know what occupied Brogan’s thoughts.
Wil had gone by the time they returned, but another agent was there manning the office, with a message for Brogan. “It came from your father.”
Brogan took the slip of paper and turned his back to read it. His shoulders went hard as rocks beneath his jacket.
Juliana placed her hand on his arm. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
He crumpled up the note. “It’s my sister. She’s run off again.”
Chapter Fifteen
“He’s no good for ‘er. I told ‘er, but did she listen?”
Brogan clapped a hand on his father’s shoulder. “It’s all right. I’ll get her back.”
Juliana sat next to his mother on the sofa in his parents’ small sitting room. She had an arm around his mother’s curved shoulders and had handed over her handkerchief after his mother had soaked hers through.
His little sister had been told to remain in her room.
“When you find that man, you teach ‘im a lesson, you hear?” His father shook his fist but there was no power behind it. Apoplexy had depleted the man of his strength two years previous.
Leaving Brogan responsible for his family. It was a responsibility he took most seriously. He took a determined step towards the door.
