Alex arched an eyebrow.“I don’t care, just not in Town when I am here.But take heart, I do not intend to spend much time in London.Parliamentary duties and an occasional visit to see good friends.That’s all.”
“Fine, we’ll go to Somerset whenever you are here.”
And sponge off him at Thornwycke Hall?
He meant to reside there with Tulip.
No way in bloody blazes would he allow his wretched cousins anywhere near her.“No, you are to stay out of Somerset.That is the other part of my condition.If you want your allowance to continue, then you areneverto step foot there.”
“Never?”Harold slammed his fist on the table again.“Are you mad?You are marking off the entire shire?What if we wish to follow our friends to Bath?”
“Then write to me and ask for permission.Those are my terms.Do you want your allowance or not?”
“What a bastard you are,” he muttered.“Does this mean we must leave London now?”
“No, I’ll be leaving shortly.There’s nothing you or your brothers need to do for the moment.What’s it to be?”
“Pig,” Harold said, kicking his chair back as he rose so that it tipped over and knocked into the man seated at the table next to theirs.
The poor fellow had been minding his own business and enjoying an ale, but now turned angrily toward them.
Alex apologized on his cousin’s behalf.
Thankfully, this mollified the man.
Not that his cousin cared.
The lout was incensed Alex had tacked on conditions to his allowance.“We’ll take the deal,” he grumbled and stormed off.
Alex watched him bull his way through the tables of patrons, angrily elbowing all in his path aside.He was heedless of who he bumped into or the ale that was spilled.
“Ah, family,” Julius said, righting the chair Harold had overturned and taking his seat.“I heard what he called you.Those fellows deserve nothing.”
“I know, but I don’t need to be fighting them while I am also trying to restore the Davenport holdings to profitability.However, it is more for Tulip’s sake.I don’t want them around us while we are also trying to make a go of our marriage.”
“Sensible.”Julius glanced at his watch.“Speaking of marriage, I had better get home to Gory.I’ll meet you at the tailor’s tomorrow at three.Any plans for tonight?”
“No.Tulip and the Farthingales have been invited to dine with their neighbor, Lady Eloise Dayne.”
“Do not be surprised to find an invitation waiting for you at home.It’s probably sitting on your entry hall table as we speak,” he said, motioning across the street to his apartment.
Alex had been looking forward to a quiet night, an ale in hand and a good book to read.But that was not likely to happen now.“I’ll see you tomorrow, Julius.”
He watched his friend ride off in the Thorne carriage.
Only then did he march into his apartment.
Just as Julius had predicted, there was the invitation waiting for him on the small table in his modest entry hall.
It sat there on a silver tray.
He was about to reach for it when the little hairs on the back of his neck began to prickle.
Something felt off.
“Mrs.Gayle?”he called to his housekeeper.
When he received no response, he called out to her again.
