“I’m preparing to take similar measures,” Brody assured him. “There’s no other choice if I’m to keep running my London townhouse in the manner that’s expected of a duke, although your solution does sound a bit drastic. Have things truly gotten that bad?”
“It’s either that or deny Peter the chance to attend Eton. I’ve already booked his spot for next year and must pay for the first semester next month if he’s to keep it.”
Brody sympathized. While he had a troublesome younger brother to worry about, Callum was burdened by an even greater concern – namely that of being responsible for his cousin’s only child. The boy’s parents had both succumbed to a fever last year, and although they’d made some provisions for their son, it clearly wasn’t enough for the sort of schooling with which Callum ought to provide the boy. He was a duke, after all. For his ward to attend anything less than Eton and later, Oxford or Cambridge, was unthinkable.
“I’m sorry,” Brody said. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
“Thank you. I appreciate the offer, but you’ve your own problems to deal with.” He put on his hat and reached for the door. “Let’s just pray this book helps all three of us earn an income. Once we do that we can make some investments and get back to where we’re meant to be.”
“That is the plan,” Brody agreed. He saw his friend out and shut the door, then returned to the parlor where a maid had already erased all traces of his friends’ presence.
Turning, he surveyed the space. There was a long-case clock he liked but didn’t really need since another clock stood on the fireplace mantle. A collection of porcelain figurines purchased by some long-lost relative might also fetch a decent price. And there was that ghastly Louis the Fourteenth cabinet he’d never liked. That alone should be worth at least forty pounds.
“Sorry to intrude,” Rhys said when he came to find Brody later that afternoon. “There’s a Mr. Apcot to see Lord Losturn.”
Brody sighed. “I trust my brother has not yet risen?”
“He has not.”
“And you’re involving me because Mr. Apcot has suggested his business is unpleasant in nature?”
To his credit, Rhys maintained an inscrutable expression “No indication was required, Your Grace. The man is extremely blunt.”
“I see.”
“Would you rather I tell him no one’s at home?” Rhys asked.
“No.” Brody hated persistent problems and would rather get this one out of the way. “Please show him in.”
The man who arrived in the parlor a few moments later was not the cutthroat type Brody had feared Finn might have gotten involved with, but a well-dressed gentleman with immaculate manners.
“Thank you for seeing me, Your Grace.” Mr. Apcot declined Brody’s invitation to sit and remained standing, so Brody did too. “I know you’re a busy man, so I’ll get to the point, shall I?”
“By all means.” Brody clasped his hands behind his back and braced himself for impact.
“Lord Losturn owes me five hundred pounds – a sum I lent him nearly six months ago and which he has failed to repay.”
Brody wasn’t sure how he managed to maintain a calm demeanor when faced with such devastating information. Bloody hell. He gritted his teeth. “Go on.”
“You are a duke. He is a marquess.”
“An honorary one,” Brody murmured.
“Nevertheless,” Mr. Apcot said, his gaze sweeping the parlor as though with great deliberation. “You’re not exactly paupers.”
Looks could be deceiving, but essentially, Mr. Apcot was correct. They could get the funds one way or another. “I don’t have the sum readily available, I’m afraid. Give me a month and—”
“You have one week. If I don’t get my money by then, I’m afraid I’ll have to resort to drastic measures.”
Brody straightened his spine and took a step forward. “Is that a threat?”
“Much like you, I imagine, I’ve a reputation to consider.”
Of course he did. Brody nodded. “One week it is.”
He waited until Mr. Apcot was well and truly out the door before charging upstairs and thrusting open the door to Finnigan’s bedchamber. Without pausing for breath, he crossed to the bed where his brother still slept.
“Get up.” Brody tossed the blankets aside. “Right now.”
