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Made myself a fortune. Richer than a Nabob.
My man will give you the details when you come down to Wharton Place. Leaving a sizeable portion to you. However, I have stipulations. You forfeit all if you can’t or won’t comply with my wishes. First of them is you don’t arrive at Wharton until three months have passed after my death.
Now, here it is so that you may understand. You see, I selfishly kept Kitty with me. Couldn’t bear to send her off to London. Should have. She is the most beautiful, dear girl, and if anyone deserves a London Season, it is Kitty.
Making up for it now through your good offices.
Kitty is Christina Kingsley. Her father was my best friend, and he named me her guardian.
She will be twenty next month. Aye, a rough and tumble creature with a smile that lights up a room.
I want her established in London with your precious beau monde. I know this will take some work as you are a bachelor, but that is my stipulation. I left my Kitty enough of a competence that she will never want for anything and a sizeable dowry to make her entrance and a respectable match.
My Kitty doesn’t give a fig for fineries, but she needs to be turned out in style. Give her one, two, or three Seasons—though I think the first will see her neatly wed—but keep the fortune hunters at bay.
There it is. If you don’t take on my ward, see the job through to its completion, Wharton will go to my next of kin. I would have preferred to leave it all to Kitty, but she would just go on running wild here, and that is no life for a young maid.
Good luck, lad. It won’t be easy.
Your Uncle Edwin.
The earl put down the letter and shoved it across his desk.
His eyes were filled with the irritation he felt at that moment. He would of course carry out his uncle’s wishes, but why his uncle should have chosen him for such a task was beyond his understanding.
Fire and Hell. Why did everything come with a price?
Damn it to bloody perdition!
He rose from his chair and paced. Well, let us pick this apart, shall we?
At least I haven’t been asked to marry the chit.
No, but you don’t know a thing about launching a chit into society, do you?
No, launching her wouldn’t be easy. He didn’t know a thing about giving a maid a London Season. Damn it all.
He would need a respectable hostess, and he would have to open Halloway House. Their family London House was located in Kensington Square, and he could see his grandmother fluttering about getting it all in order. Was this what she wanted all along …? She must have already known when she sent for him. Sly woman.
His eyes narrowed with the challenge. It was a damned nuisance, but he didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t pass up the chance at acquiring a fortune and being in control of his own situation. With any good luck, she might be pretty enough to marry off quickly?
He thought about his grandmother.
Well, he would send off a note to his man of business and get the matter settled. He grinned and called for his valet to pack for him.
Traveling to the New Forest would take at least three days!
~ Six ~
MR. HARKINS HAD read, and thoroughly explained the meaning of, Sir Edwin’s will. He expressed his desire to make a full accounting of Miss Kingsley’s present holdings under the terms of the will, but he seemed very ill at ease. He coughed lightly into his fist and said gently, “I was reluctant when Sir Edwin explained what he wanted, but he said he knew what he was doing.”
“But I don’t understand.” Kitty put a hand to her forehead. “Is the Earl of Halloway my new guardian and, if so, until when? And must I leave Wharton Place?” Her hand dropped to her lap, and she began fretfully playing with the material of her blue silk gown.
Mr. Harkins cleared his throat and said, “Nonsense. No one is asking you to leave Wharton. As to the question of guardianship. No, the earl was not appointed your guardian, and yet … therein lies the confusion because of what he is being asked to do. It is clear that your uncle wished you to have a London Season and that he wished for the earl to establish you with the beau monde. It is all very irregular.” He looked bemused.
Kitty had an affection for Mr. Harkins. He was, after all, her dearest Henrietta’s father, but this was all too much. She turned her face for a moment as she composed her thoughts. Nanny, she could see, looked about ready to faint. She reached over and patted Nanny’s hand. “There, there … we shall do.”
With flushed cheeks, Mr. Hawkins got up and moved to put a comforting hand on Kitty’s shoulders. “Kitty, your uncle left you with quite a sizeable portion. You will never want for anything. He did not wish to force you into a loveless marriage. His only intention was that you be presented properly to the ton and have your pick of suitors. You will have a substantial allowance all the rest of your days from your portion.”
