“Ah yes, Lucy. What is wrong with her?”
Alexander flinched as the dismissive tone of his grandfather increased further. “She is well at least in body, sir. However, I’ve come to ask for more money for her.”
His grandfather’s gaze lit with a flicker of cruelty. Alexander wasn’t surprised. The earl had never made a secret his dislike of his younger son’s bride. Alexander’s father, Roland, had chosen a match for love, at least at first, refusing to consider the brides thrown before him for their funds or familial connections. That Alexander’s father had grown to deeply resent his wife for those exact things was another topic altogether.
“You have your inheritance, Castleton,” Heathfield said. “And your mother was settled after Roland’s death.”
Alexander leaned forward and held his grandfather’s gaze evenly. That was how one had to address him, never show weakness. “It was a laughable settlement and you know it, my lord. It is only her frugal decisions that have kept her independent for so long. But now she’s got almost nothing left.”
“Then provide for her,” Heathfield said with a yawn as if this bored him. “It’s nothing to do with me.”
“You know my funds are tied up in investments.” Alexander gripped his hands against his thighs. This was a subject sure to invoke the earl’s ire. “They may not pay off for another few years.”
“Investments,” Heathfield growled out. “So pedestrian. Like a commoner would do.”
“Which is exactly what I am, my lord,” Alexander said. “I don’t ask for myself. I’ve chosen this path and so I will live leanly until I discover if those investments result in dividends. But my motherdidn’tchoose what her life would be after your son’s death. Please.”
Thepleaselit his grandfather’s eyes again. The old bastard did love to make a man beg. It turned Alexander’s stomach. Heathfield pondered the request a moment and then got up. “I can help her,” he began as he moved to the fireplace.
Alexander refused to celebrate that because he knew it wasn’t the end of it. “But?” he asked quietly.
Heathfield turned back with a wicked smile. “Clever boy. I can help if you do me a favor.”
Alexander’s stomach dropped away. This was the absolute worst-case scenario when it came to his grandfather. The earl’s favors were always unpleasant, occasionally immoral, if not illegal. Alexander had avoided performing any of them for years, but now he was stuck.
“What is the favor?”
“I’ve been informed this morning that your cousin is going to wed.”
Alexander felt lucky he hadn’t stood up, because he might have fallen over with that unexpected news. “Who?Laurence?”
“Indeed. He sent over a celebratory letter, can you imagine? Didn’t even have the bollocks to tell me in person.”
“I didn’t even know he was courting,” Alexander mused. “Who is the lady?”
His grandfather let out a rough laugh. “She’s no lady. It’s that whore he’s been keeping. I refuse to say her name.”
Now Alexanderdidrush to his feet. “Julia Comerford?”
Heathfield slugged his drink back. “The very one. She’s got her claws in him now, just as desperate women have been working to get their claws into the men of this family for generations. She fancies to make herself a viscountess and, when I’m dead, a countess. Isn’t that what her whore sister just did?”
Alexander’s head was still spinning, but he managed to choke out, “If you mean Evelina Comerford, yes, she married the Earl of Blackburn last year. She’s with child now.”
“Well, that will seal the union, I suppose, providing him with his heir.” Heathfield snorted. “Blackburn’s father must be spinning in his grave between the divorce and then this. A disgrace is what the son is. An utter disgrace. It makes a man happy to see his own sons dead so they can’t do such things. Though grandchildren are rarely better, I suppose.”
There were a great many implications his grandfather had left in this conversation. That Alexander’s mother was a gold-digger, herself, was one that rankled. His thoughts on his own children and grandchildren another. But those were old wounds and Alexander still wished to discuss Julia Comerford. To understand what the hell was going on and what his grandfather had in mind when it came to this sudden engagement.
“I had no idea Laurence had such feelings for Miss Comerford,” he said, steering the conversation back carefully.
“Feelings? He has no feelings for that whore, I promise you.”
Alexander ignored the odd rush to come to Julia’s defense. He had no idea where it came from since she’d always made him uncomfortable and he thought it no better or more prudent a match than his grandfather did.
Instead, he said, “It’s hard for me to believe that. To marry her would be a great scandal and it’s obviously inspired your ire. Wouldn’t Laurence have to have feelings for her to risk all that?”
“You were never very good at chess, were you?” Heathfield looked at him with disdain. “Laurence is playing this game because he’s angry with me. This is either his revenge or a way to gain leverage. I’d almost admire it if it weren’t so enraging.”
A bad taste entered Alexander’s mouth. So his grandfather was certain that Laurence was only using Julia. And he also believed Julia was using Laurence. What a jaded, bitter expectation that was. But then again, Alexander hadn’t exactly seen a great deal of true love in his life, at least not the kind that lasted. So perhaps in this the old mandidknow best.
