He could only imagine how it grated her to bow to Oswald’s threats.
“Frederick.”
He stopped short. No one in Trelowen but Caroline used his given name—but this voice was a man’s.
A voice he knew.
He took three steps backward and looked into the taproom.
His brother William stood within, staring back at him.
William’s mouth stretched into a grin, and in two large steps, he was crushing Frederick in an embrace.
Frederick blinked in surprise, then returned it heartily, his throat growing thick. He had not realized until now how much he missed his family. Somewhere along the way, he had begun to cast them—and William in particular—as some sort of obstacle and impediment to his success.
William broke apart and looked down at his own clothing, which was damp. “What happened to you?” he asked in perplexed amusement.
Frederick ran a hand through his damp hair. “It is…a rather long story.”
“I can imagine.”
“What are you doing here?” Frederick was having a hard time believing his brother was in Trelowen, of all places.
William’s smile wavered slightly. “Is there a private parlor?”
Frederick slapped his brother on the back, ignoring the tingle of nerves. “You are in rural Cornwall, Your Grace. My bedchamber is the closest thing to a private parlor you will find here.”
“So be it.” He put out a hand for Frederick to proceed him.
They went upstairs to Frederick’s room, and Frederick shutthe door behind them. “So, what brings His Grace the Duke of Rockwood to the wilds of Cornwall?”
William’s brow creased with a frown as he took a seat in the sole chair in the room. “Nothing pleasant, Freddie.”
Frederick forced a calm he was far from feeling as he shrugged off his damp coat. “Out with it, then.”
William watched him, reminding Frederick how transparent his eldest brother’s perceptive gaze had always made him feel. “I received word recently that a solicitor was inquiring into your affairs. Your property, more specifically. Kelham informed me of the fact. Immediately, I wondered if it was connected to your intent to stand for election here, so I followed the trail and discovered it was a man from here. Oswald.”
“Yes,” Frederick said wryly. “I am familiar with him.”
“He is your opponent?”
“The soon-to-be Member for Trelowen.”
William’s gaze grew more intent.
“He kindly informed me of the results of his inquiries today.” He undid the knot of his cravat. “I am not eligible to stand for election.”
William shut his eyes, grimacing. “I had hoped to arrive in advance of him.”
Frederick tossed the cravat on the bed more harshly than he had meant to. “I do not understand it, Will. Ididqualify.”
“You did,” he agreed. “Based on an unfortunate clerical error. One that cost someone their job. Not that that helps you now.”
Frederick rubbed a hand along his jaw. He was glad William was here, but it was a long distance to travel to deliver difficult news. “You might have saved yourself a great deal of trouble and simply written to inform me.”
“I did not come only to inform you, Freddie. I am here to help.”
Frederick’s gaze flicked to him. “Help?”
