“Not usual, no. She’s gone to the haberdashery. We are short-staffed with the butler sick and the household in an uproar after thesad news.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Muffat. I’ll call again,” Jack said with a polite nod. “Good day to you.”
Frustrated, he left the house. There were too many unanswered questions. He’d most likely need to return. He walked home, looking forward to an evening of lighthearted banter and a game of faro with any friends he might find at his club. Tomorrow, he would make another attempt to see Bascombe.
When he entered his rooms, he found he had a visitor. His cousin Grant, sartorially elegant as always, was seated on his sofa.
“How did you know I’d returned to Town?” Jack asked, pleased to see him.
“I called in on the off chance. Your valet said you shouldn’t be long. Thought I’d wait. I’ve come to invite you to dinner.”
“I’ll be delighted.” Jack motioned to the drinks tray. “I have an excellent Cognac. Care for a drink?”
“Yes, please.” Grant pulled off his gray kid gloves. “I expect you’ve received a letter from the solicitor. Am I right in assuming you have yet to read it?”
Jack cast a glance at the post awaiting his perusal on the silver salver. “I have to admit I haven’t yet.”
Grant grinned. “Good. I wanted to be the first to tell you about the reading of the will.”
Jack walked over, holding two balloon glasses of brandy. “I expect the dowager duchess’s relations were in attendance. Anything of interest?”
“Yes, they were all there. Such a charming lot.” Grant leaned forward to take the glass from him. “I’m delighted to be the bearer of good news. Your father purchased an elegantpied-à-terrein Mayfair for you. Did he inform you of it?”
Jack shook his head as a wave of sadness crashed over him. He sipped his drink to ease the lump in his throat. “The duke worked hardto turn me into a gentleman, but popular opinion was against him.”
Grant grunted. “You’re more of a gentleman than many I could name who are born to it. I blame the duchess for making you think that way.”
“One might say she didn’t help, but the fact that I was born on the wrong side of the blanket cannot be disputed.” Jack held up a hand. “None of that bothers me anymore, Grant. I’m quite comfortable with who I am.” But was it still true? He thought of Althea. He had never wanted more until now.
Grant grinned. “I could go on and list all your good qualities.”
Jack roared with laughter. “Good grief! Desist, please!”
“The house isn’t all your father left you, Jack. There is also a tidy sum of money, all that was not part of the entail, in fact.”
“Which should go to you.”
“Rubbish. You now own two businesses, including the glass factory up north, and the farm that produces flax and linseed for oil.” He smiled. “I’d like to add that I couldn’t be more delighted.”
Jack released a slow breath trying to get his head around it. “This is good news?”
“You are a man of means, Jack. Like it or not.”
“Damn it all,” Jack said softly with a small smile. “It appears Father has won in the end. I’m trapped. I’ll have to employ staff and spend my days worrying about my investments.”
Grant shook his head and laughed.
*
The rest ofthe trip to Holyhead was spent in an unspoken agreement that there would be no further differences expressed. Erina didn’t find that particularly challenging. She was consumed with excitement to reach Ireland when it had seemed a foolish dream, and her gratitude to Harry made her lighthearted. His amusing asides had her laughing atthe drollest things.
In the afternoon, the curricle swept down from the green hills to the sea. Buildings hugged the shore as far as the lighthouse, and sailboats rocked gently on the ocean swell. Erina gasped at the limitless, deep-blue-gray water gleaming like glass beneath the sun. “We have ponds and rivers at home, but this is the first time I’ve seen the sea. It’s…sublime.”
“You are about to see quite a bit of it. It may not seem so sublime then.”
“Nonsense,” she said forcefully, forgetting her promise to be obliging. “It will be an adventure.”
“If the seas grow rough, you might feel unwell.”
