AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The earl nodded. He did not look put out in the slightest at Alexander’s tone or taking command. In fact, he looked pleased. They all sat down. Alexander waited for him to speak.
“The Earldom of Weaver is long and illustrious, Captain Fletcher,” said the Earl. “A proud lineage. I am the seventh earl. But until a month ago, I believed the title would die with me.”
Alexander was mystified. He coughed into his hand. “I see.”
“Yes,” said the Earl, sighing heavily. “My life has been beset by tragedy. I had three sons, all strong and healthy. The earldom was well secured, or so I believed.” A shadow passed over his face. “But my two elder sons perished in a carriage accident while quite young, leaving me with only one remaining heir.
But wicked fate was not done with me yet. My youngest also died while quite a young man, alongside his own small son. A double tragedy. I have only one granddaughter, who as a woman, cannot inherit the title of course.”
Alexander nodded, feeling sorry for the man. He truly had lost just about everything. “I am sorry for all your losses, my lord. But I still do not understand what it has to do with me.”
The Earl nodded in acknowledgement. “Yes. I am coming to that, but I thought it necessary to explain the background first, so you would have some context.” He took a deep breath. “Since I lost my youngest son and grandson, I thought all hope that the earldom would stay in the family was gone, as I said.
I have no immediate extended family, any son of a cousin, who I might leave it to. But a month ago after searching for some time I made quite a surprising discovery, which led me toyou, Captain Fletcher.”
Alexander shifted in his seat. “I see. What did you discover?”
The Earl smiled at him. “It seems that you and I are related, Captain. Very distantly. You are the grandson of a second cousin of mine.” He paused, the smile gone, fixing Alexander with a piercing look. “And as such, I propose to make you the next Earl of Weaver.”
Alexander gaped at the man. He was stunned. If the elderly gentleman had just told him that he was proposing to transport him to the moon and back, he could not have been more shocked.
An earl?! He wants to make me an earl? I must have misunderstood the man. Perhaps he has taken leave of his senses.
“I think you must be mistaken, my lord,” he sputtered eventually. “I think you must have the wrong man. I do not have any noble blood within me. I come from a line of merchants and seamen.”
“No, I am not mistaken,” said the gentleman, in a calm voice. “I was very thorough in my investigation. Your grandfather, my second cousin, was the black sheep of his family and cut all contact with them, choosing to pursue a different life entirely. His name was Theodore Oakley. Your maternal grandfather. A merchant who worked on the docks of London. Am I correct?”
Alexander’s heart was beating erratically. “Yes, that was his name, but he died when I was young. I do not remember him.”
“My family name is Oakley,” said the Earl slowly. “Weaver is the name of the earldom. Theodore Oakley was my second cousin and as his grandson, you share my blood, and as such you are entitled to the earldom when I pass on.” He hesitated. “It would mean the world to me to give this to you, Captain Fletcher. That the earldom does not die with me. I propose to make it formal, and you will be entitled to all my estates as well.”
Alexander’s head was reeling. “But why? You do not even know me. If what you say is correct, we are barely related. We only share a drop of the same blood, my lord.”
The earl smiled. “That is true. But it is enough. It would ensure that the bloodline continues, the title remains, and that my estate is not sold off to strangers.” He fixed Alexander with a piercing gaze. “Are you interested?”
Alexander wiped a hand over his face. The room was filled with a tense silence. The only sound was the solicitor coughing.
“I…I do not know what to say,” said Alexander, feeling at a loss. He did not like the feeling. He was used to being in command and in control of everything. But this old man with his blue eyes and calm demeanour had thrown him for a loop well and truly.
“Perhaps you would like to visit my ancestral home to make up your mind,” continued the earl, in the same calm voice. “I could show you around. We could get to know one another. My daughter-in-law and granddaughter are in London for another week, and we would be quite alone. Apart from the servants, of course.” He smiled.
Alexander raised his eyebrows. “You mean…now? Journey to your ancestral home today?”
