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So...being as the viscount was basically moral and generous, Tremaine was glad the fellow had taken himself off with the letter unopened. He didn’t envy any person who happened to be in that gentleman’s vicinity when he broke the seal, did some sums and had his virtues tested...
Chapter Eight
Mr Tremaine was correct on two counts: the bequest did contain details of Thomas Venner’s debts and the deceased’s nephew did spit out an oath on reading it. But it wasn’t the lengthy list of figures that had caused Alex Blackthorne to grit his teeth; it was the sight of a surname that had been haunting him since the night he’d visited Vauxhall.
The whisky tumbler held in a fist was thumped down and his booted feet, propped on the corner of his desktop, were swung to the floor.
Unable to believe what he’d seen in the shady room, he strode to the window, yanked at the blind and allowed sunlight on to his uncle’s scrawl in case his eyes had deceived him.
The paper was divided into two columns: the first held the creditor’s name and the second what the fellow was owed. What had stunned Alex had been reading that, according to his late uncle, Walter Dewey was due an unspecified amount of cash and also...a wife.
Alex knew his uncle had been deemed an eccentric by some, a reprobate by others. His own opinion now was that lunatic should be added to those character assessments. Alex had seen his uncle just a month before he died of consumption, and although Thomas had appeared gravely ill, he had conducted himself as though of sound mind.
There was only one person of Alex’s acquaintance who, beside himself, had liked Thomas Venner and that was the man’s sister. He knew his mother had adored her brother despite his failings. His father, on the other hand, had loathed his brother-in-law and had made no effort to disguise his feelings.
Having only recently returned home to Upper Brook Street, Alex strode out into the hallway of his town house, shrugging on his tailcoat. He gave his stoic butler, Robinson, an order for his choice of transport and in less than five minutes was down the graceful sweeping steps of his mansion and waiting impatiently by the kerb for his curricle to be brought round.
* * *
‘I sent a note to your papa earlier in the week and today received his reply.’ Anthony Chapman had entered the parlour, pulling a letter from a pocket.
‘He is very pleased to know you are having a nice time with us and wishes you will stay for as long as you like.’ Anthony gave the Dewey sisters a beam while tapping paper on a palm. ‘Now it is a pleasure to have you stay and you must not think that you are putting us to any trouble—’
‘Indeed you must not,’ Maude interrupted, rising from her chair by the fireside. ‘You are very welcome to remain for a month or more.’ She noticed that Elise was about to say something. She knew of the two sisters it would be Elise who would elect to go home rather than feel indebted for her keep. But Walter Dewey had sent a bank draft to meet costs and, if it were not quite as generous a sum as Maude had hoped for, it would suffice. Besides, the girl’s aunt Dolly had made it clear she would like to have her nieces as house guests before they returned to Hertfordshire. Maude had guessed the woman wouldn’t want to miss out on her youthful relatives’ sudden popularity. So between them Maude was confident they would be able to afford Beatrice and Elise a fine time in town.
Already this week they had been for tea with some ladies who had unmarried daughters, and Maude had accepted invitations for two balls for next week and numerous afternoon salons. She had felt torn between elation and frustration to have so many cards arrive that she must pick and choose and disappoint some people by turning them down.
‘Now, listen to me, girls, the dressmaker is due to arrive and your papa is keen for you both to have some pretty clothes to go out in. You must not fret that he will mind.’
‘But the cost is sure to be great and...’ Elise paused. She felt awkward discussing her father’s financial situation even with good friends such as the Chapmans who knew about, and accepted, their reduced circumstances.
‘Your papa has sent the means to meet it,’ Maude soothed quickly. ‘He understands it is a great opportunity for you to socialise with new people and secure your futures.’ To avoid further argument she turned to her own daughters who had been quietly attending to proceedings, hoping the sisters would be able to extend their stay in London.
‘Mr Whittiker is to take you for a drive at four o’clock, Fiona, so you will have your fitting with the dressmaker first.’ Maude started tidying away the pencils and charcoal with which her eldest had been sketching.
