“Aye, sir. I’ll be ready. Will you be all right with Ellisfield?” Jem asked.
“I think so. I don’t know.”
“One of those, eh? All right, sir. I’ll keep watch.”
His horse saddled, he met Ellisfield out in the yard. They mounted and rode off in the direction of the village called Chislet.
Beck kept the conversation cursory, biding his time, waiting for Ellisfield to reveal his true motive in inviting him for the ride. And yet his lordship didn’t seem to have one. He didn’t pry into Mr. Curran’s past and certainly didn’t make accusations.
At one point, Beck did share that he’d been in the military. Ellisfield had a number of questions, and there was a longing in the man’s voice as if he envied Beck’s adventures.
“Did you think about a commission?” Beck asked.
“I might have.” Ellisfield shrugged. “However, it was not to be.”
“So you are in the Lords?”
“I go in for Father on occasion. I have some interests, but...” His voice trailed off. He was quiet a moment, and then he confessed, “I should do more.”
Beck agreed. Ellisfield surprised him. There was some substance to him, if only he would act on behalf of himself.
“My family is not political,” Ellisfield said.
“Why not?” He’d assumed all of the great families had political ambitions. Wasn’t that the way of the world?
“The last marquess was, but Father prefers the family stay in the background.”
Beck had been waiting for him to mention his father. “What does that mean?”
“That we give money.” Ellisfield shot him a knowing look before saying, “They also serve who pay the way.”
Beck didn’t know if he agreed. “Is the marquess’s health good?”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t stay at dinner last night. I thought he was not feeling well.”
Ellisfield looked away, studying the trees lining the road before saying, “My father is fine.”
Beck raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
They rode in silence for a few minutes, andthen Beck’s patience was rewarded when Ellisfield said, “Father doesn’t socialize well. Never has. Nor is he aging well. To be honest, the man has only cared for one thing in his life, and that is my mother.”
“Many men are fond of their wives.”
“True, but few always do their bidding. Father is one of the few. Whatever she wants. I will say they are well-matched. She supports him as fervently as he supports her.”
“They are a love match?”
“Not necessarily.” He looked over at Beck. “And yet they do well together. However, he has started having these spells. They began a year ago. I believed he was getting better, but I don’t know. Did you notice his hand shaking?”
Beck nodded.
“I try not to think on it,” Ellisfield said.
“Did something happen a year ago to upset him?”
His lordship frowned as if uncertain he should say anything. Then, “He lost Winstead.”
