Realization dawned on Alice’s face. “That is generous of you.”
“Besides, with my inheritance, I will buy new gowns in the latest fashion when I am out of mourning.”
“But what happens when the funds from selling your gowns run out?” Alice asked. “Won’t Lord Grenton make you dismiss the tutors?”
“One step at a time, Alice,” Georgie said. “Perhaps with time, Lord Grenton will see the benefit of having tutors at the orphanage.”
“I doubt it.”
Georgie laughed. “Don’t be such a naysayer. Let us go pick out the dresses that I will sell.”
With a drink in his hand, William sat in his seat and listened to the ramblings of his friends. They were going on about something that he didn’t have the energy or desire to listen to. He wasn’t entirely sure why he’d agreed to come this evening. He wasn’t in a jovial mood and hadn’t been in some time. Why should he pretend all was well when his whole world was dreary?
Hawthorne’s voice broke through his musings. “What do you think, Grenton?”
William glanced up at his friend. “About what?”
Hawthorne chuckled. “We are trying to convince Hugh to take a wife.”
“Don’t be absurd,” William responded. “Why would Hugh wish to be shackled for the rest of his life to an obnoxious woman who will spend all of his money?”
“Not everyone shares that view of marriage,” Hawthorne said.
“Sane men do.”
Hawthorne shook his head. “I find that I prefer my life with Dinah in it.”
Hugh lifted up his drink and said, “That is because you married up, brother.”
“That I did,” Hawthorne agreed. “Dinah makes my life have a purpose, and I would be lost without her.”
“Blah, blah, blah,” Hugh said, lowering his glass. “You should write sonnets and stop boring us with your declarations of love.”
Haddington spoke up. “No one would read them.”
“But he might stop singing praises about the joys of marriage,” Hugh stated. “It is grating on my ears.”
“You are all just jealous,” Hawthorne remarked with a smile.
Hugh lifted his brow. “I come and go as I please. I answer to no one, especially when it comes to spending my money. I fail to see in what way I would be jealous of you.”
“If you aren’t careful, you’ll gamble all of your money away,” Hawthorne advised.
“That is impossible,” Hugh responded. “I have more than enough to remove myself from London and buy an estate.”
“Why don’t you?” Haddington asked.
Hugh smirked. “Why would I give up a lucrative career?”
“Gambling is not a career,” Hawthorne responded.
“Now you are starting to sound like Father,” Hugh grumbled as he brought his drink to his lips.
“Regardless, it is time that you settle down and find a wife,” Hawthorne said.
Hugh placed his glass intentionally on the table. “Why should I find a wife?” he asked. “Because you said so?”
“I just feel—” Hawthorne started.
