“Jason?” His sister Veronica stuck her head in the room.
And here she was, said savior. He heard a chorus of angels every time he saw her face.
“Ronnie, catch,” he said, taking up the gold ring bearing the Northumberland crest and flipping it to her.
Veronica yelped but caught the ring just before it thudded against her chest.
She frowned at the man’s large pinky ring. “I cannot wear this.”
“The devil you cannot,” he said.
They’d spent the afternoon talking about the degree to which she’d managed the dukedom since their brother James’s death. She revealed that she’d actually been trained in estate management since the earliest age. Their older brother, August, had taught her. By the time James inherited, she was able to manage the estate at his side.
“You’re the rightful Duke of Northumberland,” Jason had realized, slamming shut a folio of ledgers. He’d spent so much time abroad he hadn’t known.
“Only you would say something so irreverent,” Veronica had sighed. “Look—James didn’t want anyone to know how much I helped him. It made him feel a little inadequate, I think. When he died, Mama forbademe from burdening you with the notion, at least not right away. She believed you were saving the world and shouldn’t be bothered.”
“How right she was,” he’d mused, staring stoically into the distance.
Now Veronica studied their father’s ring and ultimately, Jason was gratified to see, tucked it into her pocket. He joined her in the corridor and they walked toward the sound of the musicians tuning up in the ballroom.
“Look, Ronnie,” he said, “Isobel has suggested that I speak to the lawyers about how you might inherit more of the estate when I—” He made a throat-slitting gesture against his neck. “It’s hardly fair for you to do the work of the duke and have one of my brats steal away with half of Middlesex in the end.”
Veronica chuckled. “Isobel is very progressive. It’s obvious that she is a businesswoman in her own right. I’m doubtful anything can be done, although I appreciate the gesture. Regardless of what happens ‘in the end,’ I enjoy being mistress of Syon Hall. The land and foundry, the tenants and property—they are a small but important orbit,myorbit, and I’m so very honored to be steward of our place in the larger world.”
Jason made a sad whistle. “I feel like the most derelict landowner who ever inherited. You humble me, Ronnie.”
“You’ve served the king and saved countless lives, not the least of all—Reggie’s. That said, it was difficult to have you turn up and take it all away. And then you behaved so strangely—lolling about, allowing the work to pile up.” They came to the top of the wide, curved stairwell that swept into the grand hall.
“Yes, well, that last bit was partly because of a woman,” he said.
Veronica paused on the stairs. “A woman?”
“Indeed. Miss Tinker, in fact. We’ve been betrothed since Iceland. Didn’t I mention it?” He beamed at her.
She made a scoffing noise, hurrying after him down the stairs. “No, you did not mention it. Jason!”
“The whole, sordid business wants only jewelry and a vicar.”
“Jason,” she said again, placing a hand on his sleeve.
He turned to give her a wink. “Could you really not see it?”
“Well,” she began, tears forming in her eyes.
“I don’t think I betray Isobel by saying that we were... rather thrown together on the mission. She preferred to wait until we returned and settled in before we announced it. And then I sort of... fell apart, didn’t I? And she came for me.”
He squinted into the grand hall, searching every head for the familiar yellow bun.
“But she will do beautifully,” Veronica said, thinking out loud. “She’s clever and confident, and look how smitten you are. Perhaps Ididsee it. I’ve been so focused on reclaiming my office. Mama said she’d taken you in hand and my only thought was,Please don’t wad up another document and toss it at your hats.”
“I’m sorry I was torturing you,” he said.
“We would have come to terms eventually, you and I.” She popped up and kissed him on the cheek. “But no real damage was done in four weeks. And now, a betrothal. This is wonderful news.”
They descended two more steps and Veronica paused, catching him by the arm. “Oh no,” she said. “You are aware that Susana and Margaret have invited half the debutantes in London tonight, hoping to distract you with a courtship.”
Jason shrugged, clipping down the steps. “I’m as good as married, Ronnie.” He patted the paperwork in his breast pocket. “Thanks for the warning about the debutantes. Isobel has known enough uncertainty without being thrust in the midst of a bride auction. She should be with the dowager. I’ll seek her out.”
