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“Oh, Jezzy’s son then?My mother was always happy to remind him of his past sins.With your mother, she had a name.And until another son appears, that would make you the oldest.”
“It seems.”
“After the gala, I made a few inquiries.While no one knew for certain, I was reminded of Jezzy’s last name.I thought I ought to see you, then your note arrived.It seemed fortuitous, even if what I wished to discuss with you is humiliating.”
Matthew sipped.He knew when to keep his mouth shut and when to wait for information rather than provide it.
“I gather you are a moneylender, of sorts,” Byron said.
“One occupation among many.Be careful here, Your Grace.I am not known to be forgiving when someone borrows money and is then unable or unwilling to repay me.”What’s the worst thing that could happen?Indeed.Asking to borrower money was certainly a bad start to their future kinship.
“Welliver, in spirit, is as much yours as mine.”
Matthew laughed.“That may seem profound to you, but it is a jest to me.And I don’t think our grandmother would agree.”
“Then I won’t beat about the bush.I don’t wish to borrow money.I wish for you to help me rebuild Welliver.It was handed to me empty.I have barely been able to provide for my family and would prefer not to hand a bankrupt estate to my son.This mansion, and two estates with modest income, are all that is left because of the entail.”
A bankrupt estate forhisson.Matthew’s son.The irony was bitter.William would have the name and title while Matthew had bled to build an empire for a nonexistent son who would never touch or enjoy the sheen oftonadulation.
Was this where Matthew admitted he was more like his father than he wanted to acknowledge?He knew in his heart that this meeting, this day, this conversation would eventually lead to the revelation about William.Sleeping dogs and all that.
He had firmly believed his son would never suffer with the title.Matthew had all the worldly goods.Would his son, in truth, only have a title and nothing more?
“Then you do need to borrow money?”
“There is no collateral, which men like you demand in spades.I am not so foolish to wager the few coins I collect from the farms, but don’t think I haven’t been tempted.”
Matthew swallowed the last of his drink.“You must have some ideas.What is it specifically you think I can do, if as you say there is no collateral?”
Byron laughed again.“Ideas?That is the problem, Mr.Hardy.I cannot think past the fact we have nothing with nowhere to go.”
“You can borrow against your name.It is done all the time,” Matthew said.
“As you say, debts must be repaid.An enhanced income stream would be more beneficial.I must look to William’s future.I have daughters who will need to be launched and another child on the way.Buildings that need to be repaired.Livestock to purchase.”
Matthew asked several questions and made resulting suggestions.The duke was hesitant, stubborn and offended by turns.“I’m telling you the same things I would tell anyone, not just because you are Welliver.Or you wait and marry your sons into money.”
“Were those others also angered?”
“No.Because usually they genuinely want my help.”
“You think I am insincere?”
“I think you have lived your entire life with everything handed to you and that is what you are asking me to do now.To make it easy for you.I will not do that.”
“Fine.You seem to be going out of your way to make things as unpleasant as possible.”
“Life outside the Ten Thousand is unpleasant every day.”
The duke sighed.“I will think about this conversation not because I wish to but because I must.The future will be very unpleasant if I do not.”
“I don’t know when I will see you again, Your Grace, but I want to assure you I had those same thoughts since I was four or five.If I do not find food, shelter, a living...things would be very unpleasant for me if I did not.I somehow managed and I had no name to do it.”
* * * * *
Rose waited, but thesilence between her and Matthew was overbearing.He stared out the carriage window.“Well, are you going to tell me anything?”she asked.
He glanced her way, wearing an expression of disgust.He swiped a hand over his face.“It was deeply unfulfilling and rage inducing, but I am genuinely happy to have had the conversations.Explain that, if you please, Mrs.Hardy.”
