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“Do you recall Mr. Blackburn?” his father asked, as they approached the door to the fine townhouse.
“Not at all.”
“Ah, well. You knew him in your youth. He is the youngest son of Lord Montague.”
Reginald frowned and searched his memory, trying to match a face to the name. After a few moments, he vaguely recalled a stern man with dark eyes and thick, brown hair.
Ah, the youngest son. This is the illegitimate one, the son he had with the American actress.
“I knowofhim,” Reginald offered.
He remembered nothing of Mr. Blackburn’s character, but Reginald supposed he could be forgiven for that.
The maid answered the door. She was a pretty creature with rosy cheeks, blue eyes, and hair that was somewhere between red and blonde. A bit like Mr. Smythe’s wife, in truth.
“Welcome, Your Grace,” she said. “My master is expecting you.”
“Of course. Have Mr. Blackburn’s other guests already arrived?” Reginald’s father asked.
Other guests.What an absurdly formal way to describe one’s own relations!
“Indeed,” the maid replied.
Coats and hats were removed, given to the waiting staff. Reginald resisted the urge to fidget with the hem of his jacket. Having lived in the poorest part of London, he’d become so accustomed to feeling perpetually cold and damp that having fine, warm clothes felt absurdly foreign to him.
They entered the drawing room, and already, Reginald’s aunt Blaire and Simon had already arrived. The two of them sat together on a sofa, a polished table separating them from the room’s other occupant, a dark-haired gentleman with sharp green eyes. Seeing them, the man rose at once and bowed. Reginald suspected that was Mr. Blackburn, the solicitor. “Your Grace, thank you for joining us.”
As if Father wouldn’t have joined them otherwise. It seems odd to thank a man for doing something that is entirely to his own benefit.
“It’s been some years since I’ve seen you,” the man continued, inclining his head to Reginald. “Welcome, My Lord.”
“Blackburn, right?” Reginald asked.
The man looked taken aback, which made Reginald wonder if he’d used the wrong tone or addressed him too informally.
“Indeed,” the man replied. “If you’ll be seated, we can finish all the formalities. I’ve already explained the situation to Lord Simon and Lady Greenburrow and they’ve already done their part.”
Reginald raised an eyebrow, and his aunt offered him a polished smile. “We have, and my own legal counsel has already departed. Mr. Collins had another obligation.”
“More important than settling the matter of a Marquisate?” asked Reginald’s father, as he sat.
Reginald took the place beside his father and fixed his gaze upon the papers, placed carefully upon the table.
“So it seems,” Blaire replied. “Unthinkable, I know. But Mr. Collins has never given me poor advice.”
“There wouldn’t be any purpose in him staying,” Blackburn replied, returning to his chair. “The matter has been decided already, and because Lord Reginald has been deemed the proper heir to the title, there would be no reason for Mr. Collins to be present, unless he doubts my ability to prepare paperwork.”
Reginald wondered if Blackburn’s intention was to comfort Lady Greenburrow or if something about Mr. Collins had him particularly vexed. Mayhap this whole matter hadn’t been resolved as amicably and easily as everyone was pretending it had been. He glanced at Simon, who narrowed his eyes at Blackburn. “I’ve never found men in the law to be especially honest,” Simon said. “They’re all in their trade for their own gain.”
Blackburn smiled. “I imagine that most men are involved in their trades for gain of some kind, My Lord.”
“Does that apply to noblemen, too?” Simon asked, glancing at Reginald. “Because it doesn’t seem fair that I am being asked to step aside as the Marquess, a position which I’ve held now for five years, since my dear uncle realized that Reginald wasn’t returning. In my cousin’s absence, I’ve managed the estate. I’ve looked after our tenants. And I took on that responsibility without hesitation. Now, I’m being asked to step aside for a man who has not been with us for adecade.”
“The law requires that you step aside,” Blackburn replied.
Simon scowled. “How can youpossiblyknow what needs my people have, cousin?” he asked, his fierce gaze fixing on Reginald.
“All men, regardless of where they live, need the same things,” Reginald said.
