AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER1
Good heavens, it is indeed the gravest of disasters.
Miss Ester Amelia Fairbanks sighed as she stared into the teary eyes of one of her dearest cousins, Miss Caroline Fairbanks. Caroline and her brother, Samuel Fairbanks, had only recently traveled to town for the upcoming new season at the invitation of Lizzy, who had been the celebrated Duchess of Ravenswood for several months. Now that the Fairbanks family had formed a few noteworthy connections themselves, it was with great excitement that they had invited their cousins to town to join in the frivolities and secure good matches.
The cousins had let a small townhouse in Russell Square for the season, and Caroline had been fitted with a new wardrobe courtesy of Lizzy. There were grand hopes that Caroline might make a wonderful match this season, especially given that her cousin had shared her hope of a happy union in several letters exchanged between Ester and Caroline.
There was very little to do in the countryside of Penporth but idling the days away in the village. Caroline was a fair beauty with her sparkling green eyes and blonde ringlets that bounced becomingly on her cheeks. She was gifted with the pianoforte and owned one of the most good-natured and thoughtful personalities Ester had ever seen in anyone. It was one reason Ester had been so surprised to hear her call her brother a useless wretch.
Another heart-breaking sob wrenched from Caroline. “Mama will be so shattered when she hears of it! How do I break such ghastly news to her?”
“We must not tell Aunt Cecily of this as yet,” Ester murmured, thinking of her sweet aunt who had not the constitution to handle this troubling news. Ester’s thoughts churned, and she frantically tried to think of a way out of this mess. “Perhaps there might be a solution. Caroline, please wipe your tears. It is not helping matters.”
“You understand why I am so out of sorts, don’t you, Ester?” Caroline hiccupped a sob and buried her face in her hands. “Howcould Samuel have been so reckless?”
“Where is the fool?” Ester muttered, wanting to see him to deliver a blistering set down.
How could he have gambled the little fortune he owned? Had he no thought for his mother and three younger siblings whose welfare he had been tasked with by his departed father?
Caroline sighed. “Sam drank himself to bed last night. I sent up a tisane only a few hours ago, but he has yet to come down. That is when I decided to send you the letter, Ester. I have no idea what to do, and I suspect if I tell Aunt Margaret, she will be sorely disappointed in his conduct. In truth, Sambeggedme not to tell our aunt or our mother.”
“I daresay my mother will be able to do little about the entire matter but worry endlessly. She would also inform Colin.” Ester frowned. “Colinisthe Earl of Celdon, and he has—”
Her cousin shook her head adamantly. “Please, no! Colin must not become involved. Surely he would tell mama, which would be a disaster. You know how frail her nerves are.”
Ester stood and started to pace. “Theremightbe something I can do.”
Caroline’s eyes brightened. “Truly?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“This gambling den is owned by the Glendevons. Last year Eleanor married the youngest brother, Lucien Glendevon. We are acquainted with the entire family.”
“Thank you, cousin,” a voice said from behind her.
Ester turned to face Samuel. Samuel’s dark blond hair was mussed, his cravat hurriedly tied without any finesse as if he had done it himself and not a valet. He indeed appeared wretched, as if he had little sleep.
“If you could speak on my behalf, I would appreciate it,” he said, walking further into the room to sit beside his sister. “Wewould appreciate it, cousin.”
Her cousins’ eyes had brightened, their twin expressions of sudden hope. Ester stared at them and took a deep breath.Drat.
“I say,” Samuel said at Ester’s silence. “Will you speak to Mr. Glendevon for me?”
Ester hesitated, smoothing down the front of her dress.
His expression suddenly turned crestfallen. “You need not answer, Ester. It is unfair for me to put such pressure on you. I fear such an intervention is not possible. A gentleman must honor his debts.”
“It is your entire estate you handed over, Samuel,” Caroline snapped, twisting her fingers with agitation. “If there ever is a time for intervention, it isnow. Please do away with your foolish honor and pride and let our cousin assist us! Or I vow I shall tell mama all of it, without sparing any details!”
He flushed and Ester winced sympathetically. Samuel was clearly torn between guilt and a desire to absolve himself from guilt. She gave her cousin her most calming, reassuring smile. “I do not mean to speak with Lucien. It would be unfair to ask him to go against his brother in such a manner. I own to having a different idea.”
“Oh, dear me,no,” Caroline whispered, dropping her face into her palm.
Ester scowled. That was a common refrain from their childhood whenever she said an idea sparked in her mind.
“I am willing to hear it,” Samuel said resolutely, squaring his shoulders. “I am willing to consider anything at this juncture. I…I added our family manor to the pot and all the monies…” He cleared his throat, casting a nervous glance at his sister.
