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“You’re absolutely right—especially if it is her son’s home now. I shall see what can be done,” she said.
He was placing a huge burden on everyone to take limited resources and restore his home so quickly after so many years of avoidance and neglect on his part. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here more often over the years. I should have confronted my father again and made sure Farleigh Manor had the resources it needed to remain prosperous. I should have taken better care of you all.”
“You were but a boy then; there wasn’t anything you could have done,” she said. “We understood this. Your father wasn’t the most agreeable of men, if you don’t mind my speaking out of turn.”
“Not at all.” He smiled grimly. “Nonetheless, when I left Oxford, I should have come here, even though Mama was gone and my father spent the majority of his time in London.” And even though his father had told him never to return. “I’ve been remiss, and I’m sorry.”
“But you’re here now, and things are going to get better,” she said resolutely. She carefully stacked each of the pieces of needlework, reminding William of a question he’d meant to ask her. “When did my father begin taking the valuables from Farleigh Manor?”
“Not while your mother was still alive, thank goodness, except for the piano. He said she was too ill to play it and it wasn’t doing anyone any good sitting in the music room. Even so, it nearly broke her heart—if he hadn’t broken it already, that is.” Her mouth set in a stubborn line as if she were tired of apologizing for speaking her mind about William’s father. “After she passed away, God rest her soul, one or two items seemed to disappear whenever he visited. He always had a reason—Lord So-and-So had admired the dining table, Lady Such-and-Such had asked about the chairs. It often seemed like the only time he visited was to remove an item or two he could sell. And that knave of a steward slipped an item out here and there too; I’m sure of it.”
Ah, yes, the steward who had vanished. He must do something about replacing the man sooner rather than later.
“Tomorrow morning, I will be inspecting the lands,” he said. “And then I must return to London. I have a commitment I must keep.” He must resume his courtship of Lady Louisa, for that was his top priority. He needed her money, but he also longed for her, heaven help him. He deserved neither.
He couldn’t wait to see her again.
* * *
Louisa decided—somewhat late in the day—that she was not going to stay home simply because her betrothed had left London, even if it was only for one evening. She’d sat at home too much already in the past two weeks. Soon enough, she would be married to William and making her home somewhere in Buckinghamshire. Besides, a lady had only one come-out year, and this was hers. She should enjoy it while she could.
Unfortunately, her parents had accepted an invitation to dine with the Duke and Duchess of Atherton this evening and had already left in the carriage, so there could be no assistance from that quarter.
Alex was no help either.
“Sorry, Weezy, but I’m off at any moment to join some friends. In fact, Kit and Phillip should be here at any minute.”
Botheration. “Is Anthony going too?” she asked, feeling her hopes drop.
“No, actually. He was invited but wasn’t in the mood for an evening out with the rest of us. He thinks he’d rather stay home and read, poor dull chap that he is.” Alex shook his head in mock sorrow. “It would do him some good to let loose a bit, but that’s Anthony for you. You’d think he intended to become a vicar. Ah, the lads are here.”
And Alex was gone.
Anthony was in the library, she was not surprised to discover, seated by the fire, one leg thrown over the arm of the chair, swinging lazily, while he himself was engrossed in whatever he was reading.
“Anthony?” she asked in a low voice so as not to startle him.
“No,” he said and turned a page.
“Anthony.” Her voice was louder this time since he knew she was there.
“No,” he repeated.
She closed the door behind her and crossed the room to sit in the chair opposite his. “Seriously, Anthony, talk to me. Please?”
He closed his book, leaving a finger in it to keep his place, and looked at her with raised eyebrows.
“Mama and Papa and Alex are all out for the evening.”
“Yes,” he said in a tone that suggested she was stating the obvious, which, clearly, she was. “And?”
“And Lord Farleigh has gone to the country for a day or two.”
“What is it you wish, Louisa?” he asked with a sigh.
“I don’t wish to stay home, Anthony. I wish to put on my loveliest gown and have Tibbetts style my hair. I wish to go to parties and balls and routs and chat with my friends and dance with young gentlemen. I wish to feel the night air as I step out of the carriage, tingling from the excitement the evening holds in store. I wish—”
“You want to do all that tonight?” Anthony asked, sounding alarmed.
