Edmund swung into the sitting room just as Bram tucked a cigar into his pocket. Judging by the size of the bulge alreadythere, his old friend had likely cleaned out the entire humidor. “I knew it! Always pilfering my cigars.”
Bram wheeled about, flashing a grin. “It’s your own fault, Price. You always did have the best, even as an undergrad.”
“You can thank my father for that.” With a chuckle, he clapped the man on the back. “How are you, my friend?”
“Walking a thin rope as always.”
He did appear to be, if the shaggy hair in need of a trim and the threadbare fabric of Bram’s suit coat were any indication. There were a few new lines on his face, mostly from having aged these past eight years, and a fresh scar on the topmost part of his right cheek. Bram Webb always had been—and apparently still was—a rogue.
Edmund’s grin grew. “I’d expect nothing less from you, Webb. How long can you stay?”
“Just overnight.” Lacing his fingers, Bram cracked his knuckles, the familiar habit unearthing memories of long hours of study with his college mate. “I told ol’ Grimwinkle I was on college business, wooing a potential donor over an elaborate dinner.”
“I suppose that means you must leave here with a full coin purse.” Edmund smirked.
Bram mirrored it. “Is that a problem?”
It shouldn’t be, not with his net worth, but the actual cash flow he had on hand worried him, what with half of his and Gil’s capital tied up in that railroad venture. He kneaded a knot in his neck. He never should have agreed to bankroll the startup of the Bengal Express.
But Bram didn’t need to hear of his woes. “I wouldn’t call it a problem, my friend. More of an expectation. I’m always a few coins shy whenever I spend time with you.”
“Speaking of coins”—Bram arched a brow—“I am anxious to see them.”
“Then let’s have at it, though we’ll have to be quick about it. You’re not the only guest I must attend to.” He strolled from the sitting room, Bram at his side.
His friend cut him a sideways glance as they crossed the front hall. “I was surprised when I heard you returned to England. I didn’t think you were ever coming back after ... you know.”
Honestly, he hadn’t thought he’d return either. India had suited him, feeding his sense of adventure that his father had always tried to tame. Had it not been for the harsh tariffs funneling out of Parliament, he’d have been content to stay there.
“It’s been eight years.” He shrugged. “I should think the gossip has died down by now.”
“There never really was that much, you know. You needn’t have banished yourself for so long.”
“It wasn’t just that. It was...” A bitter taste filled his mouth. How to explain to Bram—to anyone, really—that he’d never conquered the shame he’d felt after Louisa’s betrayal? He let out a long breath as they swung into the corridor leading to the workroom. “Let’s just say it was for more personal reasons.”
“Personal? Right.” Bram eyed him. “Then you should be happy to know Louisa got what she deserved. I hear she turned into quite the sour pickle after marrying that walking corpse Lord Carlton. He whisked her away to Scotland, somewhere in the Highlands. Can’t say I blame the change in her personality, though. Such a rugged climate is enough to drive the whimsy from the hardiest of souls.”
Hah!Whimsicalis hardly what he’d call Louisa’s imprudent spirit, though he ought to feel sorry for her, he supposed. He should pity the fact that her vibrancy had been evicted to some obscure heathland. But all he felt was numb.
An improvement, that.
“Well, as my father always said, the past is not where we live.”
“Thank heaven! Though in your case I imagine the present might be just as trying. You’ll be beating off women with a stick now that you’ve returned home. You’re nearly as handsome as I am, though admittedly your bank account is a monolith compared to mine. Toss in the allure of your travels to an exotic land and your mysterious return.” Bram let out a low whistle.“Indeed. I should think you’re the most eligible bachelor in all of Oxfordshire, if not all of England.”
“Which is why I’m holed up in my country estate for the moment. Once I get to London, I’ll more easily blend in with the crowd. And here we are.” He strode into the workroom, surprised at the eagerness in his step to see Miss Dalton. He glanced around for her bright smile.
Bram swiveled his head from wall to wall as well. “This is a treasure trove!”
“Yes, which will make it all the harder to find those coins for you to take a look at.” He frowned. Miss Dalton was nowhere in sight.
Bram walked the length of the trestle tables, where those artifacts that’d been carefully unpacked and cleaned sat ready for sale. “Don’t tell me you’re organizing these items on your own. You couldn’t even keep your books straight that first year at school, not to mention the disgrace your side of our bedchamber was.”
Now there was a bittersweet memory, one that chased away his grimace. “No, I’ve hired someone.”
Movement out the window snagged his attention, where Miss Dalton and Miss Woolsey stood face-to-face in the garden, and if the twist of Miss Dalton’s lips was any indication, the discussion wasn’t pleasant.
He turned back to Bram. “Come along. I’ll introduce you to my resident scholar.”
