“He made no provision for his children?”
“He must not have done it. His son, unsurprisingly, shows no inclination to care for them and only wants them to keep quiet and not embarrass him. They are perfect tools for my revenge.”
Letitia stiffened, her knuckles tightening over the head of her cane. “But they are not tools, are they, Stephen? They are people, living human beings. They are not simply a way for you to get your revenge. They are Amelia, Marjory, and Nancy, three orphaned girls who have not been dealt a kind hand in this life. If you are only keeping them here for your revenge…”
“It’s more than that,” Stephen snapped, rising to his feet and straightening his jacket. “I amhelpingthem.”
“Helping them?” Letitia echoed flatly.
“Yes, helping them,” he insisted. “What life did they have before they came here? A life of poverty and ignominy, scraping for pennies, living with the shame of their illegitimacy. No, I am helping them. I’m not a cruel man, Grandmother. So long as they go along with my plans, there is no reason they should end up worse off than they are now.”
Letitia was silent for a long moment, staring up at him with narrow, thoughtful eyes.
Clenching his jaw, Stephen resisted the urge to talk more, to convince her, to make her seethe rightness of his quest. He supposed itwasa quest, and that made it all seem much more chivalrous than a simple lust for revenge.
Because, of course, it was morethan that. It was about justice.
“I know that you believe that the Viscount was responsible for your kidnapping,” Letitia said at last, choosing her words carefully. “But there is no evidence of it.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Of course, I believe you, that is not in question. I’m not entirely sure how you think these girls will help bring the Viscount to justice.”
“I have a plan. Don’t fret about it, Grandmother.”
Letitia huffed. “After all my years, I’ve learned not to listen when people carelessly tell me not to fret or that they have the matter in hand. No offence.”
“None taken. Now, do you plan to lounge in my study all day, or will you perhaps go back and see to our guests?”
Letitia eyed him with heavy displeasure. “You can do as you like, Stephen—and I have no doubt that you will—but here is what I think. You ought to give up your quest for revenge. Nothing good comes from longing to get even, no matter how much injustice one has faced. You ought to reveal yourself to Society, and you ought to begin your life in earnest. You’ve waited too long.”
Stephen glanced away, watching raindrops trickle down the glass. All gray beyond it. He wondered briefly whether Dust had gone outside. Probably not, since the cat loathed water. That was odd, considering he was a ship’s cat.
Perhaps he wasn’t afraid of water before somebody forced him aboard the ship.
Now wasn’t the time to think of Dust, however, or of the way things had once been. Letting out a long, tired sigh, Stephen turned his attention back to his grandmother.
Letitia was watching him closely, waiting patiently for him to speak.
“I think you are right, Grandmother,” he muttered.
Her eyebrows flew up. “Oh?”
“I think it is time for me to return home.”
Letitia rose unsteadily to her feet. “Back to Redcliffe Manor? Our family seat? Oh, Stephen, do you truly mean it?”
He nodded, offering a faint smile. “It’s high time. The house has been empty since Father died. When the house is opened and prepared, talk will spread through London at a rate of knots. By the time I reveal myself, half the country will know there is a new duke ready to take his place.”
Letitia lifted a shaking hand to her mouth. “This is marvelous news. I do not object to living here in the clubhouse, of course, but to go home… oh, yes, I’d like that very much indeed.”
“Don’t rest on your laurels just yet,” he chuckled, looping an arm through hers and walking her gently to the door. “When we return, I would like a house party hosted to celebrate my return. More details on how that will be managed are to come.”
Letitia squawked. “Ahouse party? Something of such magnitude, thrown together so quickly? You cannot mean it.”
“Oh, but I do. I am entirely serious, and I want you to arrange it, Grandmother. Perhaps it’s time thatyoureentered Society, too.”
Letitia eyed him, something like suspicion flickering in her eyes. “If this has something to do with your revenge plan…”
