“Yes, generally they can,” she said. “You, however, seldom do anything without one.”
“You wound me, dear sister.” He paused, a grin tugging at his mouth. “But you are correct. There is a reason for my visit. Is Father in? He is the first I should like to speak with about it.”
Margaret patted his arm, her expression dimming. “Your father is resting, my dear. He was not well this morning.”
“On the contrary, Margaret, I feel as sound as ever.”
Elowen stood at once as her father entered the room. Despite his words, he looked pale and drawn, though he managed a faint smile as his gaze fell on William.
“And it is a good thing too,” he said, “else I would not have known of my son’s return.”
“I would tell you,” Elowen assured him, hurrying to his side. The way he accepted her arm told her all she needed to know about how unwell he truly was.
“Or I would go up to disturb your rest,” William added cheerfully, taking his father’s other arm. He looked every inch the picture of ease, though Elowen noted the way his grip steadied their father as they guided him toward a chair.
Papa chuckled, the sound far more akin to a wheeze. “I think seeing you would have gotten me out of bed all the sooner. It is good to see you, my boy.”
“It is good to see you as well, Father,” William said. “Though I wish you were in better health to receive me.”
“Nonsense.” Papa waved a dismissive hand. “I am perfectly fine.”
The statement rang hollow. Silence fell. William was the one to break it, his voice gentler now. “All the same, I am glad you are here. I’ve made certain discoveries that may well change this family’s future.”
Mama frowned. “In what way?”
William’s eyes brightened like they always did when he was focused on something. Like the last time he’d planned on playing an elaborate prank on Elowen when he was two-and-ten, right before she’d found him out and ended his ploy before it even started.
“I have been reviewing shipping manifests and trade regulations from the past decade, you see,” he explained. “And within the last two years, there’s been a sudden and troubling shift—one that cannot be easily explained.”
Papa leaned forward, brows knitted together. “What sort of shift?”
“On paper, nothing appears amiss,” William said. “The rules remain the same. But in practice, they are being applied very differently. Certain powerful interests seem to be steering the system to their advantage, forcing smaller merchants to fall in line.”
“Which interests?” Elowen asked quietly.
William met her gaze, but before he could speak, Papa cut in, his tone sharper than before. “That does not matter at present. What matters is that you may be treading on dangerous ground.”
“You do not sound surprised,” William observed.
“I cannot say that I am,” Papa admitted. “Though it seems your investigations have gone further than mine ever did. Perhaps we could continue this discussion in my study.”
He braced his hands on his knees and pushed himself upright. William rose immediately, steadying him as he swayed.
“Very well, Father,” William said. He cast a reassuring smile toward Elowen and Mama. “I shall be done by luncheon—then you can tell me all about the poor fellows vying for my sister’s hand.”
Elowen didn’t have the heart to laugh, though the baroness managed a small chuckle. They watched in silence as father and son made their slow way out.
Once they were gone, Mama picked up her embroidery and recommenced in silence.
Elowen hesitated, tempted to press her mother about what William had meant. Both her father and brother were clearly involved in something they deemed too serious to discuss in front of her—and that troubled her more than she cared to admit. On any other day, she might have insisted on knowing.
But one look at her mother’s tightened mouth and fixed attention on her work told her that Mama’s thoughts were every bit as uneasy as her own.
Elowen drew a steadying breath. “Mama,” she said at last, “would you care to step out with me this morning? Perhaps we might look in at a few shops.”
The baroness dropped her hands into her lap, surprise written across her face. It slowly morphed into delight. “Youwould like to visit the shops?”
Elowen resisted the urge to grimace. “Perhaps I should not—”
