“Of course,” Elise said. “And you have named Bram as your heir. That has been understood for years.”
“But I never made a formal arrangement,” Wynn returned. “And I have recently concluded that I should reconsider.”
Bram was going a rather unhealthy shade of red. “What is this? We have discussed this, Wynn, often. You told me I was to inherit. I am theeldest.”
“You care greatly about that,” Wynn said. “But why should I exclude Zebedee simply because he is younger?”
Elise gave a cold smile. “Perhaps because Bram has shown his dedication to Lackaday House for years, whereas Zebedee is quite useless.”
“Marital support, Elise?” Hawley drawled. “You must be worried. Wynn, do I take it from my presence here that I am in this newly opened field?”
Wynn gave him a look that was hard to read. “I was not fond of your father. He was a nasty, spiteful boy who became a vicious man. But I must ask myself, is it fair to judge you on that basis?”
Bram was looking rather red around the neck. “Of course it is. This is absurd. You chose me as your inheritor years ago, with the well-being of the house and its future in mind—”
“Did I, though?” Wynn asked. “Did I really consider each ofyou on your merits, or was I swayed by your father’s arguments in your favour, and my dislike of Hawley’s father? Can that be right?”
“Of course it was right. Hawley is as debauched as his father, and Zebedee an idle wastrel. The circumstances demand frankness,” Bram added over both men’s strong protests. “We are talking of Lackaday House’s future. Hawley’s appalling career speaks for itself, and I regret to say that Zebedee has recently been dismissed from yet another post in disgrace. He is incapable of holding a position of trust.”
The fraternal treachery was jaw-dropping, even from Bram. “That is utterly unfair. I was not dismissed for any wrongdoing,” Zeb protested.
“I had the news from Purefoy. Do you claim he lied?”
“If he said it was for wrongdoing, yes!”
“What were you sacked for, then?” Bram demanded.
“Well, gross incompetence,” Zeb had to admit. He didn’t want to look at Gideon, to see his face at the news of yet another dismissal, another failure. “But—”
“Quite,” Bram said heavily. “Quite. Look at the state of you. You are a scarecrow. You cannot hold a position, even as a mere clerk with no prospect of advancement—”
“Can we just recall why I have old clothes and no prospects?” Zeb said furiously. “Why I’m a mere clerk?”
“Oh, not this again,” Elise said, light and deadly. “Do stop complaining.”
“You had every chance to make something of yourself, andyou have failed. Whereas what Hawley has made of himself is…” Bram raised a scornful brow.
“I am an Artist,” Hawley said. “I have made my name—the family name—as a creator, not a pettifogging, spiteful critic who sneers at other men’s work because he has no talent of his own.”
“You are a dauber of paint, at best. Your latest exhibition—”
“Youkilled that!” Hawley shouted. “You and your damned patronising review and your clique of damned patronising friends with their hidebound, tedious, classical views. You will not keep your stranglehold on Art forever.”
“Art, art, art,” Elise said with disdain. “Goodness, you do go on about it.”
“Your artistic judgement extends to deciding whether a painting matches your dress,” Hawley snarled. “And whence this sudden loyalty to your husband? I don’t recall you demonstrating much of that before!”
Zeb had no fondness for his family, but this display was intolerable. He looked away from Bram’s red face and Hawley’s glittering eyes and Elise’s anger, to the other end of the party.
Colonel Dash seemed, if anything, amused, mouth curved under his heavy moustache. Gideon’s mouth was twisted in a sneer, and his eyes snapped to Zeb’s as though he felt him watching, with a look of such contemptuous disdain it struck him like a physical shock.
He recoiled just as Wynn put an end to the accelerating family row by slamming his hand on the table.
“That is enough! Stop it at once. At once, all of you! Dearme.” He mopped his brow. “I understand feelings run high, and I must forgive it, in the circumstances. I dare say I carry much of the blame for leaving matters undecided so long.”
“Theyaredecided!” Bram shouted. “I am your heir!”
Wynn carried on as if he hadn’t heard. “But I have Lackaday House to consider, and my unfortunate Jessamine in need of safe harbour. I have thought long and hard about how to proceed. This visit from you all will resolve the matter.”
