Page 49 of The Earl She Once Saved

“Mr. Crote.”

Rafe did not offer his hand. Crote noticed. He sat when invited and placed a leather portfolio across his knees.

“I shall come directly to the matter.”

Rafe nodded. “I would appreciate that.”

Crote’s smile tightened. “You are aware, I presume, of your brother’s business affairs.”

“Some of them,” Rafe confirmed.

“The overseas company.”

“Yes.”

“Then you know what became of it.”

Rafe did. Money raised from gentry and merchants alike, promises of impossible returns and Roland’s name used as assurance. Then came the collapse, and Roland was gone before those assurances could be called in.

Crote opened his portfolio. “Most investors eventually accepted the loss.”

“How fortunate for my brother.”

Crote ignored the jab and continued. “There were, however, obligations never settled.”

“Roland’s obligations.”

“Lord Edgeworth’s.”

Rafe frowned. “My brother’s title does not convert fraud into inheritance.”

Crote’s pleasantness thinned. “Legally, perhaps not.”

“Then we appear to understand one another.”

“But names have obligations beyond law.”

Rafe leaned back. Crote looked around the study.

“The estate appears prosperous.”

“It survives,” Rafe clarified.

“More than survives, by all reports,” Crote cleared his throat importantly.

Rafe thought of Verity. “Yes.”

“A remarkable recovery, considering the circumstances.”

Rafe inhaled once, deeply. “What do you want?”

The smile vanished entirely. “Payment. After all, I was one of the investors.”

Rafe had just one word in response. “No.”

Crote blinked. “Perhaps you misunderstand.”

“I assure you, I do not.”