They looked at each other, surprised.
‘There are also issues with his heart,’ Louisa allowed.
Percy frowned and said, ‘Lungs. I was told it was consumption.’
‘Or, perhaps pleurisy?’ Louisa did not sound at all sure.
They fell silent and looked at him, embarrassed.
‘My…’ Thomas replied sardonically ‘…that does seem to be an interesting collection of illnesses.’
‘There have been many doctors, over the years,’ Percy said. ‘He is never satisfied with their answers and gets rid of them the minute they suggest something he does not want to do.’
‘I am no physician,’ Thomas said. ‘But his wind seems fine to me. I have seldom heard an invalid shout and bang about so.’
‘He has always been bad-tempered,’ Louisa admitted reluctantly.
‘But surprisingly robust,’ he said. ‘When my father was failing, he did not look at all well. But your grandfather looks better than many of the older peers gracing parliament. And those men still manage to make it to London each year for their session.’
‘From a sense of duty, most likely,’ Percy said, staring at the closed door with a glum expression. ‘The old man has none. I doubt he’ll leave the house when summoned by Death, himself. Ignoring the King is nothing compared to that.’
‘He has told me often that we are more of a burden than any man should bear,’ Louisa said in a small voice. ‘The expense of my Season. Maintaining the townhouse. He says we are leeches and we exhaust him.’
‘It is not as if you take actual blood,’ Thomas said with a grim smile. ‘Bills might be taxing, but I see no signs of bankruptcy here. How much money did he have when your parents died?’
Percy looked annoyed. ‘I am not sure. The lawyers did not include me in the conversations since I was not of age. I suspect they were bribed to let Grandfather handle everything. We didnot come to him until after the estate was settled. He sent me to school as soon as was proper and I was seldom here, after that.’
Louisa cleared her throat.
They both looked at her expectantly.
‘Until I was old enough for a come out, I was here while you were both at school,’ she said. ‘He allowed me to educate myself, thus saving the expense of a governess.’
‘How economical,’ Thomas said, hating the man just a little bit more.
‘When he was not receiving visits from doctors, he was often contacted by dealers and brokers from London. I saw letters in the outgoing post and made note of their directions,’ she said. ‘After an exchange of messages, an item would appear. Artwork. Antiquities. Decorative ornaments.’ She glanced at Percy. ‘The house was quite plain that first year after Mother and Father died.’
‘But it is not anymore,’ Thomas said, measuring the weight of the fork beside his plate. It felt heavier than cheap plate and was undoubtedly solid silver. He set it down and looked at Louisa. ‘I don’t suppose you have any idea how much he has bought?’
‘I began keeping a record after I had been here about six months,’ she said. ‘I was quite young, though, and did not know the prices of the things that he bought. Many of the lines in my notebook are nothing more than guesses. But I made a note when I was able to find a receipt. And, of course, some of the things will have appreciated in value…’
‘Capital!’ Percy said with a surprised whistle. He grinned at Thomas. ‘Didn’t I tell you she was the cleverest one in the family?’
‘You did indeed,’ he agreed, smiling at Louisa and watching her blush. ‘So, it appears, though we cannot prove it, that a portion of your inheritance has been turned into decorative items and placed about the house.’
‘It is hard to tell without the will, but that is what I believe,’ Louisa said. ‘I have no idea how much of the money is left.’ She took a sip of her wine, which had been served in a cut crystal glass that could not have come cheap. ‘I have considered stealing the teaspoons and running away. But I feared that he would call a thief taker.’
His hand twitched involuntarily, wanting to reach for hers. He forced himself to exercise control, taking a bite of his roast beef, and allowing Percy to comfort his sister, instead.
‘Do not fear, Lou. You won’t have to stoop to petty theft. We will find a way out of this.’
‘If we do not, he will spend the rest of his life in bed being a plague on his family,’ Thomas said.
‘At least it means we do not have to associate with him while we are here,’ Percy said, a little more brightly.
‘You might not,’ Louisa said. ‘But if I settle here, he will not let me out of his sight. He has often said that the duty of family is to provide for an invalid in his time of need.’
‘Does he expect you to chew his food for him?’ Thomas said, annoyed. ‘Because I saw the tray going up to him at dinner and the contents were no different than what we were served. The man is hardly dyspeptic or gouty if he can manage roast beef, sprouts, a pear tart and a half a bottle of sack. He is as healthy as anyone here.’
