Page 2 of A Rogue to Forget

A rider approached and shook Henry out of his musings. It didn’t do to be distracted when riding through the city at such a late hour. It left one open to be robbed or attacked.

The two passed each other without a word or acknowledgement.

Henry recognized the man who was married and father to two daughters who’d recently been introduced into society. The man obviously did not wish to be seen riding in the vicinity of a well-known house of ill repute, so he pulled his hat down and averted his face as he rode past.

It mattered not to Henry what the man did; he did not particularly care for him, as the man was ruthless. A banker, who took little pity when ruining someone’s life by withdrawing support or calling loans. What did bother Henry was the fact that the man would go home and lay next to his wife.

He never understood how married men could do such a thing.

Finally, his family estate came into view. His family home was grand by society standards; his father had not only inherited a huge family fortune but had amassed additional wealth by investing and sponsoring businesses. And although not titled, they were held in high esteem by members of high society. Something Henry did not give a fig about.

“Ah, there you see, we are almost home,” he said to the horse, which quickened its pace. Henry chuckled. “I apologize for the late hour.”

Upon arriving at the mansion that was his home, Henry rode to the stables and went about unsaddling his horse and preparing the animal for the evening. He filled the oat bucket and ensured there was fresh water for his steed before he was finally able to head to bed.

Entering through the kitchen entrance, he hesitated for a moment, considering if he should grab something to eat. There was a loaf of bread on the table that was covered with a clean cloth. No doubt it was to be used for breakfast. He sliced a piece of bread, retrieved a glass of milk, and quickly devoured the simple meal.

The darkness of his bedchamber was doused when he lit a lamp and went about undressing in preparation for bed.

There was much to do the next day. For one, he would meet with his father and ask for a larger monthly stipend.

Secondly, Henry had to formulate a plan to come up with the funding for his portion of an investment he’d agreed to be part of.

He’d left his wayward ways in the past and began working with his father doing what he could to rebuild the trust that had been lost after he’d squandered a small fortune in the gambling dens of Glasgow.

No longer the reckless gambler who’d relied on his father to cover his gaming debts, Henry carried the burden of guilt and promised himself that when his investment paid off, the first thing he would do would be to repay his father every single cent.

The investment amount he required was large, a sum he did not currently have. Somehow, in the next few weeks, he had to come up with the money.

He and three friends had discussed and wagered that the quickest way was to seduce a wealthy woman and convince her to give them the needed capital.

Laying on the bed, hands behind his head, Henry considered that most of the women he knew were quite astute. As much fun as it was to consider convincing someone to hand over such a great sum, it would be no easy task.

With his family connections, he could easily marry a young lass whose dowry would undoubtedly cover the sum he needed. However, it was a huge step to take for capital.

The ship would be sailing in a few weeks, and he had to figure out what to do. He would not be the one to let his friends down. The investment would return tenfold to those who funded the vessel, and he would do anything to be a sponsor.

It was the only way to repay his debts to his father and become self-reliant.

*

“I did notexpect to see you up so early.” His father’s greeting had a note of annoyance. “You were not at the evening meal, and I suspect you arrived home quite late…again.”

Henry lifted the cup of tea to his lips and met his father’s gaze. “Indeed I did. But I am here prepared to work. As I’ve told you, Father, I wish to learn as much as I can from working alongside you. I have a sponsorship pending and another business venture I am considering. I do not wish to make any mistakes.”

At his statement, his father’s brows rose in surprise. “I would like to hear more about these businesses you plan to be part of.”

“It is so good to hear you two discussing your day. It is the way it should be,” his mother said with a curious expression. “I for one am more interested in ensuring you give me a list of whom you’d like to invite to the gathering next week.” Her gaze pinned first her husband and then Henry. “You have both agreed it is a grand idea to host an event here.”

“Mother I only have three good friends and you know who they are. I cannot think of anyone else to add to my list.” Henry began eating, sure his mother would insist on more names.

“What about a young lady or two? You really must be considering marriage. At your age, your father and I already had two children.”

The thought of an entire family dependent on him made Henry shudder. Thankfully, his mother had turned her attention to her husband and did not see it.

“What about that young lady, I believe her name is Penelope? She is Lord Johnstone’s sister. How old is she?”

At the thought of courting his friend Miles’s sister, Henry’s eyes rounded. “I have no idea and I wouldn’t dare attempt to court her. Miles has made it clear she is off limits.”