Bragge nodded. ‘I know a man in that line of work, my lord.’
‘Excellent. See to it and, while you’re at it, can you find out more about thisGolden Adventurers Club—the lucky recipient of my inheritance? If for no other reason than I hope to meet one or more of them and give them a bloody nose!’
Bragge’s eyebrows rose, but he made no comment, just appended a note in his book. He looked up.
‘There is one last matter, my lord.’
‘That is?’
‘Her ladyship. Have you broken the news of her jointure to her yet?’
A heavy weight settled on Sebastian’s shoulders. ‘No.’
‘It is just that she has tradesmen working on the dower house. Those bills must be paid.’
‘Have them sent to me.’
Bragge hesitated for a moment. ‘As you wish, my lord.’
He bowed and left the room.
Sebastian stood up and walked over to the window, which afforded an excellent view out across the garden and parkland.He could see the chimneys of the dower house rising above the trees. He would never let Isabel suffer for the sake of her husband’s foolishness. While he was Lord Somerton she would live comfortably, but the matter of the charity school that she had mentioned remained. He knew he had to talk to her, and the sooner the better.
Chapter Nineteen
Isabel sat at her desk penning a letter in reply to Lady Ainslie. Her friend had written that suitable premises had been found for the school and Harriet was keen to sign the lease.
‘May I disturb you?’
She looked up as Sebastian entered the parlour, sliding the letter beneath the blotter. She rose to her feet and gestured at one of the chairs. He sat down heavily on one of the elegant gilt seats and she heard an ominous creak from the protesting furniture. Sebastian flushed and, to cover his embarrassment, Isabel picked up a second cup from the tray that had just been brought in to her.
‘Would you care for some tea?’ she enquired.
‘Thank you, Lady Somerton.’
As she handed him the cup, his hand shook slopping tea in the saucer. He upended the contents of the saucer into the cup. Her mouth fell open but, before Isabel could compose herself, he looked up at her with a rueful smile.
‘The bad habits of a lifetime are hard to break, Lady Somerton,’ he said.
‘Unfortunately, it is those little habits that you are going to have to break,’ she observed.
She took a dainty sip from her cup and and set it down, folding her hands neatly in her lap. The fingers of Sebastian’s right hand drummed the delicate arms of the chair.
‘Is there something troubling you?’ she enquired.
He brought his clear, strong gaze up to meet hers.
‘I have spent the day with Bragge,’ he began. ‘We’re not quite in the workhouse, but I’m going to have to make some serious economies. Were you aware of the position of the estate?’
She shifted uncomfortably and gave a small shrug, wondering what this conversation was leading to.
‘I had my suspicions. Like his father before him, Somerton was a profligate spender, and I knew the money didn’t all come from his success at the races.’
‘No, it didn’t,’ Sebastian said. He leaned forward, clasping his hands together on his knees. ‘Lady Somerton, I have some bad news to impart to you.’ He took a deep breath. ‘It is about your jointure. Your late husband...’
She stared at him, the implication of what he was saying beginning to dawn on her. Surely not her jointure. She put a hand to her mouth as her life shattered at her feet.
‘It’s gone?” she said.
